[Event "Round 10: Richard Rapport - Liren Ding"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2022.06.18"] [White "Richard Rapport"] [Black "Liren Ding"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Bajarani,Ulvi"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C77"] [Opening "Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Anderssen Variation"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/GOhAdjoj/fgbmowbt"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 d6 9. c3 Ba7 10. O-O Na5 11. Bc2 c5 $146 { The logical novelty solidifing the center. } (11... g5 { was played by Burke against Caruana. } 12. Bg3 Nh5 13. a4 Nxg3 14. hxg3 b4 (14... Nc6?? 15. axb5 axb5 16. Na3 $18 { 1-0 (29) Caruana, F (2800)-Burke,J (2554) Saint Louis 2021 }) 15. cxb4 Nc6 16. b5 Ne7 17. Nc3 (17. d4? Ng6 18. dxe5 g4 19. Nd4 Nxe5 $15) 17... Ng6 18. Nd5 { It is necessary to close the dark-squared bishop. } 18... g4 19. b6! { The idea behind of the previous move. } 19... cxb6 20. Nh4 Nxh4 21. gxh4 Qxh4 22. g3 Qh3 23. d4 b5 24. Ra3 Bxd4 25. Rd3 $44) 12. Nbd2 g5 { Black starts the activity on the kingside. According to the Steinitz's theory, the side game is acceptable when the center is solid enough, which might be seen in this position. } 13. Bg3 Nh5 14. a3 { Preparing b2-b4. } (14. Kh1!? $132 { removing the king from the "a7-g1" diagonal deserves an attention. }) 14... Rb8! { The multi-functional move. One of the ideas is to bring the rook from the 7th file, which is implemented in the game. } 15. Kh1 Rb7 { Maybe, Ding Liren has decided to keep the king on the center. } (15... c4!? { leads to complex positions after } 16. b3!? cxd3 17. Bxd3 Nc6 18. b4 Nf4 19. Bxf4 exf4 20. a4 g4 21. axb5 axb5 22. Ng1 O-O 23. Ne2 Qg5 24. g3 f3 25. Nf4 Bb6 26. e5 dxe5 27. Ne4 Qd8 28. Nd5 Ne7 29. Nef6+ Kg7 $132) (15... O-O!? { looks promising for Black. } 16. h3 (16. b4 Nc6 17. bxc5 Bxc5 18. h3 Bb6 19. Nh2 Nf4 20. Bxf4 gxf4 $15) (16. Ng1 Nxg3+ 17. fxg3 c4 18. b4 cxb3 19. Nxb3 Nc6 20. d4 g4 21. Ne2 Kg7 22. Bd3 $132) 16... Qf6 $15 (16... Nf4 17. Bxf4 exf4 18. e5 dxe5 19. Nxe5 Qf6 20. Nef3 g4 21. hxg4 Bxg4 22. b4 Nc6 23. bxc5 Qxc3 24. d4 Nxd4 25. Ne4 Bxf3 26. gxf3 Qxf3+ 27. Qxf3 Nxf3 28. Nf6+ Kg7 29. Nd7 Rbc8 $132) 17. b4 Nc6 18. bxc5 dxc5 19. d4 cxd4 20. cxd4 Nxg3+ 21. fxg3 Qd6 22. d5 Nd4 23. Nxd4 Bxd4 24. Ra2 $132) 16. b4 $132 Nc6 17. Bb3?! { The start of unnecessary Bc2-b3-d5 maneuver. } (17. bxc5!? { Opening the center is better. The following variations lead to the complex variations: } 17... Nxg3+ (17... dxc5? 