[Event "World Chess Championship"] [Site "chess24.com"] [Date "2023.04.12"] [Round "3.1"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2795"] [WhiteTeam "FID"] [BlackElo "2788"] [BlackTeam "China"] [Annotator "Nemcova"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D35"] [Opening "Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation, Positional Variation"] [StudyName "2023 World Championship"] [ChapterName "Nepomniachtchi, Ian - Ding, Liren (game 3)"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/46lbOGuJ/s5mnSTxr"] [Orientation "white"] { Annotations by WGM Katerina Nemcova } 1. d4 { Surprise! Right in the first move we see that Nepomniachtchi is not going for his main weapon 1. e4 and instead chooses the queen's pawn. Even Ding mentioned this move came out as a "total surprise." } 1... Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 (3. Nf3 d5 4. h3 { This position occurred only a few days ago in round two, in the only decisive game so far. }) 3... d5 { Black is going into the waters of Queen's Gambit declined. } (3... Bb4 { Ding could have tried to go for the very complex Nimzo Indian Defense here to test Nepomniachtchi's preparation for this match. Given Nepo's lower familiarity with 1. d4 compared to 1. e4, it would be quite interesting to see what he had planned for this game. }) 4. cxd5 exd5 (4... Nxd5 { A rather risky alternative for Black. White can opt for a number of aggressive plans here, and the database shows that Nepomniachtchi has experience with them. His game against Wesley So went as follows: } 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. Rb1 Be7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. h4!? { in Nepomniachtchi – So, Chess24.com, 2021. }) 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 { Players have now reached the well-known, solid, and thoroughly analyzed Carlsbad structure. This pawn formation offers several strategic plans for both colors and we can expect both contenders to be familiar with them. The two most common plans for White include the so-called minority attack (b2-b4-b5) to create weaknesses on the queenside or the f2-f3 and e3-e4 push to gain space in the center. Depending on White's plan, Black will react. } 6... h6 (6... Bf5 { This move is also quite popular and was recently played in a noteworthy game between Aronian and Dominguez. White goes to trade queens quickly and keeps a slight edge in the endgame. } 7. Qf3 Bg6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Qxf6 gxf6 10. Nf3 Nd7 11. Nh4 Be7 12. Ne2 f5 13. Nf3 Bb4+ 14. Kd1 Bd6 15. Ne1 Ke7 16. Nd3 Bh5 17. f3 { and a draw was eventually agreed in Aronian – Dominguez Perez, Saint Louis, 2023. }) 7. Bh4 Be7 8. Bd3 O-O { Both players are naturally developing their pieces. } 9. Qc2 (9. Nge2 { is Ding's go-to move here with games from both the white and black sides. It's interesting to see the power of the ... b7-b5 move, which not only gets space for Black but also allows for ... b5-b4 attacking the knight. For example: } 9... Re8 10. O-O Nbd7 (10... a5 11. Rc1 Nbd7 12. f3 b5 13. Bf2 { was a win for White in Ding – Artemiev, Chess24.com, 2022. }) 11. f3 (11. a4!? { The idea is to stop the ... b7-b5 plan. } 11... Nh5 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. a5 Nf8 14. Nc1 Nf6 15. Nb3 Rb8 16. Qc2 b6 17. axb6 axb6 18. Nd2 c5 { was another Ding victory in Praggnanandhaa – Ding, Chess24.com, 2022. }) 11... b5!? 12. Bf2 (12. e4 b4! 