[Event "FIDE WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH 2023"] [Site "SHANG HAI, China"] [Date "2023.07.11"] [Round "5.1"] [White "Lei Tingjie"] [Black "Ju Wenjun"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2554"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [BlackElo "2566"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [TimeControl "90min+30s/40moves 30min+30s/all"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/loepare"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C50"] [Opening "Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Normal"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/usrO0sLL/7pzWCeDO"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 1:30:57] } 1... e5 { [%clk 1:30:56] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 1:31:18] } 2... Nc6 { [%clk 1:31:18] } 3. Bc4 { Lei goes for the Italian Game, deviating from the Ruy Lopez she had tried in her previous two White games. This often leads to a slower, maneuvering game. } { [%clk 1:31:32] } 3... Nf6 { [%clk 1:31:30] } 4. d3 { [%clk 1:29:50] } 4... Bc5 { [%clk 1:31:47] } 5. O-O { [%clk 1:29:48] } 5... d6 { [%clk 1:31:34] } 6. c3 { [%clk 1:30:04] } 6... a5 { This move was also used by Carlsen in his World Championship match against Nepomniachtchi. Black is creating a retreat for the dark-squared bishop on a7. By playing a5 rather than the more common a6, Black restrains White from queenside expansion with b4, but also potentially weakens the b5 square. } { [%csl Rb5][%cal Gc5a7] [%clk 1:31:44] } 7. Bb3 { [%clk 1:26:46] } 7... O-O { [%clk 1:29:22] } 8. Re1 { [%clk 1:26:08] } 8... Ba7 { [%clk 1:21:56] } 9. h3 { [%clk 1:20:00] } 9... Be6 { [%clk 1:17:55] } 10. Bc2 { By avoiding the bishop trade and keeping more pieces on the board, Lei is aiming for a complex struggle in the middlegame. } { [%clk 1:18:03] } (10. Bxe6 fxe6 { These doubled pawns are not weak, as Black gains control of the d5-square and the open f-file for the rook. } { [%cal Ge6d5,Gf8f3] }) 10... h6 { [%clk 1:12:37] } 11. d4 { [%clk 1:13:31] } 11... exd4 { [%clk 1:12:23] } 12. Nxd4 { [%clk 1:11:48] } (12. cxd4 { This is the capture you want to make to build a strong pawn center, but } 12... Nb4 { is annoying. White's light-squared bishop is her best minor piece and she doesn't want to trade it for a knight. } { [%cal Gb4c2] }) 12... Bd7 { Solid, but a bit passive. } { [%clk 1:10:33] } (12... d5!? { Was an interesting option, opening the center while White is somewhat undeveloped. } 13. Nxe6 fxe6 { In exchange for giving up the bishop pair an incurring a possible weakness, Black has good central control and pressure on f2. } { [%csl Rf2][%cal Ga7f2,Gf8f2] }) 13. Be3 { [%clk 1:09:08] } 13... Ne5 { [%clk 0:57:37] } 14. Nd2 { [%clk 0:58:08] } 14... c5?! { This move makes an ugly impression. The pawn advance leaves behind weaknesses on d5 and b5, as well as blocking in the bishop on a7. Ju is hoping to make up for this with active piece play, but it's risky. } { [%csl Gb5,Gd5][%cal Ra7c5] [%clk 0:56:16] } 15. N4f3 { [%clk 0:55:52] } 15... Bc6 { [%clk 0:46:13] } 16. Nxe5 { [%clk 0:54:30] } 16... dxe5 { [%clk 0:46:40] } 17. a4! { Clamping down on the b5 weakness. } { [%clk 0:52:12] } 17... Qe7 { [%clk 0:46:49] } 18. Qe2 { [%clk 0:51:45] } 18... Rfd8 { [%clk 0:46:57] } 19. Red1 { [%clk 0:48:47] } 19... Bb8 { [%clk 0:46:31] } 20. Qc4 { [%clk 0:40:35] } 20... b6 { [%clk 0:41:30] } 21. b4 { Taking advantage of the pin on the c-file to advance on the queenside. } { [%csl Rc6][%cal Gc4c6] [%clk 0:37:30] } 21... axb4? { [%clk 0:38:55] } (21... Bd6 { Just defending the c5 pawn and trying to hold would have been a better chance. }) 22. cxb4 { [%clk 0:37:54] } 22... Bd6 { [%clk 0:39:22] } 23. b5 { [%clk 0:37:24] } 23... Bd7 { White's control of the light squares in the center gives her a great position. } { [%csl Gc4,Gd5] [%clk 0:39:28] } 24. Qc3 { [%clk 0:34:05] } 24... Be6 { [%clk 0:36:59] } 25. Nc4 { [%clk 0:26:20] } 25... Bxc4 { Otherwise it was difficult to defend b6, but now White has the bishop pair and even more control of the light squares. } { [%clk 0:36:33] } 26. Qxc4 { [%clk 0:26:47] } 26... Ne8 { [%clk 0:36:57] } 27. Bb3 { [%clk 0:21:12] } 27... Nc7 { [%clk 0:37:17] } 28. Qc2 { [%clk 0:18:05] } 28... Ne6 { [%clk 0:33:51] } 29. Bd5 { [%clk 0:16:40] } 29... Rab8 { [%clk 0:31:21] } 30. Bxe6 { [%clk 0:14:11] } (30. Qc4 Nd4 { is also very promising for White, but Black can at least hang her hat on the strong central knight. One thing about grandmasters is they love to deny their opponents any counterplay. By eliminating the knight, Lei steered to a position where Black has no advantages and must defend passively. }) 30... Qxe6 { [%clk 0:31:49] } 31. Rd5 { [%clk 0:13:41] } 31... Be7 { [%clk 0:31:05] } (31... f5? 