[Event "London Chess Classic 2023"] [Site "London"] [Date "2023.12.10"] [Round "4.5"] [White "Gukesh D"] [Black "Moussard, Jules"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2720"] [WhiteTeam "IND"] [BlackElo "2635"] [BlackTeam "FRA"] [Annotator "Lang,JJ"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C42"] [Opening "Petrov's Defense: Nimzowitsch Attack"] [StudyName "London Chess Classic"] [ChapterName "Gukesh D - Moussard, Jules"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/s1cJkBGI/N0NmnGLp"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nd7 9. O-O-O Nf6 10. Bd3 Re8 { This line has been a thorn in White's side for the last few years, so it makes sense why Gukesh is looking for new moves here. } 11. a3 $146 (11. Rhe1 { is the most popular try, but after } 11... Bg4 12. h3?! { has an abysmal score for White, illustrated by this gem: } (12. Bg5 { is doing better, but then again, everything looks like a good idea when Magnus is playing, and, objectively, White got nothing out of the opening despite winning the g7-pawn, which perhaps is indicative of why White has been unhappy with these positions. } 12... Qd7 13. a3 Bf5 14. Nd4 Bxd3 15. Qxd3 Nd5 16. Bxe7 Nxe7 17. h4 Ng6 18. h5 Ne5 19. Qg3 h6 20. Re4 Nc6 21. Rg4 Nxd4 22. Rxg7+ Kh8 23. cxd4 Qf5 24. f3 Re2 { with an equal game that White won in 57 moves in Carlsen – Caruana, Lichess.org, 2020. }) 12... Bxf3 13. gxf3 d5 14. h4 Bf8 15. Rg1 Kh8 16. h5 h6 17. Rg2 Re5! { and White's use of the g-file is non-existant, while Black has no other liabilities. } 18. f4 Rxh5 19. Bd4 Qd6 20. Be5 Rxe5! 21. fxe5 Qxe5 22. Re1 Qh5 23. Kb1 Bd6 24. Reg1 g5 $17 { and Black won in 51 moves in Aronian – Nepomniachtchi, Chess.com, 2023. }) 11... d5 { Black takes the opportunity to gain space. Now after } 12. Rhe1 Bg4 13. h3 Bxf3 14. gxf3 { we reach a familiar position from the above lines, except the d5-pawn is clearly more of an asset than its counterpart on a3. } 14... Qd7 15. Rg1 Qxh3?! { We have seen Black play with fire on the kingside in the other variations, but this is a bit much. } 16. Bd4 { At the risk of repeating myself, it is hard to believe that White has no objective advantage here despite those monstrous bishops and two open files for the rooks opposing Black's king. And yet! } (16. Rg3! Qh5 17. Rdg1 g6 18. Qd1 $14) 16... g6 17. Qf4 Nh5 18. Qxc7 { And for the third straight move, Black only has one choice to hold serve. } 18... Qxf3? { Black finally falters! } (18... Bf6! 19. Bb5 Re7 { holds the b7-pawn and, with it, the position. }) 19. Bb5 Rac8 20. Qxb7 Rb8 21. Qa6 Red8 22. Be2 Qf4+ 23. Be3 Qe5 24. Qxa7 Nf4 25. Bf3 Bd6 { Until now, White has been slowly building up towards a pivotal victory that would keep him on pace to overtake Giri on the Fide Circuit. But Black's position is not without poison. } 26. Rd2?? { White cuts off the escape route for his own king, allowing for devilish tactics along the a-file. } 26... Bxa3! 27. Rd4 (27. Qxa3 Ra8) (27. bxa3 Qxc3 $19) 27... Bxb2+ 28. Kd2 Ne6 29. Rd3 Bxc3+ 30. Rxc3 d4 31. Rd3 dxe3+ 32. Qxe3 Rxd3+ 33. cxd3 Nd4 { 0-1 Black wins. } 0-1