Contents

Title page
Index of Complete Games
Introduction
Nepo’s Style

Nepo’s 30 Best Wins

Games 1-2
Games 3-4
Games 5-6
Games 7-8
Games 9-10
Games 11-12
Games 13-14
Games 15-16
Games 17-18
Games 19-20
Games 21-22
Games 23-24
Games 25-26
Games 27-28
Games 29-30

Timeline
Index of Openings
Bibliography

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 Nail It Like Nepo!
Ian Nepomniachtchi’s 30 Best Wins

Zenon Franco

Nail It Like Nepo!: Ian Nepomniachtchi’s 30 Best Wins

Author: Zenon Franco

Typesetting by Andrei Elkov (www.elkov.ru)

Cover photo © Lennart Ootes, Ekaterinburg Candidates Tournament round 4, 2020
© LLC Elk and Ruby Publishing House, 2021
Follow us on Twitter: @ilan_ruby
www.elkandruby.com
ISBN 978-5-6045607-3-0

3
 Index of Complete Games

Game 1: Ian Nepomniachtchi – Alexey Dreev, Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2008.

Game 2: Ian Nepomniachtchi – Hrant Melkumyan, EICC, Rijeka 2010.
Game 3: Ian Nepomniachtchi – Baadur Jobava, EICC, Rijeka 2010.
Game 4: Denis Khismatullin – Ian Nepomniachtchi, Russian Championship, Moscow 2010.
Game 5: Ian Nepomniachtchi – Peter Svidler, Russian Championship, Moscow 2010.
Game 6: Magnus Carlsen – Ian Nepomniachtchi, Wijk aan Zee 2011.
Game 7: Vladimir Kramnik – Ian Nepomniachtchi, Tal Memorial, Moscow 2011.
Game 8: Ian Nepomniachtchi – Yuriy Kryvoruchko, World Team Championship, Antalya 2013.
Game 9: Peter Leko – Ian Nepomniachtchi, Danzhou 2016.
Game 10: Ian Nepomniachtchi – Evgeny Tomashevsky, Tal Memorial, Moscow 2016.
Game 11: Ian Nepomniachtchi – Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Tal Memorial, Moscow 2016.
Game 12: Ian Nepomniachtchi – Boris Gelfand, Zurich 2017.
Game 13: Ian Nepomniachtchi – Anton Korobov, World Team Championship, Khanty-Mansiysk
2017.
Game 14: Ian Nepomniachtchi – Viktor Laznicka, European Team Championship, Hersonissos
2017.
Game 15: Ian Nepomniachtchi – Viswanathan Anand, London 2017.
Game 16: Magnus Carlsen – Ian Nepomniachtchi, London 2017.
Game 17: Boris Gelfand – Ian Nepomniachtchi, Karpov, Poikovsky 2018.
Game 18: Ian Nepomniachtchi – Vladimir Kramnik, Dortmund 2018.
Game 19: Ian Nepomniachtchi – Georg Meier, Dortmund 2018.
Game 20: Ian Nepomniachtchi – Etienne Bacrot, Olympiad, Batumi 2018.
Game 21: Anish Giri – Ian Nepomniachtchi, Wijk aan Zee 2019.
Game 22: Ian Nepomniachtchi – Vidit Gujrathi, Wijk aan Zee 2019.
Game 23: Ian Nepomniachtchi – Yu Yangyi, World Team Championship, Astana 2019.
Game 24: Ian Nepomniachtchi – Levon Aronian, Moscow 2019.
Game 25: Viswanathan Anand – Ian Nepomniachtchi, Zagreb 2019.
Game 26: Ian Nepomniachtchi – Liviu Dieter Nisipeanu, Dortmund 2019.
Game 27: Ian Nepomniachtchi – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Jerusalem 2019.
Game 28: Ian Nepomniachtchi – Maxim Matlakov, Russian Championship, Moscow 2020.

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Game 29: Mikhail Antipov – Ian Nepomniachtchi, Russian Championship, Moscow 2020.
Game 30: Ian Nepomniachtchi – Sergey Karjakin, Russian Championship, Moscow 2020.

5
 Introduction

I am delighted to introduce my book of Ian Nepomniachtchi’s best wins.

As soon as I embarked on the gratifying task of writing it, I naturally studied Nepomniachtchi’s
career more deeply that I had done in the past; I was impressed by the originality of his play and his
ambitious attitude. Nepomniachtchi’s career is already quite long and successful, but until the last few
years he was overshadowed by other great players of his generation.
His often excellent results were sometimes followed by poor performances. However, things began
to change in recent years: his results are now much more stable and winning the 2020-2021
Candidates Tournament is obviously a big jump forward.
When writing this book I included, as I always do when available, comments by the players
themselves, as they are an important source of information. I have to say that for this book I found
fewer direct commentaries from the protagonist than in some of my previous works, but the ones I did
manage to find are particularly enlightening. Nepomniachtchi is an excellent annotator: he provides
clear explanations of his thoughts, both from the point of view of the chess situation on the board and
other factors as well. We will see how important the practical side of the game is for him.
His opening preparation for games is remarkable. He has several ways to handle openings, as we
will see. For example, he usually makes choices unexpected by his opponent. Some of his “surprises”
are new ideas, while some others are just moves that sometimes make his opponent react
suboptimally. On other occasions he prefers to play side-lines, or even goes for continuations that are
not that familiar for him (and sometimes not in his repertoire at all), agreeing to discuss the opening
on his rival’s theoretical terrain.
This book contains 30 complete games and a number of fragments that give more context on the
commented game. It is written in “move by move” format: readers are challenged to solve exercises
in relevant and instructive parts of the game, and the author will also answer questions asked by a
hypothetical student.
I believe that this a good way to study chess, and also to teach.
It has been a pleasure to write about Nepo’s creative style and I hope the reader will appreciate the
games of the 2021 World Championship challenger just as much as I do.

GM Zenon Franco Ocampos

Ponteareas, July 2021

Dedicated to Yudania

6
 Nepo’s Style

Both Garry Kasparov and Magnus Carlsen believe that Nepomniachtchi’s style is more aggressive
than that of the other top players. Nonetheless, in recent years he has also got more solid, and now he
is stronger. Asked how he had reached his best level in the last few years, Nepo replied that it was
greatly due to his much more effective work.
It is difficult to find just one great player from the past that reminds me of his style. Even though all
the top players have gained something from all the great masters of the past, in Nepomniachtchi we
could particularly highlight a few, beginning with Emanuel Lasker, David Bronstein, Bent Larsen and
Viktor Korchnoi: he has the fighting spirit of all of them, as well as a mixture of some of their
abilities.
From his commentary we clearly see the importance he attaches to the practical side of the game;
and, as I said, the other factor I noted was his top-class opening preparation.
Carlsen’s opinion
In an interview given at the end of the Candidates Tournament, Magnus Carlsen said that
Nepomniachtchi was one of the most talented players of their generation. Carlsen pointed out how
quickly Nepo plays his moves, exerting strong pressure on his opponent. This is complemented by his
tactical strength even in simple positions. Nonetheless, this could be a drawback too, when he plays
too quickly and loses focus.
Carlsen said that Nepo was very influenced by his mood, “When he is inspired he can play
extremely well,” but the opposite can happen, too: he may play at a lower level when he is
emotionally not in a good shape.
“It has been proved in chess, again and again, that being consistent and raising your floor is just as
important as raising your ceiling,” said Carlsen, adding that Nepo’s floor was too low for several
years. “That’s the only reason why Ian was not at the highest level in each tournament he played.” In
another interview, Carlsen said that in the last few years Nepomniachtchi has succeeded in raising
both his floor and his ceiling.
Mikhail Tal, his first idol
When he was 14 years old Nepomniachtchi said his idol was Mikhail Tal. Well, we cannot say that
his style is that close, not to the Tal of the 1950s and 1960s anyway, but he has of course played
many attacking games, and we will see some of them in this book. Let’s briefly look at a recent
example from a rapid game that could remind us of the young Misha Tal.

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Teimour Radjabov
Ruy Lopez Berlin Variation [C67]
Paris Rapid & Blitz chess24.com, 20.06.2021

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Ba4 exd4 7.c3 Be7 8.cxd4 b5 9.Bb3 0-0

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10.Nc3 Bb7 11.Re1 Bf6 12.Bf4 Na5 13.Bc2 b4 14.Na4 g6 15.Ne5 Nb5 16.Nc5 d6

White to play

After a relatively new path in the Berlin, 6.Ba4, sacrificing pawns, the game arrives at one of the
critical positions.

17.Nxb7! Nxb7 18.Nc6 Qd7 19.Nxb4!

That was the idea, to exchange his central pawn for this less important one, allowing him to
centralize the knight with tempo.

19...Nxd4 20.Nd5 Bg7

Abandoning e7, but in case of 20...Qd8 then 21.Bh6 wins the exchange, although the computer
wants even more by playing 21.Be3.

21.Re7 Qd8 22.Bg5 Kh8

Avoiding Nf6 with check.

After 22...Nxc2 23.Qxc2 White threatens 24.Nf6+ Kh8 25.Qe4, going to h4, and if 23...Nc5 then
24.Qd2 or 24.Bf6 are equally strong.

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 What would Mikhail Tal play here?

23.Bxg6!!

A beautiful combination; 23.h4 was also adequate, but this continuation is prettier.

23...fxg6

After 23...hxg6 the invasion through the h-file is decisive after 24.Qg4 Kg8 (24...Nf5 25.Qh3+)
25.Nf6+ Bxf6 26.Bxf6 Nf5 27.Qh3, and mate soon.

And now? What did Nepo have in mind?

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 24.h4!

This quiet move wins material. With the g5-bishop protected White threatens 25.Rxg7, and there is
no good defense.
Let’s see for example 24...h6 25.Rxg7 hxg5 26.Rxg6 (threatening 27.Qh5#) 26...Nf3+ 27.gxf3 Rf7
28.hxg5, with an easy win.

24...Qxe7 25.Nxe7

White is completely winning; he could have won more quickly, but it was 1-0 in 91 moves.
Examples from the 2020-2021 Candidates Tournament
Let’s take a brief look at three examples taken from Eight Good Men: The 2020-2021 Candidates
Tournament (Dorian Rogozenco, Elk and Ruby Publishing House, 2021). Firstly, we will see an
example when he was “on the other side” of a strong theoretical novelty.

Anish Giri
Ian Nepomniachtchi
English Opening [A33]
FIDE Candidates Tournament, Ekaterinburg (1), 17.03.2020

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 e6 6.g3 Qb6 7.Ndb5 Ne5 8.Bf4 Nfg4 9.e3 a6
10.h3 axb5 11.hxg4 Nxc4

12.Rc1

This move was a surprise for Nepomniachtchi. Soon it will become clear that it was the result of

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deep pre-tournament preparation: the rook is protecting the c3–knight (so the ...Bb4 pin is less
annoying), and White is preparing 13.b3. The move is not suggested by the engines, which initially
prefer Black and only switch to equal/unclear after several moves. That said, we can assume that Giri,
who had studied the position in depth, had a significant practical advantage at the board.
The way in which Nepomniachtchi reacted is remarkable. He found a series of very strong moves
over the board, ones not easy to discover, and held the position.

12...d5!

After an 8-minute think Black found the best reply; it involves a temporary piece sacrifice. This is
an improvement over an older correspondence game which saw 12...Qa5 13.b3 (there is room for
improvement in several moves, for example, here 13.Rh5 is suggested by the engines) 13...Ba3
14.bxc4 Bxc1 15.Qxc1 bxc4 16.e4, and White’s two minor pieces vs. a rook gave him the advantage,
Sedlacek – Suarez Sedeno, ICCF email 2004.

13.b3

White has sacrificed a pawn, but aims to get play against Black’s kingside. The advance g5 is
arriving soon.

13...Bb4!

The most critical continuation, leading to a forced sequence of moves

14.bxc4

14...Ra3!

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 “The real point of move 12. Black wins back the piece in acceptable circumstances.” (Timman).

15.Be5 f6 16.Bd4 Qa5 17.Be2

This move was still part of Giri’s idea. He is preparing an exchange sacrifice.

17...Bxc3+ 18.Rxc3!

18.Bxc3?? Rxc3

18...Rxc3 19.Kf1

Giri was still playing very quickly. Timman made an interesting practical observation, “deep in his
heart he must have been disappointed. He had undoubtedly spent many hours analyzing this line,
making all kinds of interesting discoveries. It has to be a low then, when your opponent always finds
the correct move without even getting into time trouble.”

19...b4 20.g5!

Giri fell into a prolonged think for the first time. White is creating attacking chances on the
kingside.

20...e5 21.Bxc3 bxc3 22.gxf6 gxf6 23.Qb1

White was probably still pushing for a win but missed the right moment to adapt to the new
situation to at least secure the draw.

23...Qc7

Clearly, at this stage Nepo has managed to successfully fight Giri’s opening preparation, and he is
totally in the game.

24.Qd3?!

Giri would like to take the c3–pawn as soon as possible, but Black still has resources.
24.Rh4 is better.

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 24...b5!!

“Nepomniachtchi is very good at grabbing the initiative. The text is surprising and strong, and in
fact cements the extra pawn.” (Timman).
After this very nice move Black takes the initiative and he won after 73 moves.
Nepo claimed during the Candidates that he could not use almost any of his preparation, confirming
the opinion of Anatoly Karpov, who once said that analyzing new ideas in the opening doesn’t assure
you won points at the board but does help you to play better. Ian said this was frustrating, but in any
event he demonstrated that he did have opening preparation that at least helped him to get full points
in some games. Let’s look at one of those cases.

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Wang Hao
Petroff Defense [C42]
FIDE Candidates Tournament, Ekaterinburg (5), 22.03.2020

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Bf5 7.0-0 Be7 8.Re1 0-0 9.Nbd2

9.Nc3 was played by Nepomniachtchi before on five occasions.

9...Nd6 10.Nf1

Deviating from 10.Nb3, played in Nepomniachtchi – Duda, Wijk aan Zee 2019. After 10...c6
11.Bf4 Bxd3 Black should be OK and in fact that game ended in a draw. Although in the game Black
suffered, that was not due to the opening. Nepo had arrived at the Candidates with another plan in
mind.

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 10...Bxd3 11.Qxd3 c6 12.Bf4 Na6

13.h4

This was the novelty that Nepo had prepared. White gets the g5 square and he is threatening h5–h6
at any moment.
This sortie was not objectively best in the opening, but it probably affected the course of the game.
“It is amazing how Nepo succeeds time and again in putting his opponents under psychological
pressure and forcing them to solve problems continuously over the board.” (Rogozenco in Eight
Good Men).

13...Nc7 14.Ng5 Bxg5

Of course, it was not easy over the board to let the knight live by playing 14...g6 15.Ne3 Qd7
16.h5, but after doing homework it is different. This continuation was seen in So – Duda, Opera Euro
2021 (rapid). After 16...Nce8 17.Nf3 Ng7 18.Ne5 Qd8 19.Bh6 Bg5 Black had a decent position.

15.Bxg5 f6 16.Bf4 Qd7 17.Ng3 Rae8 18.Bxd6 Qxd6 19.Nf5 Qd7 20.Qh3 Kh8 21.h5

This was the first time in the game when Nepomniachtchi stopped blitzing out his moves according
to Eight Good Men.

21...Rxe1+ 22.Rxe1 Re8

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 23.Rxe8+

There are several suggestions for both sides. 23.Kf1, maintaining the “X-ray” between the queens
and moving the king away from the g-file, would avoid counterplay; this would probably be Karpov’s
move at his peak, according to Timman.

23...Nxe8 24.g4

Nepomniachtchi protects the knight to free up his queen.

24.Kf1 was also interesting here, like on the previous move.

24...a6

24...Kg8, without fearing 25.g5 Qf7!, was also fine, because with the White king still on g1 and not
on f1, there is no 26.g6.

25.b3

Preparing c4. Nepo was not happy with his decision, although this plan brought him victory.

25...Qe6 26.Ne3 Nd6 27.h6 g6 28.c4 dxc4 29.bxc4 Kg8

Not 29...Nxc4? 30.Nxc4 Qxc4 due to 31.Qh2!

30.Qh2 Kf7 31.c5 Nb5 32.Qb8

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 Here Wang Hao had less than 11 minutes left to time control.

32...Qd7?

The correct way to equalize was either 32...Qe7 (see Eight Good Men) or 32...Nxd4 33.Qxb7+ Qe7
34.Qxa6. Now 34...Qxc5 35.a4 was the line Wang Hao analyzed, and here White is better.
Instead of 34...Qxc5, the move 34...Qe4! looks crazy, but apparently Black holds: the computer
sees no advantage for White after e.g. 35.Qb7+ Ke8 36.Qxh7 Ne2+ (36...Nf3+ 37.Kf1 Nd4 is also a
draw, White must play 38.Kg1) 37.Kf1 (or 37.Kh2 Qf4+ 38.Kg2 Qe4+ 39.f3 Nf4+ 40.Kf2 Nd3+)
37...Ng3+! 38.fxg3 (38.Ke1 Qb1+ 39.Kd2 Ne4+) 38...Qf3+ 39.Ke1 Qxe3+, and perpetual check.
Of course, such a decision can hardly be taken in a practical game. How could he have been sure
having such a short time to analyze?

33.Qh8 Ke6

16
 34.f4!

And White’s attack was decisive, 1–0 in 43 moves.

Let’s also consider an example of his competitive attitude in a key game of the tournament, the
return game against Wang. Nepomniachtchi said that his strategy for the second leg was “not to lose.”
Tigran Petrosian said something similar a few rounds before his triumph in the Candidates
Tournament in Curacao 1962.
That meant to play safe, which was quite a different approach to Nepo’s “usual” aggression. Viktor
Korchnoi highlighted not only the young Mikhail Tal’s tactical ability, but also his flexibility of
thinking, something he also saw in Magnus Carlsen. Maybe the same can be pinpointed with Nepo as
well.
Vladimir Barsky wrote in New In Chess 2021/4: “I have known him for 20 years, and he has always
been famous for ease of decision making. And I am not talking about children’s competitions, where
Ian often spent half an hour on an entire game. In December last year, he won the Russian
Championship, acting in his usual manner, every now and then pushing his opponent into time
trouble. But now, in Ekaterinburg, he suddenly began to play very solidly. With great caution. And
most importantly, slowly.”
Playing very fast is also something that Anand used to do, but mostly at the beginning of his career.
In the Candidates Tournament, Nepomniachtchi succeeded with his new approach: he generally
didn’t take risks, but pressed when the occasion allowed. In one of the two cases he did press in the
second leg, it was rather easy, because he got a clear advantage after the opening in round 10, against
Alekseenko.
Let’s now turn to fragments of the other won game in the second leg, from round 12. It essentially
decided the outcome of the tournament, and highlights both the strengths and a drawback of Nepo’s

17
play.

Wang Hao
Ian Nepomniachtchi
FIDE Candidates Tournament, Ekaterinburg, (12), 24.04.2021

Black to play

Black is fine. White has the bishop pair but it is not an advantage in this semi-closed position. The
computer likes 26...Nc7 to free up the e8-rook. This avoids Bxe6 when the rook withdraws and also
avoids the immediate Bxe6, when White would meet Rxe6 with Bd2, exchanging all rooks or keeping
control of the e-file.

26...Rac8!

Nepomniachtchi now starts an ambitious plan to activate his pieces. It will lead to the isolation of
his d-pawn, but he thinks it is not a weakness to fear, as White has no way of exploiting it.

27.Bd2 c5 28.dxc5 Bxc5+ 29.Kg2 Bb6 30.Rab1

White prepares the opening of the b-file.

30...Rc6 31.b4 Nc7!

Black regroups his knight to take advantage of the weaknesses that the advance b4 created. Also,
taking into account the practical side, Nepomniachtchi said: “Black has other moves as well, but I
was hoping that Wang Hao would be ashamed of his light-squared bishop now.”

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 32.Rxe8 Ncxe8 33.bxa5 Bxa5 34.Rxb7

34...Nd6!

“Of course, the game has not gone beyond the bounds of approximate equality, but White’s
cornered bishop on the kingside gave me the moral right to play for a win. The straightforward
34...d4 35.c4! Nd6 36.Ra7 would have led to a draw.” (Nepomniachtchi).
We see here the ambitious play that characterizes Nepomniachtchi: there is no guarantee of a clear
advantage, much less of a win, but he continues to try.

35.Ra7 Bxc3 36.Bd7

“An important move, after which White should draw.” (Nepomniachtchi).

36...Nxd7 37.Bxc3+ Rxc3 38.Rxd7 Rc6

19
 39.Re7?

“Optically, Black’s position is a little more pleasant because a check from c2 is threatening and the
king is about to arrive on e6, but any consolidating move will lead to a draw, e.g., 39.Ne3 d4
(39...Kf6? 40.Rc7!) 40.Nd5 Rc2+ 41.Kh3 Nc4 42.Nf4 Ne5 43.Ne6+! Kf6 44.Nxd4 with a draw.”
(Nepomniachtchi).

39...Rc2+ 40.Kg1 d4 41.Rd7 Nf5 42.a5 Ra2 43.Ra7?

The computer indicates that the surprising 43.a6! leads to a draw, allowing White to activate his
pieces and build a fortress after for example 43...Rxa6 44.Nd2 Ra1+ (or 44...Ra2 45.Ne4) 45.Kf2 Ra2
46.Ke2 Kf6 47.Rb7, with excellent chances for a draw.

20
 Now we see a defect that Nepo should avoid as his career progresses; as he admitted, “I considered
that move in the game almost suicidal, so I played pretty quickly.”

43...Kf6?

As Nepomniachtchi commented, “after 43...h4 44.g4 Nd6 45.Rd7 Nb5 46.a6 (after 46.Rd5 there is
always 46...Nc3) 46...Kf6 47.f4 Ke6 I could have readied myself to go for dinner.”

44.a6 h4 45.Ra8 h3 46.a7 Ke7 47.g4 Nd6 48.Rb8

This leads to the exchange of the passed pawns and the game is very close to a draw again.

48...Rxa7 49.Rb4 d3!

“An attempt to play for domination. After 49...Ra2 50.Rxd4 Rg2+ 51.Kh1 Rf2 52.Kg1 Rxf3
53.Nd2 Ra3 54.Ne4! White reaches safety.” (Nepomniachtchi).

50.Rb3 Ra2 51.Rxd3 Nc4

Nepo gave a clear description of the situation: “Of course, there is almost a forced draw on the
board. Black does not really threaten anything, and this is the main problem and danger: the most
practical solution – 52.f4 – is not strictly forced. Wang Hao is in no hurry with exchanges, but in the
sixth hour of play knights become especially jumpy and unpredictable.”

52.Ng3 Rg2+ 53.Kh1

21
 53...Kf8!

“A trap!” joked Nepo. The Black king moves off the e-file to give his knight more freedom.

54.Rc3?

And White falls into the “trap”; Nepo highlighted that 54.g5 was the clearest way to fix the position
and the draw should be closer.

54...Nb2!

Unexpectedly, Black creates mating threats with ...Nd1.

Black has improved his chances, but objectively the position is still drawish. Yet in a practical
sense, it is different. Wang Hao was surely tired and not optimistic after playing so many weak
moves.
This is what Nepo wrote: “When, after a stubborn defense in a long and joyless game, you make an
inaccuracy, and your opponent, rubbing his hands, prepares to checkmate in two moves, things
become very uncomfortable.”

55.Rc8+ Kg7 56.Rd8 Rf2 57.Kg1 Rxf3 58.Ne4 Re3

22
 59.Ng3?

Nepomniachtchi thought he was nearly winning, but he was surprised when he saw the computer
resist even here. He pointed out that White should have played 59.Nd6!, and the game is holdable
after 59...Nd3 60.Re8 Rf3 61.g5 Nf4 62.Re7 Nd5 63.Re1.
But apparently Wang Hao felt the same as Nepo, that he was nearly lost.

59...Ra3!

White resigned. It is rather surprising, but he is indeed lost.

We show as an example the most “stubborn” resistance, as Nepo called it: 60.Re8 f6 61.Re1 Ra2
62.Re3 Nc4 63.Rc3 Ra1+ 64.Kf2 Ne5 65.Ne4 Nxg4+ 66.Kg3 Rg1+ 67.Kxh3 f5, and White loses his
h-pawn or gets mated.
There are more lines, and White could still have delayed the end, but “chess is a state of mind.” In
Eight Good Men we read that Wang Hao said after the game, “I just didn’t want to continue.” 0-1

23
 Show in Text Mode

Nepo’s 30 Best Wins

Game 1
“We are going to have to learn to pronounce his name”
That is how ChessBase headed its report of the 2008 Aeroflot Open, one of the strongest
tournaments in the world. Nepomniachtchi had won several tournaments before 2008, mostly in
youth competitions. He gained the Grandmaster title in 2007, when he was still 16.
His first victory in a tournament where he was far from being one of the favorites, ranked around
number 20 among the 66 players, was the 2008 Aeroflot Open. With his 2600 Elo points he finished
with an impressive 2822 rating performance, scoring 7 points out of 9 with five wins and four draws.

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Alexey Dreev
Sicilian Defense [B60]
Aeroflot Open-A1 Moscow (3), 16.02.2008

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bc4

6...Bd7

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 “Here I fell into a kind of stupor, since I could not understand what the correct way for White to
play was. It was not that the move made by Alexey rarely occurs – I simply assumed that, like last
year, 6...e6 would be played.” (Nepomniachtchi, in New In Chess).
Question: I have two questions: how is it possible that a move like this could surprise
Nepomniachtchi at all? And in any event, what is the idea behind 6...Bd7?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: It is strange: he was already a strong player, but he couldn’t even remember that he had
played this position before.
The idea of the text move is to transpose to a Dragon Variation. This move prepares the fianchetto.
6...g6?! is premature due to 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.e5.

7.Bg5

“This move was found quite independently, i.e., the choice was based on the calculation of some
variations, which, however, are of no particular value. In any case, this is one of the main
continuations.” (Nepomniachtchi).
This move prevents Black’s fianchetto; in his forgotten game, Nepomniachtchi – Abramov,
Dagomys 2004, Nepo played 7.0-0, which allows 7...g6.
7.Bb3 is a flexible choice, leaving White both castling options open.

7...Qa5

Dreev avoids the less radical 7...e6, after which Nepomniachtchi said he wanted to play the
standard 8.Qd2.
The text move is a principled choice. Black forces White to swap his Bg5, but not for free. This
comes at the price of Black’s disrupted pawn structure.
Botvinnik used to play this type of structure and Dreev was familiar with it because he often used to
play the variation 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 Bd7, allowing Bxf6.

8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.Nb3

Question: Why remove the knight from the center? Wasn’t, for example, 9.0-0 better?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: This kind of move, apparently passive, is often made when normal moves are not so
strong. Let’s take a look at the alternatives:

25
 If 9.0-0 then 9...Qc5! follows, and after 10.Nxc6 bxc6 the bishop pair is more important than the
worse pawn structure. Black should be able to continue with ...Bg7 and a timely ...f5.
This is an important positional motif: if Black can do it without being punished, then he is doing
well.
After 9.Bb3 Black can continue in a similar way, 9...Rg8, and if 10.g3 then 10...Nxd4 11.Qxd4 f5,
and Black is again OK.
With 9.Nb3 White keeps tension in the position.

9...Qg5 10.g3

It is better not to decide the location of the king just yet: after 10.0-0 Black can reply 10...Rg8 11.g3
h5 12.Nd5 Rc8, followed by ...h4, later ...f5, etc., as was seen in the classical game Geller –
Averbakh, Zurich 1953.

10...f5

Not a surprising move for us, and probably a good one, but perhaps it isn’t the best from the
practical point of view.
Question: Really? After what we saw it is very natural.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Yes, it is, and the move is even more natural for Dreev, who had played this position with
one slight difference, with the Bc4 placed on e2, in Morozevich – Dreev, Moscow 2004. That game

26
started 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nc6 6.Bg5 Bd7 7.Be2 Qa5 8.Bxf6 gxf6
9.Nb3 Qg5 10.g3, and now with 10...f5 he obtained a reasonable position.
Nepomniachtchi mentioned 10...h5 as interesting, without bringing tension to the center yet. After
11.f4 (and also after 11.h4) play may continue 11...Qg6 12.Qd3 f5. Besides, Black has 11...Qg4!? –
with this intermediate move Black lures White’s bishop to a less active square, then 12.Be2 Qg6
followed by ...f5.
10...Rc8, with the idea of a later ...h5 or even ...f5, has also been played.

Exercise: Nepo tried to demonstrate that the differences between this position and that of
Morozevich – Dreev are not unimportant. What did he play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

11.e5!

“In my view, only this move can pose any problems.” (Nepomniachtchi).
11.f4 Qg6 leads White nowhere. After 11.0-0 Black can continue with 11...Bg7, but 11...f4! is
probably better: if 12.Qd2 then simply 12...Bh6 (12...Rc8 is also fine), while in the case of 12.Nd5
fxg3, then 13.Nc7+? loses to 13...Kd8 14.Nxa8 gxh2+ 15.Kh1 Rg8 16.Qf3 Ne5 followed by ...Nxc4,
and 13.fxg3 0-0-0, or even 13...Rc8 are good for Black, as he has the strong e5 square for his knight
and two active bishops.

11...Be6

27
 Black has several replies to look at, 11...Nxe5? loses to 12.f4 Qg4 13.Be2, while 11...dxe5?!
12.Bxf7+ Kxf7 13.Qxd7 leaves Black’s king in a difficult position.
But this was not a new position. Nepo commented: “Up to here play has followed a more or less
familiar course. In the game Kruppa – Sorokin, Kherson 1991, Black played 11...0-0-0 and after
12.exd6 e6 13.f4 Qf6 14.Qd2 Kb8 15.0-0-0 Bc8 16.Qe3 Bxd6 he was able to count on equality,”
although in fact White obtained some advantage after 17.Nb5 Qe7 (17...Be7? loses to 18.Na5), and
now, instead of 18.Na5, it would have been better to take twice on d6 followed by Rd1 and Nd4
when White’s pieces are active.
Exercise (simple): What did Nepo choose?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

12.Bxe6

Weakening Black’s pawn structure. 12.Nd5? is wrong due to 12...0-0-0, and the opening of the d-
file will favor Black.

12...fxe6

13.Nd4?!

Question: Why is this move dubious? It almost forces Black to trade knights and the White queen

28
enters the game.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Nepomniachtchi said: “A mediocre decision. Mass exchanges do not bring White any
benefits.” The active queen will be on her own, and Black shouldn’t have problems with his king.
It was better to open lines without exchanging pieces and retain the tension by playing 13.exd6
exd6. Now White has several continuations, such as 14.f4, trying to castle long, or 14.Qe2 Kf7
15.Nb5 Re8 16.Rd1 d5 17.0-0, followed by c4, when Black’s king is not completely safe.

13...Nxd4 14.Qxd4 Bg7

Exercise (simple): What to play now?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

15.Qa4+

The best way to get rid of the pin. After 15.f4?! Qg4 (better than 15...Qh5) White has no good way
to neutralize Black’s two ideas, 16...dxe5 17.fxe5 h5 and 16...Qf3.

15...Kf7 16.exd6 Bxc3+

Black continues to simplify the position and creates potential targets on the c-file.
The bishop looks strong, but after 16...exd6 17.0-0 the knight is also good: it can move e2-f4 or to
b5.

17.bxc3 exd6

“Here my opponent offered a draw, but I was in the mood to play on to the end! The position is
certainly about equal, but only White can fight for a win.” (Nepomniachtchi).

18.0-0

White has some initiative due to his better protected king. This is not a great achievement, as Nepo
said, but Black is forced to mount a careful defense before reaching full equality.