13. Na4? dxe4 14. fxe4 Nxe4! $17) 12... a5 13. Ng3 Ba6 14. Kh1 b4 15. Nce2 Bxd3 16. Qxd3 c5 17. dxc5 Nxc5 { was eventually a draw in Grischuk – Ding, Chess.com, 2022. }) 9... Re8 10. Nge2 Nbd7 11. O-O a5 { Black is gaining space on the queen-side and preparing for either the ... b7-b5 or the ... c6-c5 break. } (11... Nh5 { is another logical option for Black. } 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Rab1 { White is going for the first plan — the minority attack — to create a weakness on the queenside. } 13... a5 { Black will delay the attack and later develop his pieces. Results show a lot of draws in these positions. }) (11... b5 { may be a little premature here. White will attack the pawn with } 12. a4 b4 13. Na2 { transferring this knight via Na2-c1-b3. White will also control the c-file and enjoy a nice positional advantage. }) 12. a3 Nh5 { A typical move in the Carlsbad structure offering a bishop trade. Black needs to free up his rook on the e-file to pressure e3-pawn. Moving the black bishop to f8 would allow White to keep the annoying pin. } (12... b5 13. f3 b4 14. axb4 { is not that powerful because Black cannot recapture with his pawn. } 14... Bxb4) 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Rae1 { At first look, this move may appear strange beacuse it locks the other rook on f1. However, when we understand the plan of playing f2-f3 and e3-e4, it suddenly makes sense to have both rooks on potentially open files. } 14... Nf8 { Black is transferring the knight to a better square, such as e6, while allowing the c8-bishop to get out. } 15. Nc1 { White needs to remove the knight to defend the e3-pawn with this rook. Then he can be serious about pushing his pawns to the center. } 15... Nf6 16. f3 { The pawns are ready to go! } 16... Ne6 { Black is pressuring the pawn on d4 and not allowing further advance in the center. As a side note, it is very interesting that we are still in the game Giri – Ding (2022), yet Ding has already spent one hour on his clock. } 17. N1e2 $146 { Nepomniachtchi confirmed that he was familiar with the previously mentioned game. However, here he decided to deviate. The knight is getting back to the game and is likely to aim for the luxurious f5-square where it create discomfort for Black. } (17. Qf2 c5 (17... b5! { The best reply according to the computer, as well as Giri's live commentary, and a possible reason why Ding would have preferred for his opponent to copy Giri's moves. Black is ready to counterattack White's plan of e4 with his ... b5-b4 attack. }) 18. Bb5 Rd8 19. dxc5 Qxc5 20. Nb3 Qb6 21. Rd1 Bd7 22. Bxd7 Rxd7 23. Nd4 Re8 { was the draw in Giri – Ding, Chess24.com, 2022. }) 17... c5 { Ding continues with the same approach as in his game against Giri. He targets the pawn on d4. Caruana noted that "this move may be an inaccurate continuation." } (17... b5!? { An interesting alternative for Black, mentioned by Giri during the game, that may look risky at first sight, but is not that bad after a deeper look. } 18. Ng3 Rb8 19. Nf5 Qf8 { Although White looks well here and had achieved that fancy square for his knight, it is unclear whether the knight really poses a serious challenge to Black. The knight needs to be careful of ... g7-g6 forcing it back. Black could also plan for the ... b5-b4 break followed by c6-c5. Overall, it's a complicated position for both colors. }) 18. Bb5 { Definitely not the only move here and probably not the best move. However, it keeps the spirit of the Ding – Giri game alive. } (18. dxc5 { is not recommended. After } 18... Qxc5 19. Ng3 { Black can get rid of his potentially weak pawn and go for a pawn break with } 19... d4!? 