[Event "Tournament"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/rUO"] [Date "2021.04.21"] [Round "10.1"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/broadcaster"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C88"] [Opening "Ruy Lopez: Closed, Anti-Marshall"] [StudyName "2020-21 Candidates Tournament Analysis - by GM Marian Petrov"] [ChapterName "Caruana, Fabiano - Ding, Liren"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/ldhgOlvJ/PQWlzA25"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 { Most of the time Caruana goes for Italian but lets see what he has prepared today in Ruy Lopez. } 3... a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4 (8. c3 d6 9. h3 { leads to the most popular lines where black has a big choice. }) 8... b4 (8... Bb7 9. d3 { is the other main line }) 9. a5 { not the most common move but white wants to stop black from Na5 } (9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 Na5 11. Ba2 c5) 9... d6 10. d3 Be6 11. Bxe6 (11. Nbd2 Rb8 12. Bc4 Qc8 13. Nf1 h6 { 1/2 (15) Zhigalko,S (2640)-Adams,M (2728) Khanty-Mansiysk 2010 }) 11... fxe6 12. c3 Rb8 13. Nbd2 Rb5 14. d4 bxc3 15. bxc3 exd4 16. cxd4 Qc8 { almost a new move so lets see what has black prepared for today } (16... Nb4 17. d5 Ng4 18. Rf1 c5 19. dxc6 Nxc6 { 1/2 (64) Amin,B (2709)-Ding,L (2812) Astana 2019 }) 17. Ba3 { Fabiano gives the pawn which maybe shows that he also has looked something at home in this position } 17... Nxa5 (17... Rxa5 18. Qc2 { and white has pressure on the c file }) 18. Qc2 c5 { now black managed to activate his pawn. Here Carlsen thought that white has compensation but black has a pawn and a safe position } 19. e5 dxe5 20. dxc5 (20. dxe5 Nd5 21. Ne4 Nc6 { and black has the edge }) 20... Nc6 21. Ne4 (21. Nxe5 Nxe5 22. Rxe5 Ng4 23. Re2 Bxc5 24. Bxc5 Rxc5 25. Qe4 { leads to equal game }) 21... Nxe4 22. Rxe4 Rd8 23. Rae1 Bf6 { black managed to keep the pawn and white has to fight for a draw } 24. h4 h6 25. R4e3 Rd5 26. g4 { Caruana has to play active to get counterplay } 26... Qe8! { defending the light squares } 27. Kg2 h5 28. g5 Be7 29. Nxe5 Bxc5 30. Bxc5 Rbxc5 { black managed to exchange few pieces and is trying to find way to play for a win } 31. Qg6 { the only chance is to trade the queens and attack the e pawn } 31... Qxg6 32. Nxg6 e5 33. f4 (33. Rf3 Rd8 34. Rf5 Re8 { allows black to defend his pawn }) 33... Rd2+ 34. R3e2 Rxe2+ 35. Rxe2 Nd4 (35... Kf7 36. f5 { and the knight is very strong }) (35... exf4 36. Nxf4) 36. Re4 { white has found a way to hold } (36. Rxe5?? Rxe5 37. Nxe5 a5 { is simply winning for black }) 36... Rc2+ 37. Kf1! (37. Kg3 Re2 { and black wins }) 37... Rc1+ 38. Kf2 Rc2+ 39. Kf1 Rc1+ 40. Kf2 Rc2+ { 1/2-1/2 The game is a draw. } 1/2-1/2