It’s getting to an exciting stage. Ding Liren is trailing 1-0 and has two white’s
left. If Ding loses this game and Nepo draws game 13 then no more Whites left.
Before the game started I predicted a quiet opening by Ding to frustrate Nepo
who might be tempted to wrap this up right away. Of course Nepo has been
around the block and should not be suckered this way. But you never know.
and it may be Ding’s best chance. Play against Nepo’s natural will to win.
The Game (Notes added during the game)
A quiet opening by White Nepo slipped in a crafty Bd7 to Bg4 idea to unsettle
Ding who possibly regretted not playing h3. Ding played a brave Bxf6 weakening
Black’s Kingside but opening the g-file v his King. It was Black who had all the
Kingside chances. and even I could see a Black win. 27. Nf3 (though I had the right
idea it was a lot deeper than what I thought. It was a judgement call not analysed.)
Nepo seemed to have everything under control when he blundered. Though
I still thought he had winning chances the CH24 team were saying otherwise.
But I stuck here to my original judgement and only later did I realise just how
bad Nepo’s position was. (I’ve added a hindsight note.) Nepo then tripped up
and Ding returned the favour. A real smashing dog’s dinner of a game with
both players letting the importance of the occasion, understandably, get to them.
My notes only scratch the surface. There was a lot going on.
Ding Liren - Game - Ian Nepomniachtchi Game 12
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 {It looks quiet but maybe tempting Nepo to play for a win.} 3... c5 4. Nbd2 cxd4 5. exd4 Qc7 6. c3 {Nepo having a think here. 6...Bf5 or 6...e6 or 6...Nc6. All appear OK.} 6... Bd7 {I did not get this one. It looks out of place here. Odd...we will see what happens.} 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. O-O Bg4 {So Nepo is saying you castled too early I am going to wallop you.} 9. Re1 {Ding now two tempo up but can he do anything drastic. Black looks solid.} 9... e6 10. Nf1 {Going to g3 or e3.} 10... Bd6 11. Bg5 {Hopefully Nepo will go 0-0-0 here - Game on!} 11... O-O {OK will Ding take on f6 and we will get a Kingside attack v Kingside attack game.} 12. Bxf6 {Yes. Fighting talk. Game on.} 12... gxf6 13. Ng3 {Stops Bh5 and Bg6, also a nice square on h5 for the Knight} 13... f5 {Cuts the d3 Bishop out of the game.} 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Ne7 {Get some pieces over to the Kingside.} 16. Nh5 Kh8 {Freeing g8 for a Rook.} 17. g4 {Ding going for it. of course 17...fxg4 18 Qf6 mate next move will not happen.} 17... Rg8 {Pinning the g-pawn} 18. Kh1 {Unpinning the g-pawn} 18... Ng6 {19. gxf5 Nh4 is an idea. Looks OK (I bet it's gets played.)} 19. Bc2 {perhaps considering gxf5 and moving the Queen to d3.} 19... Nh4 20. Qe3 {Trying the tempt the f-pawn forward and then Qd3.} 20... Rg6 {Black is not going to close that diagonal} 21. Rg1 {Both fighting for tricks on the g-file. Still inviting f4.} 21... f4 {Black decides to close the diagonal. I was thinking this was not a good idea.} 22. Qd3 Qe7 {To stop Nf6 and considering Qh4 or Qg5 ideas.} 23. Rae1 {Bring the Rook into the game but Black has all the ideas now.} 23... Qg5 24. c4 {Ding with Qc3 and Bxg6 ideas?} 24... dxc4 {If that is the plan then Nepo is ignoring them.} 25. Qc3 b5 {Nepo holds the extra pawn. (Thank You) 26. Bxg6 hxg6 is bad for White.} 26. a4 {This looked dodgy (but what else.)} 26... b4 {Obvious going for Nf3.} 27. Qxc4 {Nf3 and Qh4 is looking good.} 27... Rag8 {Maybe this is better.} 28. Qc6 {Attacking the Bishop covering f3 and g2.} 28... Bb8 29. Qb7 {A position like this is White really after that b and f-pawn.} 29... Rh6 {This is looking very good for Black.} 30. Be4 {Ding centralising and covering sensitive squares.} 30... Rf8 {Once you start defending pawns when attacking you know things have gone wrong.} 31. Qxb4 {has White got away with this. No surely not.} 31... Qd8 {Qc7 and f3 ideas. (look out for Qxf8+) but I refuse to let Black's attack end.} 32. Qc3 {With a check up Ding’s sleeve. Not sure about what is going on.} 32... Ng6 33. Bg2 {Covering h3 because of an idea I had a few moves ago.} 33... Qh4 34. Re2 {Holding the f-pawn. I do not think pawns are going to play a part. There will be no endgame.} 34... f5 {This looks good.} 35. Rxe6 {Hindsight note, Nepo (and me) missed this it is very strong.} 35... Rxh5 {To stop d5+ and Qg7 mate. but this is desperation.} 36. gxh5 Qxh5 37. d5+ Kg8 38. d6 {And Nepo resigned. One finish is.} 38... Rd8 39. Re7 Nxe7 40. Bd5+ {Double check. I'm just having fun, there are many ways to wins this.} 40... Kf8 41. Qf6+ Qf7 42. Qxf7
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