[Event "FIDE World Chess Championship"] [Site "Singapore"] [Date "2024.11.30"] [Round "5"] [White "Gukesh, D."] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2783"] [BlackElo "2728"] [Annotator "John Watson"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C01"] [Opening "French Defense: Exchange Variation"] [StudyName "2024 FIDE World Chess Championship"] [ChapterName "Gukesh, D. - Ding, Liren"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/3cE1DZN1/FLibK7ww"] [Orientation "white"] { Annotations by IM John Watson } 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 { The internet exploded in dismay at this move, which has been fashionable of late in high-level chess. In the popular mind, the French Exchange is a 'drawish' opening, but I played scores of games as Black over the years and hardly ever drew a game. Quite a few top players use it as White when they're trying to win, and Gukesh commented after the game that he thought it was a good opening. I think the drawish reputation has mainly come because over the years some grandmasters have used 3. exd5 to signal to their opponents that they are happy with a quick draw, and Black is sometimes eager to oblige. Objectively, however, both sides can complicate matters and play for a win if they want to. This game is an example of how even a fairly safe and harmless approach by White can lead to difficult decisions for the players. } 4. Nf3 Nf6 (4... Bd6 { and }) (4... Nc6 { are tried and true ways to create an imbalance. }) 5. Bd3 c5 { A good way to break symmetry, specifically aimed at exploiting the bishop on d3. } 6. c3 (6. dxc5 Bxc5 { is a typical isolated pawn position where White's bishop is not ideally placed on d3. Black has scored well in that case. }) (6. O-O { is well met by } 6... c4 7. Re1+ Be7 8. Bf1 O-O { , when } 9. b3 cxb3 10. axb3 Nc6 { has occurred in hundreds of games, with equality. }) 6... c4 { Releasing the tension. I'm not a great fan of this move, but it is perfectly playable. } (6... Nc6) (6... Be7 { , and }) (6... Bd6 { are all sound alternatives. }) 7. Bc2 Bd6 8. Qe2+ { A safe move that can still create problems for Black if he isn't careful. } (8. O-O { is more common and complicated, although it has done rather poorly in terms of both results and performance rating. }) 8... Qe7 9. Qxe7+ Kxe7 { Black leaves the bishop active on d6 and preparing ... Rh8-e8. } (9... Bxe7 { has been played in more games in my database (with a small sample size), after which White usually gets an unbalanced game with chances. GM Anish Giri recommends capturing with the king in his Chessable French Defense repertoire. }) 10. O-O { An important decision. } (10. b3 { would try to break up the queenside. It can be met by } 10... b5! (10... cxb3 11. axb3 Nc6 12. O-O Re8 $14) 11. a4?! (11. O-O! Re8 { transposes to the next note }) 11... cxb3 (11... b4!? 12. bxc4 dxc4 { may also favor Black slightly, e.g., } 13. Bg5 Nd7 14. O-O b3 15. Re1+ Kf8 16. Bd1 a5 $15) 12. Bxb3 b4 { is easier for Black to play. }) 10... Re8 11. Re1+ (11. b3 b5 12. a4 cxb3 13. Bxb3 b4 14. cxb4 Bxb4) 11... Kf8 12. Rxe8+ Kxe8 13. Bg5 Nbd7 14. Nbd2 (14. Nh4 { aims at Nh4-f5. Then a sharp line is } 14... h6!? (14... g6 { is a sound alternative, when } 15. Nd2 Ng8!? 