18...Rhe8

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 “The first incorrect move; it would have been better to move this rook to d8.” (Nepomniachtchi).
18...Rhc8 is also interesting.

19.Rad1 d5?

“A blunder. With the passive 19...Qe7 Black would have retained a solid enough position.”
(Nepomniachtchi).
White could then play 20.Rd3, 20.Qf4 or 20.Rfe1, with a more pleasant position, but objectively it
is not much yet.

Exercise: How did Nepo punish Black’s move?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

20.c4!

A strong and natural move: by opening up the center White creates threats against Black’s king.

20...dxc4

20...Qg4 is met by 21.f4.

Exercise (simple): How to continue?

Show/Hide Solution

30
 Answer:

21.Rd7+

Using the opened line. The c4-pawn can wait.

21...Re7 22.Rfd1 Rae8

If 22...Kg6 White plays 23.Qxc4, planning 24.R1d6 or 24.Qc7.

23.Qxa7

Better than 23.Qxc4 Rxd7 24.Rxd7+ Re7, because after taking 23.Qxa7 instead of 23.Qxc4, White
can play 25.Qxb7 in this position.

23...Qg4

Exercise: How did Nepo continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

24.Qe3!

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 Of course not 24.Qxb7?? Qxd1+; the queen returns to the center to maintain or increase the
pressure.
“After his serious mistake on the 19th move Black apparently resists in the best way possible, but
this is not sufficient – the conversion of White’s advantage is just too simple.” (Nepomniachtchi).

24...Rxd7

White was threatening 25.R1d4. In case of 24...b5 25.R7d4 Qg7 (stopping 26.Qe5) 26.Rb1 the loss
of a pawn is unavoidable.

25.Rxd7+ Re7

Exercise (simple): What should he play now?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

26.Rd4

White naturally avoids the exchange of a second pair of rooks, as the White rook is much stronger
than its counterpart.

26...Qg7

Exercise: How did Nepo progress in this position?

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 Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

27.a4!

“An accurate move, after which the c4–pawn is doomed.” (Nepomniachtchi). But not 27.Rxc4?!
Qa1+ and 28...Qxa2.

27...Rc7 28.Qf4 Kg6 29.c3

White could play 29.Rxc4, but, considering his opponent’s time trouble, this was better; 29.h4 was
also strong.

29...Qe7 30.Rxc4

Black was threatening 30...e5; 30.Rd6 would continue with the same strategy, but Nepo decided to
take the pawn.

30...e5 31.Rxc7 Qxc7

Exercise: To where did Nepo retreat his queen?

Show/Hide Solution

33
 Answer:

32.Qd2

“In my opinion, this is stronger than 32.Qb4, since it is useful to take control of the d-file.”
(Nepomniachtchi).
The computer may disagree, but in practice, when we have to choose between similar options, it is
important to feel safe.

32...Qc6 33.a5 Qc5

Question: I see White is a pawn up, but we have reached a queen endgame. Is it easy to convert his
advantage?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: There are some technical problems to solve, but not difficult ones because White’s king is
safe, while Black’s king is not. White will be able to get a passed pawn by exchanging one of his c-
or a-pawns for the b7-pawn.

34.c4 e4

34...Qxc4 is no better, due to 35.Qd6+ Kf7 36.Qd7+ Kg6 37.Qxb7 e4 38.a6, winning easily.

Exercise: White has more than one strong move, what did Nepo play?

Show/Hide Solution

34
 Answer:

35.Qd8

A very unpleasant move. White threatens 36.Qb6+; 35.h4 was also good.

35...Qe5?

“This queen move loses, but by now it is hard to offer Black good advice.
Of course, he should have captured the c4–pawn, but even this would not have given him any real
chances of a draw. [35...Qxc4 36.Qb6+ followed by Qxb7].
Things were also affected by the severe time trouble which Alexey had got into at the end of the
first control.” (Nepomniachtchi).
Exercise (simple): Demonstrate why Black’s move was a mistake.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

36.Qb6+

Now White wins a second pawn.

36...Kh5 37.Qxb7 Kg6 38.a6 Qa1+ 39.Kg2 Qa3

Exercise (simple): What did White play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

40.Qb6+

Defending the f2-pawn.

40...Kf7

35
 Exercise (simple): Which move induced Black to give up?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

41.h4!

The f-pawn is protected and the king gets the h2-square after 41...Qf3+ 42.Kh2, winning easily.
But not 41.a7??, dropping half a point after 41...Qf3+ 42.Kh3 Qh5+ 43.Kg2 Qf3+ 44.Kf1 Qd1+.
1–0
Some lessons from this game: *
1.) Be careful with general rules and thematic ideas, as a slight difference in a known position may
result in a very different game. (11.e5!)
2.) “Which piece(s) should I exchange and which should I retain?” Answering these questions
correctly will often bring you good results. (13.Nd4? 13.exd6! 26.Rd4!)
3.) You must calculate the risks very well before advancing your pawns while weakening your
king’s position. (19...d5?)
4.) King safety is almost always a key factor in the middle game, and opening the position is
frequently favorable for the player with a safer king. (11.e5! 20.c4!)
5.) “What is my opponent’s next move or plan?” is a question that can help us to avoid mistakes.
(19...d5? 24.Qe3! 41.h4!)
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

36
 Let’s briefly take a look as the end of one of his other victories at the Aeroflot Open 2008.

Nepomniachtchi
Zaven Andriasian
Aeroflot Open-A1 Moscow (1), 14.02.2008

White to play

White is better. He has strong pressure on the d-file and more active pieces (except the c2-knight).
Exercise: What would you play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

21.Qd3!

Avoiding the positional threat 21...dxc5, which leads to simplifications. Now the pressure has
increased.

21...Nd4

An exposed back rank prevents Black from playing 21...dxc5?, which now loses to 22.Bxc6 Qxc6
(or 22...c4 23.Qd2 c3 24.bxc3 bxc3 25.Qd3) 23.Rxd8 Bxd8 24.Qxd8!

37
 22.Nxd4 exd4 23.c6

This passed pawn guarantees White a great advantage. Black has no counterplay while White can
gradually make progress to find the best way to crack Black’s defenses.

23...Bf6 24.Rc1 Ra8 25.g3 g6 26.Rb5 Rab8 27.Rxb8 Rxb8

28.Bb3!

Remembering the principle of the two weaknesses. Black has one exposed so far: he has to stop the
passed pawn in a very uncomfortable way, as the queen is a bad blockader. Now, White targets a
second weakness, the weak f7 pawn. We can’t yet talk about two decisive weaknesses. White needs
to find something else, but this maneuver is a step forward.
From the practical point of view, and maybe also objectively, Black’s position is hopeless.

28...Kg7 29.Kg2 h5 30.h4 Rc8 31.Bd5

The difference in strength between the bishops is clear. As in most positions, the presence of
opposite-colored bishops favors the strongest side.

31...Qa7 32.Rc2

“Don’t rush”: White has plenty of time at his disposal to find the best arrangement of his pieces.

32...Qc7 33.Qa6 Rb8 34.Rd2 Rb6 35.Qc4 Rb8 36.Rd3!

White has improved the position of all of his pieces. The rook will play a decisive role in the next

38
phase: it can move to either side – to f3 to add pressure to f7, and also to the queenside.

36...Rf8

Exercise: Here White initiated a decisive plan – with which move?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

37.Rb3!

Nepomniachtchi finds a way to penetrate Black’s position. After a2–a3 the b-file will open, which
will probably allow the invasion of the White rook on b7.

37...Qb6

37...Rb8 doesn’t help. After 38.a3 bxa3 White can choose, either 39.Rb7 Rxb7 40.cxb7 Qb8
41.Qc8, or 39.Rxb8 Qxb8 40.c7 Qc8 41.bxa3 followed by 42.Bb7.

38.a3 Qc5

38...Rb8 allows 39.Bxf7.

39.axb4 axb4 40.Qxb4 Qxb4 41.Rxb4 d3 42.Kf3!

Guarding the d-pawn. The White king is also much better than the Black one.

39
 42...g5 43.hxg5 Bxg5 44.c7 f5

Or 44...Rc8 45.Rc4 and there is no defense to Bb7.

45.Rb8

1–0

Game 2
European Champion
With his 2656 Elo rating, Nepomniachtchi was seeded 35th in the 2010 Individual European
Championship held in Rijeka. The field included over 150 grandmasters and Nepomniachtchi was
clear first with 9 points out of 11.
Yannick Pelletier described Nepo’s performance in Rijeka this way: “Nepomniachtchi dominated
the event and did not show signs of weakness at any point. He remained faithful to his active and
somewhat unusual style, but refrained from taking ill-considered risks.”
He started with three wins followed by two draws. Let’s see his game from the sixth round.

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Hrant Melkumyan
Ruy Lopez [C84]
Individual European Championship, Rijeka (6), 11.03.2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6

40
 5.d3

This move, avoiding the main lines, an idea introduced by Steinitz, was frequently used by Nepo at
the beginning of his career, and especially in 2010. He later played almost exclusively 5.0-0.

5...b5

White was threatening 6.Bxc6 and taking the e5-pawn.

6.Bb3 Be7 7.0-0 d6

Exercise: There are several playable moves, but White should not play automatically. What would
you play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

8.a4

White shouldn’t allow the exchange of his Bb3 with 8...Na5, so he should choose between this
move, 8.a3 and 8.c3.

8...b4

Black also has more than one acceptable choice: 8...Rb8 and 8...Bd7 are solid alternatives.
8...Bb7 is possible too, but we must note that it abandons control of the f5 square. There could

41
follow 9.Nc3 Na5 10.Ba2 b4 11.Ne2 c5 12.Ng3, and White is ready to play Nf5.

9.a5

Question: Why play this move so early? Isn’t it better to continue with 9.Nbd2 for example, and
later decide what to do with the pawn structure?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: There is nothing wrong with 9.Nbd2, of course, but it allows Black to go for a different
line with 9...Na5 10.Ba2 0-0 11.c3 c5. Nepo wanted to avoid it, and his move is no worse than the
knight move.

9...0-0

Question: This position is similar to the Anti-Marshall Variation, right?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Yes, it is similar. After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3
0-0, when White plays 8.a4 (instead of 8.c3 to avoid the Marshall Variation with 8...d5) 8...b4 9.a5 d6
10.d3 we arrive at the position on the following diagram.

The only modification compared with our game is the situation of the f1-rook. Here it is on e1, and
this difference must be taken into consideration, as we shall see.

42
 10.Nbd2 Rb8

This rook will be well placed in case of a future c3 by White, but 10...Be6 is much more usual.

11.Nc4 h6 12.h3

Question: 11...h6 and now 12.h3, why were these moves played?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: They are not strange. The players are preparing ...Be6 and Be3, so it is useful to control
the g5 and g4 squares, avoiding Ng5 and ...Ng4.

12...Be6 13.Be3 Qc8

Instead of the standard maneuver ...Re8 followed by ...Bf8 the queen heads for b7, ceding d8 to the
f8-rook, which will support a timely ...d5 if possible.

14.Nfd2

White continues to place his pieces on the best squares before taking decisions about the pawn
structure.
After 14.c3?! Black can solve his problems with 14...Qb7 15.Nfd2 d5! 16.exd5 Nxd5.
The advance ...d5 must be taken into consideration on almost every move in the next phase of the
game.

43
 14...Rd8

In Kryvoruchko – Arnaudov, Ohrid 2019, Black played 14...d5 and got a good position after
15.exd5 Bxd5 16.f3.
Exercise: Instead of 15.exd5 White has an improvement, what is it?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: White has the intermediate move 15.Ba4!, as 15...dxc4 16.Bxc6 cxd3 17.cxd3 is better for
White due to the weak c7-pawn on an open file. Black should sacrifice a pawn with 15...Qb7,
allowing 16.Bxc6 Qxc6 17.Nxe5.

15.Qe2

Avoiding the X–ray of the d8-rook, and, considering that the advance ...d5 is always possible, here
the queen will add more pressure to the e5-pawn if it is played.

15...Qb7

Exercise (simple): Now that the rook is on d8, why didn’t Black play 15...d5?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Because of what we already saw: 16.Ba4!, and after 16...dxc4 17.Bxc6 cxd3 18.cxd3 the
c7-pawn will again give Black a headache. White is better.

44
 Exercise: White has made almost all the “normal” moves. How should he continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

16.Ba4

White has improved the position of his bishop. It is premature to play 16.f4? due to 16...exf4
17.Rxf4 d5!

16...Nd7 17.c3 d5?!

Black considered that, with e5 solidly defended, it was the right time to make this advance; but
White will show it is not safe.
Black could play 17...Na7!, with the idea of hitting the c3 pawn with ...Nb5. Then in case of
18.f4?! Black can carry out his ...d5 idea successfully after 18...bxc3 19.bxc3 Nb5 20.Rac1 exf4
21.Rxf4 (or 21.Bxf4 Bf6) 21...d5 with a good position.
In case of 18.d4 there could follow 18...bxc3 19.bxc3 exd4 20.cxd4 d5!, and Black is no worse.

18.exd5 Bxd5

45
 Exercise: Here White was able to show the flaw of the ...d5 break, how?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

19.f4!

White makes good use of his rook being on f1 instead of e1, where it stands in the Anti-Marshall
Variation which we mentioned after 9...0-0.

19...exf4

Now White not only gets the f-file, but superiority in the center, too.

20.Bxf4

White threatens to win a piece with 21.Bxc6.

20...Re8

In case of 20...Bg5 White can play 21.Bxg5 hxg5 22.d4 with an advantage.
Something similar happens after 20...Bf6. Now, instead of the immediate 21.d4 which allows
21...bxc3 22.bxc3 Nxd4, complicating the position, White has 21.Ne3! followed by 22.d4, without
fearing 21...Nc5?! due to 22.Bxh6!, threatening 23.Rxf6.

21.d4

46
 21.Ne3 was also possible, but this move is perfectly safe. The X-ray between the Black rook and
the White queen is not dangerous.

21...Bg5 22.Qf2

This is the most natural answer, using the f-file and overprotecting g2. The engines like both
22.Ne3 and the “unhuman” 22.Qd3, allowing 22...Bxg2 when White has more than enough
compensation after 23.Rf2 Bxf4 24.Rxg2 or 23...Bd5 24.Bxg5 hxg5 25.Ne3 Be6 26.Nf3. Black’s
king will suffer in both cases.

22...Bxf4 23.Qxf4 Nf6?!

White is already better.

After the more active 23...Re2 there could follow 24.Ne3 Ne7, and White has two attractive
continuations:
A) 25.c4 Ng6 (25...Rxd2 26.Nxd5 Nxd5 27.Qxd2 is worse) 26.Qf5 Rxe3 27.cxd5 Nf6 28.Qf2 Re7
29.Bc6 and White, with his powerful bishop, has a dominant position.
B) 25.Bxd7 Ng6 26.Qg4 Rxe3 (better than 26...Rxd2, which leaves the rook too far away; White
can play 27.c4, where 27...Bc6 loses to 28.Rxf7!) 27.c4 Be6 28.Bxe6 Rxe6 29.Nb3, and White’s
pawn structure is better while all his pieces are well situated.

24.Ne3

Threatening 25.Nxd5 and planning Nf5. Black’s position is falling apart.

24...Be6?!

This retreat concedes more terrain, although Black’s position is unpleasant both after 24...Re7
25.Qg3 and after 24...Rbd8 25.Rae1, as White can improve the already good position of his pieces
while Black cannot do the same.

47
Exercise (simple): How did White make further progress?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

25.Qf3!

Threatening the c6-knight and forcing another concession from his opponent.

25...Bd7

48
Exercise: How did Nepo continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

26.Nd5!

He took advantage of the retreat 25...Bd7, which left f7 less protected.

26...Re6

26...Nxd5 loses a pawn without compensation after 27.Qxf7+ Kh8 28.Qxd5 Red8 29.Qc5.

49
 Exercise (simple): What is the complement of the previous move?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

27.Ne4!

Winning a pawn by force.

27...Nxe4

27...Nxd5 was no better, due to for example 28.Qxf7+ Kh8 29.Nc5 Ne5 30.dxe5 Qa7 31.Qf2,
winning.

28.Qxf7+ Kh8 29.Qxd7 Rd6 30.Bxc6

The simplest, although 30.Qg4 was also strong.

30...Rxc6

There is no salvation after 30...Rxd7 31.Bxb7 bxc3 (or 31...Rxb7 32.Nxb4) 32.Nxc3 Nxc3
33.Bxa6, and the a-pawn is decisive.

31.Qe7

31.Nxb4 and 31.Rae1 were also good, but this is the most precise move, as it attacks the Black

50
knight and prepares Rf8+ to weaken the Black king’s position.

31...Rd6

Black could try 31...bxc3, then after 32.Rf8+ Rxf8 33.Qxf8+ Kh7 we reach the next diagram.

Exercise: What is the strongest continuation?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Not 34.bxc3? Rg6 and Black is even better, but White can instead go for 34.Ne7 Qb3
35.Nxc6 cxb2 36.Qf5+ Kh8 37.Re1 b1=Q 38.Rxb1 Qxb1+ 39.Kh2, which is very favorable.
Anyway, 34.Qf5+! Kh8 35.bxc3 is even stronger. Now 35...Nxc3 36.Qf8+ Kh7 37.Ne7 gets mate,
while 35...Nf6 36.Re1 Qb8 37.Qg6 Qf8 38.Re5 or 38.Re2 leaves Black in zugzwang, something very
uncommon in the middle game.

32.Rf8+ Rxf8 33.Qxf8+ Kh7

Exercise: And now what is the best move?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

34.Ne7

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 Now there is no defense.

34...Nf6

Exercise (simple): With which move did Nepo finish the game?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

35.Rf1

There is no counter to 36.Rxf6.

1–0
Some lessons from this game: *
1.) Be sure to make all the useful and “forced” moves before taking what may turn out to be
premature action. (14.c3? 14...d5? 17...d5?)
2.) Open the game on your stronger flank, where you have superiority of forces. (19.f4!)
3.) Never miss an opportunity to improve the position of your pieces or worsen the position of your
opponent’s pieces. (25.Qf3!)
4.) “Chess is a team game.” All the pieces should work together. (16.Ba4! 24.Ne3! 26.Nd5!
27.Ne4!)
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

52
 Show in Text Mode

Game 3
A key victory
In the ninth round Nepomniachtchi, with 6.5 points out of 8, had to play the tournament’s sole
leader, Georgian Baadur Jobava (7 points), who had shown energetic and uncompromising play.
This is how Nepomniachtchi described his successful finish in Rijeka: “I managed to make use of
the White pieces extremely successfully, and I was also helped by fortune: after the final rest day, I
finished with three Whites out of four games (the draw is seldom so helpful), which of course gave
me a significant advantage over my rivals.”
Nepo scored 3.5 points out of those 4, winning his three games with the White pieces.

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Baadur Jobava
Caro-Kann Defense [B12]
European Championship, Rijeka (9), 15.03.2010

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3

Nepomniachtchi used to play the Fantasy Variation in those years.

3...Qb6

Nepo was not surprised by this continuation, as Jobava had already chosen it against Timofeev in
the 6th round, and since he won that game, Nepo expected him to repeat the line. Moreover, “this
view was strengthened still further by the fact that the move 3...Qb6 has also been played by other
Georgian grandmasters.”

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 Timofeev – Jobava, Rijeka 2010, continued 4.Nc3 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Bf5 6.c3 Nd7 7.Bd3 e5 8.Ne2
exd4 9.cxd4 Bb4+ 10.Bd2 Ne7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Kh1 Bxd2 13.Qxd2 Rad8, and Black has a pleasant
position.

4.a4

Nepo confidently thought this was “a strong novelty,” as did his opponent, but neither of them was
aware that this move had been played in the round 8 game Nabaty – Erdos of the same tournament.

4...e5!

Nepo thought this was “the principled move,” reacting to a flank attack with a blow in the center.
He also pointed out that Black should not play 4...a5? on account of 5.exd5 cxd5 6.Nc3, “with a
serious advantage,” as the b5 square is ideal for the c3-knight.
In the above game Erdos chose 4...dxe4 5.a5 Qc7 6.fxe4 e5 7.Nf3 exd4 8.Bc4, which is more than
acceptable for White.
Two months later, in Nepomniachtchi – Ivanchuk, Havana 2010, Black played 4...e6, basically
transposing back into the 3...e6 variation but with the moves a4 and ...Qb6 thrown in. Now 5.a5 Qd8
would be the same as the 3...e6 line except that White has used his two extra tempi to put his pawn on
a5. However, the pawn is very loose, and a subsequent ...Bb4 could be strong.
The game continued 5.c3, but Nepomniachtchi was not able to maintain his center for long. After
5...c5 6.exd5 (a move that “doesn’t link up well with 3.f3. Now that pawn simply takes away the
logical square from the g1 knight and creates holes in White’s camp,” as Gawain Jones said) 6...exd5
(now the position is similar to the Tarrasch Variation of the French Defense after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5
3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5, but with the White pawns on a5 and f3, which are weaknesses) 7.Bb5+ Bd7
8.Qe2+ Be7 9.dxc5 Qxc5 10.b3 a6 11.Bxd7+ Nxd7 12.Nh3 0-0-0! Black obtained a very good

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position.
This was the last time that Nepo played 3.f3. After that, he chose exclusively 3.e5.

5.dxe5 dxe4?!

Question: Dubious? As far as I know, this is normal in this variation.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Yes, it is normal in similar positions, and the reason why it is dubious is really surprising.
First, we should mention that if 5...Bc5?! White has 6.a5, and the battery along the g1-a7 diagonal
loses all its force.
It is dubious because, in 2021, the engines recommend the interesting 5...a5!. Now that 5.dxe5 has
been played, the situation is different to after 4...a5? (where 5.exd5 was strong), as 6.exd5 is met by
6...Bc5! with good play, so White should probably play 6.Nh3, allowing 6...Bxh3.

Exercise: What did White play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

6.a5

“White seizes space on the queenside and drives the enemy queen from her active position – this is

55
the whole point of White’s 4th move.” (Nepomniachtchi).

6...Qc7

Question: Why not 6...Qc5? The queen seems to be more active there.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Maybe, but it doesn’t improve Black’s chances. Play could continue, as in the game, 7.f4
Nh6 8.Nc3, and now Black has no ...Bb4, while after 8...Bf5 White has 9.Nh3 (9...Bxh3 condemns
the e4-pawn), to go to g5 or f2, and even the nice move 9.Ra4.

7.f4 Nh6 8.Nc3 Bb4

The alternative was to play in gambit style with 8...Bf5, where 9.Qd4 Nd7 10.Nxe4 0-0-0 looks
dangerous for White, so it is probably better to try 9.Nge2 Nd7 10.Ng3 0-0-0 11.Qe2, but also with
an unclear position.
This makes clear that 4.a4! was strong in a practical sense, even if less so objectively; as we know,
sometimes objectivity is not so important at the board.

9.Bd2

9...e3?!

Nepo commented that Jobava was playing very quickly, “possibly hoping to shake my balance,”

56
and that he had not considered the text move.
Nepo thought, in 2010, that 9...Bxc3 10.Bxc3 0-0 was stronger, because “thanks to his good
development, Black can count on equality,” and he gave the line 11.Qd4 Rd8 12.Qxe4 Bf5 13.Qe2
Na6.
That line is not forced, of course. There are several moves to consider, such as 13.Qe3 Bxc2
14.Bc4 followed by Nf3.
Even at the end of the line he gave, White could play 14.Nf3 followed by h3 and g4.
In both cases, the strong formation e5 supported by f4 seems to offer White some advantage.

10.Bxe3 0-0

Exercise (simple): How did Nepo reply?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

11.Nf3

This move was allowed by 9...e3, and “fortunately, White is now able to complete his development
by the simplest possible means, and his total domination in the center gives him a solid advantage.”
(Nepomniachtchi).

11...Rd8

Question: Why not 11...Ng4? It seems more promising.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Not so much, because after 12.Bd2 “Black has shot his bolt – he has no way to exploit the
weakness of f2.” (Nepomniachtchi).

12.Bd3 Na6

12...Bf5 13.Qe2 Bxd3 14.cxd3 is no better, as White will gain even more control of the center.

13.Qe2 Bxa5

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 Exercise: How did Nepo continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

14.0-0

Question: A rather obvious move, isn’t it?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Yes, but there was an alternative that deserves serious attention, “returning to positional
channels with 14.Bxa6 bxa6 15.0-0.”
The text move is probably objectively stronger, and besides it is what Nepo preferred. As he said,
he “could not resist playing for the attack: after all, White has all the preconditions for developing an
initiative on the kingside.”
We know how important it is to play positions we like and/or are easy to play.

14...Nb4 15.Be4

Question: I see White has nice development, but why is he better?

Show/Hide Solution

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 Answer: Let Nepo do the talking: “It is very difficult for Black to coordinate his pieces without
making serious positional concessions.”

15...Bf5

“The most logical decision is to exchange his opponent’s powerful light-squared bishop,” said
Nepo.
Exercise: How did he react?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

16.Kh1!

Moving off the g1-a7 diagonal. ...Bb6 is coming, so, by avoiding a pin, White will have more
freedom. He can now think about Bc5-d6 and Bf2-h4.

16...Bb6

As Nepo commented, Black’s task is not made any easier after 16...Bxe4 17.Nxe4 Nd5 18.c4 Nxe3
19.Qxe3 Bb4, “the bishop must be brought into play urgently, even at the cost of a pawn,” and now
he proposed 20.Rxa7 or 20.Nfg5, which are good, but 20.c5! seems even stronger, for example
20...b6 21.f5! Nxf5 22.Qf4 Qd7 (or 22...Nh6 23.Nf6+ and 24.Qxb4) 23.Qg4 Kh8 24.Neg5 Bxc5

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25.e6! fxe6 26.Ne5, winning.

17.Bxb6 Qxb6

Exercise: 17...axb6 is bad, why?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Because it loses a piece after 18.Rxa8 Rxa8 19.Bxf5 Nxf5 20.Qe4, attacking two pieces,
20...Nxc2 and now the nice 21.Nd1!, covering the e3-square.

Exercise: What should he play now?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

18.Ng5

There is nothing immediate, so Nepo moves his pieces “into position for subsequent operations.”

18...c5

Question: This move looks rather slow to me. Isn’t 18...Qc5 better, trying to help the defense in
some way?

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 Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Nepo cited it, but he added that it is not entirely clear how Black can hold after 19.Bxf5
Nxf5, and now he mentioned 20.Qh5 Nh6 21.Nce4 Qxc2 22.f5, with an attack; another way is
20.Qe4!, as after 20...g6 21.g4 Ne3 22.Qf3! Nxf1 23.Qh3 h5 24.gxh5 Qe3 25.Qh4 White’s attack is
unstoppable.
Exercise: How did Nepo continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

19.Rae1

“Simple and strong. The advance e5–e6 hangs over the Black position like the Sword of
Damocles.” (Nepomniachtchi).

19...Qg6

Black offers a pawn to try to complicate the position.

20.Bxb7

Not fearing the complications, White accepts the challenge, although 20.Nb5, 20.Qf2 and 20.g4

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Nxg4 21.Rg1 were also promising. White has many good options, which is a bad sign for Black.

20...Nxc2

This was the idea. It will not work, but 20...Rab8 21.Be4 Nc6 22.e6 “hardly allows Black to save
the position,” as the winner said.
Exercise: Now there are two strong continuations, which will you play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

21.Nd5!

The knight jump is very strong; Nepo thought that 21.Bxa8! Nxe1 22.Nd5 Kf8 23.e6 followed by
Nc7 was slightly more precise, but he added that “the move in the game does not spoil anything.”

21...Rxd5

Forced, 21...Kf8 loses to 22.Qb5.

22.Bxd5 Bd3 23.Qf3 Re8

Exercise: The preceding moves were forced, and now White deals a strong blow. What did he
play?

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 Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

24.e6!

“The Black pieces are too scattered, and the knight on h6 has still not come into play, so the time
has come for the decisive breakthrough.” (Nepomniachtchi).

24...Nxe1

After 24...f6 25.Bc6 Bxf1 Nepo showed some strong lines: 26.Bxe8 Qxe8 27.Rxf1 Nd4 (or
27...fxg5 28.fxg5 Nd4 29.Qd5) 28.Qd5, easily winning in both cases.

25.Rxe1 fxe6

There is no hope either after 25...Kh8 26.Rd1 fxe6 27.Bc6 Rb8 28.Rxd3 Nf5 29.Qd1 or 29.Be4.

26.Rxe6 Kh8!

Question: Really? An exclamation mark for this move? Black is lost anyway.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Nepo admitted this, but it was for its practical effect. It could have been strong, because
Nepo missed this move, which threw him “into some confusion.”
However, he managed to calm himself and find the most accurate path to victory.
It was easier after 26...Kf8, which loses to 27.Qe3, e.g., 27...Rxe6 28.Nxe6+ Ke8, and now almost
any normal move, like 29.Nxc5+.

27.h3!

After securing his king White avoids trouble.

27...Rxe6 28.Bxe6 Bb5

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 Exercise: Nepo was very pleased with his next move, what was it?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

29.f5!

“The victorious march of the f-pawn continues, having started with 3.f3.” (Nepomniachtchi).

29...Qe8 30.f6 Qf8 31.f7

1–0
Some lessons from this game: *
1.) Nonstandard positions may obey unusual rules. (5...a5!)
2.) It’s important to figure out when to play slow moves, reinforcing the position. (16.Kh1!
19.Rae1!)
3.) It’s equally important to figure out when to accelerate action. (18.Ng5! 21.Nd5! 24.e6! 29.f5!)
4.) “Chess is a team sport.” (18.Ng5! 19.Rae1!)
5.) Don’t underrate the importance of the practical side of the game. (4.a4! 9...e3? 16.Kh1!
26...Kh8! 27.h3!)
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

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 Game 4
Russian Champion, in Korchnoi’s style
Nepomniachtchi finished his excellent 2010 in the best possible way: he won the Russian
Championship with a 2807 rating performance and jumped from 69th place on the Elo list at the
beginning of the year to number 15. He defeated Sergey Karjakin, who had led the tournament from
the beginning, in the tie-break. International Master Mark Glukhovsky found some similarities
between the styles of Viktor Korchnoi and Ian Nepomniachtchi.
Indeed, he displayed the defensive skills of “Viktor the Terrible” in this tournament, when he saved
difficult positions against Vladimir Malakhov, Dmitry Jakovenko and Alexander Grischuk. Further,
like Korchnoi with his comebacks in his matches against Karpov in 1974 and 1978, he overcame an
unimpressive start: after three rounds he had 50% due to losing to Karjakin.
Let’s look at his victory in the first round.

Denis Khismatullin
Ian Nepomniachtchi
Grunfeld Defense [D76]
Russian Championship, Moscow (1), 11.12.2010

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.0-0 d5

The Grunfeld was one of Korchnoi’s favorite defenses, too.

6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.d4 Nc6 8.Nc3 Nb6 9.e3

9...Re8

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 Question: I don’t know this line, please tell me what is going on.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Both players are making useful moves, waiting for their opponent to take action; the usual
move years before, heavily analyzed, was 9...e5.

10.Re1

White continues to avoid the advance d5; both 9.d5 and 10.d5 were played against Kasparov
several times.

10...a5

Nepo, against Malakhov, had played the less active 10...Bd7 in Pamplona 2008. After 11.b3 he
continued with 11...a5 and 12...a4, sacrificing a pawn, but it was not convincing.
Later, already in 2010, he turned to the natural 10...e5 twice, but since this game he has played only
this move, reverting to a waiting strategy.