18. Bxe5 O-O 19. Bg3 $14) (17... Bxc5 18. d4 exd4 19. e5 d3 20. Bxd3 dxe5 21. Qe2 Qe7 22. c4 g4 23. Qe4 $132) 18. fxg3! (18. hxg3? Bxc5 $15 { with h5-h4. }) 18... Bxc5 19. d4 exd4 20. cxd4 Nxd4 21. e5 $132) 17... Rc7 { Preparing against the pawn structure transformations and moving the rook away from the Bb3-d5 pin. } (17... O-O!? 18. bxc5 Bxc5 $132) 18. Bd5? { There is no necessity on this move. } (18. bxc5 { Again, it has been possible to transform the pawn structure. } 18... Bxc5 19. a4 O-O 20. axb5 axb5 21. h3 $132) 18... g4?! { gives White the chance to activate the dark-squared bishop with Bg3-h4. } (18... cxb4 19. axb4 O-O $15 { is more balanced. } 20. d4!? (20. Bxc6 Rxc6 21. c4 Rc7 $15) 20... g4 (20... Nxg3+ 21. fxg3 exd4 (21... g4 22. Nh4 Ne7 23. Nb3 $132) 22. Bxc6 dxc3 23. Bd5 cxd2 24. Qxd2 Qf6 25. h4 Qc3 26. Qxc3 Rxc3 27. hxg5 Kg7 28. g6 fxg6 29. Rfc1 Rxc1+ 30. Rxc1 Bb8 31. Nd4 $44 { with good draw chances for White. }) 21. Bh4 Qd7 22. dxe5 dxe5 23. Bxc6 Qxc6 24. Nxe5 Qe6 25. f4 Rxc3 26. Nb1 Rc7 $15) (18... O-O!? { is also an option. } 19. bxc5 Bxc5 20. Bxc6 Rxc6 21. a4 b4 22. cxb4 Bxb4 23. Nc4 a5 24. Ne3 Re8 $15) 19. Bh4 { White uses the provided chance to activate its bishop. } (19. Nh4 { is another option. } 19... Ne7 20. bxc5 Rxc5 21. d4 exd4 22. Nb3 Rc7 23. Nxd4 Nxd5 24. exd5 Bxd4 25. cxd4 (25. Qxd4 O-O $15) 25... Nxg3+ 26. hxg3 Qg5 $132) 19... Ne7 (19... Qd7!? 20. Ng1 cxb4 21. axb4 Ne7 { leads to the transposition. See the comments to the 21... Rxc3!? move. }) 20. Ng1 { White prepares the break on the "f"-file. } (20. bxc5?! { The piece sacrifice doesn't work due to the following variations: } 20... gxf3 21. Nxf3 (21. Qxf3 Nf4 22. d4 Rg8 23. c4 Rg6 24. h3 Qd7 25. Bg3 Nc6 26. Nb3 bxc4 27. Bxc4 Nxh3 28. Rac1 Ng5 29. Qe2 Nxd4 30. Nxd4 Bxc5 $17) 21... Nf4 22. Bf6 Bxc5! 23. Bxh8 Nexd5 24. exd5 Ke7 25. d4 Bb6 26. Bg7 (26. c4 Qxh8 (26... Rxc4 27. Nxe5 dxe5 28. d6+ Kf8 29. Bxe5 Qg5 30. Qf3 Ng6 31. Qa8 Qf5 $15) 27. c5 Bxc5 28. dxc5 Rxc5 29. Rc1 Rxd5 30. Rc7+ Bd7 $15) 26... Qg8 27. g3 Nh3 28. Nxe5 Qxg7 29. Nc6+ Kf8 30. f3 Qg5 31. Qc1 Qh5 $15) 20... cxb4?! 