[Event "FIDE Women's World Chess Championship"] [Site "Shanghai"] [Date "2023.07.12"] [Round "6"] [White "Ju, Wenjun"] [Black "Lei, Tingjie"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2564"] [BlackElo "2554"] [Annotator "IM Nazi Paikidze"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D32"] [Opening "Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/DIriaEIZ/AT1k3P13"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. cxd5 { White prevents Black from playing an eventual ... d5xc4. This early exchange avoids the Vienna Variation that we saw in round four of the match. } 3... exd5 4. Nc3 c5 { The Tarrasch Defense has been gaining popularity recently amongst the top players in the world. } 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. dxc5 (6. g3 { is considered the main line in this opening } 6... Nf6 7. Bg2 Be7 8. O-O O-O { with thousands of games in the database. }) 6... d4 { The most principled response for Black. } 7. Na4 Bxc5 { The quickest way to get the pawn back! } 8. Nxc5 Qa5+ 9. Bd2 (9. Qd2 { is also an interesting option for White: } 9... Qxc5 10. a3 Nge7 11. b4 Qb6 12. Bb2 O-O 13. Bxd4 Nxd4 14. Qxd4 Nc6 15. Qb2 a5 16. b5 a4 17. e3 { was a draw in So – Artemiev, Chess24.com, 2021. }) 9... Qxc5 10. e3!? { Played by Magnus Carlsen a few times in blitz. } (10. Rc1 { is the more common move here. } 10... Qb6 11. e3 $14 { with hundreds of games in the database. White is slightly preferable. }) 10... dxe3 11. Bxe3 Qb4+ 12. Qd2 Qxd2+ 13. Bxd2 (13. Nxd2 { is also playable } 13... Nge7 14. Bc4 O-O 15. O-O { but Black equalizes comfortably. }) 13... Nge7 14. Bc4 O-O 15. O-O-O!? { White creates some intrigue in this equal endgame. } 15... a6 { Preparing ... b7-b5 to kick White's bishop from a good diagonal. } 16. b3 { A prophylactic move, creating some room for White's king to hide on b2. } 16... Bf5 17. Kb2 b5 18. Be2 Rfd8 19. Rhe1 Rac8 (19... Bd3!? 20. Bxd3 Rxd3 { This is an interesting trade for Black, but Tingjie possibly didn't want to commit to a two knights versus knight-and-bishop endgame just yet. }) 20. Bg5 f6 21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. Bd2 { This move is a bit surprising, the retreat to the e3-square looked more natural: } (22. Be3 { if } 22... Bd3 (22... Nd5 23. Rd1 Nxe3?! 24. Rxd8+ Nxd8 25. fxe3 $14 { with better chances for White }) 23. Nd4! Bxe2 (23... Nxd4?! 24. Bxd3 $14 { two bishops vs two knights is definitely easier to play for White. }) 24. Nxc6 Nxc6 25. Rxe2 { , this is still an objectively equal endgame, but the bishop is slightly better than the knight in this open position. }) 22... Bd3 23. Bd1 { Avoiding trades at all costs. } 23... Kf7 (23... g5!? 24. h3 Kf7 { Since White's last two moves were passive, Black could try this aggressive continuation and follow it up with ... h7-h5. }) 24. h4! { Stopping ... g7-g5! } 24... h5 25. a3 g6 26. Be3 Be4 27. Bb6 Rd7 28. Rxe4 Rxd1 { White managed to exchange a knight for a bishop, but it didn't increase White's winning chances. Black is very solid with the two knights and an active rook. } 29. Bc5 Rd5 30. Bxe7 Nxe7 { Total equality. } 31. a4 Nc6 (31... bxa4 { even taking on a4 would keep the endgame equal } 32. Rxa4 a5) 32. axb5 axb5 33. Kc2 g5 { Pushing your pawns too far in the endgame can be weakening, but with the rook on d5 controlling the fifth rank, Black has no reason to be afraid. } 34. hxg5 fxg5 35. Nd2 Re5 { Simplifying the position even more. } 36. Rxe5 Nxe5 37. Ne4 Kg6 38. Kd2 Nc6 39. Ke3 h4 40. f3 Na5 41. Nc3 b4 42. Nd5 Nxb3 43. Nxb4 g4 { Trading the last remaining pawns and forcing a draw. } 44. fxg4 Kg5 45. Nd3 Kxg4 46. Ne5+ Kg3 47. Ng6 Kxg2 48. Nxh4+ { Both players played a very solid game, Black equalized easily in the opening and a draw was the logical outcome. I am looking forward to more exciting games in the second half of the match! } 1/2-1/2