32. a5 { would only weaken Black's position. She just has to wait and see what Lei is going to do. }) 32. Rad1 { [%clk 0:13:51] } 32... Rxd5 { [%clk 0:29:58] } 33. Rxd5 { [%clk 0:14:13] } 33... Ra8 { [%clk 0:16:46] } 34. Bd2! { I really like this subtle retreating move. The bishop is supporting an a5 pawn break, while still eyeing the kingside. } { [%clk 0:13:39] } 34... Kf8 { [%clk 0:13:19] } 35. Bc3 { Provoking another weakness by attacking e5. } { [%clk 0:13:34] } 35... f6 { [%clk 0:13:43] } 36. Qb3 { [%clk 0:13:04] } 36... Qc8 { [%clk 0:12:45] } 37. Qc4 { [%clk 0:13:30] } 37... Qe8 { [%clk 0:10:13] } 38. g3 { Lei is handling the position perfectly, calmly improving her pieces step by step and making her opponent squirm. } { [%clk 0:07:56] } 38... Qc8 { [%clk 0:06:13] } 39. Kg2 { [%clk 0:08:20] } 39... Qe8 { [%clk 0:06:32] } 40. h4 { [%clk 0:33:58] } 40... h5 { A committal decision on the last move before time control, because this extended pawn could be a weakness. But it is by no means obvious that allowing White's h-pawn to advance would have been any better. } { [%clk 0:32:02] } 41. Bd2 { [%clk 0:30:17] } 41... Rb8 { [%clk 0:27:42] } 42. f4 { Lei decides the time is right to change the pawn structure. And indeed, Black's king will be very weak if the position opens up. } { [%clk 0:25:15] } 42... exf4 { [%clk 0:27:20] } 43. Bxf4 { [%clk 0:25:39] } 43... Rb7 { [%clk 0:27:33] } 44. Qe2 { Eyeing the weak pawn on h5. } { [%csl Rh5] [%clk 0:19:22] } 44... g6 { [%clk 0:27:30] } 45. e5! { [%clk 0:12:22] } 45... Qa8? { Ju spent a long time on this move, but ultimately did not find the best defense. } { [%clk 0:05:13] } (45... Rd7 { More tenacious, but Black's position is still very difficult, as she has a weak king and cramped pieces. }) 46. Qf3 { Eliminating any threats on the long diagonal. } { [%cal Gf3a8] [%clk 0:12:00] } 46... f5 { [%clk 0:05:29] } 47. Rd7 { [%cal Gf3a8] [%clk 0:08:32] } 47... Ra7 { [%clk 0:05:56] } 48. Qxa8+ { [%clk 0:05:59] } 48... Rxa8 { The queen trade doesn't bring Black any relief, as the rook on the seventh combined with the passed e-pawn are devastating. } { [%clk 0:06:20] } 49. e6 { [%clk 0:06:02] } 49... Rxa4 { [%clk 0:00:50] } 50. Rb7 { [%clk 0:06:28] } 50... Ra8 { [%clk 0:00:41] } 51. Rxb6 { [%clk 0:06:43] } 51... c4 { [%clk 0:00:35] } 52. Rc6 { [%clk 0:06:58] } 52... Bd8 { [%clk 0:00:34] } 53. b6 { [%clk 0:06:25] } 53... Ra2+ { [%clk 0:00:49] } 54. Kf3 { [%clk 0:06:33] } 54... Rb2 { [%clk 0:01:11] } 55. Rc8 { [%clk 0:05:45] } 55... Rb3+ { [%clk 0:00:49] } 56. Ke2 { [%clk 0:06:00] } 56... Rxb6 { Black has to part with her bishop. } { [%clk 0:01:07] } (56... Ke7 57. Bg5+ { and White wins the bishop anyway. } { [%cal Gg5d8] }) 57. Rxd8+ { [%clk 0:06:18] } 57... Ke7 { [%clk 0:01:35] } 58. Rc8 { [%clk 0:06:28] } 58... Rxe6+ { [%clk 0:02:02] } 59. Kd2 { [%clk 0:06:52] } 59... Re4 { [%clk 0:02:06] } 60. Kc3 { [%clk 0:07:18] } 60... Kf7 { [%clk 0:01:54] } 61. Rxc4 { [%clk 0:07:41] } 61... Re8 { [%clk 0:02:19] } 62. Rc7+ { [%clk 0:07:44] } 62... Kf6 { [%clk 0:02:17] } 63. Bg5+ { [%clk 0:07:45] } 63... Ke5 { [%clk 0:02:10] } 64. Re7+ { [%clk 0:07:30] } 64... Rxe7 { [%clk 0:02:37] } 65. Bxe7 { [%clk 0:07:56] } 65... Kd5 { Ju resigned because White will gradually use her king and extra piece to mop up Black's pawns and make a queen. } (65... f4 66. gxf4+ Kxf4 { White only has one pawn left, but it's enough. The king will come over and gradually collect Black's pawn. Note that White's rook pawn queens on the same color square as the bishop. If not, it would be a draw! }) 1-0