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After games one and three and a rest day a relatively quiet game ending in a draw. Not as dull as game two. This one had a few moments where things could have sparked off some blunder prone positions Score: 2-2.
The Black b7 pawn finally made a move in this world championship.
Ding Liren - D. Gukesh Game Four, World Chess Championship 2024.
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PGN
1. Nf3 {A discreet choice hiding ones mood and intentions.} 1... d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. b3 {Already a new position to both players.} 3... Bf5 4. Be2 h6 {Giving the f4 Bishop a bolt hole on h7 in the event of Nd4 or Nh4.} 5. Ba3 {To stop Black from 0-0 if e5 or e6 is played too early.} 5... Nbd7 {The Knight will take on f8 and Black can still 0-0.} 6. O-O e6 7. Bxf8 Nxf8 8. c4 N8d7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. cxd5 {Minor plus for White trading a wing pawn for centre pawn.} 10... exd5 11. b4 c6 {Shaping up for a minority attack.} 12. Nd4 Bh7 13. Qb3 Ne5 {Inviting f4 Which Ding does not play. That would have taken it to a completely different game} 14. a4 {White continues with the minority attack.} 14... Rc8 {With b6 and c5 ideas.} 15. a5 {Again Ding refuses to be sucked into playing f4. There is a wee sneaky trick in the position I will show next.} 15... b6 {Finally the b7 pawns gets to make a move in this match.} 16. Nf3 {Played to stop c5. (edit: to hold up c5, it does get played later.)} 16... Nxf3+ 17. Bxf3 {Now 17...c5 drops the d5 pawn.} 17... d4 {Looking for 18.exd4 Qxd4 and plans of ganging up on the isolated pawn on d2.} 18. Ne2 {I was looking at 18...d3 but it is possible that pawn will get surrounded and taken.} 18... dxe3 19. dxe3 Be4 {White's f3 Bishop was too strong so it has to come off.} 20. Rfd1 {A wee developing temp gain on the Black Queen.} 20... Qe7 21. Bxe4 Nxe4 22. axb6 axb6 23. Nc3 {All this wood chopping leaving just the heavy pieces on the board looks drawish but what else?} 23... Rfd8 24. Nxe4 Qxe4 25. h3 {Luft. Countless examples of RHP players not giving their King air. I'll show a couple later.} 25... c5 26. Rxd8+ Rxd8 27. bxc5 bxc5 {Will the outside passed pawn be good, bad or indifferent....stayed tuned.} 28. Rc1 {It is important to stop the c5 pawn from advancing any further.} 28... Qe5 29. Qc2 Rd5 {Setting a wee trap. If 30.e4 Rd4 31.Qx5?? Rd1+ 0-1.} 30. g3 {Now the clarifying e3-e4 is back on the board. On Rs1+ the King can go to g2.} 30... f5 {Stopping e4. Gukesh is not ready to draw.} 31. Kg2 Kh7 32. Qc4 Qd6 33. e4 {It could have ended here with 33...fxe4 34.Qxf4+ Kh8 35,Qe8+ Kh7 36.Qe4+} 33... Re5 34. exf5 Rxf5 35. Qe4 Qd5 36. Qxd5 Rxd5 37. Kf3 Kg6 38. Ke4 {38...Rd2 39.Ke3 this is a draw.} 38... Rd4+ 39. Ke3 Rd5 40. Ke4 Rd4+ 41. Ke3 {Draw by threefold rep.} 1/2-1/2
One of the tricks I mentioned.
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FEN
2rq1rk1/p4ppb/1pp2n1p/P2pn3/1P1N4/1QN1P3/3PBPPP/R4RK1 w - - 0 16
PGN
[FEN "2rq1rk1/p4ppb/1pp2n1p/P2pn3/1P1N4/1QN1P3/3PBPPP/R4RK1 w - - 0 16"] 16. f4 {This move instead 16.Nf3 was on the board.} 16... Nc4 17. Bxc4 dxc4 {Taking the c4 pawn drops the exchange.} 18. Qxc4 c5 19. bxc5 bxc5 {And when the d4 Knight moves 20...Bd3 forking the Queen and f1 Rook.} 1/2-1/2
An RHP player falling for a QxP trick similar to the one I mentioned in the notes.
Electric Dad - Bobla45 RHP 20 (White to play)
37.Qxd4? (38.Rd2!) 37...Re1+ 38.Kh3 Rxd1 0-1.
Just a couple of the many 100's of back rank mates on Red Hot Pawn.
gandersen - Eric Crook RHP 2024
28.Nc3 was OK. Instead White played 28.Qg5 Rd8+ 0-1.
dadoftwo - crymemaster RHP 2009 (Black has just played 33...Be6-d5)
It is an obvious trap which players miss all the time. White played 34. Rxd5 0-1.
