World Chess Championship (Game Five)

1. e4 {Good, a fighting reply after the last round lost.} 1... e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 {In the first game Nepo played Bxf6 here.} 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 {Giving d3-d4 ideas but all this has been seen 1,000's of times before.} 8... O-O 9. h3 Bb7 {I'd like this as White already I see Nb1-d2-f1-e3-f5. Must look out for d5 though.} 10. a4 {I've not seen this too often but it should transpose into something I recognise.} 10... Na5 {A standard idea in the Ruy Lopez. making way for c5.} 11. Ba2 {Usually the Bishop goes to c2. It stays on the classical diagonal.} 11... c5 12. Bg5 {Played quickly so Nepo is following a definite prepared plan.} 12... h6 {Played after a long thought, Putting the question to the Bishop.} 13. Bxf6 {Played quick.14. Bh4 g5 was a way to go.} 13... Bxf6 14. axb5 {Opening a file on the Queenside. Nepo still following prep.} 14... axb5 15. Nbd2 Nc6 {A common retreat in the Lopez. The Knight covers important central squares.} 16. Bd5 Rxa1 17. Qxa1 Qd7 {Is Ra8 coming} 18. Re1 {freeing f1 for the d2 Knight and from there e3/g3 and f5.} 18... Ra8 {I thought so. Makes sense.} 19. Qd1 {Again very quick from Nepo he is 40 minutes ahead on the clock} 19... Bd8 {First thought f5 ideas. with Bb6 and Rf8 and attacks on f2. (I'm dreaming)} 20. Nf1 {All part of the plan Nepo has taken 4 minutes so far for the whole game.} 20... Ne7 {Trading off the Bishop;. I thought that was coming.} 21. Bxb7 Qxb7 22. Ne3 Bb6 {He has played Bb6 but for a different reason I wanted it. f5 is too crazy.} 23. h4 {Here comes Nepo. He's going for h5 to discouraged g6 covering f5.} 23... Qc6 {Covering d6 so c4 is coming to play Bxe3, the two Knights are dangerous.} 24. h5 c4 {White cannot allow Bxe3 then he has nothing.} 25. d4 {Nepo taking his time now so out of prep and game on.} 25... exd4 {Now will it cxd4 (my choice I like the Knights.) or Nxd4 when Bxd4 has to be played.} 26. Nxd4 Qc5 {Ahh I missed that one - due to the hit on f2 Nf5 is not on.} 27. Qg4 {I was thinking Qf3 holding f2 with d6 hitting the a8 Rook ideas} 27... Qe5 {Black needs some more bits over the Kingside but is the Queen here a target.} 28. Nf3 Qe6 29. Nf5 {The is a fantasy variation here. see next game.} 29... Nxf5 30. exf5 Qf6 31. Qe4 Rb8 {This is following my fantasy variation! Now Nh4 with Qe8+ coming.} 32. Re2 {Never saw that, I was thinking either Nh4 or g4.} 32... Bc5 {holding d6 and looking at b4.} 33. g4 {Played very quickly. No more Ng4 ideas} 33... Qd8 34. Qd5 {White is looking good here. Ding down to 24 minutes to make move 40.} 34... Kf8 {I was wonder what Ding would here. It looks tough. e8 checks are not on anymore.} 35. Kf1 {To stop a critical check coming possibly on g5 or f2 Nepo has a trick up his sleeve.} 35... Rc8 {Ding going for Qd7 Qc6 perhaps or just seeing how Nepo will come for him.} 36. Re4 {Going to f4 to bang in pawn to f6.} 36... Rb8 {Saying Nepo show me what you have.} 37. g5 {Now at the very critical stage.} 37... hxg5 {Forced? Rg4 is coming.} 38. Rg4 {see it. 38...f6 39.Nh4 gxh4 and 40 h6. Ding down to 5 minutes left.} 38... Ra8 {90 seconds left. Nepo has 45 minutes to polish this off.} 39. Nxg5 Ra1+ {40.Kg2 Qa1 forces the Queens off} 40. Ke2 {To avoid the Queen swap.} 40... Qe7+ {played with 3 seconds left.} 41. Ne4 {And now Black has to cover all the f6 and h6 ideas.} 41... Qe8 {So f6 does not come with fxe7+} 42. Kf3 {Unpins the Knight. We now sit and wait for the cute wrap up.} 42... Qa8 43. Qxa8+ {Nepo takes it to an ending. Probably the quickest way.} 43... Rxa8 44. f6 {44..gxf6 45.Nxf6} 44... g6 45. hxg6 fxg6 46. Rxg6 Ra2 47. Kg4 {Nepo seems to have the endgame under control but I'd be nervous.} 47... Rxb2 48. Rh6 {Ding resigned. One finish is.} 48... Bxf2 49. Rh8+ Kf7 50. Kf5 {And checkmate with Nxd6 or Ng5.}

[FEN "r5k1/4npp1/1b1pq2p/1p5P/2p1P1Q1/2P1NN2/1P3PP1/4R1K1 w - - 0 29"]
29. Nf5 {Now how about...} 29... Nxf5 30. exf5 Qf6 31. Qe4 Rb8 32. Nh4 b4 {To make my idea work.} 33. Qe8+ Rxe8 34. Rxe8+ Kh7 35. Ng6 {look at that! OOPS!} 35... Qd8 {Damn and blast.}