11.Qc2

The main discussion in this variation revolves around the position after 11.Qe2.
What White played needs precise handling, because the location of White’s queen gives Black
additional possibilities, such as the moves ...Bf5 and/or ...Nb4.

11...e5

This was a novelty. Nepo had tried 11...a4 against Huzman a few weeks earlier in Plovdiv, but the
result was not encouraging. White got a better position after 12.Rd1 h6 13.h3 Be6 14.e4 Qc8 15.Kh2
Nb4 16.Qb1 Bc4 17.Be3 e6 18.Qc1 Nd3 19.Qc2 Nb4 20.Qc1 Nd3 21.Qd2 Kh7 22.b3 Ba6 23.Bf1,
winning a pawn, although the game ended in a draw.
The alternatives were 11...Be6 and 11...Bf5 12.e4 Bg4.

12.Nxe5

Almost forced, because 12.d5 loses a pawn without enough compensation or leads to a worse
position after 12...Nb4 13.Qb3 N4xd5 14.Rd1 Be6 15.e4 Nxc3, while if 13.Qb1 Black has 13...e4!
14.Nxe4 Bf5 15.Nh4 Bg4, and all the White pieces are in bad positions.
Instead of 12...Nb4, simply 12...Nxd5 is also possible, e.g., 13.Rd1 Ncb4 14.Qb1, and now our
known solution, 14...e4! 15.Nxe4 Bf5 16.Nh4 Bg4 17.Rd2 c6, with good play.

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 12...Nxe5 13.dxe5 Bxe5

14.e4

Question: I see White is trying to play e4 followed by f4. Why not 14.f4 first, without conceding
the d4 square yet? It could win a tempo.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: If Black replies to 14.f4 with 14...Bg7, you would be right, White would follow up with
15.e4, winning a tempo.
However, Black has 14...Bxc3!, and he can take advantage of the weakened White pawn structure
after 15.bxc3 Qe7 16.e4 Nc4, or of the tempi that the White queen concedes after 15.Qxc3, getting a
sound position. Let’s look further: 15...Nd5 16.Qb3 Nb4 17.Rd1 (if 17.a3 then 17...Qd3 18.Qa4 Bd7)
17...Qe7 18.a3 Be6 19.Qc3 (or 19.Qa4 Na6! 20.Qxa5 Nc5 and 21...Nb3) 19...Na2 20.Qe1 Nxc1
21.Raxc1 c6; Black has no problems in any of these lines.

14...c6

A useful move, controlling d5. It is also advisable to neutralize the future pressure of the g2-bishop,
even though here it is temporally blocked.

15.f4

This was the idea; the first player trusts in his center’s superiority, though at the same time we

67
should note that White has slower development.
The c4 square gives Black good chances after 15.Be3 Nc4 16.Rad1 Qf6, while 15.b3 Qd4 followed
by 16...Qc5 and ...a4, or 16...a4 immediately if possible, is not promising for White either.

15...Bd4+ 16.Kh1

Question: I guess White is trying to demonstrate that the d4-bishop is not well placed, but wasn’t
16.Be3 better, exchanging the strong Black bishop?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: This is frequently a good idea, but here White can’t take advantage of exchanging his
opponent’s fianchetto bishop because the Black king won’t suffer. Rather, it is the White queenside
that would be weakened.
Let’s see an example continuation: 16.Be3 Bxe3+ 17.Rxe3 Nc4 18.Rd3 Qb6+ 19.Qf2 Qxb2
20.Qxb2 Nxb2 21.Rd4 a4 22.a3 c5 23.Rd5 Be6 24.Rxc5 Rac8, and Black is more active.

Exercise: What did Nepo play here?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

16...Nd5

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 Black could play 16...Qe7! 17.Rd1 Qc5, with active play, but he preferred to enter complications.
Question: An astonishing decision, but I can’t really get it. 16...Qe7 seems good enough. How did
he arrive at the conclusion that 16...Nd5 was the best move in the position?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Things are not so clear on the board. He probably analyzed many lines to be sure that the
complications are not unfavorable, then he liked the position and he went for it.
The objective value of the decision is not easy to calibrate at the board, and, as we saw, if the move
is not clearly bad, objective value is not the most important factor.

17.Rd1

This is the first move to consider, adding pressure. The Black pieces seem to be in danger.
The quiet line 17.Nxd5 cxd5 18.Rd1 Bb6 (18...Ba7 is also possible) is not dangerous for Black:
19.Rxd5? loses to 19...Qxd5! 20.exd5 Re1+ 21.Bf1 Bh3, while 19.exd5 Bf5 followed by ...Rc8 or
...Re2 gives Black too much play.

Exercise: What had Nepo calculated here?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

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 17...Nb4!

The knight evades the pin while winning a tempo. If 18.Qd2?! Black has 18...Bg4!, because
19.Qxd4? Qxd4 20.Rxd4 loses to 20...Nc2.

18.Qe2

Exercise (simple): How did Black solve his problems on the d-file?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

18...Qb6

And the Black pieces are safe for the moment.

19.a3

Exercise: What do you think Nepo played now?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

19...Nd5!

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 For the second time Nepomniachtchi exploits the d5–square for his pieces with great effect. This
time seems even more dangerous than the first one, so Black had to calculate the consequences of his
courage carefully when he opted for 16...Nd5.
On the other hand, at this point there was no better alternative.
Exercise: What happens in case of 19...Na6?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: White could try to exploit Black’s rather weak kingside with 20.f5!, and then not
20...Bxf5? 21.Qc4 Bxc3 22.Qxc3 followed by Bh6, while 20...Nc7 doesn’t really help to defend and
White could continue with 21.Bf4 or 21.Qf3 followed by 22.Bf4 or 22.g4, and Black has no
counterplay.

20.Qc2

The queen is heading too far from the kingside. This is not terrible but it forces White to play very
accurately later on.
Black is not in danger after 20.Na4 Qa7 21.Qd3 because he has 21...Ne3!, and White should play
22.Bxe3 because 22.Qxd4? Qxd4 23.Rxd4 Nc2 24.Nb6 Ra6 25.Nxc8 Rxc8 26.Rd7 Nxa1 only favors
Black.
Black is fine after 20.Qc4 Ne3 21.Bxe3 Bxe3 22.Na4 Qa7 23.Rd6 Be6, so White should consider
20.Qf3, trying to exploit the weaknesses of the Black kingside after 20...Bxc3 21.bxc3 Nf6 22.Re1,
planning a quick f5.

20...Nf6

The knight returns to f6, after making no less than four moves, but with the White pawn structure
less solid and the knight threatens to move to g4.

21.h3 Be6

21...Qc5 was also interesting: after 22.Bd2? Black has the surprising 22...Nxe4! 23.Bxe4 Qh5 with
a winning attack, so White should probably play 22.Kh2.
Black decided to continue with his development, with the threat 22...Bb3, which is fine.

22.Na4

Better than 22.Rd3? Bb3 23.Qd2 Rad8 and White’s pieces are uncoordinated.

22...Qa7 23.Bd2?!

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 White is behind in development, so this is a logical move. 23.e5?! Bf5 24.Qc4 Rad8 25.exf6 b5
26.Qxc6 bxa4 is not attractive, as Black is again ahead in development.
23.f5!? was very interesting and better, and in case of 23...gxf5 24.Qd2! Rad8 25.Qg5+ Kh8 White
has a draw playing 26.Rxd4 Qxd4 27.Be3 Qe5 28.Bf4 Qd4 29.Be3, or he could play 26.Be3, and
after 26...Ng8 27.Rxd4 Rxd4 28.Rc1 with the idea of 29.Nc5 White is no worse.

23...Rad8 24.Bc3

White has managed to develop almost all his pieces, but the knight on a4 is poorly placed and
Black has better chances.
We are in a critical moment, when the value of each move is high.
Exercise: How did Nepo continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

24...Nh5

A move that adds pressure. Black instead had a surprising combination available due to the position
of the a4-knight and the weakened king position: he could have played 24...Bxc3! If 25.Nxc3 then
25...Qe3 is strong, while if 25.Qxc3 a blow arrives 25...Bxh3!! Let’s examine the critical line:
26.Bxh3 Rxd1+ 27.Rxd1 Nxe4 28.Qd4 Qxd4 29.Rxd4 Nxg3+ 30.Kg2 Ne2, and Black gets four
pawns for the piece. He is better here, but not clearly winning.

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 25.Bxd4?!

White exchanges the bishop, because 25.Kh2 is answered by 25...Bf2 26.Be1 Bg1+ 27.Kh1 Bd4,
and, if now 28.Kh2, Black has 28...b5 followed by 29...a4, with a dominant position. However, the
exchange played activates the Black rook, which will be a key factor very soon.
25.Bf3! was recommended, and although Black has several options White seems near to equalizing.
25...Bxh3 26.Qh2 is not attractive for Black and 25...b5 should be considered, but the obvious
25...Nxg3+ should be analyzed in the first place. After 26.Kh2 b5 27.Bxd4 Rxd4 28.Qxc6! the
position is very complicated but White seems to survive.

25...Rxd4 26.Kh2?

This was the idea, after having eliminated the move ...Bf2, but the natural protection of the g3–
pawn is not sufficient any more. White needed to seek salvation in active counterplay.
The best try was 26.Qc5. Black is slightly better in several ways, for example after 26...Nxg3+
27.Kh2 Qxc5 28.Nxc5 Ne2 29.Rxd4 Nxd4 30.Nxb7 Rb8 31.Nxa5 Rxb2 32.Rc1 Bd7, but White
should hold the ending.

Exercise: How did Nepo punish White’s defense?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

26...Rxa4!

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 With this exchange sacrifice the Black queen joins the attack and White has no defense: after
27.Qxa4 Qe3 White is forced to give back the material advantage and Black collects too many
pawns, e.g., 28.Rf1 Qxg3+ 29.Kg1 Bxh3 30.Qc2 Nxf4! 31.Rxf4 Bxg2 32.Qf2 Qg5 33.Qh4 Qxh4
and 34...Bxe4.

27.f5

Trying to complicate things, but Black has no difficulty in gaining a winning position.

27...Rc4 28.Qe2

Exercise: What was the last move of the game?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

28...Bd5!

The final move of a Black piece was to d5, for the third time. Black has an easy win after 29.Qd3
Rcxe4.
0–1
Nepo clearly reminded me of Korchnoi in this game: in the opening, in his inventiveness struggling
for the initiative, and in his tactical ability.
Some lessons from this game: *

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 1.) Even in closed or semi-closed positions development should not be undervalued.
2.) A knight on the edge with no clear task may turn into a positional disadvantage.
3.) “In for a penny, in for a pound.” (17...Nb4! 19...Nd5!)
4.) It is important to notice the critical moments of the game, when the value of each move is
higher. (25.Bf3! 26.Kh2?)
5.) Don’t miss opportunities to deal deadly blows. (26...Rxa4!)
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

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 Show in Text Mode

Game 5
Defeating one of the leaders
After 8 rounds Nepomniachtchi shared third place with Alexander Grischuk on 5 points, half a
point behind the leaders Sergey Karjakin and Peter Svidler. There were only three rounds left, so, in
order to try to gain first place, a win was now almost necessary.
Nepo got a more pleasant ending after the opening, but after some more moves a draw was the most
probable result. The ending was the type where almost any move seemed to work for Black, but it
was much more complex than that: the draw was out there but only with a careful choice of moves.
And so in another game that reminds me of Korchnoi, now in the ending, Nepomniachtchi got the
necessary win. This victory enabled him to tie for first place, finishing with two draws, thanks to
Karjakin’s loss in the last round to Malakhov.

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Peter Svidler
Scotch Opening [C45]
Russian Championship, Moscow (9), 20.12.2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4

Nepomniachtchi began to play the Scotch in 2010, but his main weapons remain 3.Bb5 and 3.Bc4.
He made a funny comment on this game: “One of the soundest ways of avoiding the Berlin
endgame. Peter supposedly does not play it, but, as they say, God helps those who help themselves.”
It’s funny, because Nepo did play 3.Bb5 a few times against the world’s biggest authority in the
Berlin Variation, Vladimir Kramnik, allowing the Berlin, although after 3...Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 he never
entered the “Berlin ending” with 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5, preferring 5.Re1 instead.

3...exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

This was rather unexpected for Nepo.

Question: Why play this move so early?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Let Nepo explain it: “About an hour and a half before the start of the round I had the

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bright idea of looking at the games in an online database, and, of course, I received some highly
unpleasant news: this year against Howell my opponent made this move, rather than 4...Bc5, which
Peter had often employed previously, and so at virtually the last minute my preparations had to begin
anew.”
But you are right, it is awkward. This was in 2010, already in the “Internet era,” and that game had
been played in August, more than four months earlier.

5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.c4

In one of his games against Kramnik, and in several others, Nepo chose the less common 8.h4.

8...Ba6 9.Nd2

Later Nepo played Kasparov’s move 9.b3 more often.

9...g6

“The afore-mentioned game went 9...0-0-0 10.b3 d6, with unclear play,” wrote Nepomniachtchi. It
finished in a draw soon after.

10.Nf3 Qb4+

Question: I don’t know this line but the White king must move, is this healthy for White?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: This is the “problem” with the 9.Nd2 line. Black doesn’t allow White to play b3, Bb2 and
castle long.
Anyway, the king’s position is not terrible, as Black has insufficient activity to take advantage of it.
The king will be safe on c2.

11.Kd1

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 11...Nb6

“The last time that this ‘human’ move occurred was in a game between two engines. But in games
between flesh and blood players (for example, Ponomariov – Leko and Radjabov – Aronian) Black
played in computer style – 11...Rb8 – and more or less coped with his opening problems,” wrote
Nepo.
A few months later, Svidler had the White pieces against Hracek in Aix les Bains 2011. Play
continued 11...Rb8 12.Qc2 Ne7 13.b3, and White won a long battle.
More than ten years later, Howell – Svidler, Bunratty 2021 chess.com, went 11...Rb8 12.Qc2 Ne7
13.Qb3 c5 14.Qxb4 cxb4 15.Bd3 Bb7 16.Re1 Bg7 17.Be4 Bxe4 18.Rxe4 Nc6 19.Kc2 0-0 20.Bf4
Rfe8 21.Rd1 d6, and Black had no problems.

12.b3 Bg7 13.Qd2 Qe7

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 Black doesn’t want to exchange queens yet, trying to take advantage of the position of his
opponent’s king.
Exercise: How did Nepo continue here?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

14.Bb2

He rejected the tempting 14.Qa5, because this would justify Black’s choice, as Nepomniachtchi
explained, “White must mobilize all his forces as quickly as possible. For the moment ‘active’ ideas
do not work, for example: 14.Qa5 Bb7 15.Ba3 c5!? (the quiet 15...d6 is in no way worse) 16.Qxc5 d6
17.Qe3 (17.Qb5+ c6 18.Qa5 c5 19.Kc2 0-0 20.Re1 Rfd8 with the initiative) 17...0-0 and White
barely manages to achieve equality.”

14...0-0 15.Kc2 c5

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 Exercise: How do you think White replied?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

16.h4!

He showed that the position of his king is not a drawback to start an attack on the Black king.

16...d5

Question: Black has changed his plan, right? Why?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Right, he realized that his chances of gaining anything from the White king’s position
were unrealistic.
This is what Nepo said: “This exchange operation looks under-prepared, but after 16...Bb7 17.Bd3
a5 18.a4 White’s firepower directed at the opponent’s kingside looks very threatening.”

17.exd6 Qxd6 18.Bxg7 Qxd2+ 19.Nxd2 Kxg7 20.Ne4

Question: The position has changed radically; what can you tell me about this move and the new
situation?

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 Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Let Nepo answer: “Generally speaking, of course, Black is somewhat worse, but White
has to act with determination: his opponent is about to consolidate his forces, take away a number of
important squares from the knight, and fully equalize.
The knight is not too well placed on d2, and since f7–f5 or Bb7 are threatened, White wants to
switch it to a more promising position with a gain of tempo.”

20...Nd7

Exercise: What do you think is the best move here?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

21.Rd1?!

A logical move but not the best one. White has missed an opportunity to reinforce the activity of his
pieces by playing 21.h5! first, “getting rid of a potential weakness and at the same time activating his
rook on h1,” as Nepo explained.

21...Bb7!

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 Black was not forced to defend the knight, and this counterattack was surely overlooked by White.
21...Rad8? would allow 22.h5.

22.Nc3 Nf6

22...Ne5 “is risky,” as Nepo commented. Black doesn’t get enough compensation for the pawn. In
2010 Nepo gave this variation: 23.Na4 Ng4 24.Rd2 Rad8 25.Re2 Be4+ 26.Kc3 Bd3 27.Rb2 Bf5
28.Nxc5 Rd1 29.g3 Rc1+ 30.Kb4 Rb8+ 31.Ka3 Ne5 32.f4 (32.Bg2? Rxc4!) 32...Nd3 33.Nxd3 Bxd3
34.Rf2 “and White has good chances of converting his extra pawn.” Remarkably, 11 years later, the
engines see no improvement over this line.

Exercise (simple): How did White slightly improve his position?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

23.f3

With a standard move that nullifies the activity of the Black bishop along the long diagonal and
also controls e4 and g4, reducing the activity of the Black knight.

23...Rfe8 24.Bd3 Bc6 25.Rhe1 a5?!

Question: Why is this a dubious move?

Show/Hide Solution

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 Answer: Don’t forget the simple fact that pawns cannot move backwards, and after advancing they
are weaker. Black has three isolated pawns; he is just slightly worse and any move that alters his
pawn structure should be carefully considered. In this case, the advance ...a4 is nothing to cause
fright.
Let Nepo explain further: “A careless move. Of course, Black is still a long way from making a
decisive mistake, but it was not essential to create something for the White king to latch on to. It was
sufficient to play 25...a6, and it would not have been easy for White to find a satisfactory plan to play
for a win.”
By the way, this is the order of moves Nepomniachtchi gave, though in some databases the order
24...a5 25.Rhe1 Bc6 is given.

26.Nb5 Rxe1

Question: You wrote “the advance ...a4 is nothing to cause fright,” is that true?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: To reduce your doubt let’s see what Nepo said about it: “26...a4 would have granted
White a passed pawn, and, despite weighty tactical arguments, it can hardly be the correct decision.”

27.Rxe1 Re8!

Question: Why is it good to simplify even more? You told me that Black’s pawn structure is

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worse, so I guess simplification would not help Black.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: I told you that, yes, and it is true, but after the exchange of all rooks the White pawn
structure, with h4 and f3 played, is also weak, so the evaluation is not clearly favorable for White.
Let’s see what Nepomniachtchi wrote about the position: “Here I had a long and melancholic think.
After the exchange of all the rooks the vulnerability of my structure on the kingside will certainly tell,
and I did not have the slightest desire to take part in a pawn race. I have to say that I found it hard to
believe in what had happened: after a series of logical and strong moves, White, to all appearances,
no longer has any advantage. At any event, I decided to skirt the edge of the board, waiting in
trepidation for my kingside to be reduced to smithereens.”

28.Rxe8 Nxe8

Exercise: White has only one plan at his disposal to try to win. What did he play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

29.Kb2

“Ready! Steady! Go!” (Nepomniachtchi).

White didn’t like the race, but there is nothing more to do. The king goes to take the a5 pawn; the
battle will be decided by who arrives first and advances his pawns more quickly.

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 Exercise (difficult): Now change your side for the only moment in the game: it is time to calculate.
What would you play with Black?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

29...Kh6?!

“Peter immediately chooses the wrong route! After the accurate 29...f5! even a photo finish would
have been unable to determine the winner.”
Nepomniachtchi gave this illustrative variation: 30.Ka3 Kh6 31.Ka4 Kh5 32.Kxa5 Kxh4 33.Nxc7
Nxc7 34.Kb6 Ba8 35.Kxc7 Kg3 and White is forced to repeat moves: 36.Kb8 Bc6 37.Kc7 Ba8
38.Kb8. 11 years later the engines cannot find anything better for White.
Question: Taking this into consideration, it was a lucky win, right?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: I wouldn’t dare to say luck was the most important factor, it’s more about accurate
calculation and evaluation.
The (mis)use of engines may lead to the erroneous conviction that to calculate variations is
something easy; if we add the tension of the game and the limited time to think, the results of
complicated positions are even less predictable.

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 30.Be2 Ng7?

This was the decisive mistake. Now the game can no longer be saved, as Nepomniachtchi
commented. The best move was, again, 30...f5, although in this case, after 31.g3 g5 32.hxg5+ Kxg5
33.f4+ Kg6 34.Nc3 Nf6 35.Nd1 “White retains slight winning chances.”

31.Ka3 Nf5

Black had an interesting chance available, albeit insufficient to save the game.
Exercise: After 31...Kh5 32.g3 Nf5 what would you play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Not 33.g4+? Kxh4 34.gxf5 Kg3 35.fxg6 fxg6 and the h-pawn allows Black to get a draw.
The correct way would be 33.f4+!, then 33...Kh6 34.Ka4 Nxg3 35.Bd1 Bxb5+, and now
“36.Kxb5, or 36.cxb5 with a probable win.” (Nepomniachtchi).

32.Ka4 Nxh4 33.Bf1 Nf5 34.Kxa5 Ne3

Exercise: What is the move Nepomniachtchi had calculated to play here?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

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 35.Nxc7!

“This simple sacrifice by the White player was calculated far in advance when he encountered the
unexpected 30...Ng7.” (Nepomniachtchi).
35.Be2 was also good, but by sacrificing his bishop White gets the b6 square for his king and the a-
pawn becomes unstoppable.

35...Nxf1 36.Kb6 Bd7 37.Nd5

Again, there were other good moves, but... you need to choose one, and preferably the easiest to
handle.
“From the mathematical point of view 37.Kxc5 was stronger and simpler, but the move in the game
denies Black any counterchances.” (Nepomniachtchi).

37...Kg7

37...Nd2 is more resilient, but here too after 38.Kxc5 Kg5 39.b4 or 39.Kd6 White wins without
much trouble. The three connected pawns are too strong.

38.a4 Bc8 39.Ne7

1–0
Some lessons from this game: *
1.) The king in the center is not always situated worse than a castled king. (Kc2 vs. Kg8)
2.) Don’t forget to ask yourself “What can my opponent reply?” (21.Rd1? 21.h5! 21...Rad8?)
3.) General considerations are not so useful when the result of the game is decided by accurate
calculation of variations. (29...Kh6? 29...f5!)
4.) “Which piece should I exchange? Which one should I keep?” Responding correctly to these
questions can determine the course of the struggle. (21...Bb7! 27...Re8!)
5.) In some positions there can be more than one attractive way to continue. We should choose the
less complicated path if it is enough. (35.Nxc7! 37.Nd5!)
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

Game 6
A clash of styles, and the third win
Wijk aan Zee 2011 was not a good tournament for Ian, but his win against Carlsen is very
significant. It was his third win against Carlsen, but the first when they were already elite players. The
previous ones were in 2002 and 2003.

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 This is what Nepo said about the game, and his atypical preparation for it: “In advance of a game
with a strong opponent, one usually prepares especially hard. Alas, though, in this instance, a difficult
defeat that I had suffered against Smeets the previous day had its effect on me. I decided it was better
just to keep a clear head, especially as Magnus usually manages to surprise his opponents in the
opening, in virtually every game.”
Nepo won this fight where both opponents played ambitiously in the critical moments.

Magnus Carlsen
Ian Nepomniachtchi
Sicilian Defense [B92]
Tata Steel, Wijk aan Zee (10), 26.01.2011

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7

8.0-0

Three days earlier, against Nakamura, Carlsen played 8.Be3, keeping his king in the center. The
game continued 8...0-0, and now White began a typical pawn charge on the kingside. After 9.g4 Be6
10.g5 Nfd7 11.h4 Nb6 12.Qd2 N8d7 13.f4 exf4 14.Bxf4 Ne5 15.0-0-0 the position is not clear yet,
but White won by a nice attack (Game 6 of my book Magnus Wins With White, Elk and Ruby
Publishing House, 2020).

8...0-0 9.Kh1 Nc6

Question: This move is unexpected, what can you tell me about the position?

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 Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Instead of developing the knight to d7 Nepomniachtchi transposes to a kind of

Boleslavsky Variation (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3).
The immediate 9...b5?! without determining the destiny of the b8-knight yet is inaccurate because
of 10.a4! Then after 10...Bb7 11.Nd5! (an idea attributed to Vitaly Tseshkovsky) 11...Nxe4? is bad
due to 12.Na5!, and White had the initiative in Kasparov – Anand, Las Palmas 1996.
The move 9...b6 was introduced by Gelfand against Kasparov in Linares 1997 and became one of
the main moves in this position, outranking 9...Be6 and 9...Qc7 in popularity.

10.f4 b5

In Kasparov – Gelfand, Amsterdam 1996, Black opted for a real Boleslavsky Variation a tempo
down with 10...a5. After 11.a4 Nb4 12.Bf3 Qb6 13.g4! exf4 14.Bxf4 Nd7 15.Nd4 g6?! Kasparov
won a beautiful attacking game, although the then World Champion pointed out that Black had a
satisfactory position here playing the immediate 15...Ne5!.

11.Be3 Bb7

After 11...b4 12.Nd5 it is not possible to take on e4, as 12...Nxe4? fails to 13.Bf3 f5 14.Nb6,
winning the exchange.

12.a4

Magnus had played this slightly unusual move order before. Carlsen – Dominguez, Nice 2010

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(rapid), continued 12...Nb4 13.Qd2 d5 14.fxe5 Nxe4 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Nd4 Nd5 17.Nf5 when
White was slightly better and he managed to win.
Exercise: What plan was chosen by Nepo?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

12...exf4

He preferred the standard maneuver involving placing his knight on e5, as we saw Gelfand did
against Kasparov.

13.Rxf4 Ne5

Nepomniachtchi thought that Black had managed to equalize.

14.Qd4

White doesn’t win a pawn after 14.axb5 axb5 15.Bxb5 due to 15...Ng6 and Black takes the e4-
pawn.

14...Nc6 15.Qd2

White has improved the position of his queen, winning a tempo, “however, he is not able to
strengthen the center.” (Nepomniachtchi).

15...Ne5 16.Qd4 Nc6 17.Qd2 Ne5

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 18.axb5

Carlsen had used up a lot of time on his last few moves. Of course he was unlikely to agree to a
repetition of moves in normal situations, and even less here, “as the tournament situation required
him to play for a win,” as Nepo pointed out.
Carlsen had 5.5 points out of 9, sharing 5th place with Vachier-Lagrave, behind the four leaders
who had 6 points. Nepo had 4.5 points.
White has several ways to continue the fight, “but all involve some degree of commitment, and
even risk,” according to Nepomniachtchi.
Here is one sample line: 18.Nd4 Ng6 19.Rff1 and now Black has the interesting possibility
19...Nh4 20.Nf3 Nxe4 21.Nxe4 Bxe4 22.Nxh4 Bxh4, “and Black is fine.”
There is nothing wrong with 19...b4 either. After 20.Nd5 Nxe4 21.Nxe7+ Qxe7 22.Qxb4 Nh4
23.Nf5 Nxf5 24.Rxf5, instead of 24...Ng3+ 25.hxg3 Qxe3 26.Bd3, which is slightly better for White,
Black has 24...Nf6 25.Qd4 Rfe8 26.Bf3 Rac8, and all of Black’s pieces are on good squares, with
chances being about equal.

18...axb5 19.Re1

“A prophylactic decision, based on an oversight. Of course, one can hardly recommend 19.Rxa8
Qxa8 and Black has excellent piece play.” (Nepomniachtchi).
“However, the more natural move 19.Rd1 hardly offers more than equality,” he added; there could
follow 19...Ng6 20.Rff1 Nxe4 21.Nxe4 Bxe4 22.Bxb5 Nh4. This jump is omnipresent.

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 Question: What is the difference between 19.Rd1 and 19.Re1? I don’t see much.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: It’s all about small details. Nepo thought that in this position, except with the queen’s
rook on e1, White would play 23.Re2, with a harmonious setup. He believed this was the idea of
19.Re1. Now, however, White has to play 23.Rf2, then after 23...Nf5 24.Bd3 Nepo gave 24...Bxd3
25.Qxd3 Nxe3 26.Qxe3 Bf6 27.c3 Re8, “with equal play.”
Instead of 24...Bxd3, the line 24...Nxe3 25.Qxe3 Bb7 also seems good. White should play 26.Be4
to neutralize the bishop pair, then Black can gain several tempi playing 26...Bg5 27.Qf3 Bxe4
28.Qxe4 Qb6 29.Re2 (to avoid ...Rfe8) 29...Bf6, which is attractive for Black.

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 Exercise (simple): How did Nepo continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

19...Ng6

Nothing surprising. Black continues along our known path, to attack the e4-pawn.

20.Rff1 b4

It was possible to take the pawn. After 20...Nxe4 21.Nxe4 Bxe4 22.Bxb5 Black is fine with
22...Bf6 or 22...Ra2 23.Bd4 Bg5 24.Qd1 Bb7, but Black wants something more complex.

21.Nd5

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 Exercise: Nepo continued with his ambitious strategy, what did he play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

21...Nxe4

“I could not refrain from this concrete and very tempting continuation. After the quiet 21...Nxd5
22.exd5 Bf6 Black has a solid position, but it is very hard to achieve anything more,” said
Nepomniachtchi, showing that his ambitious attitude was equal to the determination which Carlsen
was showing.

22.Nxe7+

After 22.Qd4?!, rather than the simple 22...Bxd5 23.Qxd5 Nf6 with good play, it is even better to
choose 22...Bh4!, and now 23.Qxe4? loses to 23...Bxe1 24.Rxe1 Re8, so after 23.Rd1 Re8 the e-file
and all his active pieces give Black the initiative.

22...Qxe7 23.Qxb4

Exercise (simple): How did Nepo continue?

Show/Hide Solution

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 Answer:

23...Nh4

“Nothing new under the sun,” (for us in this game). There are threats on g2, and “now accuracy is
required of White; the Black bishop, controlling the long diagonal, is causing a lot of trouble.”
(Nepomniachtchi).

24.Bf3

This move initiates the idea White had in mind to neutralize the b7-bishop.

24...Nxf3 25.gxf3

25.Rxf3 concedes the Black knight its wonderful outpost on e4, so White is forced to spoil his pawn
structure, but this was his idea.

Exercise: Now Nepo shows his inventiveness in a surprising way, what did he play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

25...Qd7!

Magnus most probably overlooked this move when playing 19.Re1. The queen supports the strong
...Ra4. This is the only way to maintain the initiative, and any other move would give White the

95
advantage.

26.Bf4!

The only move. There is no better defense against the threat of ...Ng3+, for example: 26.Kg1 Ra4
27.Qb6 is punished by 27...Ba6! 28.fxe4 Qg4+ 29.Kf2 f5 winning, as Nepomniachtchi pointed out.

26...Ra4 27.Qb6 Nf6

Played after a 30-minute think. Nepo decides to go for simplifications. This is the best decision
according to the engines of 2021.
He explained that at the board he could not decide to play the line that, as it transpired, his
computer recommended at the time 27...g5 28.c4 Rxc4 29.Na5, while 27...Nf2+ 28.Qxf2 Rxf4
29.Nd4 “leads to equality; the White knight is too strong.”

28.Qxd6

Exercise: What is the best move now?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

28...Qg4

Nepo continues with his plan, but 28...Qh3! was stronger. Black has more options than to simplify:

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he can strengthen his attack or at least his position before simplifying. The queen is not en prise
unlike in some variations of the text move, and it also attacks the f1-rook, which may be important, as
we will see.
For example, after 29.Nd4 Black is not forced to play 29...Rxd4. He can play 29...Rc8, or first a
useful luft: the computer prefers 29...h5!, which is possibly the strongest move, but, even with the
“human” 29...h6, White is in trouble. Black plans to continue with 30...Re8, weakening White’s
defenses even more, or 30...Rc8. The simplification 30...Rxd4 may also be available, of course, in
more favorable conditions for Black, depending on White’s 30th move.
After 29...h6, an example is 30.Be5 Re8! 31.b4 Ne4! 32.fxe4 Bxe4+, winning. There are more lines
and ...Ng4 is also a threat, but this line is only to show the influence of the queen on h3.

