World Chess Championship (Game Three)

1. d4 {A wee bit of a surprise. But Ding would have expected this sometime in the match.} 1... Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 {A Queens Gambit...been many years since I was involved in either side of this.} 4. cxd5 {The exchange variation. When I did dabble with 1.d4 I played this.} 4... exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. Qc2 {So far well known theory.} 9... Re8 10. Nge2 {All standard stuff meaning I've seen all this before in other games.} 10... Nbd7 11. O-O {Getting close to decision time for Black. Nf8 or Ne5....} 11... a5 {Hmmm...But Ding has played this before and Nepo quickly played....} 12. a3 {11....a5 was to put off the standard minority attack Job done - now what.} 12... Nh5 {After first long think for Ding. Forcing a Bishop exchange..} 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Rae1 {What I would have done (the first time a player agreed with me!)} 14... Nf8 {Again my choice....two out of two. The c8 Bishop sees daylight.} 15. Nc1 {The h5 Knight stops Ng3 and Nf4 - White is looking at f3-e4} 15... Nf6 {After a long think. Now 16.Nce2 Nh5 17.Nc1 Nf6 draw.} 16. f3 {A burning bridges move that both players knew was coming.} 16... Ne6 {Hitting the d-pawn delaying e3-e4. In some lines threatening Nxd4.} 17. N1e2 {Covering d4. I was thinking Qf2 but getting this Knight back into the game looks OK.} 17... c5 {After a long think. Nepo has to react (18...c4) so how about Bb5.} 18. Bb5 {He has played it.... I did it because it was obvious.} 18... Rd8 {I was thinking Bd7 but Rd8 keeps the game alive. e4 is never going to happen.} 19. dxc5 {Not sure the IQP means much. Black can play d4. It's looks OK for Black.} 19... Qxc5 {The e3 pawn weakness surfaces. Is d4-d4 coming.} 20. Qd2 {The e3 pawn needs cover. d4 by Black will do White a favour.} 20... Bd7 21. Bxd7 Nxd7 {I was thinking Rxd7. Nxd7 has Nb6 - c4 ideas. the weak e-pawn is a target..} 22. Nd4 {Take the square in front of the IQP. Classical play.} 22... Nb6 {Nc4 is coming. 23. Nxe6 to cover the e-3 pawns from an attack down the e-file?} 23. Rd1 {No. It was probably naff. Game getting to an interesting bit here.} 23... Nc4 24. Qf2 {Does 24...Nxa3 25.bxa3 Qxc3 work? then White had Rc1 Nxe6 Rc7 Qg3...perhaps.} 24... Rac8 {That scuppers My Rc1 idea after Nxa3. Now Nxb2 and Qxc3 is on the board.} 25. Na4 {Removing all the loose Knight on c3 tricks.} 25... Qe7 {Still eyeing that e3 pawn which is proving weaker than the IQP.} 26. Rfe1 {Adding more cover to e3 and perhaps thinking about e3-e4.} 26... Qf6 27. Nb5 {With Na4-c3 coming claiming the IQP is weak after all.} 27... Nc7 {Swapping off Black worse piece. Opening up the e-file v e3.} 28. Nd4 Ne6 {I was just thinking we could get a three fold rep and it happened.} 29. Nb5 Nc7 30. Nd4 Ne6 {Ding claimed the draw. Good. Hopefully Nepo will not play 1.d4 again.}