[Event "2024 FIDE World Championship"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2024.11.26"] [Round "2"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Gukesh D"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2728"] [BlackElo "2783"] [TimeControl "40/7200:1800+30"] [Annotator "rafael"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C50"] [Opening "Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Italian Four Knights Variation"] [StudyName "Sai Prahlad K - Analysis"] [ChapterName "Ding, Liren - Gukesh D"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/cpFtNhCu/2vCQcRnu"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%eval 0.18] } { Ding can play all three pawn moves (1.e4, 1.d4, and 1.c4), but opening with the king pawn was a bit of a surprise to me, as it's the one he plays the least. Furthermore, after his win with Black in the first game, one would expect him to avoid the sharp play resulting from a Sicilian defense, for example. But Gukesh decides to play solid, which is a good strategy after a loss. } 1... e5 { [%eval 0.21] } 2. Nf3 { [%eval 0.13] } 2... Nc6 { [%eval 0.17] } 3. Bc4 { [%eval 0.08] } 3... Bc5 { [%eval 0.2] } 4. d3 { [%eval 0.16] } 4... Nf6 { [%eval 0.1] } 5. Nc3 { [%eval 0.08] } { This is the first time Ding has played this move. It's White's third most popular choice. } 5... a6 { [%eval 0.14] } 6. a4 { [%eval 0.05] } 6... d6 { [%eval 0.11] } 7. O-O { [%eval 0.0] } { As always in the Italian opening, several move orders and alternatives are possible, although the game's character doesn't change much. } 7... h6 { [%eval 0.15] } { Preventing problems with the bishop's pin on g5. } (7... Bg4 { is critical, but after } 8. h3 Bh5 9. Nd5! (9. g4?! { leads to good play for Black in a complicated position after } 9... Nxg4! 10. hxg4 Bxg4 11. Be3 Qf6 12. Kg2 { as in Kosteniuk-Kantor, CrunchLab Masters Chess.com rapid 2024. }) 9... Nxd5 (9... Nd4 { can be answered by } 10. g4) 10. Bxd5 { followed by c2-c3, preventing any knight jump to d4. White is fighting for a small advantage. }) (7... O-O { is also possible. The machine isn't too concerned with 8.Bg5. }) 8. Be3 { [%eval 0.1] [%csl Gc2,Gd3,Ge4,Be5,Bd6,Bc7,Bc6,Bf6,Bc5,Gc4,Gc3,Gf3] } 8... Be6 { [%eval 0.18] [%csl Gc4,Gc3,Ge3,Gf3,Gc2,Gd3,Ge4,Be5,Bd6,Bc7,Bc6,Bc5,Be6,Bf6] } (8... O-O { was played in an important game. White had a tiny edge after } 9. Bxc5 dxc5 10. Nd5 Be6 11. Ne3 { So-Robson, USA-ch Saint Louis 2023. }) 9. a5 { [%eval 0.13] } { A new move, gaining space on the queenside and inviting Black to sharpen the game. Praggnanandhaa tried two alternatives but failed to get any advantage: } (9. Bxe6 fxe6 10. d4 (10. Bxc5 dxc5 { The doubled pawns are more of a strength than a weakness, as they control the central squares. }) 10... exd4 11. Nxd4 Qd7 { with a comfortable position for Black in Praggnanandhaa-Giri, Tata Steel Wijk aan Zee 2023. }) (9. Nd5 Bxe3 10. fxe3 O-O 11. a5 Bxd5 12. exd5 Ne7 13. e4 Ng6 { Black was OK in Praggnanandhaa-Lazavik, PRO League Chess.com rapid 2023. }) 9... Bxc4 { [%eval 0.22] } (9... O-O { is also possible. White still needs to demonstrate the advantages of the move a4-a5. }) 10. dxc4 { [%eval 0.09] } { An important moment in the game, as Black has a few options. } 10... O-O { [%eval 0.3] } (10... Bxe3 { It's possible to capture first, changing the pawn structure. } 11. fxe3 O-O { White has good central control, but Black has a good plan with Nb8-d7 and maybe Nc5 later. The position is balanced. }) (10... Bb4!? { This is a critical move since Black wins a pawn. Ding's team certainly analyzed it, and it's no surprise that Gukesh wasn't keen on playing it. } 11. Nd5 Nxe4 (11... Bxa5? { allows White a dangerous attack after } 12. Nh4!) 12. Qd3! Nc5 13. Qf5 Ne6 { with complicated play in a double-edged position. }) 11. Bxc5 { [%eval 0.3] } 11... dxc5 { [%eval 0.36] [%csl Ga5] } 12. b3 { [%eval 0.29] } { A good and solid move, reinforcing the pawn on c4. } { [%csl Ge5,Ge4,Gc5,Gc4,Gc3,Gf3,Gf6,Gc6] } 12... Qxd1 { [%eval 0.22] } 13. Rfxd1 { [%eval 0.29] } 13... Rad8 { [%eval 0.42] } 14. Rdc1 { [%eval 0.3] } { Somewhat strange looking, but White prevents the rook exchange and wants to play Ne1-d3. } (14. Ne1!? { Immediately playing this move is also possible, likely leading to a draw: } 14... Rxd1 15. Rxd1 Nxa5 16. Nd3 Rd8 (16... Nd7 17. Nd5 { regains the pawn. }) 17. Nxc5 Rxd1+ 18. Nxd1 Kf8 { with not much material left. }) 14... Nd4 { [%eval 0.31] [%cal Rf3d4,Rf3e5,Gf3e1] } 15. Ne1! { [%eval 0.31] } (15. Nxd4 Rxd4) (15. Nxe5 Rfe8 (15... Nxe4 16. Nxe4 Ne2+ 17. Kf1 Nxc1 18. Rxc1 Rfe8 19. f4 f6) 16. f4 Nxe4 17. Nxe4 Ne2+ 18. Kf1 Nxf4) 15... Rd6 { [%eval 0.37] [%csl Gd6] } 16. Kf1 { [%eval 0.24] [%csl Ge2][%cal Gf1e2] } (16. f3 { followed by Kf2 looks logical. }) 16... g6 { [%eval 0.33] } (16... g5 { is a bit more aggressive and lively, but at this point, Gukesh was probably already thinking about holding the draw. }) 17. Rd1 { [%eval 0.16] } 17... Rfd8 { [%eval 0.35] } 18. f3 { [%eval 0.37] [%csl Ge4,Gc2,Ge2] } 18... Kg7 { [%eval 0.39] } 19. Kf2 { [%eval 0.21] } 19... h5 { [%eval 0.38] } 20. Ne2 { [%eval 0.01] } (20. h4 { White could play for a win, stopping the kingside and trying to outmaneuver his opponent, but it's really very little to play for. }) 20... Nc6 { [%eval 0.01] } 21. Nc3 { [%eval 0.05] } 21... Nd4 { [%eval 0.45] } 22. Ne2 { [%eval 0.0] } 22... Nc6 { [%eval 0.17] } 23. Nc3 { [%eval 0.0] } 23... Nd4 { [%eval 0.43] } { Not a very exciting duel, but this was expected after the fireworks in the first game. } 1/2-1/2