21. axb4 Rxc3!? { Gives White a counterplay. } (21... Qd7 { with the Ne7-g6 idea deserved an attention. For example, } 22. f3 (22. c4?! Ng6 23. Bg3 Nhf4 $15) (22. Bxe7 Qxe7 23. Ne2 Nf6 24. c4 h5 25. Ng3 $132) 22... Nf4 (22... Ng6 23. fxg4 Qxg4 24. Qxg4 Bxg4 25. Bf2 Bxf2 26. Rxf2 Nhf4 27. Rxa6 Nxd3 28. Rf1 Rf8 $132) 23. fxg4 Qxg4 24. Qxg4 Bxg4 25. Rxa6 Be3 26. Nb1 Nfxd5 27. exd5 Nxd5 28. Rxd6 Rd7 29. Rxd7 Kxd7 $44) (21... f6!? { is another option with the same Ne7-g6 idea. } 22. f3 Ng6 23. fxg4 Nhf4 24. Ndf3 (24. Bg3 h5 25. Bxf4 Nxf4 26. Rxf4 exf4 27. gxh5 Bxg1 28. Kxg1 Rxc3 29. Nf3 Qb6+ 30. d4 Rxh5 31. Qd2 Rxf3 32. gxf3 $132) 24... Bxg1 25. Kxg1 Rxc3 26. Be1 Rxd3 27. Qc2 $44) 22. Ne2 (22. f4!? Bxg1 (22... Nxf4? 23. Ne2! { the idea behind 22. f4!? } (23. Rxf4?? { doesn't work: } 23... exf4 24. Bf6 Rxd3 25. Bxh8 Nxd5 26. exd5 Be3 27. Ra2 Bf5 $19) 23... Nfxd5 24. exd5 Rxd3 25. Qc2 Re3 26. Ne4 Rxe4 27. Qxe4 f5 28. Qd3 $14) 23. fxe5 O-O 24. Rxg1 dxe5 25. Nb3 Qd6 26. Nc5 Nxd5 27. exd5 Qxd5 28. Qd2 Rxc5 29. bxc5 Kh7 $44) 22... Rc7 23. f4 f6 24. fxe5 { makes the bishop on the "d5"-square vulnerable. It is better to keep the structure closed. } (24. f5!? Nxd5 25. exd5 Bb7 26. Ne4 O-O 27. N2g3 Nxg3+ 28. Nxg3 Bxd5 29. Nh5 (29. Rxa6 Kh7 30. Ne4 (30. Qxg4 Rg8 31. Qe2 Qc8 32. Rxd6 Rc2 33. Qxc2 Qxc2 34. Rd7+ Rg7 35. Rxd5 $132) 30... Bxe4 31. dxe4 Bd4 32. Qxg4 Rg8 33. Qe2 Rc3 34. Be1 Re3 35. Qxb5 Qc7 $132) 29... Kh7 30. Rxa6 Be3 (30... Bd4 31. Qxg4 Rg8 32. Nxf6+ Qxf6 33. Qxg8+ Kxg8 34. Bxf6 Rc2 35. Rg1 Kf7 $132) 31. Qe2 Bg5 32. Bxg5 hxg5 33. Qxg4 Kh8 $44) (24. Qe1!? Nxd5 25. exd5 O-O 26. Ne4 Nxf4 27. Nxf4 exf4 28. Rxf4 Bd4 29. Rd1 Qe7 30. Qf1 Qh7 31. Rxf6 (31. Nxd6 Be5 32. Nxc8 Bxf4 33. Qxf4 Rcxc8 34. Qxg4+ Qg7 35. Qf3 a5! 36. bxa5 b4 $132) 31... Bxf6 32. Nxf6+ Kg7) 24... dxe5 25. Ng3 { the idea behind 24. fxe5. } 25... Nxg3+ (25... Nf4 26. Bxf6 Rf8 27. Bxe5 Nxd3 28. Bxc7 Qxc7 29. Bf7+ Rxf7 30. Rxf7 Bf5 31. Qb3 Nf2+ 32. Kg1 Nxe4+ 33. Kh1 Nf2+) 26. hxg3 Rf8 27. Rxf6?! { Weakens White in the kingside. } (27. Rc1!? { is another option to trade rooks. } 27... Qd6 28. Rxc7 Qxc7 29. Nb3 Be3 $132) 27... Rxf6 28. Bxf6 Qd6 $15 29. Qf1 Bd4?! { Allows White to equalize chances. } (29... Ng6!? { creates some practical problems for White. } 30. Re1 Be6 (30... Nf4!? 