16. Re1+ Kf8 { might follow. }) 15. Nf5 Bxh2+ 16. Kxh2 hxg5 17. Nxg7+ Kf8 18. Nf5 Ng4+ 19. Kg1 Ndf6 20. Ng3 { , for example, with a roughly equal position, although } 20... Ng8 { is a logical move, making room for the g4-knight on the f6-square while preparing ... Ng8-e7. }) 14... h6 { Probably best, although } (14... Kf8 { is playable, as is }) (14... b5 { , e.g., } 15. Re1+ (15. a4 b4) 15... Kf8 16. Ne5 Nb6!? 17. Bf4 (17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Nef3 a5 { , which looks solid for Black. White has the f5-square as an outpost after } 19. Nh4 b4 { , yet trying to place a knight there by } 20. Nf1 { allows } 20... a4! 21. cxb4 a3 22. bxa3 Rxa3 23. Bxh7 Rxa2 24. Ne3 Be6 25. Nhf5 Bxb4 { and Black stands fine. }) 17... Kg8 18. Ng6!? Bxf4 19. Nxf4 a5 { is very close to equal. }) 15. Bh4 Nh5! { Suddenly it's a middlegame where the play becomes very concrete and the intuitive moves aren't always best. The move 15. ... Nh5 creates the most problems for White, intending ... g7-g5 and ... Nh5-xg3, or, in some cases ... Nh5-f4. Objectively, however, other moves are good enough: } (15... b5 16. Nf1 (16. Re1+ Kf8 17. Ne5?! Nh5! { is a bit awkward for White; } 18. g4 Nf4 19. Bg3 g5 { might follow. })) (15... Bf4 16. b3 b5!? 17. a4 cxb3 18. Bxb3 Ba6! 19. axb5 Bxb5) 16. Re1+ Kf8 17. g4!? { My engine considers this the top move. Remarkably, it is the first deviation from a game played just a few weeks ago, one which it seems neither player was aware of: } (17. Nf1 g5 (17... Ndf6 18. Ne3!? g5 19. Bg3 Nxg3 20. hxg3 b5 { looks nice for Black, although my engine only gives Black a tiny edge. }) 18. Bg3 Nxg3 19. Nxg3 Bxg3 20. hxg3 Nf6 { Still, this looks quite equal. } 21. a4 (21. Nd2 b5 22. Nf1 Rb8 23. Ne3 b4 24. cxb4 Rxb4 25. Rb1) 21... Bd7!? { This was reached in Damjanovic – Kramer, Petrovac, 2024; and here a simple move like } 22. Kf1 { looks equal. }) (17. Ne5? { would be a mistake due to } 17... Nxe5 18. dxe5 Bc5! $17) 17... Nf4 18. Bg3 Nb6 { Interesting, good, and surprising to me (as well as to the commentators) because Black voluntarily blocks the desired ... b5-b4 advance. Two options look more natural and show how complicated the play has become: } (18... Nf6 19. Ne5! g5 20. Bxf4!? gxf4 { gives White the crazy move } 21. g5!? (21. h3 b5 22. Ndf3 a5 23. g5 hxg5 24. Nxg5 Ra7) 21... hxg5 22. Ndf3 g4 23. Ng5 Bxe5 24. dxe5 Ne8) (18... g5 19. h4 (19. Ne5 Nxe5 (19... b5) 20. dxe5 Bc5 21. Bxf4 gxf4 22. Bf5 b5) 19... Nf6! 20. hxg5 hxg5 21. Nxg5 Bxg4 22. Nf1 N6h5 23. Ne3 Re8 24. Bh2 Bd7) 19. g5! { A great choice, avoiding certain problems. It is based on a clever tactic. White should avoid } (19. Ne5?! { due to } 19... Bxe5! 20. Rxe5 (20. dxe5 Nd3! 21. Bxd3 cxd3 22. h3 Nc4 $15) 20... Nd3 21. Bxd3 cxd3 $15) 19... hxg5! (19... Nh3+?! 20. Kf1 Nf4! (20... Bxg3? 21. gxh6! $18 { is the tactic, when } 21... Bd6?? 22. h7 { queens. }) 21. gxh6 gxh6 22. Ne5 $14) 20. Nxg5 { Threatening mate in two with 21. Nh7+. } 20... Bd7 { This defends the e8-square and contemplates ... Bd7-a4. } (20... Bg4 { is also fine, and }) (20... f6!? { is messy after } 21. Ngf3 Kf7 22. Nh4! g5 23. Nf5 Bxf5 24. Bxf5 Na4 25. Bxf4 Bxf4 26. Nf3 { and Black can defend by sacrificing the d-pawn: } 26... b5 27. Be6+ Kg6 28. Bxd5 Rd8 29. Be6 Nxb2 30. Rb1 Na4 31. Rxb5 Nxc3 { , etc }) 21. Ngf3 Re8 { A safe option. Since White has minor weaknesses on the kingside, Black can try to keep more pieces on the board with } (21... Rd8! { to protect the d6-bishop and unpin the knight after the d7-bishop moves } 22. Nh4! (22. Ne5 Bxe5 23. dxe5 Nd3! 