[Event "Tournament"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/6S9"] [Date "2021.04.20"] [Round "9.1"] [White "Alekseenko, Kirill"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/broadcaster"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C54"] [Opening "Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo"] [StudyName "2020-21 Candidates Tournament Analysis - by GM Marian Petrov"] [ChapterName "Alekseenko, Kirill - Caruana, Fabiano"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/ldhgOlvJ/dPgVbVqT"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 { The so called slow line in Italian game is well-known with the fact,that here there is a lot of long positional plans, but not much action at least in the beggining of the game. } 5... h6 6. O-O d6 7. Re1 O-O 8. h3 Bb6 (8... a5 9. Nbd2 Be6 10. Bb5 Qb8 11. Nf1 Qa7 12. Re2 { 1/2 (23) Caruana,F (2818) -Mamedyarov,S (2764) Saint Louis 2019 }) 9. Nbd2 { The move orders could vary, but the ideas are usually very similar for both sides. } 9... Ne7 (9... Re8 10. Bb3 Be6 { is also a good plan }) 10. d4 Nc6 (10... Ng6 { allows white to keep the tension in the centre }) 11. a4 a5 (11... exd4 12. cxd4 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Bxd4 14. Nb3! { and white has the edge }) 12. Ba2 { White gives the pawn with idea to play Nc4. This is a interesting new idea from Kiril } 12... exd4 13. Nc4 dxc3 (13... Ba7 14. cxd4 { and white has a nice game }) 14. Nxb6 c2 { After the game the Russian admitted that he underestimated this move in his preparation } (14... cxb2 15. Bxb2 cxb6 16. Nd4 $44 { and white has great compensation }) (14... cxb6 15. bxc3 { takes away b4 from the knight }) 15. Qxc2 cxb6 16. Bd2 Be6 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Qb3 Qe8 19. Qxb6 Nd7 20. Qe3 (20. Qxb7 Nc5 21. Qb5 Rxf3 22. gxf3 Qg6+ 23. Kh1 Nd4 24. Qf1 Nxf3 $40) 20... e5 { Black has to block the centre in order to find later outpost for his knight } 21. Qd3 Qe6 22. Nh4?! { Inaccuracy. Rac1 was best. } (22. Rac1 Nc5 23. Qc4) 22... Nc5 23. Qg3 Kh7 24. Rad1 (24. Nf5 Rf7) 24... g5 (24... Rf7) (24... Nxa4 25. Nf5 Rf7?? 26. Bxh6!! gxh6 27. Rxd6 { and white wins }) 25. Nf3 Rf7 { Caruana was happy in this moment because he has the initiative } (25... Nxa4 { Carlsen suggested that probably black could simpy take the pawn, but the engine finds some amazing resourses for white after } 26. Nxg5+ hxg5 27. Bxg5 Nc5 28. f4 $13) 26. Bc1?! { Inaccuracy. b3 was best. } (26. b3 Nxb3 27. Be3 Rc8 28. Qg4 Qxg4 29. hxg4 Nc5 30. Rxd6 Nxe4 31. Rd3 Kg7 32. Nd2 Nf6) 26... Raf8? { Mistake. Nxa4 was best., like later admitted Fabiano } (26... Nxa4 27. Nh2 Nd4 28. Ng4 Nc5 $17) 27. Qg4 Qxg4 28. hxg4 Rf6 29. Be3 Nxa4 (29... Nxe4 30. Bb6 Rf4 31. Be3 Rxg4 32. Nh2 Rh4 { looks a bit risky for black and white probably can force a draw }) 30. Rd5! { Very nice idea,which is not easy to find. White just plays for activity } 30... Nxb2 31. Rc1! (31. Rb1 Nc4 32. Rxb7+ R6f7 33. Rxf7+ Rxf7 34. Nd2 Nxe3 35. fxe3 a4 36. Rxd6 Nb4 $17 { Black is much better }) 31... R8f7 32. Rc2 Na4 33. Rc4 Nb2 34. Rc2 Na4 35. Rc4 Nc5 { the only move if black want to win } 36. Bxc5 dxc5 37. Rcxc5 Re7 (37... Re6) 38. Nxe5 Nxe5 39. Rxe5 Rxe5 40. Rxe5 { now this is equal } 40... Ra6 (40... b6 41. Kf1) 41. Re7+ Kg6 42. Rxb7 { white can take the pawn and to go back to stop the a pawn } 42... a4 43. f3 a3 44. Rb1 a2 45. Ra1 Kf6 46. Kf2 { The king has to be activated or else black would walk to b2 with his king } 46... Ke5 47. Ke3 Ra8 48. Kd3 Kf4 49. Kc4 Kg3 50. e5 { it looks sharp but this issimple draw as both payers has only moves and it is hard to make a mistake } 50... Kxg2 51. e6 Kxf3 52. Kd5 Kxg4 53. e7 Kf3 54. Rxa2 Re8 55. Ke6 g4 56. Kf7 Rxe7+ 57. Kxe7 g3 58. Kf6 g2 59. Rxg2 Kxg2 { 1/2-1/2 The game is a draw. } 1/2-1/2