29.Nd4 Rxd4

This was the idea. Black is somewhat better, with a draw in hand; he could still have played 29...h6,
but it is not so strong. White would answer 30.Be5, and now after 30...Re8 31.b4 Ne4 White has the
saving move 32.Rxe4.

30.Qxd4 Bxf3+ 31.Rxf3 Qxf3+ 32.Kg1 Qg4+ 33.Kh1

Exercise: The previous moves were forced; how did Black continue here?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

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 33...Qc8

The best practical chance, trying to activate his rook.

Question: I see, but the b- and c-pawns are strong, aren’t they?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Not so much, “with White’s king so weak, his passed pawns are not dangerous.”
(Nepomniachtchi).

34.Qf2?

Too passive. As Nepo said, it is premature to try 34.c4 Rd8 35.Qb6, “with the idea of Bd6 and c5,
because of 35...Ne4! and it is difficult for White to coordinate his forces.”
But White can counterattack with 34.Bg5!, remaining with his queen in the center. Now 34...Rd8
35.Qf4 leaves the rook pinned, and White can count on a successful defense.

Exercise: How did Nepo made a small improvement?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

34...Qb7+

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 This is the first step.

35.Kg1

As Nepo commented, “White’s activity after 35.Qg2 Qxb2 36.Be5 Qb6 37.Rf1 Nh5, or 37...Ne8,
does not fully compensate for the pawn.”
Exercise: What was the second step?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

35...Ne4

Thanks to 34.Qf2 the knight can occupy a strong post.

As before, 35...Rd8?! 36.Bg5 would probably allow White to save the game, as winning a pawn
with 36...Qxb2 37.Bxf6 gxf6 38.c4 does not offer much, because of the weak Black king.

36.Qd4 Re8 37.Re2?!

Question: I don’t understand this move, why not push the pawns?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: You are probably right. Nepo assessed the position and the overall game situation as
follows: “Slight time trouble starts to have its effect. In a very uncomfortable position, Magnus
decides to play very solidly. It seems that it was better to forget prophylaxis and push the pawns:
37.b4 or 37.c4. Even then, the simple plan ...h6, ...Re6, ...f5 etc. gives me a very promising position,
but even so, White’s chances are improved by his pawns being closer to the 8th rank.”
Ten years later the engines have the same opinion.

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 Exercise: How did Nepo improve his position?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

37...h6!

A luft is almost always useful. In this case it is also a measure against 38.Rg2. Now there would
follow 38...g5 39.h4 f6 with better prospects, but Nepo believed that White should have played it
anyway, as “White should have changed the character of the position.”

38.h3

White decides to wait, with time control near.

38...Re6 39.Kh2

White could still have played the variation given in the previous note.

39...f5

A strange decision before time control. 39...Kh7 was a more practical decision, and a better move
according to the winner.

40.b4?!

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 Nepomniachtchi commented that Carlsen missed a surprising opportunity: “It was necessary to
disturb Black’s optimal setup by 40.Qc4! Qf7 (40...Kf7 looks somehow unscientific) 41.Qd5 g5
42.Bb8. In any event, this way White can reach an endgame where he retains definite chances of
saving the game: 42...Re7 43.Qxf7+ Kxf7 44.Kg2 Kf6, and although the White pawns are much
slower, I am unable to give a definitive assessment of this position.”
In this line 44...Ke6 seems stronger, and Black is better, but as Nepo said, it was not possible to
claim a clear win for Black.

Exercise (simple): What did Nepo play here?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

40...Kh7

No second chance. The rook is free, and “Now Black just needs not to blow his advantage. White
has no counterplay, and will soon be unable to defend all his weaknesses.” (Nepomniachtchi).

41.Re3 Rg6

“41...g5 is strong: 42.Be5 Re7 but I did not want to weaken my king without absolute necessity,”
commented Nepomniachtchi. That said, what he played, with the potential discovered attack against
g2, doesn’t spoil anything.
41...Qb5, threatening to get to f1, is also good.

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 42.Re2 Qb5 43.Re1

“White’s play does not look logical, but adequate alternatives are hard to see.”

Exercise: What would you play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

43...Rc6?!

“I was afraid of selling myself too cheaply, and not without good reason. After 43...Qa6! White is
in complete zugzwang, and in order to continue the fight, he has to give up a pawn. The text move
does not throw away the win, but significantly complicates Black’s task.” (Nepomniachtchi).
Let’s continue a little more, 44.Qe3 Qc4 drops a pawn, while if 44.Qd3 Black plays 44...Qb6 and
White loses material. Finally, if 44.Qb2 Black has the beautiful 44...Nd2! 45.Bxd2 Qd6+, winning.
Exercise (simple): What is the practical chance that Black offered?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

44.Rxe4

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 Not a saving resource, but it forces Black to work harder to win.

44...fxe4 45.Qxe4+ Rg6 46.Bg3

46...Qd7!

This square again!

Question: Why is this move so strong?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Not the move itself (46...h5 first was also good), but the idea, this is what Nepo explained:
“The main thing is not to allow the White queen to the key square d3, from where it simultaneously
pins the Black rook, defends his bishop and supports the advance of the pawns.”
Black threatens 47.-- 47...Qd2+ 48.Qg2 Qxb4, as 48.Kh1 or 48.Kg1 lose to 48...Qc3.

47.h4

Threatening 48.h5, and now the king can also move to h3, defending his bishop.

47...h5

Nepo thought that 47...Qd2+ 48.Kh1! h5 49.Qf5 Qd1+ 50.Kh2 Qg4 51.Qxg4 Rxg4 52.c3 Rc4
53.Be1 Kg6, “probably wins, but I did not want to leave White with both of his passed pawns.” The
engines have no faith in White’s chances in this ending: Black can activate his king and invade

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White’s position, while both White pieces will be forced to remain passive.

48.c4

“After 48.Qe2 Qf5 the activation of the rook decides the game, so 48.Qf3! was more tenacious and
Black has to go for the above variation: 48...Qg4 49.Qxg4 Rxg4 50.c3 Rc4 and so on.”
(Nepomniachtchi). But, as we know, this would have hardly saved the game.

48...Qd2+ 49.Kh3 Qc3 50.Qf4 Qxb4

Nepomniachtchi commented that he did not play 50...Qd3! because of 51.b5 Rf6 52.Qe5 Rf5
53.Qb2 (53.Qe6 Rf2!) 53...Qxc4 54.b6, but this is easily won: Black has 54...Rb5 55.Qf2 Qe6+ and
56...Rxb6. Anyway, what he played is simpler and surely no worse.

51.Qf5 Qxc4 52.Qxh5+ Rh6

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 Question: Is the ending so easy?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Yes, Nepo wrote: “The conversion of the extra exchange does not cause any problems.
The White pawn on h4 will be lost as soon as the queens come off.”

53.Qf3 Qe6+ 54.Kh2 Rf6

The rook must be activated to create threats against the enemy king.

55.Qd3+ Rf5 56.Qc2 Qd5 57.Bf2 Kh6 58.Be3+ Kg6 59.Bf2 Kf6 60.Bg3 Rf1 61.Bf2 Rd1
62.Qc3+

Black has improved the position of all his pieces and the White king is on the verge of receiving
mate, so White decides to exchange queens.

62...Qe5+ 63.Qxe5+ Kxe5 64.h5 Kf6

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 The h-pawn will be captured soon, and Black will have a g-pawn. After 65.h6 simply 65...gxh6
wins, but Black has 65...g5, and “White cannot even get the ending with rook and h-pawn against
bishop, in which the stronger side only wins with some difficulty.” (Nepomniachtchi).

65.Bh4+ Kf5 66.Be7 Rd7

0–1
Some lessons from this game: *
1.) It helps to be familiar with the typical maneuvers in the positions you are playing. (12...exf4!)
2.) You should be alert to detect unexpected and original ideas. (25...Qd7!)
3.) Don’t undervalue any improvement of your position. (37...h6!)
4.) Preventing your opponent’s activity can be as important as activating your own forces. (34.Bg5!
40.Qc4! 46...Qd7!)
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

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 Show in Text Mode

Game 7
A clash of styles, again
Kramnik and Nepomniachtchi have near opposite styles. Kramnik’s is positional and methodical,
while Nepomniachtchi’s is more aggressive and unconventional.
During all their encounters in classical games Kramnik had a higher Elo (even a much higher one in
the earlier years). Still, in their 9 decisive games from 2011 to 2019, the outcome of this clash of
styles was 5 wins for Nepomniachtchi and 4 for Kramnik.
Here is what Nepo said about the next game, from the first round of a tournament in 2011: “The
first game is always an anxious one and it influences subsequent play in the tournament. From the
very first moves Vladimir let it be known that he wanted to initiate large-scale creative play, and this
always suits me.”

Vladimir Kramnik
Ian Nepomniachtchi
English Opening [A37]
Tal Memorial, Moscow (1), 16.11.2011

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.g3

This was the only time that Nepomniachtchi faced a move other than 4.e3 in this position.

4...g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.a3

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 6...d6

Question: I guess there are several playable moves, but why not 6...Nge7 or 6...a5, if the advance
b4 needs to be stopped?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Regarding the first suggested move Nepomniachtchi said: “I did not want to begin an
arms race so early with such a formidable opponent along the lines of the Gelfand – Grischuk game,
Kazan 2011, after the ambitious 6...Nge7 7.b4 d5.”
The move 6...a5 is playable, of course, but not all players like to abandon squares forever, such as
b5 in this case. The advance b4 is not that strong after all.

7.0-0

In case of 7.b4 Black has 7...e4, as, with the knight on g8 and not on e7, White does not have 8.Ng5
at his disposal.

7...Nge7 8.b4

White indeed plays this ambitious move, and Romanishin especially liked it.
Exercise (simple): How did Nepo reply?

Show/Hide Solution

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 Answer:

8...e4

We saw this possibility on the previous move. The pin along the long diagonal allows this advance,
which wins time and space, although we should also note that this move weakens the pawn formation,
while the jump 9.Ng5 is available here.
It was not forced. 8...0-0 has also been played by strong masters, but, as Nepomniachtchi
commented, “Now Black has to stick to his principles.”

9.Ne1

Exercise: What would Nepo reply in case of 9.Ng5?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: He said: “there is the sobering 9...h6.” In a rapid game played a few months later (which
got there by a quite different move order) he encountered this position at the board, in Wang Yue –
Nepomniachtchi, St Petersburg 2012. After 10.Ngxe4 (10.Nh3 g5 is fine for Black, as the knight is
not comfortable on h3) 10...f5 11.bxc5 fxe4 12.cxd6 Qxd6 13.Nxe4 Qe6 14.Rb1 0-0 15.d3 b6 16.Bb2
Bxb2 17.Rxb2 Rb8, the position was about equal.

9...f5 10.Bb2 0-0 11.d3 Be6

12.dxe4

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 Question: Did Kramnik play this? I would have expected something less complicated, more
positional from him.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: You are probably right. Even for Nepo it was rather unexpected and this is what he wrote:
“The preceding moves by both sides were critical and very logical, but now White hastily relieves the
tension in the center. I would have preferred the more flexible 12.Rb1 or 12.Nc2.”

12...fxe4 13.Bxe4 Bxc4 14.Nc2

A novelty compared with 14.Bg2, which didn’t give much after 14...cxb4 15.axb4 Nxb4 in
Romanishin – Agzamov, Sochi 1984.
14.Nd3 was tried in Stefansson – Goryachkina, Pardubice 2012, but Black was also fine after
14...d5 15.Bg2 cxb4 16.axb4 Bxd3 17.exd3 Nxb4 18.Qb3 a5.

14...d5

Question: What would the evaluation of this position be?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: It is unclear, although, as in the previous examples, White has some initiative for the
coming pawn sacrifice, but it doesn’t seem objectively unfavorable for Black.
Anyway, in this and in most cases, how the player feels is important, because after all “chess is a
state of mind” and Nepo tells us how he felt about the position: “At this point it seemed to me that I
had seized the initiative. After all, it is not every time that it is possible to advance the central pawns
with gain of tempo.”

15.Bg2 d4

Question: A difficult decision, right? Was it not possible to maintain the center? Now Black is
opening the h1-a8 diagonal and conceding the e4 square.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Yes, not easy at all, because Black has several options, but... you need to choose a path.
The drawbacks of 15...d4 that you mention are true, and naturally, Nepo was aware of them. He had
something concrete in mind, although his solution did not turn out to be completely satisfactory.

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 There were at least two alternatives to consider, 15...Bb3 and 15...b6.
15...Bb3 has the idea of following up with ...Nd4, and also prepares the advance ...d4 and/or ...c4.
If 16.Qb1, threatening a discovered attack against the b3-bishop, then after 16...c4 17.e3 chances are
about equal. 16...d4 17.Ne4 c4 is more complicated, where, according to the engines of May 2021,
the best move is not 18.Nc5 or 18.Ne1, but the surprising 18.a4, which shows us how complex the
position is.
About the other option, Nepo commented: “It was also interesting to try and tempt White into the
variation 15...b6 16.bxc5 bxc5 17.Ne3 d4 18.Nxc4 dxc3 19.Qxd8 Raxd8 20.Bc1 Rd4 21.Ne3 Rb8,
when the activity of the Black pieces cannot inspire White with optimism.” This is true, although
17.Na4 seems a stronger try instead of 17.Ne3?!.
Anyway, Nepo had another reason to reject 15...b6: “But it is not altogether clear what to do if my
opponent does not succumb to the provocation and plays 16.Rb1.”

16.Ne4

Exercise: Black’s center seems to be falling apart. What had Nepo in mind when he played 15...d4?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

16...Bxe2

“This was the idea; otherwise, White would be the first to create threats.”

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 After 16...cxb4?! 17.axb4 White is ready to follow up with Na3 and Nc5 with the initiative.

17.Qxe2 d3

Exercise: What is White’s strongest move in this position?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

18.Qg4!

“Initially I underestimated the strength of this move, and I had to aim for equality.” White will
manage to activate all his forces.

18...Bxb2 19.Rad1

Thanks to this pin White has all his pieces in good positions.
Exercise: Which move do you think Nepo played here? He had to choose between two radically
different ways.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

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 19...Qc8

The other option was to sacrifice his queen. Maybe it was playable, but, as it was not clearly better
than the text move, he avoided it for practical reasons.
This is how he explained it: “One could probably find a dare-devil willing to sacrifice his queen
against Vladimir Kramnik, but the resulting variations indicate that the desirable should not be passed
off for the actual. After 19...dxc2 20.Rxd8 Raxd8 21.Nxc5 White is threatening the simple Qc4+, and
the only attempt to prevent this is 21...Nd4 (21...c1=Q 22.Rxc1 Bxc1 23.Qc4+, winning the bishop)
22.Nd3 Bxa3 23.Bxb7. Even if the position is not so clear, it seemed to me that Black would have to
play extremely accurately to avoid blundering something immediately.”
10 years later the engines support Nepo’s intuition: they prefer White in this last variation.

20.Qxc8 Raxc8 21.Rxd3

21...cxb4

Question: Why not 21...c4? Black could get a protected passed pawn.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Yes, but Black thought that after 22.Rd7 b5 his pawns on the queenside were weak. There
could follow 23.Rb1! (better than the immediate 23.Nd6 Rcd8 24.Rxd8 Rxd8 25.Nxb5 a6 26.Nc7
Nd4, and the c-pawn compensates for the pawn sacrifice) 23...Bg7 (23...c3 24.Rbd1 leaves the b2-
bishop out of play).

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 Now White can play 24.Nd6 Rcd8 (after 24...Rb8 25.Nb7! Black is almost paralyzed) 25.Rxd8
Rxd8 26.Nxb5 in better conditions.
Maybe 24.a4! is even stronger. Black may continue 24...a6 (24...bxa4? 25.b5) 25.axb5 axb5
26.Nd6 and after 26...Rcd8 27.Rxd8 Rxd8 28.Nxb5 or 26...Rb8 27.Re1 Rbd8 28.Rxd8 Rxd8 29.Nxb5
Rb8 30.Na7! White is a sound pawn up in both cases.

22.axb4

“It made sense to immediately bring the knight into play with 22.Nxb4 Nxb4 23.axb4 Rfd8 24.Rfd1
Rxd3 25.Rxd3 Rc1+ 26.Bf1 Nc6 27.b5 Nd4 28.Kg2 when White retains some pressure in the
endgame, although here too the limited material gives Black no grounds for pessimism.”

22...Rcd8 23.Rxd8

If 23.Rfd1 Black equalizes playing 23...Rxd3 followed by ...Rd8.

23...Rxd8 24.Rb1

After playing 22.axb4, it seems logical to play 24.b5 followed by 25.Rb1, but there wouldn’t be
much difference with the game scenario.

24...Bg7 25.h4

Kramnik is playing for a win, rejecting the natural 25.b5, although Nepomniachtchi thought that:
“White should have played the more concrete 25.b5 when after 25...Nd4 26.Nxd4 Bxd4 the drawing
indicators become more apparent.”

Exercise: What did Nepo play here?

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 Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

25...b5

“I did not want to make abstract moves, and so I decided to seize space.” The b4-pawn is fixed and
the c6-knight is in a good position, pressing b4.

26.Bf1 a6

“The position would probably remain equal after any move preventing the immediate activation of
the Black pieces, but taking account of the fact that Vladimir was already beginning to run short of
time, it would be easier for the reader to understand the origin of White’s subsequent mistakes.”
(Nepomniachtchi).

27.Nc5

This was the idea: the a6 pawn is weak. White is fine, but Black had no reason to complain either.
Exercise (simple): What did Nepo reply?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

27...Rd2

To put a rook on the seventh rank with tempo is almost always pleasant. The rook may also be
useful in defending the a6-pawn from a2.

28.Ne3

“Virtuoso maneuvers such as 28.Ne1 Bd4 29.Ned3 can be conceived only in the quiet of one’s
study.” (Nepomniachtchi).
Exercise: Which move complements the previous one?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

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 28...Bd4

Najdorf regarded activity as much more important than control of squares or small material gains,
like in this position.

29.Ne4

The practical element is again present in Nepo’s decision. Here is what he commented: “It is
possible that Black’s threats in the variation 29.Nxa6 Ne5 30.Bxb5 Nf5 are not so deadly, but the
probability of being mated is also high.”

Exercise: To where should the rook retreat?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

29...Rb2?!

“The move in the game seemed incredibly strong; meanwhile, the simple 29...Ra2 would have
retained all the advantages of the position.”
This move wins a pawn, but the ending is very close to a draw. Moreover, it provides White with a
concrete practical chance to save the game.
We already know how importantly Nepo considers the practical side of the game, as does Carlsen
of course.

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 30.Rxb2 Bxb2 31.Nc2 Nd5 32.Nc5 Ndxb4 33.Nxb4 Nxb4

Exercise: Change sides. What would you play with White?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

34.Nd3?

“During the game I was more afraid of the position arising after 34.Nxa6 (immediately or after the
preparatory 34.Kg2) 34.Nxa6 Nxa6 35.Bxb5, as to demonstrate a win here would be extremely
difficult.” (Nepomniachtchi).
This concrete possibility was the one Nepo had in mind when he criticized his move 29...Rb2,
which offered White excellent practical chances to save the game. However, it was difficult to go for
34.Nxa6, too, because the move chosen also looked enough for a draw. Yet it was probably the last
chance for White to save the game.

34...Nxd3 35.Bxd3 Kf7

Both kings are headed to the queenside, Black to support the advance of his pawns, and White to
try to blockade them.
Question: So, what is the evaluation of this ending?

Show/Hide Solution

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 Answer: This is what Nepo commented: “I realized that White’s drawing chances were very good,
and my only hope was that my opponent would have to take important decisions in time trouble.”
We see that the practical factor is always present in Nepo’s comments.
Sometimes, as in this case, the line between a draw and a win is very thin, so other factors outside
the chess board may prove to be very important.

36.f4 Ke6 37.Kf2 Kd5 38.Ke2 Kc5

39.Kd2

Nepomniachtchi attached a question mark to this move.

Question: Really? It seems a logical move.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Right, but in this position it’s not logic but the exact calculation of moves that decides the
battle.
Nepo’s explanation was: “It is indubitably logical to bring the king closer to the passed pawns, but
in the given position more radical measures were demanded.”
He commented that the immediate advance 39.h5! should achieve a draw:
A) 39...a5 40.hxg6 a4 (40...b4 41.Bc2) and White succeeds in stopping the pawns with 41.Bc2

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hxg6 42.Kd2.
B) 39...gxh5 40.Bxh7 a5 41.Kd3 Bg7 42.Bg6 b4 43.Bf7 a4 44.Be8!: “the final important nuance,
44...a3 45.Bf7 with a draw.”
Anyway, it seems that this was not enough to save the game, as in variation B, instead of 41...Bg7,
Black seems to win playing 41...Bd4 with the idea of ...Bf2, e.g.: 42.Bg6 b4 43.Bf7 Bf2.

39...a5 40.f5

“White is also unsuccessful with 40.h5 a4 41.hxg6 b4. It was probably this last move that Vladimir
had overlooked” (Nepomniachtchi). ...b3 followed by ...a3-a2 is coming.
The move 41.Bc2 is not enough either: after 41...a3 42.Bb3 gxh5 or the immediate 41...gxh5 Black
will later create a third passed pawn with ...Bf6 and ...h4.

40...a4 41.Bc2

41.fxg6 loses to 41...b4 42.gxh7 b3 43.Bc2!? Kb4!, but not 43...bxc2? 44.Kxc2, followed by Kb1-
a2, and White will finally take the a-pawn.

41...a3 42.Bb1 gxf5

“The rest does not require any commentary, since here the conversion of the advantage is largely a
matter of taste.” (Nepomniachtchi).

43.Kc2 Kb4

Not necessary, as the king can move to the kingside too, but Black prefers to avoid Kb3.

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 44.Ba2 Be5 45.Be6 a2

The simplest. Black gets two distant passed pawns and there is no defense. 45...h5 followed by
46...Bxg3 was also enough.

46.Bxa2 Bxg3 47.h5 h6 48.Kd3 Ka3 49.Bd5 b4 50.Kc2 Be5 51.Bb3 f4 52.Bd5 Bf6 53.Kb1 b3

0–1
Some lessons from this game: *
1.) Chess is played by humans, with limited time to think, and not by computers, so the practical
side is very relevant even in games of strong masters. (8...e4! 19...Qc8! 19...dxc2? 29...Rb2?
29...Ra2! 34.Nxa6!)
2.) Don’t forget to ask yourself “What can my opponent reply?” (25.h4? 25.b5!)
3.) “Mistrust natural-looking moves” (Reti). (21...c4? 29...Rb2?)
4.) “Which piece should I exchange? Which one should I keep?” Responding correctly to these
questions can determine the course of the struggle. (19...Qc8! 22.Nxb4!)
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

Game 8
Winning the World Chess Team Championship
Nepomniachtchi helped Russia to win the 2013 World Team Championship held in Antalya,
Turkey. Occupying fourth board, he scored 5.5 points out 7, with a 2858 rating performance and
winning the gold medal for his board. He was the only winner in the decisive matches against China
and Ukraine, which finished in second and third places, and also in the last round against Egypt.
This is how Nepomniachtchi described the tournament and his performance:
“It is no secret that for some players (and, incidentally, from time to time also for me) the most
important question is one of motivation. In many respects it is this that determines the result in a
particular tournament: it is difficult to play constantly at full intensity. Fortunately, in team events
(especially those in which you are entrusted with defending the honor of your country) this problem is
completely absent: every player strives to perform as well as possible and to bring the team important
points.
Initially I was off-form, but will-power combined with considerable luck enabled me to emerge
unscathed after a terrible blunder against Sargissian, and in the match with China an unjustified risk
brought victory in the game and in the match.
After Ukraine, who had been winning match after match, stumbled against the Dutch, our chances
of catching and overtaking the leaders ceased to be theoretical. Thus, in Round 8 Russia met the
Ukrainian team, who were one match point ahead of us. I was entrusted with the White pieces in my

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game with the 2013 Ukrainian champion Yuriy Kryvoruchko.”
First, let’s briefly look at the other games Nepomniachtchi mentioned:

Gabriel Sargissian
Ian Nepomniachtchi
World Team Championship, Antalya (1), 26.11.2013

White to play

White is completely winning: he is a pawn up, and what a pawn!

35.Qe6+

A good move, hitting the a6-pawn with tempo, but it was made with the wrong idea.

35...Kg7 36.Qe5?

This was the idea. White wanted to take advantage of the pin, but it is a grave underestimation of
his opponent’s defensive chances and a tactical mistake.
After 36.Re1! the result would have been beyond doubt, for example 36...Qb7 (36...Qa7 37.Kg1 is
no better) 37.Qd6 wins more material, as 37...Kf7 loses to 38.Re6 Ng8 39.Rxg6!

36...Qa7!

This double attack saves the day.

37.Ne6+ Kf7 38.Nd8+ Kg7 39.Ne6+ Kf7 40.Ng5+ Kg7 41.Ne6+

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 White cannot afford to lose any of the attacked pawns or he will be clearly worse.

0.5–0.5

This lucky draw was crucial to the 2-2 result in the Russia – Armenia match.
Let’s go to the third round.

Yu Yangyi
Ian Nepomniachtchi
World Team Championship, Antalya (3), 28.11.2013

White to play

Here White is completely winning, too. The d-pawn is lost, and Black can’t count on anything
serious with his kingside majority: he can try, of course, but if White defends correctly Black has no
chances.

37.Nf5

The immediate 37.Rxd6 was also winning, forcing simplifications that are also enough to win the
game.

37.Nf5 Ne4 38.R1xe4 Rxf5 39.Rxd6 f3

Black launches his last shot.

40.Qd4?

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 And it works! If 40.g3! the advance 40...f2+ leads to nothing after 41.Kf1, and the passed pawns
give White the full point.

40...f2+ 41.Kf1 Qxd4 42.Rxd4 Rh5!

And White can’t even save half a point! After 43.Rd2 g3! 44.h3 Black wins by 44...Rxh3! 45.gxh3
g2+.
0-1
This was the only decisive game in the Russia – China match from the third round. From a losing
situation, Russia won 2.5 – 1.5.
Undoubtedly the spirit of Korchnoi, maybe helped by Lasker, was present in the defense of these
two lost games, do you agree?
Nepomniachtchi was rested in the fourth round, where Russia defeated Azerbaijan 2.5 – 1.5. Then
he played in the fifth and sixth, where he scored 1.5 points, with Russia winning both matches, 3.5 –
0.5 against Germany and 3 – 1 against Turkey. After that, Russia won 3.5 – 0.5 against the
Netherlands in the seventh round (Nepo didn’t play), and we arrive at the eighth round against
Ukraine.

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Yuriy Kryvoruchko
English Opening [A29]
World Team Championship, Antalya (8), 04.12.2013

1.c4

Nepomniachtchi explains his decision in this way: “I chose the opening after lengthy and agonizing
thought, but the collective wisdom voted for a lengthy struggle plus the minimal probability of
running into forced simplifications at the very start of the game.”

1...e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 Bc5

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 “An interesting move, although it has always seemed to me that 4...d5, 4...Bb4, and 4...Nd4 are all
preferable from the standpoint of fighting for equality.” (Nepomniachtchi).
Exercise: How do you think Nepo replied?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

5.Nxe5

“This is undoubtedly far more critical than the quiet 5.Bg2. In general, of course, the English is not
an opening where forcing variations are of paramount importance, but this continuation stands
somewhat apart.” (Nepomniachtchi).

5...Nxe5

Nepomniachtchi thought this was the main continuation, although it isn’t clear: others may argue
that 5...Bxf2+ is. The game usually continues 6.Kxf2 Nxe5 7.e4 c5 8.d4 cxd4 9.Qxd4 0-0.

6.d4 Qe7 7.dxe5

The threatened 7...Nf3# could be defended by 7.Bg2 as well, but this is the most usual answer.

7...Qxe5

The Russian team had only analyzed the more complicated 7...Ng4 while preparing for the game,

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not this “unambitious move”, as Nepo called it.

8.Bg2 d6

Exercise: White has more than one continuation, what would you play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

9.Bf4

Question: Not the most flexible move, right? I see it is a developing move winning a tempo, but
wasn’t it better to continue 9.0-0 and only then decide where to put the bishop?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Normally there is not just one important factor in the position. What you said would be
correct if Black had no unpleasant plans for White. However, after 9.0-0 Black could play 9...Qh5
and ...Bh3, so, first it is useful to clarify the intentions of the Black queen.

9...Qe6

Now 9...Qh5 10.h3 or 10.b4 Bb6 11.h3 is not attractive for Black, as he cannot easily solve the
development of his c8-bishop anymore, while the advance g4 would force a realignment, with White

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gaining space.

10.Rc1 0-0

11.a3

Question: I don’t like this passive move. Why not 11.0-0?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Well, it’s not that passive as it enables a future b4, but you are partially right. Even
Nepomniachtchi was unsure about this and here is his explanation: “Perhaps an unnecessary subtlety,
but in the event of 11.0-0 Qxc4 12.Nd5 Qxa2 I did not see a forced win for White, and there is no
need to change sharply this type of position.”
So, 11.0-0 was a good move, but he believed that the advantage he could get was not attractive or
not enough for him. However, his view is questionable, because after 12...Qxa2 White is better after
playing 13.Nxc7 Rb8 14.Nd5! (threatening 15.Rxc5), and 14...Nxd5? loses to 15.Bxd5, where
15...Qa5 doesn’t stop 16.Rxc5! Qxc5 17.Bxd6!, winning.
So Black should play 14...Be6 in this line, allowing 15.Nxf6+ gxf6 16.b4! Bb6 (not 16...Bxb4?
17.Qd4) 17.e3, and Black has too many weaknesses.

11...a6 12.0-0 Re8

Question: The position arrived at seems very quiet, how can it be evaluated?

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 Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Nepo was quite satisfied and this is what he wrote: “The outcome of the opening can be
summed up. Black has played very solidly, but extremely modestly, and he has ended up in a
cramped position. White’s play is simple, but there are too many logical strengthening moves, and
there will probably not be sufficient time to make all of them.”

13.Rc2

Question: Why not 13.e4 or 13.b4 Bb6 14.e4? This is not the Nepo I know!

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: You are probably right, and you would probably say the same later in the game.
Perhaps in an individual tournament he would take more risks, but the situation was different, we
knew it from his comments at the beginning and also during this game, when he opted for 11.a3.
What you suggested is fine, but he preferred not to close the diagonal of the g2-bishop yet, but to
continue with the pressure on b7, which is not bad either.

13...h6 14.b4 Ba7 15.Qd3 Qe7

Exercise: What should White play now?

Show/Hide Solution

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 Answer:

16.h3!

With the same idea of restricting the development of Black’s pieces. This move prevents the
possible maneuver of the c8–bishop via g4 and h5 to “the comparatively satisfactory square g6.”
On the other hand, White could still wait for Black to play 16...Rb8 to defend b7 and play a useful
move like 16.Rd1 first, (16...Rb8) and only then 17.h3, but, by playing it now, he retains more
options.

16...Rb8 17.Nd5

Question: I see White didn’t play 17.Rd1, but why is this move better?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Things are not so clear. Nepo was unsure about this move too, but it has a concrete
reason: he didn’t want to wait till Black plays ...Be6, as Black would be able to exchange his passive
light-squared bishop.