24. Rb1 Na4 $15) 22... Ba4 23. Bb1 { , and while White is nominally worse, it's very close to equal. } (23. b3?! Bb5 24. Nf5 Bb8 $15)) 22. Ne5!? { Very risky. } (22. Rxe8+! Kxe8 23. Ne5 { is equal. }) 22... Bxe5 23. dxe5? { A mistake. Gukesh later said that he simply hallucinated. } (23. Rxe5! Rxe5 24. dxe5 { looks shaky, but oddly enough, Black doesn't have a clear way to an advantage. A good tactical try is } 24... Ba4!? { as now } (24... Nd3 25. Bxd3 cxd3 26. b3 { doesn't work; compare the game continuation, where Black still has a rook to play to c8. }) (24... Ne2+ 25. Kf1 Nc1?! { allows } 26. Bf4 Nxa2 27. Nf3!? { when Black's knight on a2 has no moves. Now, } (27. Be3 Ba4 28. Bb1 Nc1 29. f4 $14) 27... Ba4! 28. Bf5 Bd1 29. Nd4 Na4 30. Ke1 Nxb2 31. Kd2 { leaves us with an unclear game. }) 25. Bxa4! (25. Bb1!?) (25. b3 Ne2+ 26. Kf1 cxb3 27. axb3 Bb5 $15) 25... Ne2+ 26. Kf1 Nxg3+ 27. fxg3! Nxa4 28. Kf2 Nxb2 29. Ke3 { and White's king position compensates for the pawn: } 29... Ke7 30. Kd4 Ke6 31. Nf3 Nd3 32. Ng5+ Ke7 33. Nf3! (33. Kxd5 Nxe5) 33... Ke6 34. Ng5+) 23... Nd3! 24. Bxd3 cxd3 { Suddenly White seems to be in some trouble, with ideas like ... Nb6-c4 and ... Nb6-a4 looming. } 25. f3! (25. b3? Rc8 26. Rc1 d4! 27. c4 Nd5 $17 { Black threatens ... Nd5-c3, and White is in trouble. }) 25... Nc4 { The engine's first choice, but perhaps } (25... Na4 { would have maintained longer-term pressure, for example, } 26. Rb1 (26. Kf2 Nxb2 27. Rb1 { was mentioned by Ding, but } 27... Nc4 28. Nxc4 dxc4 29. Rxb7 Bc6 $17 { is strong }) 26... f6! { (Aronian's suggestion) } 27. Kf2! fxe5 28. c4! e4! 29. fxe4 dxe4 30. Ke3 $15) 26. Nxc4 (26. Bf4?! Nxb2 27. Rb1 Na4!? 28. Rxb7 Nxc3 29. Kf2 (29. Rxd7? Ne2+ 30. Kf2 Nxf4 31. Ke3 g5 $19) 29... Bb5 { with the idea } 30. Rxa7 Ne2 $17) 26... dxc4 27. Re4 Bc6?! { Very natural and it wins a pawn, but it actually makes it more difficult to keep pressure on. In fact, Ding was aware of this and considered 27. ... Bc6 "a draw offer." He said that he didn't think } (27... Be6! { gave him serious chances, but it was worth a try. Black can think of ... Re8-c8-c6 and attacking White's queenside. A sample line (admittedly not forced) is: } 28. Rd4 Rc8 29. Bh4? (29. Kf2?! Rc5) (29. Bf2! Kg8! 30. Be3 Kh7 { and Black tries to attack White's pawns with his king. I suspect that this will hold for White. }) 29... Kg8 30. Kf2?? (30. Bf2 Rc6 31. Be3 Ra6 32. a3) 30... Rc5! 31. f4 Ra5 32. a3 Rb5 $19 { . In fact, I think White would have held the draw after 27...Be6, but it was the best chance. }) 28. Rd4! (28. Rxc4?? Rd8 { and the d-pawn advances to win a piece. }) 28... Bxf3 29. Kf2 Bc6? { Black may as well stay a pawn up with } (29... Bh5 { , as was emphasized in the press conference, although I think Gukesh would hold fairly easily with even moderately accurate defense. Play might go } 30. Ke3 (30. Rxc4?? d2) 30... b5 { and it's very likely that White can draw due to the opposite-colored bishops, but Black can press for a long time. }) 30. Rxc4 Rd8 31. Rd4 { Now it's completely drawn. } 31... Rxd4 32. cxd4 Bd5 33. b3 Ke7 34. Ke3 Ke6 35. Kxd3 g6 36. Kc3 a6 37. Kd3 Kf5 38. Ke3 Ke6 39. Kd3 Kf5 40. Ke3 Ke6 41. Kd3 { Okay, Ding missed an opportunity with 27. ... Be6! instead of 27. ... Bc6 (which won a pawn), but I think commentators exaggerated the extent of his advantage in that case. I'm not sure if the chess public realizes how accurately both players are handling some very challenging positions. This has been a high quality and tightly-contested match. } 1/2-1/2