interesting to see how Nepomniachtchi’s reacts. He may go for a quick
strike back or play safe to recover and recuperate. One thing is for certain,
if Carlsen senses Nepo has been shaken and is unsteady, he will go for him.
I. Nepomniachtchi - M. Carlsen, game seven, World Championship 2021
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 {Heading for another possible Marshall or anti Marshall.} 4... Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O {Now 8.c3 d5 a Marshall Gambit or an anti Marshall} 8. a4 {The anti Marshall. We might see a full Marshall Gambit before the end of this match.} 8... Rb8 {This was played in game 5. In Game 3 Carlsen played 8..Bb7} 9. axb5 axb5 10. h3 d6 11. d3 {In game 5 Nepo played 11. c3 so he tries something new.} 11... h6 12. Nc3 Re8 13. Nd5 {Carlsen will not give up that e7 Bishop.} 13... Bf8 14. Nxf6+ {Puts the Black Queen on an award looking square. Other than that cannot see the point.} 14... Qxf6 15. c3 Ne7 {As in game 5 this Knight heads for g6.} 16. Be3 {d4 is coming.} 16... Be6 17. d4 exd4 18. cxd4 Bxb3 {Always a minor victory if Black swaps off the Spanish Bishop in a normal Ruy Lopez.} 19. Qxb3 Ng6 20. Rec1 {Offering the e4 pawn for the c7 pawn.} 20... c5 {Carlsen invites more exchanges.} 21. e5 {A last chance by Nepo to infuse some fire into this game.} 21... Qf5 22. dxc5 dxc5 23. Bxc5 {I now want Nf4 with the threat of Ne2+. That is the best I do with this game.} 23... Bxc5 {The axe man now visits the board and chop down loads of tress.} 24. Rxc5 Nxe5 25. Nxe5 Rxe5 26. Rxe5 Qxe5 27. Qc3 Qxc3 28. bxc3 {And that is that a clear draw.} 28... Rc8 29. Ra5 Rxc3 30. Rxb5 {The players are not allowed to agree a draw till move 40. So we get to see...} 30... Rc1+ 31. Kh2 Rc3 32. h4 g6 33. g3 h5 34. Kg2 Kg7 35. Ra5 Kf6 36. Rb5 Kg7 37. Ra5 Kf6 38. Rb5 Kg7 39. Ra5 Kf6 40. Ra6+ Kg7 41. Ra7 {A draw was agreed. A rest day for both players after the energy burned up yesterday.}
