[Event "Candidates Tournament 2020: Round 2 Gam"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/1sG"] [Date "2020.03.18"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/BlueRepublik"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C88"] [Opening "Ruy Lopez: Closed"] [StudyName "2020-21 Candidates Tournament Analysis - by GM Marian Petrov"] [ChapterName "Ding Liren - Caruana Fabiano 1-0"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/ldhgOlvJ/ePCTtW7B"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3 Bb7 { This is one of the pet lines of Ding. } 9. d3 { If white goes for c3 and d4 the bishop on b7 will be more active } 9... d6 { Perhaps better was Na5, winning White's light squared Bishop, which is a very strong piece. } 10. a3 Qd7 11. Nc3 Rfe8 12. Bd2 Nd8 13. Nd5 { White moves into d5 and now black has to trade the knight } 13... Nxd5 14. exd5 c5 15. a4 (15. dxc6 Bxc6 16. Bc3 Ne6) 15... f5? { A seemingly natural looking move, gaining space and controlling more of the center. Nxe5 isn't an immediate threat which is likely why Ding went for this, but he appeared to miss a simply reply } 16. axb5 (16. Nxe5 dxe5 17. d6+ c4 18. dxc4 Bf6) 16... axb5 17. Rxa8 Bxa8 18. c4! { now, Black has problems to deal with notice that now if bxc4 } 18... Nf7 (18... bxc4 19. Ba4 { and an entire piece will be lost! }) 19. cxb5 { once again, the pawn cannot be taken! } 19... g5 { Black is trying to find a counterplay } (19... Qxb5 20. Ba4) 20. Nh2 Kg7 21. Bc4 { defending the pawns } 21... Kg6 22. g4 Nh6 23. Qf3 Bd8 24. Qg2 f4 25. b4 Bb6 26. Qe4+ Kg7 27. bxc5 dxc5 28. Nf3 Nf7 29. Bc3 Bc7 30. b6 { the pawn can't be taken: } 30... Bb8 (30... Bxb6 31. Nxe5 { the king is placed under the Bishop's watch, and the Queen is attacked, so: } 31... Nxe5 32. Bxe5+ { but now Black has no good moves. }) 31. Qf5 { White decided to play the endgame as he keeps his advantage } 31... Qxf5 32. gxf5 Kf6 33. Nd2 Rd8 34. d6 { Now the King is tied down to the Knight, which is tied down to e5! notice that Nxd3 runs into } 34... Rxd6 (34... Nxd6 35. Rxe5) 35. Rb1 Nd8 { but MVL spots an easy winning tactic: } 36. b7 Bxb7 37. Ba5 { and black is losing material } *