17...Nxd5 18.cxd5 Bb6

19.e4?!

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 Question: Now the long diagonal is closed, so why is it dubious to occupy the center?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: The idea is not bad, but there are other priorities now: White has strong pressure on c7
and soon it will be clear how important it was to deny Black the chance of playing ...Bd7 followed by
...c6, getting rid of his annoying problem.
So, after 19.a4! a5 20.b5, as Nepo explained, “it is very difficult for Black to find a move: his
queenside is tightly fixed, whereas White can strengthen his position and prepare a breakthrough in
the center.”
Exercise: White’s reasoning depends on a tactical justification. Black cannot play 20...Bc5, why?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: It is bad in view of 21.Rxc5! dxc5 22.d6 and Black loses material.
So, instead of 20...Bc5 Black should probably play something like 20...Ra8 first, but after e.g.,
21.e4 Bc5 22.Rfc1 b6 23.Be3, Black must wait for 24.Bxc5 and White will get a much better pawn
structure, preparing the breakthrough in the center mentioned by Nepo.

19...Bd7

Now Black’s position is very solid, “and White faces a lengthy siege of the enemy defenses,” as the
winner said.

20.Rfc1 Ba4 21.Rc3

White is still somewhat better, “but since after ...c6 Black has practically no vulnerable points, the
position has an obvious tendency towards full equality.” (Nepomniachtchi).

21...Rbd8 22.Be3

White has to exchange this bishop to try to make progress.

22...Bxe3 23.Qxe3 Rd7

An unnecessary waiting move. 23...c6 was more logical.

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 24.Qd2

Question: Not an impressive move, what is White doing?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: There is not much that can be done. This is what Nepo explained: “I was planning a
regrouping, in order after ...c7–c6 to choose between an exchange sacrifice and an attempt to call the
opponent to account by quieter means, by pressing on the d6–pawn.”

24...Qd8 25.h4 Rde7 26.Rc4

“Perhaps 26.Bf3 was more shrewd, in order after 26...c6 27.dxc6 Bxc6 28.Rxc6 bxc6 29.Rxc6 d5
30.exd5 to cover the e2–point, restricting Black’s possible counterplay.” (Nepomniachtchi).

26...c6 27.Rd4

Nepomniachtchi commented that “In this version the exchange sacrifice seems riskier,” and so he
decided to play more quietly.
Eight years later, the engines still don’t trust the exchange sacrifice. After 27.dxc6 Bxc6 28.Rxc6
bxc6 29.Rxc6, Black has several acceptable choices. One of them is 29...d5, for example 30.exd5
Re1+ 31.Kh2 R1e2 32.Qd4 Ra2 33.d6 Ree2, and if 34.d7 Black is in time to neutralize the pawn by
playing 34...Red2 or 34...Rad2.

27...cxd5 28.Rxd5 Re6 29.Rd4

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 After 29.e5 Rxe5 30.Rxd6 Qe7, although the White pieces are better placed, and some pressure is
retained, the position is simplified and Black’s defensive task is easier, as he has only one weakness,
the b7-pawn, which could be defended by ...Rb5 when White plays Rb6. Whereas 29.Rd4 offers more
practical chances.

29...Qe7 30.Kh2

White continues with the same policy of being flexible, but as will be clear soon, the move f3 is
what the position demands, so 30.f3! was to be considered.

30...Bc6 31.Rcc4?!

This was the wrong move. The e4-pawn must be defended, but as Nepo explained, “it was not easy
to decide on 31.f3 in view of the various pawn thrusts followed by the invasion of the rook on the
second rank.”
Now the White rooks are awkwardly placed, but Black needs a concrete way to demonstrate the
drawback, something he didn’t manage to find either.

31...Qf6

Not the best move, as we will see.

32.f3

Finally, White has made this unwanted move, although after misplacing some pieces.
Exercise: Playing with Black, what would you choose here?

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 Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

32...Qe7?

Black imitates White’s strategy: he continues to wait, but he could have improved his chances by
playing 32...g5!, and “it is now White who has to play accurately, since Black has chances of
grabbing the initiative. In general, play remains within the bounds of equality: 33.Bh3 Qxf3 34.Bxe6
Rxe6 35.hxg5 Bxe4 36.Rxe4, with drawing features.” (Nepomniachtchi).
Going back a move, 31...g5! was good too.

33.Rc2?!

“It is important to cover the second rank,” said Nepomniachtchi, but this move is not very accurate,
as we shall see.

33...Ba4?!

“Forcing the rook to make up his mind: either the second rank, or the c-file.”
Exercise (simple): Where to retreat the rook?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

34.Rc3!

White grabs the opportunity to revert to the correct plan: it is important to have the f3-pawn
defended.
Let’s go back, it was better to play 33.Rc3! instead of 33.Rc2?!, because in reply to the move
played Black could still play 33...g5!, then if 34.h5 the advance 34...g4 complicates matters, while in
case of 34.Bh3 Rf6 35.hxg5 Rxf3 Black is fine, as he is after 35.Bf5 gxh4.

34...Bc6

Black can’t play 34...g5? anymore, as after 35.Bh3 White gains material.

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 “Time was short, and so my opponent acted with exaggerated safety. However, to all appearances
the moment for creating counterplay had already been missed,” said Nepomniachtchi.
Exercise: How did he continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

35.Bf1!

“A strong tempo-gaining maneuver of the bishop to d5, which at the same time creates the threat of
capturing on a6.”

35...Rf6 36.Bc4 Rd8 37.Bd5

Question: I know this was the idea, but considering he has more space, couldn’t White have first
reinforced his position?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Probably yes, but at the board the rules are somewhat different: as we know, the practical
side is important, and this is what Nepomniachtchi commented: “It is also possible to begin with
37.Kg2, intensifying the threats, but after 37...d5!? Black would have rid himself of his weakness and
obtained a comfortable blockading set-up with a rook on d6. I did not want to allow this, since, in my

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view, with material equal and the opponent having an impregnable pawn structure, it is far more
unpleasant for Black to defend.”
In general engines, and also Magnus Carlsen, don’t trust most fortresses, but that’s a different
subject.

37...Bxd5 38.Rxd5 Re6

Exercise (simple): How did Nepo play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

39.Rcd3

First things first. White reduces his opponent’s activity and now Black is tied to the defense of his
isolated pawn.
Not a big achievement yet, but we must assume that the fight will be long and any improvement of
the position is welcome.

39...Qf6 40.Kg2

After making his 40th move Nepomniachtchi commented that he was about to go off for a cup of
tea, since the game promised to be quite a long one, but in the meantime he “dreamed” about one
possibility, “it would not be bad if Yuriy were to decide to activate his queen, but it was very hard to
believe that he would do this. Just too good to be true, as they say.”

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 40...Qa1??

“One can understand Black’s desire to play actively, especially since in the event of passive defense
a draw is by no means guaranteed: White advances his pawns on the kingside, and then on the
queenside, creating a second weakness. I think that the percentage chances of a win for White and a
draw for Black (bearing in mind that it is people who are playing, not computers) are somewhere in
the region from 65 to 35. However, there are as many opinions as there are people.”
(Nepomniachtchi).
Exercise: How did White “make his dreams true”?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

41.Rc3!

“The queen would like to return to its own forces, but there is no way back...” (Nepomniachtchi).

41...Rde8

“The lesser evil was 41...a5, when at least Black avoids losing his queen immediately by giving up
a pawn or two, but, of course, this is not a panacea: his position remains hopeless.”
Exercise (simple): What is the winning move?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

42.Qc2

There is no defense against the threat of 43.Rd1, and so Black resigned.

Nepo concluded “A rather dry, tedious game, not without mistakes, but that makes it no less
important in the competitive sense! Of course, it was immensely pleasant to bring our team victory in
the team match, but I endeavored not to display any delight.”
1–0
Russia won 2.5 – 1.5 and moved to first place with one round left to play.
Some lessons from this game: *
1.) Chess is played by humans, with limited time to think, not by computers, so, again, the practical
side is very relevant. (17.Nd5! 29.Rd4! 29.e5? 37.Kg2? 40...Qa1?)

135
 2.) Preventing your opponent’s plan is as important as advancing your own. (16.h3! 19.a4! 31.f3!
34.Rc3!)
3.) You should train to sense the critical moments of the game, when precise calculation is needed.
(19.a4! 31.Rcc4? 31...g5! 32...g5! 33...g5!)
4.) Don’t forget to ask yourself “What can my opponent reply?” (33.Rc2? 33.Rc3! 40...Qa1?)
5.) “How can I improve the position of my pieces?” This is another question which, posed at the
right moment, can give us clues about finding the best move (35.Bf1! 39.Rcd3!)
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

Let’s see how Nepo finished his game of the last round against Egypt.

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Samy Shoker
World Team Championship, Antalya (9), 05.12.2013

White to play

White is winning. He is an exchange up, but Black has practical chances due to the pressure on b2.

27.Rgd1

To keep the material advantage with 27.Re6 was objectively better, but the element of chance
would remain. Now, after returning the exchange, the White king is safe and White can count on
taking advantage of his opponent’s awful pawn formation.

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 27.Rgd1 Bxd6 28.Rxd6

White threatens both 29.Qxc4 and 29.Qxe5.

28...Qb4

Black saw no other way to try to save the game than simplifying,

29.Rd8+!

From the practical point of view the advantage White has in the queen ending is easier to convert
than the one he has in the rook ending.

29...Kf7 30.Rxb8 Qxb8 31.Qxc4+ Kg7 32.Qc5!

Accuracy is needed. 32.Qxc6? would drop half a point after 32...Qa7!, while 32.Qxa6 Qd6 33.Qd3
Qc5 complicates the ending.
Now the Black queen is deprived of quick access to g1 and the g-pawn.

32...Kh6 33.Qe7 Qb6 34.Qh4+ Kg7 35.Qxg3

Without the g3-pawn White wins without much effort.

35...Qd4 36.Qg5! Qd1+ 37.Qc1 Qe2 38.Qg1 h5 39.h4 Qc4 40.b3 Qc3 41.Qa7+ Kh6 42.Qa8
Kg7 43.Qxa6 Qe1+ 44.Kb2 Qxh4 45.Qa7+ Kf6 46.a5

1–0
With this victory Russia won 2.5 – 1.5, kept its advantage and finished first.

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 Show in Text Mode

Game 9
Fighting chess and a win in Danzhou
Nepomniachtchi obtained a great victory in the 7th Hainan Danzhou tournament, China, in July
2016. He finished with 6 points out of 9 and a 2852 rating performance, playing in a very aggressive
style.
Seven of his nine games ended in a decisive result, and he achieved five wins, two draws and two
losses. Maybe he was positively influenced by the combative atmosphere. In the previous edition of
the tournament Wei Yi had played his “immortal” game against Lazaro Bruzon. Nepomniachtchi
grabbed the lead in the fourth round with a Black win over Peter Leko, and kept it till the end. Let’s
take a look at it.

Peter Leko
Ian Nepomniachtchi
Sicilian Defense [B90]
Danzhou (4), 11.07.2016

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Be3 Be7 9.Qd2

9...h5

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 Black decides to stop the advance g4. The alternative is to allow it and launch a race to attack after
e.g. 9...0-0 10.0-0-0 Nbd7 11.g4 b5, which is one of the main lines.

10.Be2

The jump Nd5 is present in most of the positions, immediately with 10.Nd5 or after 10.0-0-0 Nbd7
11.Nd5, arriving at a structure similar to the one in the game.

10...Nbd7 11.Nd5

The knight can’t be allowed to stay for long on d5: it is too strong and must be taken. Black has to
decide with which piece, and the pawn structure will change in any case. White will have a pawn
majority on the queenside and Black a pawn majority on the kingside.
The game could also end in a race of attacks, but that is not forced.

11...Bxd5

This exchange may involve the loss of control of some key squares. c6 can be especially relevant,
so it is not generally the most attractive choice and it is not the most usual, but in this case it seems
satisfactory.
Nepomniachtchi had a bad experience with the alternative 11...Nxd5 12.exd5 Bf5. After 13.0-0
Qc7 14.c4 0-0 15.Na5 Bg6 16.b4 Rae8 White’s attack on “his” flank was considerably faster. White
played 17.Rac1 followed by a quick c5, and got a clear advantage in Popov, I – Nepomniachtchi,
Moscow 2014; he could have even played here 17.c5!, and if 17...dxc5? 18.d6 Bxd6 19.Rfd1 White
wins, while 17...Nf6 18.Nc4 or 17...f5 18.Rac1 dxc5 19.d6! Bxd6 20.Rfd1 Rf6 21.Nc4 Ree6 22.Bg5
is also bad for Black.

12.exd5 0-0

In Carlsen – Ding Liren, chess24.com 2020, Black played 12...b6?!

Question: Why is it dubious? I see it as good to avoid the c5 advance that we saw was so strong
against Nepo, and it also stops Na5, a move that is almost always present.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: You are partially right, the move is good, but just for defensive purposes. However, what
happens if Black wants to attack? Is it still useful?
In that game Black couldn’t demonstrate this. After 13.0-0-0 Qc7 14.Kb1 he didn’t find a better
move than 14...b5, then after 15.Na5 Nb6 16.Bxb6 Qxb6 17.Nc6 Bd8 18.c4 bxc4 19.Bxc4 0-0
20.Rhe1 Nd7 21.g4 White is clearly better.

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 13.0-0 Qb8

The first move of a plan Nepomniachtchi had already employed. 13...Re8 and 13...b6 also make
sense.

14.Kh1

Exercise: What is the idea behind 13...Qb8?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

14...Bd8

Black tries to activate or exchange his “bad” bishop. This plan is seen in some variations of the
Spanish Opening and the Old Indian.

15.f4

A novelty. 15.c4 Bb6 16.Bxb6 Nxb6 17.f4 e4 18.Nd4 Qc8 19.Rac1 was good for White in Saric –
Nepomniachtchi, Poikovsky 2014.
Nepo surely had an improvement ready, most probably straight after 15.c4.
Exercise: What do you think he would have played?

Show/Hide Solution

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 Answer: 15...b5! might have been Nepomniachtchi’s planned improvement here. Black has no
problems after the two direct attempts to punish his idea:
A) 16.c5 dxc5 17.Nxc5 Bb6 18.Nxd7 Nxd7 19.Bxb6 Qxb6, which looks about equal
B) 16.Na5 Bxa5 17.Qxa5 bxc4 18.Bxc4 Qxb2 is also fine for Black, for example, 19.Rab1 Qc2
20.Rbc1 Qf5 21.Qa3 e4 22.Qxd6 Ne5, probably followed by ...Rfd8, with excellent compensation for
the pawn.

15...Re8

Black had several possibilities, but he chose the most flexible move: he activated his rook, trying to
demonstrate that the opening of files may also benefit Black.

16.c4

The alternative was 16.fxe5 Nxe5 17.Nd4 g6 (17...Qc7 leads to equality according to the engines,
let’s see the principal line: 18.Nf5 g6 19.Bd4 Ne4 20.Qe3 gxf5 21.Rxf5 Qxc2 22.Bxh5 Re7 23.Re1,
but... it is difficult to choose this line if there is a more “human” way to continue) 18.c4 Qc7,
followed by ...Rc8, with a complicated game.

Exercise: Black has several options again, what do you think Nepo played?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

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 16...b5!

This counterattack is the most active and strongest move.

Now, with the f-file ready to be opened, it is wrong to continue with the original idea 16...Bb6? due
to 17.Bxb6 Nxb6 18.fxe5 Rxe5 19.Rxf6! gxf6 20.Nd4, with more than enough compensation for the
exchange. Something even worse happens after 16...exf4 17.Rxf4 Bb6? 18.Bxb6 Nxb6 19.Rxf6! gxf6
20.Bd3.

17.fxe5 Nxe5 18.cxb5 axb5 19.Nd4

The computer suggests the strange looking 19.Bg1, giving more freedom to the White pieces.
Black has two main continuations, attacking the weak d-pawn:
A) The risky 19...Nc4 20.Qd3 Re5 21.Nd4 Rxd5 22.Qg3, where White has compensation for the
pawn, and
B) The more prudent 19...Qb7. After 20.Nd4 Black seems to be allowed to activate his bishop with
20...Bb6, then because 21.Rxf6 Bxd4! 22.Qxd4 gxf6 23.Bxh5 Ra4 followed by 24...Kg7 and ...Rh8 is
acceptable for Black, White should instead take on b5: 21.Nxb5 Bxg1 22.Rxg1 Ne4 is good for
Black, so it would better to try 21.Bxb5, recovering the pawn, with a complex position and equal
chances after 21...Bxd4 22.Bc6 Nxc6 23.dxc6 Qxc6 24.Bxd4 Ne4.

Exercise (simple): How did Black continue here?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

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 19...Nc4

Forcing the exchange of the e2-bishop. The suggestion 19.Bg1 was to avoid this.

20.Bxc4 bxc4 21.Bg1?

The position is very complicated. White wants to maintain several options open, but Black will
continue to improve his position after every lethargic decision like this one.
White had the more aggressive 21.Nf5 available, although it seems that Black has enough
defensive resources after 21...Ne4 22.Qe2 Bf6 23.Qxh5 Qxb2 24.Rab1 Qc2 25.Rb7 Rf8, and the
game could peter out to a draw after 26.Bd4 Qd3 27.Rbb1 g6 28.Nh6+ Kg7 29.Nf5+ Kg8, because
29...gxf5? is bad due to 30.Bxf6+ Nxf6 31.Qg5+ Kh7 32.Rbd1 followed by Qxf6, with a winning
attack.
Exercise (simple): How did Nepo answer?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

21...Qb7

Adding pressure to the weak d-pawn.

22.Qc2

In case of 22.Nc6 Ne4 White must get rid of his proud knight to avoid ...Bf6. After 23.Nxd8 Raxd8
24.Qd4 Rb8 25.Rae1 f5! (White has no active pieces to take advantage of the weakened Black
kingside) 26.Qxc4 Qxb2, Black has active play.

22...Ne4!

Black prefers activity to a pawn advantage after 22...Qxd5 23.Rad1 Ra6, with a more passive
position.

23.Rae1 Qxd5

The difference between the former line is that White will recover the pawn, but Black will find a
way to put his pieces in better positions.

24.Rf5 Qb7 25.Rb5

The e1-rook is unprotected so 25.Qxc4 is not possible yet because of 25...Ng3+.

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 25...Qe7 26.Rf1

After 26.Re2 Rc8 27.Rxh5 g6 28.Rb5 Qh4, threatening mate, followed by ...Bf6, Black also has
better chances, as his pieces are more active.

Exercise: Now Black has to take a decision. What do you think he played?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

26...g6!

It is unclear that the chosen move, even if it is good, is better than 26...Qc7!, which also gives
Black an advantage after for example 27.Rxh5 Rxa2 or 27.a4 h4, but Black prefers, again, the most
active continuation.

27.Nf3

Black’s idea can be seen after 27.Qxc4 Nd2 28.Qc6 Nxf1 29.Qxa8 and now Black gains a
dangerous initiative with 29...Qh4 30.h3 Ng3+ 31.Kh2 Ne4 followed by 32...d5, threatening ...Bc7+,
or getting a winning position by involving the bishop in the attack, for example after 32.Ne2 d5
33.Qb8 Nf6 34.Kh1 Qc4!.

27...Qe6 28.a4

Exercise: What did Nepomniachtchi play?

144
 Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

28...h4

Not the only good move. 28...d5, defending the c4 pawn, and 28...Bf6, activating the bishop, were
also strong, but Nepo preferred to continue with the offensive.

29.Nd4 Qd7 30.Qxc4

Exercise (simple): What was the reason to return the pawn?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

30...h3

The reason was of course the possibility of weakening the White king even more. 30...Nd2 31.Qd5
is not as dangerous.

31.Rf4

Black is also better after 31.gxh3 Bf6 (not yet 31...Qxh3?? 32.Qxf7+) 32.Rf4 Qxh3.

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 31.g3 is of course horrible for the White king: 31...Bf6 is strong, but 31...Nd2 32.Qd5 Nxf1
33.Qxa8 Bb6 is even stronger, and White will receive mate or lose material soon. Let’s continue a
little: 34.Qc6 Qxc6+ 35.Nxc6 Re1, or 34.Qd5 Ne3 35.Qc6 Qxc6 36.Nxc6 Ng4 and ...Re1.

31...Nc5

Black prefers not to play 31...hxg2+ just yet. The move played attacks the a-pawn and opens up the
e-file. A strong alternative was 31...Rc8 32.Qb3 Rc1.

32.b3

It was no better to continue 32.gxh3 Rxa4 33.b4, as after 33...Re1 34.Rb8 Raa1 35.Nf3 Rxg1+
36.Nxg1 Qc6+ 37.Re4 Qxe4+ 38.Qxe4 Nxe4 39.Rxd8+ Kg7 the ending is bleak for White. His
passed pawn is not dangerous, while Black has two passed pawns and better pieces.

32...hxg2+

Now Black has a concrete reason to eliminate the tension, as we shall see.

33.Kxg2

Exercise (simple): How did Nepo continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

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 33...Rc8

All Black pieces are waking up to an irresistible initiative. The immediate threat is 34...Ne6.

34.Qf1

Exercise: How did Black increase his activity?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

34...Bg5

In this simple way.

35.Rf3

Exercise (simple): What is the third consecutive active move?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

35...Ne4

Opening up the c-file with a direct threat, 36...Nd2. As Najdorf would say, “chess is easy again.”

36.Rd3

36.Kh1 was more flexible, although Black has several good answers. The strongest seems to be to
continue with the infiltration by playing 36...Rc1 37.Qg2 d5, followed by 38...Rec8.

36...Qg4+

The infiltration is decisive. Another way was 36...Rc1 37.Qf3 Nd2.

37.Kh1 Rc1 38.Qg2 Qh4 39.Rf3

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Exercise: Which way would you choose here?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

39...Be3!

Nepomniachtchi chose one of the two strongest ways to convert the advantage.
The other winning continuation was 39...Nd2! 40.Rg3 Rxg1+! 41.Qxg1 Qe4+ 42.Rg2 Be3.

40.Ne2 Nf2+

Leading to winning simplifications.

41.Rxf2 Bxf2 42.Nxc1 Bxg1 43.Qg3 Qd4!

Black can sacrifice a piece to avoid the exchange of queens.

44.Qxg1 Qd2

White has no defense against Black’s strong attack. His pieces are completely uncoordinated.

45.Nd3 Qxd3 46.Rg5

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 Exercise: Which move will you play to win the game?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

46...Re2!

There is no defense against 47...Qe4+ and ...Re1.

0–1
Some lessons from this game: *
1.) It is important to combine attacking and defensive ideas. (12...b6? 16...b5! 22...Ne4!)
2.) Be aware of changes in the position. A good idea may turn into a bad one after changes.
(16...Bb6?)
3.) Don’t forget “to invite everybody to the party.” (33...Rc8! 34...Bg5! 35...Ne4!)
4.) Preventing your opponent’s activity can be as important as activating your own forces. (21.Bg1?
21.Nf5!)
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

Nepomniachtchi took the lead with 4 points out of 5. Then, after his first draw in the tournament, he
had an advantage of a full point over his pursuers, but a loss in the seventh round to Harikrishna saw
his advantage reduced to only half a point, and he was being challenged by four players with 4 points.

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One of them was Bu Xiangzhi, with whom he met in the penultimate round. Let’s briefly see how that
game finished.

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Bu, Xiangzhi
Danzhou (8), 16.07.2016

White to play

White is better. Black’s pieces are rather misplaced, especially the b7-bishop and the e7-knight, but
the position is closed, so White must react as soon as possible.

24.Nh2!

Preparing the thematic rupture f4. After that, all White pieces will be ready to gradually join the
attack.

24...g5?!

“The cure is worse than the disease.” It was better to allow f4, as Black will not be able to recover
from this weakening.

25.Nh5 Bc8 26.Nxf6+ Bxf6 27.Qh5

The queen is the first to arrive.

27...Kg7 28.Ng4

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Now the knight, both with tempo.

28...Rh8

29.f4!

White opens the game with that same “avoided” move without even sacrificing material.

29...gxf4

29...exf4? 30.Nxf6.

30.g3!

Recovering the pawn, opening more lines and involving the a-rook in the attack.

30...Ng6

30...fxg3? receives mate after 31.Bxh6+.

31.gxf4 Qe7 32.Nxf6 Qxf6 33.fxe5 dxe5

White wins after 33...Nxe5 34.Rg2+ Kf8 35.Rf1 Qe7 36.Bg5

34.Rg2 Qd6 35.Rf1

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 White is winning. He can improve the position of all his pieces before launching the decisive
attack, while Black can only wait. The rest is easy for Nepomniachtchi.

35...Rde8 36.Kh1 Re7 37.Be3 Rc7 38.Rgf2 Rh7 39.Rf6 Qxf6 40.Rxf6 Kxf6 41.Bxh6 Rxh6
42.Qxh6 Re7 43.h4 Re8 44.Qg5+ Kg7 45.h5 Rh8 46.Bc2 Rh6 47.Bd1 f6 48.Qg1

1–0
After this win, Nepomniachtchi recovered his full point advantage and, after a final draw, he
finished one point ahead of Harikrishna and Wang Yue.
Game 10
Last at the beginning, first at the end
The 2016 Tal Memorial was played shortly after the Baku Chess Olympiad, where Nepomniachtchi
began with 7 points out of 7, and finally obtained the silver medal for his board with a 2804 rating
performance. He still had the wind on his back and recorded a great triumph at the Tal Memorial.
It was a fantastic result because, with his 2740 Elo points, he was bottom of the 10 players by rating
before the tournament began. However, after this result (a 2887 rating performance) he was clearly on
his way to becoming a top-10 player. But it was only after a hard fight for first place with Anish Giri,
which continued until the very last day.
The tournament started in the best possible way for Nepo. Let’s look at the only decisive game of
the first round.

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Evgeny Tomashevsky
Scotch Opening [C45]
Tal Memorial, Moscow, (1), 26.09.2016

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 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4

Playing the Scotch is not a rarity for Nepomniachtchi, but in this game it had a surprise effect,
showing that on this occasion he had prepared much better than his opponent.

3...exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

Tomashevsky varies from his usual continuation 4...Bc5, which he had played almost exclusively
until this game (with just one exception, according to Mega Database 2021). He even played it
against Nepo in Yaroslavl the month before, when Nepo also won.

5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.c4 Ba6 9.b3

Question: I don’t know this opening, what can you tell me about it?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: This line with 9.b3 is one of the sharpest in the Scotch. It was reborn thanks to Garry
Kasparov, who played it in 1990, in his last match for the world title against Karpov.
Kasparov continued to play the Scotch later, even in 2016 and 2017 in his “return” in blitz and
rapid games after retirement.
This was the first time that Nepo played this move, too. Before, he had played only 9.Nd2.
Tomashevsky was, surprisingly, quickly outplayed in this game. He played this line again, but as of
mid-2021 he has not shown any prepared improvement. In a later game, Harikrishna – Tomashevsky,
Moscow 2017, White didn’t play 9.b3 but 9.Nd2.

9...g6

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 10.f4

Question: I think there are several reasonable moves, why play this one?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Kasparov thought this was “the most energetic reply, in the hope of exploiting the
insecurity of the Black knight and the bishop on a6,” although later he tried other continuations, too.
The alternatives are 10.Bb2 Bg7 and 10.Ba3, although in this case it has been established that after
10...Qh4! 11.Bb2 (11.Bxf8? Qd4!) 11...Bb4+ 12.Kd1 Nf4 Black has no difficulties.

10...Bg7

Black has several options, including 10...f6, 10...g5 and 10...d6, which seems the most precise. The
natural text move was the most popular continuation according to the database, but has not been
played by top players recently.
Nepomniachtchi faced 10...d6 twice after this game. Both times ended in a draw, and they
continued 11.Qf2 Nf6 12.Be2 dxe5 13.0-0 Ne4

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 Here the games diverged: 14.Qf3 f5 15.Nc3 exf4 16.Nxe4 Qxe4 17.Qxe4+ fxe4 18.Rxf4 Bc5+
19.Kh1 0-0-0 20.Rxe4 Bd4 21.Rb1 with equal chances was played in Nepomniachtchi – Grischuk,
chess.com INT 2018.
In Nepomniachtchi – Vitiugov, Russian Championship, Moscow 2020, White played 14.Qe1. The
game was very interesting although it ended quickly, so let’s give it a quick look: 14...Qc5+ 15.Kh1
Qd4 16.Bf3! Qxa1 17.Qxe4 Bb7 18.Qc2! (White is threatening to play 19.Rd1 followed by 20.Nc3)
18...Bc5! 19.Nc3 (preparing 20.Rd1; after 19.Rd1? Black plays 19...Bd4!) 19...Bb4 20.Na4! 0-0-0
21.Be2! (White protects the rook on f1, threatening 22.Be3) 21...Qd4! 22.Rd1 Qa1! (22...Qf2??
23.Bg4+) 23.Rf1 Qd4 24.Rd1 Qa1 25.Rf1 0.5–0.5
Let’s return to our game.

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 Exercise: What would you play after 10...Bg7?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

11.Qf2

Threatening the knight, and it also hits a7, to prevent or discourage Black from castling long.
White couldn’t play 11.Ba3? yet due to 11...Nxf4.

11...Nf6

The alternative 11...Nb6 is more popular, as it withdraws the knight from immediate danger. The
chosen move implies an obligation to enter unclear complications very soon.

12.Ba3

The alternative is 12.Be2.

Exercise: Why is 12.Bd3 too optimistic?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Because Black can take advantage of the weak a1-h8 diagonal by playing 12...Ng4

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13.Qe2 Nxe5!, winning material.

12...d6?!

After this move the Black position is difficult to hold. The increased tension in the center will favor
White.
His best chance to fight seems to be 12...Ng4. It is not totally clear, but at least it prevents the easy
development of White’s pieces. After 13.Qe2 Qe6 followed by castling long, White must take into
consideration a later ...Bh6 and the potential sacrifice ...Nxe5.
Exercise: What do you think Nepo played here?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

13.Nc3

This was a novelty, but it looks more natural and stronger than its precedent 13.Nd2. The idea is
clear: castle long and build up pressure on d6. The knight can head to e4 too, meanwhile, the bishop
on a3 has become really strong.

13...0-0

Black’s king has avoided being trapped in the center of the board. This will not improve Black’s
chances, but even now no good alternative is available. After castling long White’s initiative will be

157
too strong.
The move 13...Qe6 unpins the d-pawn, but it doesn’t help development, and the “threat” to take the
central pawn is welcome for White.
White could reply 14.Be2, so as after 14...dxe5 to have the chance of playing 15.0-0, although 15.0-
0-0 is also promising.
Maybe the strongest option is the immediate 14.0-0-0. After 14...dxe5 White simply continues his
development with 15.g3, planning Bg2 and Rhe1, or 15.Bd3, with the same idea. Let’s look a little at
15.Bd3.
After 15...Ng4 16.Qc5 Bf8 17.Qa5 Bxa3+ 18.Qxa3 Bb7 19.Rhe1 Black has just a pawn for all his
trouble; his king remains stuck on the e-file, while now with the White rook on e1 if 19...0-0-0 White
again has 20.Qxa7.

14.0-0-0

This position is hopeless for Black and he doesn’t even have an extra pawn for his trouble. The d6-
pawn and the pin through the a3-f8 diagonal are his more evident woes.

14...Ne8

Exercise: Black tries to protect his d6-pawn, but the coordination of his pieces is poor. Why didn’t
he play 14...Nd7?