20. Nge4 Nxe4 21. Nxe4 Qb6 22. Qf2 Bd7 23. exd4 Nxd4 { and the position is equal. }) (18. Nf4!? { The best move, metioned by Caruana. } 18... cxd4 (18... Nxf4 19. exf4 Qf8 20. dxc5 Qxc5+ 21. Qf2 Qxf2+ 22. Kxf2 { Surprisingly, White is doing quite well here. White's pieces are well-developed and there is a clear target on d5. } 22... Bd7 23. Rxe8+ Rxe8 24. Rd1 $14 { Now, White can re-rout his bishop to the a2-g8 diagonal and use his doubled f-pawns. The goal would be to create a strong pawn avalanche on the kingside, pressure the f6-knight and further attack the d5-pawn. }) 19. exd4 Qd8 20. Nxe6 Bxe6 $14 { With a comfortable position for White. Black has some issues with the light squares on both sides and his bishop is staring at his own d5-pawn. However, Ding is an extremely strong player and it is likely that he would be able to hold this position. }) 18... Rd8 (18... Bd7 { This move looks logical but it may create unnecessary problems for Black. } 19. Bxd7 Qxd7 (19... Nxd7 20. Nxd5! Qd6 21. Ndc3 cxd4 22. Rd1 $14) 20. Na4) 19. dxc5 Qxc5 20. Qd2 Bd7 { Black is not forgetting about his piece development. Finally it's time for the bishop to get out. } (20... d4!? { This move looks both reasonable and risky. Black is happy to get rid of his pawn weakness; however, his underdeveloped pieces may struggle in an open position. } 21. exd4 Nxd4 22. Nxd4 Rxd4 23. Qf2 { Black has to be laser-focused here and not make a normal-looking yet terrible move: } 23... Bf5?? 24. Rd1! { Black is loosing a piece! } 24... Rad8 25. Ne2 $18) 21. Bxd7?! (21. Nd4 { is a safer option for White. It leads to an equal position. } 21... Nxd4 22. Qxd4 Qxd4 23. exd4) 21... Nxd7! { A big surprise from Ding! Nepomniachtchi called it “quite a move” at the press conference. This move works tactically and its power lies in the transfer of a somewhat useless f6-knight to much better pastures. } 22. Nd4 (22. Qxd5? Qxe3+ 23. Kh1 Ndc5 { and White's queen will be in big trouble. }) (22. Nxd5?? Nb6! { loses a knight immediately. There is no e3-e4 resource because of the pin. }) 22... Nb6 { Black's plan is pretty straightforward now: transfer the knight to c4 to attack the pawns on e3 and b2 as well as the queen on d2. } 23. Rd1 { An interesting move choice by Nepo. } 23... Nc4 24. Qf2 Rac8 { A natural move. Black got his last piece into the game and is now threatening ... Nc4xb2. } (24... Nxa3!? { An interesting but also risky idea for Black. } 25. e4! { White is a pawn down but ready to attack in the center. Black needs to be very accurate with his following moves. } 25... dxe4?? 26. Nxe6 Qxf2+ 27. Kxf2 fxe6 28. bxa3 $18) (24... b5 { is a nice positional sacrifice. } 25. Ncxb5 (25. Ndxb5 Nxe3 $19) 25... a4) 25. Na4 { White is forcing the queen to go away from her active square. } 25... Qe7 26. Rfe1!? { White is also concerned with his pieces, improving the last one! The rook on f1 was somewhat bored while now it is guarding the e3-pawn. } 26... Qf6 { Black is attacking the d4-knight. } (26... Qe8!? 27. Nc3 Nxa3 28. Nf5!? { attacking the pawn on d5 and allowing counterplay on the kingside with the idea of Qf2-g3. } (28. bxa3 Rxc3) 28... Rc5 29. Qg3 { threating to chop on h6 with the knight, and after } 29... Kf8 { there is a complicated game ahead. }) (26... Nxd4!? { This may have been the best choice for Black. Although to me it looks like a transformation to an equal endgame, the computer feels that Black is doing better. } 27. exd4 (27. Rxd4 b5! 28. Nc3 Qc5 { with some chances for Black. }) 27... Qf6 28. Nc5 b6 29. Nd3 Re8 $15) 27. Nb5! { A strong move that keeps the position in balance (according to the computer). Given the previous analysis, it is clear that White is happy to keep both knights on the board and not allowing the trads on d4. White's a4-knight also gets some credit now for defending the b2-pawn. } 27... Nc7 (27... d4!? { Ding mentioned that he also considered this move but found it too risky. } 28. exd4 Nf4 { The idea behind this pawn sacrifice is that Black gets excellent squares for his pieces. Black's activity should be enough for one pawn, but this decision is still risky. Given that Ding was just recovering from a loss, making a draw may have been a better practical decision in this World Championship match. }) 28. Nd4 Ne6 29. Nb5 Nc7 30. Nd4 Ne6 { 1/2-1/2 The game is a draw. } 1/2-1/2