[Event "Round 2: Ian Nepomniachtchi - Fabiano Ca"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2022.06.17"] [White "Ian Nepomniachtchi"] [Black "Fabiano Caruana"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "Abasov"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C54"] [Opening "Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/450dtcgH/SWT8rfDg"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 { No Berlin in this game as Nepo decided to enter Italian Game } 3... Nf6 { Nowadays, Black prefers this move order over 3...-Bc5. } (3... Bc5 { Gives White extra possibilities such as Evans Gambit or c3-d4. } 4. c3 (4. b4!?) 4... Nf6 5. d4 $132) 4. d3 (4. Ng5 { Is another critical variation, but now it's already proven Black's doing well after } 4... d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Bd3 Nd5 9. Nf3 Bd6 $44 { and Black has enough compensation for a pawn, thanks to being ahead in development. }) 4... Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. c3 a6 (6... O-O { In the parallel game, Ding Liren played } 7. Re1 a5 { which is another possible setup for Black. }) 7. a4 Ba7 { Taking the Bishop away from potential d4 or b4 kind moves. } 8. Re1 h6 9. Nbd2 g5!? { Black chooses the dynamic play! } (9... O-O 10. Nf1 Re8 11. h3 Be6 { was another option for Black. }) 10. b4 { Was played quickly by Nepo. A couple of months ago he had played this move against Grischuk in an online rapid game. } 10... Ng4!? $146 { Ohlala... Caruana is set aggressively! Earlier he played 10...-Nh7 } (10... Nh7 11. Nb3 g4 12. Nfd2 Qf6 13. d4 Ng5 14. b5 Ne7 15. bxa6 bxa6 16. Nf1 h5 { is how his game went against So Wesley here on lichess! The position was dynamically equal in that game eventually Fabi lost that game. }) 11. Re2 Qf6 (11... Nxf2 12. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 13. Kxf2 { 2 minor pieces almost always are better in the opening/middlegame than Rook+pawn. }) 12. Qe1 { Most natural move. White defends the f2-pawn once again. Meanwhile } (12. d4 { looked very tempting! I believe any other time Nepo would go for it, only not in the early rounds of the Candidates, where a lot is at stake. } 12... exd4 13. e5! { White sacrifices another central pawn to open up the files! Just in the style of old masters like Chigorin etc. } 13... Ngxe5 (13... dxe5 { would be met by } 14. b5 Na5 (14... d3 15. Ne4 { looks promising for White. }) 15. Ne4 Qg7 16. Ba2 { and Black pieces are somehow discoordinated. }) 14. cxd4 Bxd4 (14... Nxd4 15. Nxd4 Bxd4 16. Ne4 Qg7 17. Qxd4 Nf3+ { looks like Black tricked White? Not really! } 18. gxf3 Qxd4 19. Bb2! { Now Black Queen has no good square to retreat. } 19... Qa7 20. Nxd6+ Kd7 21. Nxf7 $18 { With two minor pieces for a Queen, passive pieces and weak King for Black, White's position is crushing. }) 15. Ne4 Nxf3+ (15... Qxf3 { was another funny possibility } 16. gxf3 Bxa1 17. Bd5 { but compensation for a Queen should not be enough. }) 16. gxf3 Qg6 17. Nxd6+ { Discovered check! } 17... Kf8 18. Nxf7 { Pure fire on the board! } 18... Rh7 (18... Bxa1 19. b5 axb5 20. Ba3+ b4 21. Bxb4+ Nxb4 22. Qd8+ Kg7 23. Qxh8# { Beautiful }) 19. b5 { White needs the 'a3-f8' diagonal open! } 19... axb5 (19... g4 20. bxc6 gxf3+ 21. Ng5) 20. Ba3+ Kg7 (20... b4 21. Bxb4+ Nxb4 22. Qxd4 $18) 21. axb5 g4 22. Bd3!! { Crucial move } (22. f4?? g3 { and suddenly it turns out that, White King is the one to get checkmated! }) 22... Qxf7 23. Bf8+!! { Another important move after what White's finally getting clear advantage. } 23... Qxf8 24. Rxa8 Qxf3 (24... gxf3 25. Re4) 25. Bc2! { Need to defend d1-Queen in case of ...