Show/Hide Solution

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 Answer: Because White wins by playing 15.c5!. If 15...Bxf1 then 16.cxd6 cxd6 17.Bxd6 wins
decisive material, while in case of 15...Nxc5 16.Bxc5 Bxf1 17.exd6 cxd6 18.Bxd6 Qb7 19.Rhxf1
Bxc3 20.Bxf8 Rxf8 21.Qc5 (to stop ...c5), White has an extra exchange.
It’s amusing to discover that some engines prefer just to play 15.h4. Maybe it is “unhuman,” but
White is winning too.
Exercise: White has several good options, what would you play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

15.g3!

White simply develops his bishop on the long diagonal, and then he will play Rhe1. Black is tied
up, and needs too many tempi to get some counterplay.
Another good idea was 15.h4!, but White can gain an overwhelming advantage by just playing
natural moves, without entering into complications.

15...Bb7 16.Bg2 f6

In case of 16...Qd7 White can play 17.Rhe1, 17.Ne4, or our familiar 17.h4!, all with a tremendous
initiative.

17.exd6 Nxd6?

It was necessary to play 17...cxd6, although Black’s position is painful after 18.Rhe1 Qc7. White
has several good moves, but the strongest and nicest is 19.f5! to shut down the g7-bishop. After, for
example, 19...Qa5 20.Kb2 Qxf5 21.Qxf5 gxf5 22.Re7 Rf7 23.Rxb7 Rxb7 24.Bxc6 Rab8 25.Bxb7
Rxb7 26.Bxd6 White is a pawn up, and has a 3 vs. 1 pawn majority on the queenside. If Black plays
20...Rf7 instead of 20...Qxf5, White can defend his f5-pawn, but Nepo would probably play 21.Re2
planning Rde1.

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 Exercise: Why is 17...Nxd6? losing?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

18.c5!

The first step. White wins material thanks to the unfortunate position of several Black pieces, his
lack of coordination and White’s better development.

18...Nf5

18...Ne8 19.Rhe1 Qf7 is effectively the same, while 18...Nf7 19.Rhe1 loses a piece, too.

19.Rhe1 Qf7

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 Exercise: What is the second step to win material?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

20.Bf1!

It’s simple, there is no good defense against 21.Bc4, so Black’s queen is trapped.

20...Rfd8 21.Rxd8+

The computer says 21.Bc4 was even stronger, as after 21...Rd5 22.g4, among other moves,
22...Ne7 23.Rxe7 Qxe7 24.Rxd5 cxd5 25.Nxd5 wins more material, but this is of no importance.

21...Rxd8 22.Bc4 Rd5

Exercise: Again, White has more than one good move, what would you choose?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

23.Qe2!

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 The simplest way. White will trade queens on e8.
1–0
Some lessons from this game: *
1.) A very strong player (over 2700) was defeated in just 23 moves. This is a warning against
playing an unfamiliar variation without adequate preparation.
2.) You should train to sense the critical moments of the game, when general considerations must
be replaced by accurate evaluation. (10...d6! 12...d6? 12...Ng4!)
3.) “If a piece is bad, the whole position is bad.” This is even clearer when the king is that piece.
4.) You need to be alert for tactical weaknesses. (18.c5! 20.Bf1!)
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

In the third round, Nepo caught the leader Giri after defeating Kramnik. Let’s look at how that
game ended.

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Vladimir Kramnik
Tal Memorial, Moscow (3), 29.09.2016

White to play

Several commentators noted that Nepo played this game in the style of his opponent, with a small
advantage while keeping dynamic piece play.

162
 It was a complex game, where a draw seemed the most probable result, but White continued to
press in an objectively equal position, albeit one which was not easy to handle.

36.Rxf7

White now has a passed pawn. It shouldn’t be too dangerous, but the position turns tactical.

36...Bxf2?

Kramnik chose the losing move.

After 36...Nxf2 the position would remain unclear, for example 37.f6 Nd1 38.Rh7 (38.Rg7+? Kf4
39.f7 Ne3+ 40.Kh2 Bg3+ leads to mate) 38...Ne3+ 39.Kh2 Nf1+ 40.Kg1 Ne3 41.f7 Rc1+ 42.Kh2
Nf1+ and draw.
In case of 37.Rh7 the counterattack 37...Kf4! gets the draw, for example 38.Rxh4 Nxe4 39.Nxe4
Kxe4 40.f6 Rc8 (40...Rc6 41.Rxg4+ Ke3 also works) 41.f7 Rf8 42.Rxg4+ Ke3.

37.Rg7+! Kf4

It looks as if Black’s attack is breaking through.

38.f6? is bad for White as after 38...Bh4 the f-pawn is lost, because 39.f7? is impossible due to
39...Ne3+ 40.Kh2 Bg3+ 41.Kg1 Rc1#.
Exercise: Nepo demonstrated that this is an illusion, what did he play?

Show/Hide Solution

163
 Answer:

38.e3+!!

Kramnik most likely overlooked this move when he chose 36...Bxf2.

White spoils Black’s coordination. He takes the square away from the knight, and after this Nepo is
able to advance his f-pawn to f6, avoiding perpetual check.

38...Kxe3

After 38...Bxe3 Black needs a decisive tempo to reactivate the mating/drawing mechanism. After
39.f6 Bd4 40.f7 Ne3+ 41.Kh2 Nf1+ 42.Kh1 Black can’t create any threats, everything works for
White, the f-pawn queens with check and meanwhile the e4-bishop controls the vital c2-square.

39.Rxg4 Kd2

The king strays too far, but there is nothing better, as after 39...Nc3 40.f6 the pawn is unstoppable,
e.g., 40...Rc7 41.Bf5 (the computer likes 41.Bb7) 41...Ra7 42.f7 Ra8 43.Ne8.

40.Bf3 Ne3+ 41.Kxf2 Nxg4+ 42.Bxg4

The f-pawn will cost the rook.

42...Rd5 43.Ne4+ Kd3 44.f6 Ra5

Or 44...Kxe4 45.Bf3+.

45.Be2+ Kd4 46.f7 Ra8 47.Ng5

1–0
Anish Giri picked up a half point advantage in round 4 and maintained it in round 5. Let’s go to the
sixth round.

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 Show in Text Mode

Game 11
“A game of exceptional quality”
“Ian Nepomniachtchi played high-quality chess throughout the event, never letting his guard down
and always calculating to the best of his abilities. His win against Mamedyarov was of exceptional
quality, a game even our grumpy World Champion would smile at,” wrote Anish Giri with his
characteristic sense of humor, but also praising how Nepo played this game.
The same was said by Mamedyarov: “Ian played fantastically against me.”

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
Italian Opening [C54]
Tal Memorial, Moscow (6), 02.10.2016

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4

Nepo varies from the Scotch he deployed in the first round.

“The Giuoco Piano is an evergreen opening and it is one of the oldest in chess, having roots all the
way back to the 17th century,” as Wesley So said.
This opening was not played very often in the 20th century until Karpov used it in a World
Championship match against Korchnoi in Merano 1981, but the big jump in popularity has occurred
in the present millennium.
Question: I understand it’s a matter of fashion, but only that?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: No, not only. It has become popular once again as a way to get “fresh” positions with new
plans – a new field for creativity.

3...Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d3

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 After 5...0-0, the old main line was 6.Nbd2 d6 7.c3 a6 8.Bb3, with White having trouble getting an
advantage.
In a crucial game at the Baku Olympiad 2016, played a few weeks before this game,
Nepomniachtchi – So continued 6.a4.
Question: Why play a4 so early?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: The general idea is to be able to develop the knight on a3 in some cases, and to gain space
on the queenside. It was reintroduced in 2016 by Alexander Grischuk.
Postponing the move c3, White makes sure that d3 is firmly defended in case of a break in the
center with ...d5.
Let’s explain this: a month earlier Anand – So, Saint Louis 2016, continued 6.c3 d5 7.exd5 Nxd5
8.a4 Nb6, and the evaluation was that Black is fine. Later it was not so clear, but at that moment it
was good to avoid an easy ...d5.
After 6.a4 the line 6...d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.Nbd2 Bb6 9.Re1 is better for White. He “gets good control
over the center and has nice outposts for his pieces.” (So).
The Nepomniachtchi – So game continued 6...d6 7.c3 a6 8.h3 Ba7 9.Re1, and now Black has
several options. He went for 9...Ne7, which is the most typical plan in this line. Black puts his knight
on g6 and prepares the ...c6–d5 break in the center. He finally won that key game of the Olympiad.
The alternatives are 9...Re8, planning ...Be6, and also the immediate 9...Be6, as the exchange of the
light-squared bishops on e6 will lead to the opening of the f-file.

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 5...d6 6.c3 h6 7.a4

Nepomniachtchi played a4 in this position only one more time, and 7.Nbd2 once in 2019 – both
were blitz games. In online tournaments of 2020 and the beginning of 2021, he used exclusively
7.Re1. In the 8th round of the same 2016 Tal Memorial, after 7.Re1 the game Giri – Mamedyarov
continued 7...0-0 8.Nbd2 a6 9.Nf1.
Exercise: After 9.Nf1, how did Black show that White’s move order was inaccurate?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Black was able to get rid of the “Spanish bishop” with 9...Na5! and get a good game. This
is another reason to play a4 at some point, to give the a2 square to the c4-bishop if it is attacked.

7...a6 8.h3 0-0 9.Re1

9...Re8

Question: I see Black has several ideas, which is the best of them?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: This sort of question is not easy to answer properly, because generally there is no clear
answer, and also because the evaluation may change due to new ideas that replace the previous
evaluation.

167
 Let’s talk about this position: Black chose the plan to exchange the light-squared bishops without
changing his pawn structure.
The other idea, as we know, is to play ...Be6, but in this position it has been established that it is
less accurate. 9...Be6 10.Bxe6 fxe6 11.b4 Ba7 12.Nbd2 leads to trouble for Black, such as in Anand –
Carlsen, Stavanger 2017, as Peter Nielsen explained: “White’s expansion on the queenside makes a
lot of difference in the ...fxe6 structures. The space itself obviously, but also the fact that a rook on a2
will defend the f2-pawn if needed.”
So, the refinement employed was to play 9...a5 first, in order to avoid the expansion b4, and only
after 10.Nbd2 to offer the exchange of bishops 10...Be6, as in e.g. Nepomniachtchi – Anand, Online
Olympiad 2020. There, Nepo didn’t take on e6 and played 11.b3 instead.

10.Nbd2 Be6 11.Bxe6 Rxe6 12.b4 Ba7

13.Qc2!

Question: Why the exclamation mark? Is this better than 13.Nf1?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: The sign is because the move is, in the words of Anish Giri, “cleverer than 13.Nf1,” as
the knight has more options than f1 in some variations.
Objectively, it is no better than the natural 13.Nf1, but from the practical point of view that is a
different matter.

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 13...d5?!

Instead of this natural move the latest trend is 13...Qd7, waiting for 14.Nf1 and only then 14...d5;
other options are 14.Nc4 as in Nepomniachtchi – Grischuk, Moscow 2019, and 14.Rb1.

Exercise: With the text move Black “fell into a positional trap,” said Nepomniachtchi. Why?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

14.Nb3!

Because now White can move the knight to this square, to try to take advantage of the c5 square.
It was an improvement over the natural 14.Nf1, that has also been played.

14...Ne7

In Karjakin – Navara, Baku 2016, Black played 14...b5?! to stop the potential b5–advance, but this
weakened the queenside, especially the critical c5-square. After 15.Be3! Black was under strong
pressure. Play continued 15...Bxe3 16.Rxe3 Rd6 17.Nc5 (this is the dream position after playing
14.Nb3) 17...Qc8 18.Ree1 and the game lasted only a few moves more: 18...Nh5? 19.exd5 Rxd5

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 Exercise (simple): How did White get a winning position?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: 20.Qa2!, with a deadly double attack, winning material. Black has insufficient
compensation and the game finished 20...Nf4 21.axb5 Rd6 22.bxc6 Rg6 23.Nd7 Nxg2 (there is
nothing after 23...Rxg2+ 24.Kf1 either) 24.Nfxe5 1–0.
Going back to our game, after 14.Nb3!, relieving the central tension with 14...dxe4 would be a
concession: White got a small advantage after 15.dxe4 Ne7 16.Be3 Bxe3 17.Rxe3 b6 18.a5! in
Nepomniachtchi – Borisek, played two months later, in the blitz World Championship, Doha 2016.
They arrived there after a transposition of moves, as Nepo played 6.a4 there, not 7.a4.

15.exd5

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 15...Qxd5?!

Question: Dubious? To activate the queen defending the attacked e-pawn seems pretty logical.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: It is logical, but as Black’s position will deteriorate very soon, we need to look for
improvements.
After 15...Nexd5 16.Rxe5 Rc6 17.Nc5! Bxc5 18.bxc5 Rxc5 19.Bb2 Nb4 20.Qe2 Rxe5 21.Nxe5
Nbd5 22.c4 White has a small edge. His bishop is a strong piece and Black’s knights have no strong
outposts.
It was hard to understand that this was a critical moment, where Black had to take radical measures
to get counterplay and/or practical chances. The best chance seems to be the computer’s suggestion
15...Nfxd5!. After 16.Rxe5 the idea is 16...Rf6! 17.d4 Ng6 18.Re4 Rxf3! 19.gxf3 Nf6 followed by
...Qd7. If the bishop gets close to the kingside, Black will be absolutely fine.
Let’s return to the game, “From this moment onwards Shakh is on the ropes, which is really hard to
anticipate here. Credit to Ian, who played majestically from here onwards.” (Giri).
Exercise: How did he start?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

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 16.c4

This is the first step. We have already seen how useful this move is as it activates the White bishop,
which will appear on a new, attractive square.

16...Qd6

Exercise: The previous move was the initial part of White’s idea, how does he continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

17.Nc5!

“At some point you need to take a bold decision like this, otherwise the slight opening plus you
have earned will evaporate.” (Giri).

17...Bxc5 18.bxc5 Qxc5 19.Ba3

White activates his bishop and takes advantage of the weakened e5-pawn and the awkward position
of some Black pieces.

19...Qa5

The queen tries to remain active. 19...Qa7 is not very logical, it wins some tempi over the game
continuation, but there is no difference: White would reply in the same way.

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 Exercise: What was the continuation Nepomniachtchi had in mind?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

20.d4!

White pushes forward his center and will recover his pawn thanks to the loose position of the e7-
knight. 20...exd4 loses to 21.Rxe6 and 22.Bxe7.

20...Ng6

Exercise (simple): How to add pressure to Black’s position?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

21.Bb2!

The bishop returns to his strongest diagonal, and White regains his sacrificed pawn.

21...Rae8

21...e4 22.d5 Ree8 23.Nd2 is no better, and the e-pawn falls.

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 22.Bc3 Qb6 23.Rab1

23.a5 was slightly better but it is of no importance.

23...Qa7 24.dxe5 Nd7

Exercise (simple): The e-pawn is threatened, how to defend it?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

25.Rbd1!

Activating the rook, as the pawn is safe because if Black takes it, there is Rd8+ and mate after the
mass exchanges.

25...Ndf8

The alternative was 25...Ngf8, but after for example 26.a5, planning Re3 followed by Qe2, Black
has nothing very useful available.

Exercise: In which standard way did Nepo continue?

Show/Hide Solution

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 Answer:

26.h4!

The g6-knight is “asking for” this advance. White wins more space.

26...Qc5 27.h5 Ne7

Exercise (simple): What is the best way to defend the c-pawn?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

28.Re4!

The rook not only defends the attacked pawn, it also plans to go to the kingside and it has a
concrete threat, to win the exchange with 29.Nd4.

28...Rc6

If 28...Nc6 White makes use of the new square available, d5, playing 29.Rg4 with an X-ray towards
g7, followed by Rd5.

29.Nd4

The computer says 29.Rg4 Ne6 30.Nd2 is better, but there is nothing wrong with applying the wise
advice “a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush.”

29...Qxc4 30.Nxc6 Qxc6

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Exercise: What did Nepo play here?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

31.Qd3!

Winning more space. The queen is now more active.

31...b5

Black decides to stop White’s idea of playing 32.Rc4.

32.axb5 axb5

Exercise: How did Nepo carry out a new advance?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

33.Bb4!

With the idea of exchanging the e7-knight to be able to penetrate Black’s position.

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 33...Qb7 34.Bxe7 Rxe7

Exercise: After the previous decision, how did Nepo continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

35.Rd4!

He carried on with his idea. The e5-pawn is the bait, but soon White will gain more.

35...Rxe5 36.Rd8

The rook is the first invader, the queen will join shortly.

36...Qc6 37.Qd7 Qc5

In case of 37...Qc3 White first stops ...Re1+ by playing 38.Qd2!, and White will inevitably end up
invading the Black camp with new forces after 38...Qxd2 39.R1xd2 or 38...Qa3 39.Qc1 Qe7 40.Rc8.
The Black passed pawns are not dangerous.
Something similar happens after 37...Qc2 38.Ra1 Qc5 39.Qd2.

177
Exercise: How did White continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

38.Qc8!

There is no good defense against 39.Rxf8+ Qxf8 40.Rd8.

38...Rxh5 39.Rxf8+ Qxf8 40.Rd8 Qxd8 41.Qxd8+ Kh7

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 Exercise: What is the most precise way to continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

42.Qd7!

“Classy,” as Giri said. While attacking the f7-pawn White avoids the planned 42...Rf5 followed by
...g6 and ...h5, trying to set up a fortress.

42...f6

“The connected passed pawns would have meant a lot, but not when you are supporting them with
just one rook against a mighty queen.” (Giri).

43.Qxc7

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 “Now Black has no stable outpost for his rook, which essentially dispels any doubt you may have
about whether this could be a fortress.” (Giri).

43...b4 44.Qc2+ Kh8 45.Qc4

First the lonely pawn is captured.

45...Re5 46.g3 Kh7 47.Kg2 b3 48.Qxb3 Kh8 49.Kh3

Now the king also enters the battle.

49...Rh5+ 50.Kg4 Rg5+ 51.Kh4 Re5 52.f4

It is important to take control of e5 and g5. Now the rook is less stable and will soon be forced to
turn back.

52...Ra5 53.Qc3 Rd5 54.Qb4

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 “This is a kind of zugzwang. Black resigned.
All because the d5–rook has no support. Imagine White’s f4 pawn on h2; then Black could play
...Re5, and that could be an entirely different story” (Giri).
Let’s look at this a little more. After 54...f5 White could play 55.Qe7 Kh7 56.Qe6 Ra5 and the king
invades the Black camp: 57.Kh5 Rc5 58.Qg6+ Kh8 59.Qd6 Rb5 60.Kg6, winning.
Let’s see if the rook tries to stop the White king by cutting it off: 54...Rf5 55.Qe7! (the rook will be
captured if it leaves the f5-square) 55...h5 56.Kh3!, and Black will end up in zugzwang worsening his
position, for example, 56...Kh7 57.Qe4 g6 58.Qe7+ Kg8 59.Kh4 Kh8 60.Qf7.
1–0
With this win, Nepo, with 4.5 points out of 6, was the new leader of the tournament, displacing Giri
who that day lost to Aronian. Giri was second with 4 points.
Some lessons from this game: *
1.) You should train to sense the critical moments of the game. (15...Qxd5? 15...Nfxd5! 17.Nc5!)
2.) Pay attention to “multipurpose moves.” (28.Re4!)
3.) Loose pieces are tactical weaknesses. (20.d4!)
4.) “Which piece should I exchange? Which one should I keep?” If you find the correct answers
you will probably find the correct plan. (33.Bb4!)
5.) Never underestimate your opponent’s defensive resources, even in difficult situations. (42.Qd7!)
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

Nepomniachtchi maintained his half-point advantage over Giri to the last round, but he needed a

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Lasker/Korchnoi defense to save his final game, while Giri, who was better, nearly winning, also
ended up with a draw.

Boris Gelfand
Ian Nepomniachtchi
Tal Memorial, Moscow (9), 06.10.2016

White to play

After a worse position from the opening, Nepo got outplayed but “as he was in excellent form he
managed to stay in the game,” according to Giri.

36.f5!

White’s pieces are far more active. The a6-pawn is weak and now also Black’s kingside.

36...Na7 37.Ne5?

A blunder. The a7–knight will not really be hanging, but 37.Re5! would have kept Black on the
verge of losing, for example 37...Qc6 38.Qe7 Qc7 39.Qxc7 Rxc7 40.f6 Rc8 41.g4 h6 (41...Nc6
42.Rc5 h6 43.h4 is also a “knightmare”, as the knight ending is near to lost, e.g., 43...Na7 44.Rxc8+
Nxc8 45.Kg3 Kf8 46.Kf4 Ke8 47.Ke5 Kd7 48.Kd5) 42.h4 Kf8 43.Re7 Nc6 44.Rb7.

37...Rxc5 38.Qxc5 gxf5!

And White’s advantage was reduced to nothing.

39.Nf3 Nc6 40.Qxf5 Qb8+ 41.Kh1 Qd6 42.Qg4+ Kf8 43.Ng5 h6 44.Ne4 Qd5 45.Qf4 Kg7

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46.Nd6 Qe6 47.Nf5+ Kh7 48.Qf2 Ne7

0.5–0.5

Game 12
Attacking on the “weak” side
This game has an unexpected end. As White had a passed d-pawn and Black had a pawn majority
on the kingside, it seemed that White had to accelerate his offensive, trying to get something on the
queenside while Black attempted to make progress on the opposite flank.
In fact, White didn’t make any significant advance on the queenside, while Black pushed forward
his kingside pawns, but the game didn’t finish as one might have expected from this scenario.
There were other factors in the position, so it was not just a race, as Nepo shows us.

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Boris Gelfand
Sicilian Defense [B92]
Zurich (4), 15.04.2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6

6.Be2

A normal move against the Najdorf. It was a formidable weapon in the hands of Anatoly Karpov,
until Garry Kasparov nearly forced him to find new paths and even to revert to 1.d4, as Anatoly
couldn’t get a promising position against Garry.

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 These days, and even more so in online tournaments, there is plenty of room for unusual variations.
There was a time when a move like 6.h3 looked odd, even though it was played by Fischer.
The practice of playing a number of “strange” variations is not surprising either these days, such as
6.Qd3, 6.Rg1, 6.a3 and 6.a4, all of which have even been tried by the World Champion Magnus
Carlsen, as well as 6.h4.
This is what Nepomniachtchi commented: “A few days earlier, in a blitz tournament, I tried 6.h4
against Boris, but for a classical game this move (even though a ‘new’ one) seems a bit too
eccentric.” Nepo won that game, by the way.

6...e5

Kasparov used to play 6...e6, transposing to a Scheveningen.

7.Nb3 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Qd3

Question: I guess this move also belongs to the new wave, right?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Yes, this is a relatively new idea. The classical move was 9.Be3, while more recently
9.Kh1 has been a more popular option, and we saw it in Game 6.
Another popular idea is, or was, 9.Re1, planning 10.Bf1, and with the e4-pawn defended, to play
Nd5. This is also one of the ideas of 9.Qd3 – to protect e4 and play Nd5 later.

9...Be6

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 10.Bd2

Question: Why not 10.Nd5?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Black cannot avoid this jump, so White makes a useful move waiting for Black’s reaction.
As Nepo commented, this move was introduced to grandmaster practice by two well-known Chinese
Grandmasters, Li Chao and Wang Yue.

10...Nbd7

This is one of the most natural replies, and the most popular, although Black has more options, such
as 10...Re8 and 10...Nc6, an idea combined with a future ...a5 to get the b4 square if White plays a4.
Grischuk has even played 10...a5 – against Nepo in fact.

11.Nd5 Bxd5 12.exd5

We have arrived at a typical formation. White has a pawn majority on the queenside and Black has
one on the kingside.

12...Nc5

Question: A radical and/or surprising move, isn’t it?

Show/Hide Solution

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 Answer: It is when you see it for the first time, yes. There are several options, one of which is
12...Ne8, preparing the advance ...f5. This allows 13.Na5 and it induced Black in a previous game,
Hou Yifan – Nepomniachtchi, Dortmund 2015, to play 12...a5.
Going back to 12...Nc5, Nepo commented that one of the ideas of this exchange is also to prevent
White from establishing his knight on a5.

13.Nxc5 dxc5 14.c4

Question: What can you tell me about this change of structure?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Black has allowed his opponent to get a protected passed pawn. This way he has stopped
most of White’s activity on the queenside. His bishop will be a good blockader on d6, and hopes to be
activated in the future if Black accomplishes his plan of playing ...f5, and, ideally, ...e4.
Nepo also gives us his point of view: “The engines are delighted with White’s position: a protected
passed pawn in the center and the two bishops into the bargain. In my view, it is indeed easier for
White to play, but I would not venture to call this a large advantage.”

14...Qc7

Alexey Kuzmin pointed out the interesting game Oleksienko – Amonatov, Voronezh 2010:
14...Bd6 15.Rae1 Ne8 16.Qh3 g6 17.Bc3 Ng7 18.Bd3 Re8 19.Qh6 Nh5 20.Qd2 f5 21.f3 Qc7 22.g3

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Re7 23.Re2 Rae8 24.Rfe1 Ng7

White is better, although the game finished in a draw after 52 moves. We will return to this diagram
later.
Now let’s go back to our game after 14...Qc7.

15.Rae1 Bd6 16.Qh3 Rfe8

16...e4 17.f4 sets Black an unpleasant choice: open lines for the White bishops and rooks by
capturing 17...exf3 or allow the White f-pawn to stay on f4 to be followed later by g4–g5 supported
by the f4 pawn.

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 Exercise: How to continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

17.Bc3

White places his bishops in the most active positions, aiming at the kingside and ready to become
active when Black advances his kingside pawns.

17...g6 18.Bd3 Nh5

The knight creates room for the f-pawn, and White’s next move is forced.

19.g3 Re7

Exercise: What did Nepo play here?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

20.Re2

A maneuver that it is familiar to us from the Oleksienko – Amonatov game we saw above. White

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begins to press the e5-pawn with three of his pieces.

20...Rf8 21.Rfe1 f5

Exercise (simple): And now what did Nepo play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

22.f3

Naturally, he prevented the advance ...e5–e4.

Question: I see Black is making progress and White is only defending and preventing the advance
of his opponent. Things don’t look bad for Black, right?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Let Nepo clarify this: “Visually, Black has made enormous progress, but this impression
is deceptive. The further advance of the e- and f-pawns is extremely difficult, and in time it will
become difficult to maintain the tension in the center.”

22...Nf6 23.Qh4 Nd7

Exercise: How did Nepo improve his position?

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 Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

24.Qg5

Now, before taking other action, it is useful to improve the position of the queen.
Nepo explained his decision as follows: “I did not see how to extract any benefit from the queen’s
position on the kingside, and it seemed logical to transfer it to its optimal square d2.”

24...Ref7 25.Qd2

We can compare this position to the final position we showed of the game Oleksienko – Amonatov.
It is very similar, and the assessment is also similar: White is better.

25...Qd8?!

Question: The queen goes to the kingside to get activity there. Why is the move dubious?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: The winner answers: “Whereas many of Black’s moves can be shuffled like cards in a
pack, I would draw attention to this one. Gelfand had in mind an active plan on the kingside, but it
was important to secure the situation on the queenside by advancing ...b5 and ...b4.”

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 It was essential to play 25...b5!. This very plan was used by Amonatov to save his game against
Oleksienko.
Exercise: What would you play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

26.Kh1

A prophylactic move, but made not only with defensive purposes: White is also preparing the
eventual undermining move g4. Its implementation would most likely increase the activity of both his
bishops, and possibly also open the g-file in his favor.

26...Re8

Exercise: What to play now?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

27.a4!

With the queen on d2 Black is deprived of the counter advance ...a6–a5, so White initiates a plan to

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disrupt the coordination of the Black pieces.

27...h5?

27...b6 would not stop 28.a5 but was still better.

The expansion on the kingside Black plays looks logical, but White will demonstrate it is a faulty
plan.

28.a5 Kh7

Exercise: How did White made a big jump ahead?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

29.Bc2!

The White bishop aims for a4, disturbing the coordination of the Black pieces.
This is the clear explanation Nepomniachtchi gave: “White has achieved an optimal set-up. I did
not even try to prevent the flank activity: any opening of the game is to my advantage. You don’t look
a gift horse in the mouth.”

29...b5

Black prevents the bishop from moving to a4, but now the Black pieces lose their compactness and

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coordination, as the winner pointed out.

30.axb6 Nxb6 31.Qd3 Qb8

Exercise: How did Nepo show the drawbacks of Black’s position?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

32.g4!

“After the weakening of the g6–point the light squared bishop has acquired enormous potential
energy, which is now transformed into kinetic energy.” (Nepomniachtchi).

32...Nd7 33.gxf5 gxf5

If 33...Rxf5 then 34.Rg2, and g6 is undefendable.

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 Exercise: How did White get an overwhelming advantage?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

34.f4!

The queen heads for h3, after which Black will be unable to protect his king.

34...e4 35.Qh3 Kh6 36.Rg2 Bxf4 37.Bd1

1–0
Some lessons from this game: *
1.) “How can I improve the position of my pieces?” This is another question which, posed at the
right moment, can give us clues to finding the best move. (24.Qg5! 27.a4! 29.Bc2!)
2.) It is important to figure out when we need to make moves to secure our position. (17.Bc3!
18.Bd3! 19.g3! 22.f3! 25...b5! 26.Kh1!)
3.) It is important to figure out when we need to make active/aggressive moves. (27.a4! 29.Bc2!
32.g4! 34.f4!)
4.) Remember “Pawns can’t move backwards!.” (27...h5?)
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

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 Show in Text Mode

Game 13
In the spirit of Mikhail Tal and Leonid Stein
When Nepomniachtchi was 14 years old he said that his favorite player was Mikhail Tal. We can’t
say that his style is very similar to the way Tal played, at least if we are talking about the Tal of the
1950s and 1960s, but regarding this game we wouldn’t be surprised if we were told that it was played
by Tal or even Leonid Stein, as we shall see.
The 11th World Team Championship in Khanty-Mansiysk, 2017, clashed with the Grand Chess
Tour, so Russia sent a “B” team, with Nepomniachtchi the only remaining member of the Baku
Olympiad 2016.
China was the top seed and won the gold, after defeating Russia in the key match 2.5 – 1.5.
Nepomniachtchi played very strongly, mostly on second board. He obtained 6 points out of 8 with a
2820 rating performance.

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Anton Korobov
Sicilian Defense [B94]
World Team Championship, Khanty-Mansiysk (3.2), 19.06.2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 Nbd7

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 7.Bc4

Question: These moves are not very common, right? Tell me something about this line.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: You are right. Although we will arrive at an old variation, this move order is not very
usual.
After 6...Nbd7, Nepo deploys Tal’s favorite move in this position. It is the most aggressive and
Misha won several beautiful games with it. In all, he played it 7 times, with 5 wins, a draw against
Petrosian, and only one loss, against his nemesis, Korchnoi.
Tal also faced it with Black (+2 –2 =2).
After the “normal” move 7.f4 Black may reply 7...Qc7, retaining the option of going for the usual
... e7–e6 lines, but also keeping the option of ...e7–e5, and, sometimes, ...g6.
7.Qe2 has been another popular line.

7...Qa5

7...Qb6 usually induces White to retreat the bishop to b3. This is what Nepo replied in the three
games he has in Mega Database 2021, from 2011 to 2019.
Another idea is 8.0-0, sacrificing the b2-pawn.

