1.e4e62.d4d53.exd5...The French Exchange has a drawish
reputation. Both sides have reasonable piece activity and are
free of tangible weakness.3....exd54.Nf3Nf65.Bd3c56.c3c47.Bc2Bd68.Qe2+...8.O-OO-O9.h3Nc610.Bg5h611.Bh4b512.Re1a513.Ne5Ra614.Nd2Bc715.Qf3Ne716.b3a417.bxa4bxa418.Nf1a3and White's attack prevailed in this
year's Nakamura-Abasov Candidates Tournament match.8....Qe79.Qxe7+Kxe710.O-ORe811.Re1+Kf812.Rxe8+Kxe8The
exchanges leave little room for further progress.13.Bg5Nbd714.Nbd2h615.Bh4Nh516.Re1+Kf817.g4Nf418.Bg3Nb619.g5hxg520.Nxg5Bd721.Ngf3Re822.Ne5Bxe523.dxe5?...23.Rxe5was imperative:Rxe524.dxe5Ba425.Bxa4Ne2+26.Kf1Nxg3+27.fxg3Nxa428.Ke2Nxb229.Ke3Nd1+30.Kd4Ke731.Nf3Ke632.Ng5+Ke733.Nh3f634.exf6+Kxf635.Nf4Kf536.Nxd5Kg437.Kxc4Kh338.Nf4+Kxh239.g4Kg340.Nh5+Kxg441.Nxg7with a draw.23....Nd3!24.Bxd3cxd325.f3Nc426.Nxc4dxc427.Re4Bc6?!27...Rc8!was the best way to
retain the pawn:28.Rd4Be629.Bf2Kg830.Be3Kh731.Kf2Kg632.Kg3Rc533.Kf4Ra534.a3Rb535.Bc1Kh5and Black's
prospects are quite strong.28.Rd4Bxf329.Kf2Bc6?Losing all hope for a win.29...Bh5!!30.Ke3b531.b3Rc832.Rh4g633.Rd4g534.h4where Black's hopes of
converting his extra pawn are mitigated by the presence of
bishops on opposite color squares.30.Rxc4Rd831.Rd4Rxd432.cxd4Bd533.b3Ke734.Ke3Ke635.Kxd3g6With the
bishops unable to come into conflict there is no forward
progress to be had.36.Kc3a637.Kd3Kf538.Ke3Ke639.Kd3Kf540.Ke3Ke6Draw by threefold repetition of the
position.