31. Bh4 Ng6 32. Bf6 { leads to the transposition. }) 31. d4 Bxd4 32. Nb3 Bxd5 33. exd5 (33. Nxd4 Rf7 34. exd5 Rxf6 { is the transposition. }) 33... Rf7 34. Nxd4 Rxf6 35. Qe2 Qxd5 36. Qxg4 Qc4 37. Qe4 Kf8 38. Qa8+ Kg7 39. Nf3 Qxb4 40. Rc1 e4 41. Rc7+ Rf7 42. Rxf7+ Kxf7 43. Qd5+ Kg7 44. Nd4 e3 45. Nf5+ Kf6 46. Nd4 $15 { with good draw chances for White. }) 30. Bf7+! $132 Kd7 (30... Kd8 31. Rd1 Be6 32. Bh4 Kd7 33. Nb3 Bxb3 34. Bxb3 Qxb4 35. Qf7 Kc8 36. Rf1 Kb7 37. Kh2 $44) 31. Rd1 Rc2 (31... Qxb4 32. Bh4 Rc2 33. Qf6 Rc6 34. Qh8 Qxd2 35. Rxd2 Rc1+ 36. Kh2 Bg1+) 32. Bb3 Rc7 33. Nc4?! { The risky decision to open the "d"-file. } (33. Bf7 { it has been possible to transpose the position back with 33. Bf7. }) (33. Bh4 { is another option. } 33... Kc6 34. Rc1+ Kb7 35. Bxe7 Qxe7 36. Bd5+ Kb6 37. Rxc7 Kxc7 38. Qc1+ Kb8 39. Nb3 Bf2 40. Qc6 Bxg3 41. Qa8+ Kc7 42. Qa7+ Kd8 43. Qb6+ Qc7 44. Qf6+ Qe7) 33... bxc4 34. dxc4 Rc6 35. Ba4 Kc7 36. Bxc6 Nxc6 $15 { Although White can equalize the game in the complex position, Black has more chances and it is easy to play for Black. } 37. b5 Nb4 (37... Na5 38. c5!? (38. Bh4!? axb5 39. cxb5 Be6 40. Rc1+ Kb6 41. Kh2 $132) 38... Qe6 39. Rxd4 exd4 40. Qf4+ Kb7 41. Bd8 Nc4 42. c6+ Ka8 43. Qc7 d3 44. b6 Nxb6 45. Qxb6 d2 46. Qd4 Qa2 47. Kh2 Qc2 48. Bb6 d1=Q (48... Qxc6 49. Ba5) 49. Qg7 Qxg2+ 50. Kxg2 Qf3+ 51. Kh2 Qe2+ 52. Kg1) (37... axb5 38. cxb5 Na5 39. Kh2!? $132) 38. c5 $132 Qe6 39. Bh4 Bxc5 40. Rc1 Qd6 41. Qc4?! { Although it is the possible move, it is the first step to the loss. } (41. Kh2!? $132) (41. Rd1 Bd4 42. Qf7+ Kb6 43. Be7 Qc7 44. Qf8 Qc2 45. Rxd4 exd4 46. Bxb4 Kxb5 47. Be1) 41... Nd3 42. Rc3?? { The decisive blunder. } (42. Be7 { is the only move saving the game. } 42... Qxe7 (42... Nf2+ 43. Kh2 Qxe7 44. Qxc5+ Qxc5 45. Rxc5+) 43. Qxd3 Kb6 (43... Qd6 44. Qc4 Kb6 45. bxa6 Bxa6 $132) 44. bxa6 Bxa6 45. Qd5 Bb5 46. Kh2 Qd6 $132) 42... axb5 43. Qxd3 (43. Qxb5 Nf2+ 44. Kh2 Nxe4 $19) 43... Qxd3 44. Rxd3 Bd4 $19 { White is helpless against the passed "b"-pawn and even the opposite-colored bishops don't help. } 45. Bf6 (45. Rd1 Bb7 46. Rb1 Kb6 47. Bd8+ Ka6 $19) 45... Kb6 46. Rxd4 exd4 47. Bxd4+ Ka5 48. Kg1 b4 49. Kf2 Ka4 50. Ke3 Kb3 51. Kf4 Kc2 52. Ke5 b3 53. Kd6 Kd3 54. Ba1 Kxe4 55. Kc5 Kd3 { 0-1 Black wins. } (55... Kb4 56. Kc2 Ka3 57. Bb7 Bg7 58. h5 Bf6 59. Bxg2 Bd4 60. h4 gxh4 61. g3 h5 62. Be4 h6 63. g2 $19) 0-1