8.Qd2 e6 9.Bb3

It is rather surprising that Tal played 9.0-0 much more often than 9.0-0-0.
On one of those occasions, after 9.0-0-0 b5 he played 10.Bxe6 and eventually won, although the
position after 10...fxe6 11.Nxe6 b4 12.Nd5 Kf7 was about equal, Tal – Kolarov, Reykjavik 1957.
He played the position after 9.0-0-0 b5 again, but with the Black pieces, in Stein – Tal, Moscow
1961. Instead of sacrificing the bishop White played 10.Bb3!, a continuation Tal himself had
suggested in an article, but Tal forgot about his own recommendation (see Karolyi in Mikhail Tal’s
Best Games 2) and he lost a brilliant game.
Let’s take a look at it, without notes, as it has a connection with our game: 10...Bb7 11.Rhe1 Nc5
12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Qf4 Be7 14.Qg4 0-0-0

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 15.Bd5 b4 16.Bxb7+ Kxb7 17.Nd5 exd5 18.exd5 Rd7 19.Nc6 Qxa2 20.Qxb4+ Kc7 21.Nxe7 Rb8
22.Qa3 Qc4 23.Nc6 Rb3 24.Qa5+ Rb6 25.Kb1 Na4 26.Rd4 Nxb2 27.Kc1 Qc5 28.Re3 Kb7 29.Rc3
Rb5 30.Qa3 Qxa3 31.Rxa3 Rxd5 32.Na5+ 1–0.
Let’s return to our game.

9...Be7

On almost every move Black has the chance to question the g5-bishop with ...h6, considering that
normally to exchange the bishop doesn’t favor White.
In this position, however, 9...h6 turns out to be too time consuming. After 10.Bxf6! Nxf6 11.0-0-0

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Be7 12.f4 Nd7 13.Kb1 Nc5 14.g4 Bd7 15.h4, White was too fast, Amonatov – Salem, Tromso 2014.

10.0-0-0 h6

Black decides to question the bishop.

There are at least two other moves to consider. The simple 10...0-0 is one of them, although it is not
clear that Black needs to determine the destiny of his king yet. It is better to retain the chance to castle
long if there is no immediate threat. White could reply 11.Kb1, threatening 12.Nd5, 11...Qc7 and
now White must decide between 12.f4, 12.Rhe1 or the more radical 12.Bxe6 fxe6 13.Nxe6 Qc4
14.Nxf8 Bxf8 15.Rhe1 or 15.f3, and White’s chances seems slightly better in these lines.
The move 10...Nc5, neutralizing the b3-bishop, must also be considered. A standard plan is 11.f3
Bd7 12.Kb1 Qc7 13.g4.
The danger of keeping the king in the center may be seen after 11.Rhe1 (instead of 11.f3) 11...h6?
12.Bxf6 Bxf6, in Rublevsky – Efimenko, Russia 2008. White played 13.Nf5! (then a novelty
compared with the less dangerous 13.f4), the game continued 13...0-0 14.Nxd6 Rd8 15.f4 Nxb3+
16.cxb3 Be7 17.e5, and White is better.
Accepting the offered knight is no better. Let’s see an example given by Rublevsky: 13...Nxb3+
14.cxb3 exf5 15.exf5+ Kf8 16.Qxd6+ Kg8 17.Re8+ Kh7 18.Rxh8+ Kxh8 19.Rd5 Bxc3 (or 19...b5
20.b4, winning) 20.Qf8+ Kh7 21.Rxa5 Bxa5 22.f6 gxf6 23.Qxf7+ Kh8 24.Qxf6+ Kh7 25.Qf7+ Kh8
26.Qh5, winning.

Exercise: What would you do with the attacked bishop?

Show/Hide Solution

198
 Answer:

11.Be3

It might seem that White can get a favorable version of Amonatov – Salem above, but Black
doesn’t have to take back with the knight. 11.Bxf6 can now be answered by 11...Bxf6!, then after
12.f4 Nc5 13.Kb1 Bd7 the arrangement of the Black pieces is better than in the Amonatov game and
Black has a decent position.

11...Nc5

As we saw, Black’s plan is to play ...Qc7, ...b5, ...b4 and, after expulsing the c3–knight, perhaps
...d5 preceded by...Nxb3.
On the other hand, if 11...Ng4 12.f4 Nc5 13.Kb1 Nxe3 14.Qxe3 Bd7, White can continue with
15.g4, with a similar version of the line we saw after 11.Bxf6. Maybe White is slightly ahead in his
offensive, but the difference is nothing serious.
Another possibility is 15.Rhf1 with the idea of f5, followed by Qh3 or Qg3, depending on what
Black does.

12.Kb1

The e4-pawn is not under attack (...Nxe4 loses a piece), so White plays a useful prophylactic move.
The alternative was 12.f3.

12...Bd7 13.f3

White prepares his expansion on the kingside, and Black on the opposite wing, but we must not

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forget that the Black king is still in the center, which forces him to calculate the consequences of
opening the position.

13...Qc7 14.g4 b5

15.a3

Question: Is this move necessary? Isn’t it better to play 15.h4 immediately?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: At the board it was a difficult choice, because although it turns out that 15.h4 is a good
alternative it needs precise calculation, as we will see.
The engines prefer the move chosen by Nepo anyway, even though Black can open the b-file more
easily than in positions where Black has played something like ...Bb7.
Let’s take a look at the more straightforward 15.h4: after 15...b4 16.Nce2 a5 17.g5 Nh5 18.gxh6 g6
we have a maneuver we should take into consideration in our game, 19.Bg5! f6 20.Be3

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 White has given up a tempo (or two) to weaken the Black pawn structure. Normally that wouldn’t
be justified, because he is also offering a piece sacrifice, but here White has a pawn on h6, the Black
king is in the center, and the h5-knight really is dim on the rim.
Black can capture material but at a heavy price. Let’s continue this line: 20...e5 21.Bd5 (21.Bc4 is
also strong) 21...exd4 22.Nxd4 0-0-0, and White has at least two good continuations. One of them is
23.Rhg1, gaining a third pawn for the piece, with the Black position too weak, as 23...Be8 is met by
24.c3!, opening the queenside. Black’s pieces are too uncoordinated to defend his position.
23.Bf7 instead of 23.Rhg1 is also strong, because defending the g-pawn with 23...Be8 24.Bxe8
Rdxe8 25.Rhg1 Reg8 leaves the light squares too weak after 26.Qe2, with White’s queen heading for
b5 or c4. White dominates the whole board.
Continuing the offensive with 20...a4 (instead of 20...e5) is not acceptable either. After 21.Bc4
Nxe4 22.Qd3! d5 23.Bb5 Black’s position is collapsing.
So after 15.h4 b4 16.Nce2 a5 17.g5 Nh5 18.gxh6 Black should probably play 18...Nxb3 19.cxb3
gxh6, though White’s chances are preferable. Not so much due to the weak h6-pawn, but because of
the Black king asking for trouble.

15...Qb7

Black defends b5 to advance the pawns; the logical alternative is 15...Rb8, then after 16.h4 a5 17.g5
Nh5 18.gxh6 g6 19.Bg5 b4 20.axb4 axb4 21.Na2 the opening of the a-file is not immediately useful
for Black, so he prefers to keep the rook on a8.
Anyway, that continuation is no worse for Black than the course of the actual game. After 21.Na2
Black can answer 21...f6 22.Be3 0-0 and his king would be relatively safe on h7, and losing the b-
pawn wouldn’t be so bad, as more lines are opened against the White king.

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 Anyway, again, at the board, it was hard to find the best continuation.

16.h4 a5 17.g5 Nh5

Of course, 17...Ng8 is not appealing. White is too ahead in development, which allows an unusual
way to stop the Black attack and get an advantage, opening lines against the weaker side.
The engines suggest 18.a4!. Then after 18...bxa4 19.Bc4! a3 20.Ndb5! White benefits from the
opening of lines while the b5–square is visibly weak, so White is better.

Exercise (difficult): What would you play in this complicated position? (Hint: remember Stein).

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

18.gxh6

White missed the fantastic option 18.Bd5!!. After 18...exd5 19.Nxd5 White has only a pawn for the
piece and only one immediate threat (20.Nxe7), but Black has absolutely no coordination. The main
reason is the Black king in the center but we should add two more reasons: the stranded knight on h5,
and the coming Nf5, which is very strong. Black has a difficult position after 19...Be6 20.Nxe7 Qxe7
21.gxh6 g6 22.Rhg1, and if 22...0-0, then 23.Nf5! follows.
If Black continues his attack with 19...b4, his king is even worse after 20.Nxe7 bxa3 21.b3! Nxb3
(21...Kxe7 loses to 22.Nf5+ Bxf5 23.Qxd6+ Ke8 24.exf5) 22.cxb3 Kxe7 23.gxh6 when Black does
not even have an extra piece for his weakened position.

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 These are only part of the complications White should look at before embarking on a piece
sacrifice.

18...g6

Exercise: What would you play after 18...b4 19.hxg7 Nxg7?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: White should avoid opening the a-file with 20.axb4? axb4 followed by 21...Qa6, as well
as the passive 20.Nce2? bxa3. White instead has our already familiar 20.Bd5!, then after 20...exd5
21.Nxd5 bxa3 simply 22.b3 and after 22...Be6 23.Nxe7 Qxe7 the situation of the Black king is
terrible: White plays 24.h5, planning h6, and saddling Black with a new headache, for if 24...Nxh5
then 25.Nb5, or 24...Rxh5 25.Rxh5 Nxh5 26.Rh1 with a crushing position for White in both cases.
White can also start with 19.Bd5!

19.Bg5?

Question: Why is this bad? It looks like an almost standard continuation to me.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Because Black can get a good position, it is a matter of tactics.

White again had the same sacrifice 19.Bd5!, then after 19...exd5 20.Nxd5 the situation is similar to

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what we have seen. Black will have a hard time defending so many weak squares, with his king
lacking a safe place.

19...f6!

If 19...Bf8? White has another good idea also familiar to us: 20.a4! bxa4 21.Bc4, followed by
22.Ndb5.

20.Be3 b4 21.axb4 axb4 22.Na2

22...d5?

The Ukrainian player spent more than half an hour on this move, which was rather wasteful.
Black had a logical continuation, to seek immediate counterplay through the opened a-file with
22...Qa6 and threatening ...Nxb3. But logical as it is, it was not easy to calculate at the board.
After 23.Qxb4 Nxb3 24.Qxb3 the natural 24...Kf7? is not the best, as after 25.c3 Black can’t play
25...d5 26.exd5 Ba4 (26...Rhb8 27.dxe6+, gaining d5 for the queen, just wins for White) 27.Nb4
Bxb3 28.Nxa6 Bxd1 29.dxe6+ Kf8 and he is not winning a rook, so there would follow 30.Nc7 Rc8
(or 30...Ra7 31.Ncb5) 31.Nd5! Ba4 32.Nb6, when Black is only an exchange up for too many pawns.
Instead of 24...Kf7 Black has the amazing reply 24...0-0!, then after 25.c3 now 25...d5! is fine, let’s
see an example: 26.Nb4 (26.exd5? Ba4 loses) 26...Bxb4 27.cxb4 Rfc8 28.Qa3 Qb7 is better for
Black.
White should play 25.Nxe6 (instead of 25.c3), then even after the best line for both sides indicated
by the computer, 25...Rfb8 26.Nc7+ Rxb3 27.Nxa6 Rxe3 28.Nc7 Rxa2 29.Nd5 Ra7 30.Nxe3 Nf4, it
is difficult to say who is better.

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 It was too difficult to calculate all these lines at the board.
Exercise: Now White takes the initiative with an iron hand, what did he play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

23.Qg2!

Picking the fruit from provoking 19...f6, this move forces a rapid deterioration of Black’s
coordination.

23...Kf7

The king is forced to occupy f7 where it is exposed to the X-ray of the b3-bishop.

24.Rhg1 Rag8

Now Korobov’s active a-rook must go on the defensive, because 24...Rhg8 25.h7 Rg7 is not
playable due to the same reason as in the game, as we shall see.

Exercise: White has a great advantage. What would you play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

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 25.Nxe6!

Not the first option of the engines, but at the board it was a demolition job.
Black is so passive that White’s superiority could also be demonstrated by 25.exd5 exd5 followed
by the calm activation of the only passive piece with 26.Nc1 and Black, who is still a pawn down, has
no counterplay.
Going back, 24...Rhg8 25.h7 Rg7 was also punished by 26.Nxe6! Nxe6 (or 26...Bxe6 27.exd5)
27.Rxd5, winning.

25...Nxe6?!

Not the best defense. Black should play 25...Nxb3, then after 26.Ng7 g5 27.hxg5 fxg5 28.cxb3
White is better, but Black can still fight.

26.exd5 Nef4

Now White recovers the piece, but there was no hope either after 26...Nc5 27.Bxc5 Bxc5 28.d6+
Kf8 29.Bxg8 Bxg1 (or 29...Rxg8 30.h7) 30.Bb3, threatening both the bishop and 31.Qxg6.

27.d6+ Be6 28.Bxe6+ Nxe6 29.dxe7 Qxe7

Exercise: White has several good moves, what do you think Nepo played?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

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 30.Nxb4!

The most elegant. The knight is sacrificed to invade Black’s camp.

30...Qxb4 31.Rd7+

White attacks with all his pieces and there is no defense.

31...Ke8 32.Rgd1 Nf8 33.Qe2

Preparing a lethal discovered check; 33.Ra7 was also enough.

33...Ng3 34.Bc5+

It is mate on the next move.

1–0
Some lessons from this game: *
1.) It helps to be familiar with the typical maneuvers in the positions you are playing. (18.Bd5!
19.Bd5!)
2.) A good idea needs tactical back-up. (19.Bg5?)
3.) A large dose of both imagination and precise analysis is indispensable for conducting a
successful attack or counterattack. (18.Bd5! 19.Bd5! 22...Qa6! 24...0-0! (in the variation after
Black’s 22nd move))
4.) “The side that has the advantage is obliged to attack.” (23.Qg2!)
5.) Chess is a beautiful but difficult game!
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

Game 14
Excellent preparation
Russia was the top-seeded country in the European Team Championship of 2017, and led the
tournament until the penultimate round. However, they finished second after being beaten by
Azerbaijan, who caught them up and came first by a better tie-break.
Nepomniachtchi didn’t play well this time, which was unusual for him in team competitions, but in
our chosen game he left an example of his remarkable opening preparation, confidently engaging in
one of his opponent’s pet lines.

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Viktor Laznicka

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 Caro-Kann Defense [B12]
European Team Championship, Hersonissos (3.2), 30.10.2017

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 c5

6.Be3

Question: Why not castle first? I guess there are subtleties in the move order, what can you tell me
about this choice of move?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: In Nepomniachtchi – Ivanchuk, 2018 (rapid), White played the normal move 6.0-0, which
is possible, of course, but it allowed the line 6...Nc6 7.Be3 cxd4 8.Nxd4 and now 8...Nxd4 (8...Nge7
would transpose back to our game) 9.Qxd4 Ne7 10.Bb5+ Nc6 11.Qa4 Qc8 12.Nd2 a6, and Black
was fine.

6...cxd4 7.Nxd4 Ne7

Laznicka had played this line many times, even this precise position, but this was the last time he
went for it (as of May 2021). He later returned to the alternative 5...Nd7.

8.0-0 Nbc6 9.Bb5

This is the more ambitious move. Practice shows that both 9.Nf3 and 9.c4 are less dangerous.

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 9...a6 10.Bxc6+ bxc6

Exercise: What is White’s idea?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

11.c4

White gives up the bishop pair to create tension around Black’s pawn formation, before Black
completes his development.

11...Qd7 12.Nc3

12...dxc4

Question: Why is Black voluntarily spoiling his pawn formation?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Not voluntarily in fact. White was threatening 13.Na4, and Black would be in trouble.

13.Na4 Nd5

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 This was the idea. 13...Bd3? instead is weak, as it doesn’t keep the pawn. After 14.Nb6 Qb7
15.Nxa8 Bxf1 16.Qxf1 Qxa8 17.Qxc4 White recovers the pawn, and the Black king will suffer.

14.Nxf5 exf5

15.Rc1

We are still in theory. White has several options, but at this moment (May 2021) the chosen move,
15.Rc1, seems the most promising continuation, although there is nothing significant yet.
White has nothing after 15.Bc5 Bxc5 16.Nxc5 Qe7 17.Qd4 0-0, while 15.Qc2 Nxe3 16.fxe3 Qd3
doesn’t look dangerous for Black either.
With the text move White allows the exchange of his e3 bishop, but he aspires to get enough for it
due to the opening of the f-file. In an important game, Gelfand – Karpov, Sanghi Nagar, Candidates
match 1995, White tried to keep his bishop with 15.Bd4. The game continued 15...Rd8 16.Qf3
(planning 17.Nc5 or 17.Rfd1, if 16.Nc5 Black has 16...Bxc5 17.Bxc5 Nf4) 16...c5! 17.Nxc5 Qb5
18.a4 Qb4 19.e6! (19.Nxa6 Qa5 is a piece sacrifice where Black is no worse) 19...Bxc5 20.Bxg7 Rg8
21.exf7+ Kxf7 22.Bc3 Nxc3 23.Qxf5+ Kg7 24.Qg5+ Kf7 (24...Kh8? 25.Qf6+, winning) 25.Qf5+
Kg7 26.Qg5+ 0.5–0.5.

15...c3!

Trying to disturb the coordination of the White pieces. In case of 15...Be7?! White has 16.Bc5 and
16.Bd4, both in better versions than on the previous move. White will continue with 17.Rxc4;
besides, the immediate 16.Rxc4 is also interesting.
15...Nxe3?! is also inadequate. After 16.Qxd7+ Kxd7 17.fxe3 Ke6 (17...g6? 18.Nb6+) 18.Rxc4,

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the Black king is in an unfavorable position.

16.Qc2

Maintaining the tension. In Caruana – Navara, Baku 2016, Black obtained a reasonable position
after 16.Nxc3 Nxe3 17.fxe3 g6 18.Qf3 Bh6 19.Na4 0-0 20.Nb6 Qa7 21.Rxc6 Rae8, with enough
counterplay.

16...Be7

Black spent 21 minutes before moving. This was his first real think in the game, which suggests
that he was surprised by 16.Qc2.
The alternative was 16...cxb2 17.Qxb2, which is the critical continuation but not easy to play at the
board against an opponent who plays all his moves quickly.
Here is an example given by L’Ami in New In Chess: 17...f4 18.Nc5 Bxc5 19.Bxc5 f3 20.Rc4!,
stopping Black’s counterplay with ...Qg4, or ...Nf4, and leaving the Black king in the center.
Instead of the ambitious 17...f4 Black should probably play 17...Be7, then 18.e6 may look scary,
but after 18...fxe6 19.Qxg7 Bf6 20.Qg3 Qg7 Black seems to be fine.

17.Nxc3

Nepo recovers his pawn keeping the queens on board, which seems a promising outcome from the
opening.

17...Nxe3

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 Black has decent compensation, damaging White’s pawn structure.
After 17...0-0? 18.Nxd5 cxd5 19.Qc6 Black is the only side with many weaknesses.

18.fxe3 Bg5

Black chases the c1-rook from the c-file before defending his f-pawn. After 18...g6 White has
19.Na4 Bg5 20.Qc5 followed by 21.Rfd1 and the initiative.

19.Rce1 g6

Now it was time for Nepo to think for the first time in the game.
Exercise: What did Nepo play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

20.g4!

Giving Black no time to get his king to safety.

20...fxg4?

A poor reaction, maybe too optimistic.

Black had to get his king to safety at once. After 20...0-0! 21.gxf5 Qe7! Black seems to have a
reasonable position, e.g. 22.Ne4 Bh4 23.Re2 Qxe5 24.Qxc6 Rac8 25.Qa4 a5. The weakened White

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king and the open position give enough compensation for the pawn. Black is also fine after 22.Qe4
Rae8 23.Qg4 Bh6 24.e6 Bg7, and his bishop is now strong.
Exercise (simple): How did Nepo continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

21.Ne4

This is the strong square gained for the pawn offered.

21...Be7

Exercise (simple): Nepo played another obvious preparatory move. Which one?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

22.Rd1

Activating his rook with tempo.

22...Qc8

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 Exercise: This is the critical position of the game. What is the best continuation?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

23.e6

Objectively, this is not the best move, but it was a winning decision.
23.Nc5! was much stronger, then 23...Bxc5 24.Qxc5 is hopeless due to the Black king’s position,
while after 23...0-0 24.Nd7 Rd8 25.e6! Black’s position is falling apart. After 25...fxe6 26.Qe4,
25...f6 26.Qc3 or 25...f5 26.e4 Black is simply lost.
Exercise: How would you defend Black’s position?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

23...fxe6?

Black was in serious time pressure and didn’t offer resistance.

It was necessary to play 23...Qxe6!, which looks sad too. After 24.Nd6+ Bxd6 25.Qxc6+ Ke7
26.Qb7+ Black must reply accurately. 26...Qd7? loses to 27.Rxf7+, but a better try is 26...Kf8
27.Qxa8+ Kg7 28.Qd5 Qxd5 29.Rxd5 Be7, where White is slightly better although, according to

214
L’Ami, “it leads to an endgame in which Black may be perfectly OK.”
Anyway, the best defense seems to be 26...Bc7!. After 27.Qxc7+ Kf8 28.Rxf7+ (28.Rd7 Qxe3+ is
a draw by perpetual check) 28...Qxf7 29.Rf1 Qxf1+ 30.Kxf1 the Black pieces seem uncoordinated,
but after 30...h5!, planning 31...Kg8 and ...Rh7, White can’t make use of the two tempi at his disposal
to create serious threats.

Exercise (simple): What was wrong with 23...fxe6?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

24.Qc3!

The infiltration of the queen is unavoidable and the Black king will be defenseless.

24...Rf8 25.Rxf8+ Bxf8 26.Qh8

1–0
Some lessons from this game: *
1.) Nepomniachtchi is always well prepared in the openings!
2.) Even strong players make mistakes, so it is important to put pressure on the opponent. (16.Qc2!
20.g4!)
3.) Don’t panic! Any position offers chances to resist, as Lasker showed so many times. (20...0-0!
23...Qxe6!)

215
 4.) It is not always possible to react quickly and accurately to difficult problems at the board, so...
avoid time trouble!
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

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 Show in Text Mode

Game 15
2909 rating performance, but second place!
Nepomniachtchi finished 2017 at the London Chess Classic with the best result of his career up to
then. He achieved a 2909 performance, beating World Champion Magnus Carlsen again. Amazingly,
this was enough only for second place. He shared equal points in the tournament with Fabiano
Caruana (a 2901 rating performance), but Caruana won the blitz tie-break (after their rapid battle
finished 1–1).
Much has been talked about AlphaZero’s h4 idea, but there is an even more shocking advance
which has been played quite a bit in recent years. Nepo likes it too, and tried it in the following game
in good practical circumstances.

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Viswanathan Anand
English Opening [A17]
London (7), 09.12.2017

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6

Nepomniachtchi commented, that, as a rule Vishy used to prefer the move 2...e5, but he was not
surprised by this choice because in the previous round Karjakin had comfortably equalized against
Anand in one of the sharp variations after 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6. “I could well imagine that my opponent
approved of the way to solve the opening problems demonstrated by Karjakin and that he would now
gladly repeat it with Black.”

3.Nf3

But Nepo didn’t want to repeat the line from Anand – Karjakin, which went 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6
dxc3 6.bxc3 Qxf6.

3...d5 4.e3

White doesn’t want to play the natural d4 yet either, leaving some options open.

4...a6!?

“An ambitious plan. One more frequently sees 4...c5 or 4...Be7.” (Nepomniachtchi).

5.b3

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 This is the reason why Nepo didn’t go for d4 yet, because, as he said, “with the pawn still on d2 the
dark-squared bishop will look very good on the long diagonal”; and besides, now after ...dxc4 White
is not forced to retake with the bishop on c4, allowing ...b5, and instead he would play bxc4.

5...Bd6

Black has many options. Nepo preferred 5...c5 6.Bb2 Nc6, but he admitted that “in any case,
Black’s decision is consistent.”

6.Bb2 0-0

7.g4

Question: Wow! Why did White choose this move?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: This is what Nepomniachtchi explained: “White reveals his aggressive plan! I made this
move which I had already planned rather quickly. Even in positions with the Black pawn on c6 the
thrust g2–g4–g5 often proves itself to be justified – all the more so for the present position in which
the d5–pawn will be hanging.” (In other words, this action does not involve any loss of material for
White.)
Nepomniachtchi was referring to the line (to the line)1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.e3 Nf6 5.Nf3 Nbd7
6.Qc2 Bd6 7.g4.
In an interview for the Russian Chess.com YouTube channel, Nepomniachtchi gave another reason

218
for playing 7.g4. He praised Anand’s intuition and was looking for a sharp position: “It’s hard to play
Vishy in normal positions because he plays automatic moves very well, it’s hard to beat him there.”

7...Nxg4

A good move and probably the best in the practical sense. Both 7...Nc6 8.g5 Ne4 9.Rg1 and
7...dxc4 8.g5 Nfd7 9.Ne4 followed by Rg1 lead to the type of position that White was looking for,
where he has the initiative.

8.Rg1 f5

The alternative was 8...Nf6 9.cxd5 e5; in 2017 Nepo mentioned the complex line 10.Qc2 Bg4
11.Ng5 Bh5 12.Bd3, where “a thorough analysis of this position can take several days,” but in 2021
the engines prefer a different idea, to play 10.Ng5! immediately followed by Qf3, which looks more
promising.

9.cxd5 e5

Question: So, what is the initial evaluation of the sharp 7.g4?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Objectively it is about equal, and both sides were satisfied. Nepo because he reached a
complex and unusual type of position, while for his part Anand commented after the game: “I
basically felt I was doing fine out of the opening. It’s not like I prepared for 7.g4 but I liked my
position after ...f5 and ...e5.”

10.h3 Nf6

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 Exercise: What do you think White played here?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

11.Ng5

He tries to exploit the weakening of the e6–square.

11...Qe7 12.Qf3

Nepo mentioned the alternative move order 12.Ne6 Bxe6 13.dxe6 Nc6 14.Qf3, threatening to take
on f5. So, unlike in the game, in this case the option ...e5–e4 (see the annotation to the next move)
would not be available for Black.
Question: Do you need to be a top player to discover this at the board?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: I think so, but, anyway, in this particular position this level of detail can be figured out
only after the game when you analyze, because at the board there is simply no time to look at all the
possibilities, which appear similar on every move.
Long reflections are made only in critical positions, where the master senses that he needs to spend
a lot of time.

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 12...Kh8

Vishy didn’t accept the provocative invitation to play ...e4. After 12...e4 13.Qg2 Nbd7 14.0-0-0
followed by 15.d3, although unclear, this is the type of position that White was aiming for when he
chose 7.g4.

13.Ne6

“After ...Kh8 I just blundered like a complete moron and went Ne6,” said Nepomniachtchi after the
game.
Question: Why was he so hard on himself?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: It’s an exaggeration, as this is the move the engines prefer in 2021.
His remark was provoked by his self-exacting stance, because he committed a mistake in his
calculations. That said, the mistake was repairable.

13...Bxe6

Black can’t take advantage of the pinned knight after 13...Rg8, which is hard to believe that
anybody would play according to Nepomniachtchi. He showed the following line as the main one:
14.Qxf5 c6 15.f4 cxd5 16.fxe5 Bxe5 17.Qxe5 Bxe6 18.Ne2 Nc6 19.Qg5, with a small advantage, as
“the Bb2 is really scowling at the opposing kingside.”
In the event of 13...Rf7 14.Qxf5 Nxd5 15.Nxd5 Qxe6 16.Qxe6 Bxe6 17.Bc4 “only the hard-to-find
move 17...Ra7 can allow Black to fight on,” as White threatened 18.Nxc7. Now, White can play
18.Nb6 Bxc4 19.Nxc4 with a favorable position, or retain the tension and stop ...b5 with 18.a4
followed by a5 and then decide how to continue: h4, Ke2 or maybe Nb6.

14.dxe6 Qxe6

In case of 14...Nc6 15.Qxf5, “thanks to his bishop pair White has a comfortable advantage.”
(Nepomniachtchi).

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 Exercise: What would you play here?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

15.Qxb7

It’s a natural move, but not Nepo’s initial idea. He had planned 15.Bc4, “forcing” 15...Qc8, when
16.Qg2 was his intention, but then he noticed that Black could play 15...Qd7, and 16.Qxb7? Nc6
loses.
This miscalculation is why Nepo was so annoyed with himself, even after winning the game.

15...Nbd7 16.Bc4?!

Question: Why is a developing move winning a tempo dubious?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: This active move is not particularly effective, because the bishop on c4 will soon have to
leave that square again, whilst the e7–square is optimally suited to the Black queen, as this way the
g7-pawn is overprotected.
It looks like Nepo was badly influenced by his mistake in the calculation, although it was not
reflected on the board. But “chess is a state of mind,” and without feeling disappointed Nepo would

222
probably not have played this inaccurate move.
After the game, Ian suggested 16.Qg2, while in his comments for New In Chess he said that 16.0-0-
0 “would perhaps be somewhat too optimistic.” The game could continue 16...Qe7 17.Kb1 Ba3
18.Ba1 Nb6, with counterplay.
He also mentioned “the cold-blooded 16.Bxa6,” which is very difficult to risk at the board, because
there are too many complications. Let’s just look at the main line: 16...e4 17.Bc4 and now the best
move seems to be 17...Qe5!. After 18.f4!, allowing the queen to return, 18...exf3 19.Qxf3 Ba3
20.Bxa3 Rxa3 21.Qg3 Ne4! Black is a pawn down but he is no worse, as White has too many
weaknesses.

16...Qe7 17.Qg2 Nb6

Showing the drawback of 16.Bc4.

18.Be2 a5

Exercise: How did Nepo continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

19.Bb5!

“At last this bishop finds a place from where to come alive,” said Nepo. White must regroup and

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think about defense before taking further action.
It is not advisable to try to play actively yet with 19.Qg5?!, as after 19...a4! White has several
options but Black has a good game, e.g., 20.Qxf5?! a3 21.Bc1 e4, and White has no coordination
while the position of his king in the center is relevant. Or 20.bxa4 Nxa4 21.Nxa4 Rxa4, with active
play.

19...Rad8

Nepomniachtchi was satisfied with his position, because although the Black pieces are well placed,
White had the advantage of the bishop pair and the slightly better pawn structure. This allowed him to
remain optimistic.
Anand now got critical at his own play. After the game he said, “with hindsight this move turns out
not to be too great. I think I should play 19...e4 and 20...Be5.”
Later we will return to this plan.

20.Qg5 g6

This move weakens the long diagonal, but Nepo thought it was “the safest” move, and it is the
move the engines like in May 2021.
The alternative 20...f4 led to a more complex position. Nepo gave as an example the line 21.0-0-0
h6 22.Qg6 Ba3 23.Bxa3 Qxa3+ 24.Kb1 Qe7, where chances are about equal.
Instead of castling long, a different plan 21.exf4 exf4+ 22.Kf1 followed by Re1 deserves
consideration.

21.Qh6 Ng8 22.Qg5 Nf6

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 Question: You frequently recommend asking oneself “Which piece should I exchange?” Here
Black avoided exchanging queens, was he right?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Nepomniachtchi thought that Anand took the correct decision. It was better to keep the
queens on the board, otherwise “White could have concentrated on attacking the isolated queenside
Black pawns without having to fear any counterplay.”
Anand didn’t question this evaluation, although he thought Black would be able to hold that
position.

23.Rd1

“I had a chance to repeat, but I was thinking it would be cowardice and decided to play on.
Normally when you decline a repetition you lose but here it paid off,” said Nepomniachtchi after the
game.
White has freed up the a1–square for his bishop – in the hope of activating it later. In this case,
23.0-0-0 would be a poor move, as after 23...Ba3 or first 23...c6 White has no activity and Black is
better.