-Bxf2s... } 25... Rh8 (25... Bxf2+ 26. Rxf2 Qxd1+ 27. Bxd1 Ne7) 26. bxc6 Rd8 27. Qd3 Bxf2+ 28. Rxf2 Rxd3 29. Rxf3 Rxf3 30. Rxc8 bxc6 31. Rxc7+ Kf6 32. Rxc6+ Kg5 { At the end of the phenomenal variation, game should end in a draw! }) 12... Qg7 { Black needs to leave f6 square for the Knight } (12... O-O 13. h3 $18) 13. Nf1 O-O 14. Ng3 { Typical for Italian maneuver of the Knight, especially with f5 square being weakened. } 14... Ne7 { Black protects the f5 square. } 15. d4 { Most ambitious. Since Black Knight is no longer on c6, covering the d4-square, White goes for a central breakthrough. } 15... exd4 16. cxd4 Nc6 { Caruana continues playing in blitz tempo. It's clear that he is still in prep, whilst Nepo has already spent an hour! } 17. Ra3!? { White could no longer defend the d4-pawn. } (17. Bb2 Nxd4 18. Bxd4 Bxd4 19. Nxd4 Qxd4 20. Rc1 { Perhaps was what Caruana had looked at in his preparation. }) 17... Nxd4 18. Nxd4 Bxd4 { The theoretical duel ended here (even though Ian was out of the book starting from move 11). In conclusion, we could say Fabi's risky 10...-Ng4!? worked out well. At this point, he had a 40-minute advantage on the clocks, as well as an extra pawn on the board. Although, the position still remains double-edged. } 19. h3 Ne5 20. Ba2 c5! { Caruana continues to play good moves! Now he takes the initiative. } 21. bxc5 Bxc5!? (21... dxc5 { would also be possible for Black. }) 22. Rb3 (22. Qd1 { I wonder whether Ian considered this move at all or not? } 22... Bxa3 23. Bxa3 { The exchange sac looked really interesting! } 23... Rd8 24. Rd2 Be6 25. Bd5 { There are lots of weak squares in Black's position. The position is still very complicated. }) 22... b5! { That was the reason why Fabi chose 21...-Bxc5 } 23. Nf5 { White needs the g3-square for the Rook. } 23... Qf6 24. Kh2 (24. Nxh6+?? { doesn't work for White } 24... Qxh6 25. Rg3 Qh4 { [%cal Gh4g3,Yc5g1] } 26. Rxg5+ Kh7 { and White has no enough pieces in the attack. }) (24. Rg3 Bxf5 25. exf5 bxa4) 24... bxa4 25. Rg3 Kh7 26. Qd1 (26. f4 { looked really tempting. White opens up the position furthermore. } 26... gxf4 27. Bxf4 Bxf5 28. Bxe5! (28. exf5 Rg8) 28... Qxe5 (28... dxe5 29. Rf3 $13) 29. exf5 Qf4 30. Bxf7 (30. Re7?? Bf2 $19) 30... Rxf7 31. Re7 Rf8 (31... Qxf5?? { loses in a view of } 32. Rxf7+ Qxf7 33. Qe4+ Kh8 34. Qxa8+ $18) 32. Qe6 { Looks like Black's in trouble? Yes... But no... } 32... Bg1+!! 33. Kxg1 Qxg3 34. Rxf7+ Rxf7 35. Qxf7+ Qg7 { and now the endgame ends in a draw } 36. Qe6 a3 37. f6 a2 38. Qxa2 Qxf6 39. Qxa6 $10) 26... Bd7 { Fabi thinks White's f5-Knight is not enough annoying to be taken! Personally, I'd be bothered dealing with such piece and consider trading it off as soon as possible! } (26... Bxf5 { Would be my move... }) 27. Rc2 (27. Ne3 { White could have taken f5-Knight to d5, maybe...?! }) 27... Bxf5 { Finally! } 28. exf5 Rab8 (28... Qxf5 { is surely not good for Black as it opens up b1-h7 diagonal. } 29. Bb1 $16 { [%cal Gc2b2] }) 29. Qh5 { Now White's threatening the deadly Bxg5 } (29. Bxg5 { is not good for White } 29... hxg5 30. Qh5+ Qh6!) 29... Rg8 { Black defends g5-pawn. } 30. Bb2 Rge8 { With 12 minutes remaining on the clock, Fabi doesn't go for } (30... Rxb2! 31. Rxb2 a3! 32. Rb7 (32. Rc2 Rb8 $19) 32... Bxf2 33. Rxa3 d5!! { Was perhaps the move he overlooked in his calculations! With this move, Black not only covers the a2-g8 diagonal but also prepares ...-Qd6 with double attack. White is in serious trouble here. } { [%cal Gf6d6] } 34. Qe2 Qd6 $19 { [%csl Ga3,Gd6,Gh2][%cal Gd6a3,Gd6h2] }) 31. Bc1 Rg8 32. Bb2 Rge8 33. Bc1 { With three-fold repetition, the game ends in a draw. What a prep and risky play by Fabi! } 1/2-1/2