[Event "FIDE Candidates Tournament"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/fhBzjnqz/XBb4wzQJ"] [Date "2022.06.21"] [Round "4.4"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2806"] [WhiteTeam "China"] [BlackElo "2783"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [Annotator "Aagaard"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "D38"] [Opening "Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense, Alekhine Variation"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/fhBzjnqz/XBb4wzQJ"] [Orientation "white"] { Caruana surprised Ding in the opening with a small novelty. Ding replied with his usual classical strengths and got a small advantage. But it was not enough to ever bring Black close to defeat. A good solid game for Fabiano. } 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Qa4+ { This line has been topical for a while now. I always felt it looked a bit harmless. } 5... Nc6 6. e3 O-O 7. Qc2 { This is supposed to be the key move. } (7. Bd2 dxc4 8. Bxc4 Bd6 { and 9...e5 is well-regarded for Black. }) 7... Na5!? { So rare it is almost a novelty. } (7... Re8 { has been the main line up till now. }) 8. c5 b6 9. Bd2 (9. a3!? { is likely more critical. The line goes: } 9... Bxc3+ 10. Qxc3 Ne4 (10... e5!?) 11. Qc2 bxc5 12. b4!? cxb4 13. axb4 Nb7 14. Bd3 Bd7 15. Ne5 h6 { and Black looks more or less fine. }) 9... Nc4 $146 (9... bxc5 10. a3 Bxc3 11. Bxc3 Nc6 12. dxc5 $14 { Santos Ruiz - Bluebaum, Internet 2019. }) 10. a3 Nxd2 11. Nxd2 Bxc3 12. Qxc3 a5 13. Rc1 Ba6 14. cxb6 cxb6 15. Bxa6 Rxa6 16. O-O Ra8 { Black has not fully equalized, but Caruana must have decided that the limited amount of material would make the tiny amount of suffering worth while. } 17. Qb3 Rc8?! { A slightly risky and unnecessary pawn sacrifice. } (17... Qd7! 18. Rc3 Rfc8 { would have been solid. }) 18. Rxc8 Qxc8 19. Qxb6 a4 $14 20. Qb4 Qc2 21. b3 { The exchange of the a-pawn feels as if it helps Black. It is far more difficult to imagine a scenario where White wins now. } (21. Nb1 h5 22. Nc3 h4 23. h3 Ra8 { would give Black sufficient compensation. He would still be the one to hold. }) 21... axb3 22. Nxb3 Ne4 23. a4 Qc4! { Simplifying to a rook ending; one of the most drawable endings. } 24. Qxc4 dxc4 25. Nc5 (25. f3 cxb3 26. fxe4 Ra8 27. Rb1 Rxa4 28. Rxb3 h5 $14 { should also end in a draw. }) 25... Nxc5 26. dxc5 Ra8 27. Rb1 Kf8 28. Rb4 c3 29. Rc4 Ke7 30. Kf1 c2 31. Rxc2 Rxa4 32. Rb2 { Ding Liren has to push, out of principle, even if the pawn offers little winning chances. } 32... Ra7 33. Ke2 Kd7 { The king comes over to cover the passed pawn. } 34. Rb8 Rc7 35. Rh8 Ke7 36. Rxh7 g6 37. h4 Rxc5 38. Rh8 f5 39. Rh7+ Kf6 40. Kf3 Rc4 41. g3 Ra4 42. Rd7 g5 { The draw is secured. White cannot create a passed pawn without exchanging all the other pawns. } 43. hxg5+ Kxg5 44. Rd4 Ra3 45. g4 fxg4+ 46. Rxg4+ Kf6 47. Rf4+ Ke7 48. Kg4 Ra5 49. Rb4 Kf6 50. f4 Ra1 51. e4 Rg1+ 52. Kf3 Rf1+ 53. Ke3 Re1+ 54. Kf2 Ra1 55. Rb6 Kf7 56. Kf3 Ra3+ 57. Kg4 Ra1 58. f5 Rg1+ 59. Kf4 Rf1+ 60. Ke5 exf5 61. Rb7+ Kg6 62. Rb6+ Kf7 63. Rb7+ Kg6 64. Rb6+ { 1/2-1/2 The game is a draw. } 1/2-1/2