23...e4?!

Vishy persists with the idea he mentioned before, exchanging the dark-squared bishops to secure
his king.
All ideas, even good ones, need a tactical basis, and in this case he overlooked a critical point, as
we will see.
“After 23...Qe6 or 23...Bb4 the position would remain dynamically balanced.” (Nepomniachtchi).

24.Qh6 Rg8

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 Exercise: How did Nepo continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

25.Ne2!

Showing that as a result of 23...e4 the Nc3 gets a strong outpost. Moreover, there is a tactical
reason to clarify the situation.

25...Be5 26.Bxe5 Qxe5 27.Nf4!

It seems that Anand thought White had to do something with his attacked bishop. After 27.a4 Rd6,
planning 28...c6, the bishop is a tactical weakness and Black would be better. This hole in his
calculation affected him severely.
For his part, Nepomniachtchi had the opposite feelings. He said “This is the position I was aiming
for when I played 23.Rd1.”

27...g5!?

White looked like he was better after 27...Qxb5 28.Nxg6+ Rxg6 29.Rxg6 Rg8 30.Rxg8+ Nxg8
31.Qe6, but actually after 31...Qc5! 32.f3 exf3 33.Kf2 f4! Black is not much worse.
Anyway, what Anand played was also decent. He got counterplay through the g-file, but... “chess is
a state of mind.”

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 Anand was already feeling too pessimistic. After the game he said: “I was running into this thing
that the position turned out to be consistently worse than I thought it was.”

28.Rxg5 Rxg5 29.Qxg5 Rg8 30.Qh6

30...Rg7?

“A bit sad but I realized I don’t have a move here.” (Anand). A shocking evaluation and, as a result,
a strange move.
Again, “chess is a state of mind.”
Nepomniachtchi thought (and it seems objectively true) “that Black should have acted in a more
enterprising fashion.”
After 30...Rg1+! 31.Bf1 (forced) 31...Nbd7 32.Ne2 Rg6 33.Qh4 Qd6, the White pieces are passive
and “the activity of the Black pieces should be sufficient for equality,” as Nepo said. He provided
several examples, but the correctness of his evaluation seems pretty clear.
Exercise: How to improve White’s coordination?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

31.Bc4!

Now in the event of ...Rg1+ the White king can move to e2, and White remains with his pieces in

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good positions and a pawn up.

31...Nxc4

“The exchange of all the minor pieces by means of 31...Nfd5 32.Ke2 Nxc4 33.bxc4 Nxf4+
34.Qxf4 Qc5 35.d3 could not solve Black’s problems either,” said Nepo. White’s king is safe in the
center while the Black king is weak, and White also has a material advantage.

32.bxc4 Qb2 33.Ke2 a4

34.Ne6

“The hasty 34.Rb1? would throw away all the advantage,” as Nepo said. After 34...Qxb1 35.Qxf6,
threatening 35...-- 36.Qf8+ Rg8 37.Ng6+! hxg6 38.Qh6#, Black has the saving move 35...h6!. The
knight is tied to defending d3, and after 36.Qf8+ Kh7 37.Qxf5+ Kg8 Black is no worse.

34...Rf7 35.Nf4

After the game Nepomniachtchi said that he didn’t play 35.Nd8 Rg7 36.Rg1 (after 36...Rxg1? there
is mate in two moves with 37.Qf8+ and Nf7) as at the last moment he discovered the reply 36...Ng4!
37.hxg4 Qc2, “and the struggle continues.”
Later he found that White also had a big advantage in this case by playing 38.f4 Qd3+ (or
38...exf3+ 39.Kxf3 fxg4+ 40.Ke2 Qxc4+ 41.Kd1 followed by 42.Qf6 with a winning position)
39.Ke1 Qxd8 40.Qe6! Qh4+ 41.Kd1 fxg4 42.f5, but there is nothing wrong with retreating the
knight.

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 35...Rg7

Exercise: How did Nepo continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

36.a3!

A good practical move. White prevents ...a3, and “at the same time, he somewhat perfects the idea
from the previous variation.” (Nepomniachtchi).

36...Ne8?!

The comment Nepo made is justified in the event of 36...c5 37.Ne6 Rf7 38.Nd8 Rg7 39.Rg1. Now
the idea of locking the g-file with 39...Ng4 is no longer helpful because after 36...c5 White has
40.Qd6!, winning, White threatens 41.Qf8+ and mate, and attacks “everything.”
The only possibility of putting up some resistance consisted of 36...Qb6, but White can activate all
his forces and get perfect coordination after 37.d3!, for example 37...Qb2+ 38.Rd2 Qc3 39.Ne6 Rg2
40.Qf8+ Rg8 (40...Ng8 41.Qxf5) 41.Qb4 exd3+ 42.Rxd3 Qe5 43.Nf4, and there is not much hope
for Black.

Exercise (simple): How did Nepo decide the game?

Show/Hide Solution

229
 Answer:

37.Qc6

“This eliminates the dangerous a4–pawn. The rest is a question of simple technique and my
opponent decided not to test my ability in that respect.” (Nepomniachtchi).
1–0
Some lessons from this game: *
1.) It’s very useful to know something about your opponent, such as his likes and dislikes, in which
positions he is stronger, etc. (3.Nf3! 7.g4!)
2.) Chess is played by humans, with limited time to think, not by computers, so, again, the practical
side is very relevant. (3.Nf3! 7.g4! 23.Rd1!)
3.) “Which piece should I exchange? Which one should I keep?” If you can find the right answers,
you’ll probably discover the correct plan. (22...Nf6! 23.Rd1!)
4.) After a move you missed, don’t panic! Even though it’s easier said than done – as we saw, even
top players can react poorly to an unexpected turn of events. (27.Nf4! 30...Rg7? 30...Rg1+!)
5.) “Chess is a state of mind.” (16.Bc4?! 30...Rg7? 30...Rg1+!)
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

Game 16
In the spirit of Lasker and Korchnoi
This game in some way evokes Tarrasch – Lasker, Dusseldorf 1908, the second game of the World
Championship match (15.Bxg7!). Here too, Black embarked on a more than dubious continuation,
and was on the verge of losing. We could think of Korchnoi playing with the Black pieces as well.
The world champion failed to find the best way to punish Black’s daring maneuver and began to
commit mistakes, which led him to defeat. In this case there were not just chess factors behind the
collapse. Carlsen, as many participants and journalists pointed out, was suffering a bad cold during
the tournament, which was quite visible at the press conference after the game.

Magnus Carlsen
Ian Nepomniachtchi
Slav Defense [D13]
London (8), 10.12.2017

1.Nf3 c5 2.c3

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 Question: Not very common, right?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: You are right. This move order, or even starting with the move 1.c3, the Saragossa
Opening, which has been played a few times by Vlastimil Hort, in most cases transposes to normal
variations.
Magnus Carlsen likes to play unusual openings, mostly in blitz and rapid tournaments. In this case,
it is an invitation to play a Slav, trying to lead Nepomniachtchi to unfamiliar territory.

2...d5

Black accepts the challenge and goes for a Slav. He had several options of course, such as 2...Nf6
3.d4 e6, when after 4.Bg5 we arrive at a set-up that Carlsen played twice in 2017, against Xiong in
the Isle of Man and Korobov in Riyadh (blitz). Carlsen won both games.

3.d4 cxd4 4.cxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Bf4 Nh5

Black chooses a secondary line, probably wanting to avoid a theoretical battle after 6...Bf5 or 6...a6,
moves that Carlsen himself had experience in with both colours.

7.Bd2

Carlsen chooses a modest line instead of trying to punish Black by playing 7.Be5.

7...Nf6

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 This is an invitation to repeat moves, something very unlikely to happen, of course. The alternative
is 7...g6.

8.e3

White finishes with the bishop inside his pawn structure, but he has got in Bc1–d2 for free, which
also frees up the c1–square for the rook.

8...e6

Question: This is a kind of “betrayal” of the Slav, why not 8...Bf5?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: That would be ideal, but after 8...Bf5 White has the unpleasant threat 9.Ne5!, and Black
has to deal with some annoying ideas too, like Qb3, g4 and Bb5, etc., so Black must be more
restrained.

9.Bd3 Bd6

Black wants to control e5. The alternative is 9...Be7.

We are in a symmetrical position but with White having gained the move Bd2 for free and it is his
turn.

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 Exercise: What would you play with the White pieces?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

10.e4!

His better development can only be demonstrated in an open position, so now we arrive at a typical
isolated d-pawn structure.
White has to play this move immediately, because after normal moves 10.0-0 0-0 if now 11.e4 then
Black has 11...Nb4!, forcing 12.Bb1, and after 12...dxe4 the Nb4 is on his way to d5.
After 10.e4 the jump 10...Nb4? is weak due to 11.Bb5+, forcing 11...Nd7.

10...dxe4 11.Nxe4 Be7

We have arrived at a standard set-up. It seems that White has gained a tempo in the process, which
is a good sign for him, although the move won, Bd2, is not particularly threatening.

12.0-0 0-0

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 13.Qc2

Question: An unusual place for the queen too, right?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Yes, the World Champion doesn’t play the standard move 13.Qe2, but wants to force
Black to make some concession on the kingside immediately.
It’s probably no better than 13.Qe2, but no worse either. It gives this typical position a new or a
different type of treatment.
The normal move 13.Qe2 was also played here, arrived at by a different move order, in Nakamura
– Wojtaszek, Khanty-Mansiysk 2010. That game continued 13...Bd7 14.Rac1 Rc8 15.a3 Qb6 16.Be3
Nd5 17.b4 a6 18.Nc5 Rcd8 19.Be4 Be8 20.Rfd1, and White got some advantage, although Black
finally won.

13...h6

The alternative was 13...g6. Although it is playable, it seems logical not to weaken voluntarily the
dark squares on the kingside. There could follow 14.Rad1 Bd7 15.Bh6 Re8 (15...Nb4? 16.Qb3 loses
material), and now White must decide where to put his queen, on d2 or e2, or maybe play 16.a3 first
and Rfe1 later.

14.Rad1 Bd7

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 Accepting the pawn with 14...Nxd4 15.Nxd4 Qxd4 is really hardcore. After 16.Bc3 Qb6 17.Nxf6+
Bxf6 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Qd2 Kg7 20.Bc2 (more dangerous than 20.Bb1, because the bishop can move
to b3 or a4 later), White has a nasty initiative on the diagonal, and of course taking the second pawn
is too dangerous, e.g., 20...Qxb2 21.Rb1 Qe5 22.Rfe1 Qc7 23.Rb3.

15.a3

Black was not threatening 15...Nb4 yet, as 16.Nxf6+ would force 16...gxf6, but the World
Champion didn’t find a more useful move. After for example 15.Rfe1, Black could play 15...Nd5
(renewing the threat ...Nb4), followed by 16...Rc8 with a nice position.
So, instead of a standard solution, he went for a different idea again.

15...Rc8 16.Nc3

White has avoided premature simplifications and, thanks to that, his main weakness, the d-pawn, is
not in danger. He is preparing a slow but dangerous advance if Black remains passive.
Exercise: How do you think Nepo reacted?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

16...a6

Black chose an ambitious plan, involving the expansion ...b5–b4.

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 Another standard possibility was 16...Bd6, intending ...Ne7 and ...Bc6.

17.Qc1

Magnus has found a way to show the positive aspect of his queen’s position, adding meaning to his
surprising move 13.Qc2.
Exercise: What would you play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

17...Re8

Showing respect for White’s idea. 17...b5? 18.Bxh6! gxh6 19.Qxh6 followed by Ng5 would of
course give White a winning attack.

18.Rfe1

Now 18.Bxh6? gxh6 19.Qxh6 would be obviously bad due to 19...Bf8.

18...Bf8 19.Bf4

The bishop gives up his place for the queen. The standard plan 19.Bb1 followed by Qc2 didn’t
attract White, as Black would play 19...Ne7 and after 20.Qc2 Nf5 there is no clear way to continue. It
doesn’t seem promising for White.

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 19...b5

Black is consistent with his idea. The alternative was 19...Ne7, going to d5, and enabling ...Bc6.

20.Qd2 b4 21.axb4 Nxb4

22.Ne5

Question: Really? White doesn’t want to keep this bishop?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: You and I would like to play 22.Bb1, and surely Carlsen too, but he probably saw that
after 22...Nbd5 23.Ne5 Bb5 White’s attacking chances are almost nil.
He assessed that it was more important to retain his dark-squared bishop for the initiative.

22...Nxd3 23.Qxd3

Exercise: What would you play here?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

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 23...a5?

Black had a good position, but not a better one, and not completely without danger. Nepo was too
optimistic, and after the game he commented: “Of course, this was a mistake. It just gives away a
tempo.”
He should have given up the pawn. After 23...Bc6 24.Qxa6 Ba8 Black has some positional
compensation for the pawn.
Another option, also sacrificing the pawn, was 23...Bb5 24.Nxb5 axb5 25.Qxb5 Nd5, followed by
...Rb8, and there is also enough compensation. The knight on d5 is strong and White’s extra pawn is
easily neutralized.

24.Qf3!

Suddenly Black is confronted with a series of unpleasant ideas. The f7-pawn is a tactical weakness,
White could try g4 followed by g5 or even h4 first, and the maneuver Bg3–h4 is available.
Question: It seems convincing, did Nepo overlook this move?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: After the game he said: “Of course I saw Qf3, but I couldn’t have expected it to be so
devastating.”

Exercise: How would you defend?

Show/Hide Solution

238
 Answer:

24...Bb4?

Nepo remains very confident and is playing with fire. He wants to create counterplay, but that’s not
what the position demands at this point. Now his king is losing a key defender.
The right move was 24...Qe7!, overprotecting f7. After 25.Nxd7 Nxd7 (25...Qxd7 26.Bxh6 a4
followed by ...Nd5 is to be played when hitting the panic button: it leads to a tenable position, one
that is difficult to crack, but this is not necessary yet) 26.d5 Nc5 27.d6 Qd7 it looks enough for Black
to equalize. Normally the queen is not a good blockader, but here the queen is safe, as White has no
clear way to attack her.

25.Re3?!

Nepomniachtchi thought 25.Bg3, with the Bh4 idea we mentioned, would be “very unpleasant for
me... and here I might be ready to play ...g5 at some point.” It was a strong move and Black needs to
get rid of the c3 knight immediately, because after the threatened 25...-- 26.Bh4 he cannot defend
with 26...g5 due to 27.Ne4! winning instantly.
Anyway, after for example 25...Bxc3 26.bxc3 Ba4 27.Rc1 Qd5 28.Qf4, the threat Bh4 remains
frightening.
Carlsen’s move maintains a slight advantage, but he misses a great opportunity. In fact, the engines
immediately show the strongest move, 25.Bxh6!, when play could continue 25...Bxc3 26.bxc3 gxh6
27.Qg3+

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 Black cannot play 27...Kf8? due to 28.Rd3! Bc6 (or 28...Ke7 29.Qg7 Rf8 30.d5!) 29.Qf4 Ke7
30.c4, and there is no good defense against the coming d5.
Ian also has a difficult position after 27...Kh7 28.Nxf7 Qe7 29.Qd3+ Kg7 (or 29...Kg8 30.Qg6+
Kf8 31.Nd6! Qg7 32.Qd3 Bc6 33.f3 followed by c4, when the Black king is weak and White is
clearly better) 30.Ne5 and Black must return material; after for instance 30...Rf8 31.Qg6+ Kh8
32.Qxh6+ Qh7 (32...Kg8? 33.Rd3) White has 33.Ng6+ Kg8 34.Qg5 Qh5 35.Qxh5 Nxh5 36.Nxf8
Kxf8, and now Magnus would play 37.d5! with a material advantage and a better position, as the a-
pawn will not create enough counterplay.
Let’s go back to our game, after 25.Re3.
Exercise (simple): How did Black justify his previous moves?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

25...Bxc3

This is the first part. Of course, it creates the additional idea c4 and d5 for White, but Black must do
something to try to stop White’s attack.

26.bxc3

Exercise: How did Nepo continue?

Show/Hide Solution

240
 Answer:

26...Ba4!

This turns out to be an excellent move from the practical point of view. Carlsen explained his
feelings about the game, saying: “I failed to predict a single one of his moves.”
Some of them were bad, that’s true, but not this one.

27.Ra1?!

Not the best answer.

Exercise: Why was it a poor reply?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

27...Bc2!

The bishop is allowed to rejoin the defense.

Going back, it was better to avoid this redeployment by playing 27.Rc1!. Black should answer
27...Rf8!, and he puts up a fight, but not 27...Qxd4? because it loses material after 28.Ra1! Qd2
29.Re4, or leads to a White attack after 28...Qb6 29.Bxh6!

28.h3!

A good practical decision. The king needs some air and now Magnus is freer to use the rook on a1,
as he has no more back rank problems.

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 28...Bf5?

The bishop hurries to retreat. It is a logical idea but a tactical mistake, and here it is too provocative.
28...Rf8 would have been a safer move, overprotecting f7, or the more ambitious 28...a4, but this
needs more calculation because if the c2-bishop wants to go the kingside the pawn may end up lost.
Even more calculation would be needed for the computer suggestion 28...Nd5, which is good, but
leads to serious complications. It allows 29.Bxh6, and after 29...Bg6 30.c4 Nxe3 31.Bxe3 Bf5 32.c5
Qd5 33.Qh5 Re7 34.Rxa5 the position is about equal, but easier to play for White.
Carlsen accords importance to this detail. If the position is easy to play, this is more important at
the board than the objective evaluation.
It seems that, instead of 29...Bg6, 29...Qe7! is stronger, as after 30.Qg3 f6 31.Re2 Rxc3 32.Nf3
Qc7 33.Bd2 Qxg3 34.fxg3 Rc6 35.Rxa5 or 35.Bxa5 White’s extra pawn doesn’t count for much.
There is also the dangerous 30.Bxg7, although Black seems to get a defensible position after
30...Kxg7 31.Qg4+. Here Black can choose between 31...Kh6 32.Rf3 Bg6! 33.c4 Bh5 34.Nxf7+
Qxf7 35.Rxf7 Bxg4 36.cxd5 Bh5 37.Ra7 exd5 38.R1xa5, reaching an equal ending, or the riskier
31...Bg6 32.Rf3 Nf6 33.Qg3, which gives White two pawns and compensation for the piece, but still
Black seems able to defend.

29.g4!

Now White is better again. Nepomniachtchi admitted in the interview that he “got into trouble”
around here.

29...Bh7?!

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 The ugly 29...Bg6 was preferable.

30.c4?!

This move maintains a slight advantage, but it misses a good opportunity. Carlsen could have
played 30.g5, and after 30...Nd5 White gains a huge attack with 31.Nxf7! (this is why 29...Bg6 was
better).
In case of 30...hxg5 31.Bxg5 the pin is very awkward, and if 31...Bf5 White would play 32.Qg3,
planning Qh4 and Rg3, with a better position.

Exercise: White has a small advantage. How should Black proceed?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

30...Nd7!

He needs to mount a defense. First, Black wants to eliminate the strong knight.

31.Nc6?

The capture of the a-pawn will give White no advantage.

Nepomniachtchi knew that after 31.c5! the exchange 31...Nxe5 32.Bxe5 would leave Black under
pressure, so he intended to play 31...Nf6 with the idea of ...Nd5, but he admitted it might be “double-
edged.”

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 31...Qf6!

The queen is extremely effective here, as we will see.

32.Nxa5

Not 32.Rxa5? g5, winning.

32...Nb6

Now White’s pieces are in dubious places. He wants to play c5 and Nc4–d6, and of course if he can
do this he will get a great position.

33.c5?

He had to give up the c-pawn, with an equal position, but why then play 31.Nc6?
Exercise: Why is 33.c5 wrong?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

33...Rxc5!

Simply because of this: the a1-rook is hanging.

“I just put the pawn en prise. I couldn’t see that he could take it until after I played it,” said Carlsen.

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 34.dxc5?

Here Carlsen collapsed: one mistake follows another.

Nepomniachtchi didn’t think of 33.c5 as a blunder during the game, he was more focused on try to
survive.
He thought that White could still play here 34.Qb7 Rc2 35.Bg3 but 35...Qxd4 is better for Black.
Recapturing on c5 is surely worse. Maybe White should have played 34.Be5. After 34...Qxf3
35.Rxf3 Rc2 the position is unpleasant for White, but not at all lost.

34...Qxa1+ 35.Kh2 Qxa5

36.Qc6?

This was the faulty idea White had in mind. He should have gone for 36.cxb6 Qxb6, which is
clearly worse but not quite lost yet.
Exercise (simple): Why was 36.Qc6 the last mistake of the game?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

36...Qa4!

Winning a piece.

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 37.Qxa4 Nxa4 38.c6 Nb6 39.c7 f6 40.Rb3 Nc8

0–1
Question: Too many mistakes, right?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Ian explained some of the reasons: “Clearly, Magnus is a little bit sick and this surely
disturbs his play. It’s hard when you have this sore throat and so on. I mean, I know from my
experience that you cannot show your best level when you’re fighting some illness instead of fighting
your opponent.”
Anyway, at the end, Magnus was still the winner. He clinched first prize in the overall Grand Chess
Tour 2017.
Some lessons from this game: *
1.) Don’t neglect to ask: “what is my opponent threatening, or planning?” (24...Qe7! 27.Rc1!)
2.) “Which piece can I improve?” is a question that you should keep asking yourself. (19.Bf4!
26...Ba4! 27...Bc2!)
3.) “Which piece should I exchange? Which one should I keep?” If you can find the right answers,
you’ll probably discover the correct plan. (22.Ne5!)
4.) As always, it’s necessary to be alert for tactical weaknesses, both your own and your
opponent’s. (25.Bxh6! 33.c5?)
5.) “Chess is a state of mind.” (27.Rc1! 33.c5? 34.dxc5?)
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

(back to the text)

Nepomniachtchi was referring to the line 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.e3 Nf6 5.Nf3
Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.g4.

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 Show in Text Mode

Game 17
More superb preparation
Nepomniachtchi produced another great novelty in this game. In this case it was not an amazing
tactical shot or deadly attacking idea. It was actually a modest move, attacking a pawn, but with the
same lethal effect as his other novelties.
The move was unexpected – pawn grabbing that is not prudent to carry out at the chess board
without preparation, because Nepo was behind in development at the time.
Nepomniachtchi, with 6 points out of 9 and a 2806 rating performance, shared second place in the
tournament, with his opponent in this game. They finished half a point behind the winner, Dmitry
Jakovenko.

Boris Gelfand
Ian Nepomniachtchi
English Opening [A33]
Karpov, Poikovsky (1), 27.05.2018

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.g3 Qb6

7.Nf3

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 Question: I remember examples with 7.Ndb5, which looks more energetic, and also retreats to b3
and even c2. But I don’t understand this move, it looks rather passive.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: It is a rather new continuation, but it has been employed by several strong players. It leads
to new positions, avoiding other variations that have been heavily analyzed, which is a common
approach these days. The result of this game doesn’t encourage us to continue playing it, but of
course White must find improvements to avoid the line becoming discarded.

7...Bb4

This position is similar to Romanishin’s idea in the Nimzo-Indian with g3. One of Black’s ideas is
to take on c3, damaging his opponent’s pawn structure, but he needs to take care of the dark squares.
In Gelfand – Svidler, Sochi 2018, Black played 7...Bc5, forcing 8.e3 and hence momentarily
shutting the c1-h6 diagonal. After 8...Bb4 9.Bd2 0-0 10.Bg2 Be7 White sacrificed the b2-pawn with
11.0-0 (the alternative was naturally 11.b3) but White didn’t get much in the game.
The active 7...d5 is also possible, reaching a Tarrasch structure with an isolated d-pawn. In Svidler
– Dubov, Sochi 2018, Black was fine after 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Bg2 d4 10.Na4 Bb4+ 11.Bd2 Qb5 12.b3 0-
0.

8.Bg2

Black’s idea can’t be avoided by playing 8.Bd2?! due to 8...Bxc3! 9.Bxc3 Ne4, and Black is better.
8.Be3 is a better try, although after 8...Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Qa5 Black is getting what he wanted, and
without fearing the activity of his opponent’s dark-squared bishop yet.

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 Ian has several options. In Unger – Khalifman, Bad Wiessee 1998, Black took the offered pawn
with 8...Ne4. After 9.0-0 Nxc3 10.bxc3 Bxc3 11.Be3 Qa5 12.Rc1 0-0 13.Qb3 Bf6 14.Rfd1 Be7
White could have got the usual compensation for the pawn with 15.c5, or even 15.Nd4, while Black
would be left with typical development problems. The “Catalan bishop” would be strong and the c8-
bishop would only give Black a headache.
8...0-0 doesn’t seems to fully solve Black’s problems. After 9.0-0 Bxc3 10.bxc3 Na5, in Gelfand –
Mamedyarov, Moscow 2018, White could have assigned an excellent job to his dark-squared bishop
playing 11.Be3 Qc7 12.Bf4! Qxc4 13.Bd6 followed by Ne5, with more than enough compensation
for the sacrificed pawn.
Instead of 10...Na5, Black tried 10...Qc5 in Harikrishna – Vachier-Lagrave, Palma de Mallorca
2017, but after 11.Qa4 Re8 12.Nd4 Ne5 13.Qb5 White got a promising initiative.

8...Qc5!

Question: This looks like a move played by an amateur. Black attacks a pawn with his queen,
without taking care of his development. How can a master reach a conclusion that it is a good idea?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: It’s not a matter of general understanding, or a moment of inspiration at the board. We
should assume that this innovation was deeply analyzed by Nepo during his home preparation.
If an idea seems “ugly” but is tactically justified, then go for it! It’s also a common strategy in our
days: we see it more often due to the influence of computers.

9.Qd3

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 Exercise: What is the continuation of Black’s idea?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

9...Ng4

This is the only justification. If White can castle without a concession, then the idea would be
simply bad.
Of course not 9...d5?, as after 10.cxd5 Nxd5 White has no need to sacrifice a pawn, as he can
simply play 11.Bd2. The “weak” pawn on c3 after 11...Nxc3 12.bxc3 usually helps White to play
Nd4, with pressure on the queenside.

10.0-0 Nge5 11.Nxe5 Nxe5 12.Qc2

In the only other game with this position White tried 12.Qe4, then 12...Nxc4?! 13.Qg4 Bxc3
14.bxc3 Kf8 15.Rb1 is good for White, but Black could try 12...Bxc3 13.bxc3 f5 14.Qh4 0-0 and take
the c4-pawn later, although White should get enough compensation. There are many dark squares
available for White.
The game continued 12...f5 13.Qc2 Qxc4 14.e4 fxe4 15.Bxe4 d5 16.Bf4 Bxc3 17.bxc3 Qxe4
18.Qxe4 dxe4 19.Bxe5 with equality, Xiong, J – Le, Q, Chess.com 2020.
Exercise (simple): How did Nepo finish his idea?

Show/Hide Solution

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 Answer:

12...Qxc4

The only good move. Black was able to grab the pawn while retaining his dark-squared bishop.
Still, White should get enough play for the pawn, though he must play accurately.

13.Bf4

White forces the retreat of the centralized knight before playing Bd2.

13...Ng6 14.Bd2 d5

Black opts for closing the long diagonal, although he needs to watch out for the timely advance e4.
The alternative was 14...Be7, but not the automatic 14...0-0?! due to 15.Qa4!, and in case of 15...d5
White has 16.Nxd5!

15.Rac1?!

Question: Really? It’s amazing that such a natural move turns out to be dubious.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Yes, it is a natural move but a serious mistake because it’s tactically faulty and allows

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Black to consolidate while keeping his extra pawn.
It is a case of the “wrong rook”. White had to play 15.Rfc1! Be7 16.e4. Now 16...d4 is wrong due
to 17.Bf1! Qc7 18.Nb5 Qxc2 19.Rxc2 0-0 20.Nxd4, recovering the pawn and keeping the pressure.
Black should play 16...dxe4, although after 17.Nxe4 Qxc2 18.Rxc2 Bd7 19.h4 Bc6 (or 19...h5
20.Ng5) 20.h5 Ne5 21.Bc3 White is very active and has compensation for the pawn.
Another interesting try is 15.b3 Qc6 (but not 15...Qa6? 16.Nxd5!) 16.Qb2, threatening Nxd5
again, 16...Be7 17.h4, with compensation for the pawn.

15...Be7

Question: You mentioned this move before, but is it the most useful move?

Show/Hide Solution

I answer you with an...

Exercise: Why not 15...0-0?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Because of our familiar 16.Nxd5!, recovering the pawn and pressing Black’s position
after 16...Qxc2 17.Rxc2 Bxd2 18.Nc7! followed by 19.Rxd2.

16.Rfd1

In comparison with the aforementioned note, now 16.e4? d4 is not dangerous, as White has no
17.Bf1 available. This simple detail changes everything.

16...0-0 17.Qb1?

Considering he is a pawn down this move is too timid. The queen retreats from the center, with a
threat, that’s true, but one which is easy to parry. Meanwhile, the passive location of White’s queen
will make it easier for Black to consolidate.
A better try was 17.h4 Rd8 18.h5 Ne5 (18...Nf8?! 19.Bf4 is weaker and 19...Bd7? is answered by
20.Bxd5! exd5 21.Nxd5 Qxc2 22.Nxe7+ and 23.Rxc2) 19.Bf4 Nc6 20.Qd2 and Black still has some
development problems.

17...Qa6 18.e4

This break is not dangerous here. However, after 18.Be3 Bd7 followed by 19...Rfd8 Black

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continues with his development and it is not easy to find compensation for the pawn for White.

Exercise (simple): What would you play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

18...d4

Naturally keeping the position closed.

19.Bf1

This move, which was strong in the line with 15.Rfc1!, is harmless here.

19...Qb6 20.Na4 Qd8 21.f4

Exercise (simple): How would you continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

21...b6

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 The c8-bishop now has a more promising way to develop after this move, as the a4-knight is
impaired and can no longer move to c5. The lack of harmony in White’s camp is even more marked.

22.Qd3

The computer suggests 22.b4 Bb7 23.Nb2, but after for example 23...Qd7 followed by ...Rfc8,
White is simply a pawn down.

22...Bb7 23.Be1 Rc8 24.h4

The d4-pawn is untouchable after 24.Rxc8 Qxc8, as 25.Qxd4? loses to 25...Rd8.

24...Re8

Black had several good options. He decides to free up the f8 square to redeploy the knight, but
that’s not the only idea behind this move, as we shall see.

25.h5 Nf8 26.Bf2

Exercise: How did Black reply to the attack on his d-pawn?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

26...e5!

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 This was the main idea of the “timid” 24...Re8. To free up f8 for the knight but also to enable it to
reach e6, where it efficiently defends the d4-pawn.
Black could also have played 26...Rxc1 first.

27.fxe5

White regains the pawn, but the doubled e-pawn is poor consolation. White’s position has been
ruined, and the a4-knight is just one of the reasons.

27...Rxc1 28.Rxc1 Ne6 29.Bh3

A desperate attempt to complicate the game. The e6-knight is a powerful enemy but this bishop is
important for the defense, too.

29...Qa8 30.Re1

30.Bxe6 fxe6 31.Qxd4 Bxe4 32.Qd7 Bf8 is hopeless for White, as 33...Bh1 or 33...Rd8 are
unpleasant threats with the White king too weak.

30...Rd8 31.b3 Qb8

The e5-pawn is lost. White has no defense.

32.Bxe6 fxe6 33.Bxd4

Exercise (simple): Why didn’t Black bother to defend his d-pawn?

Show/Hide Solution

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 Answer:

33...Bc5

And Black wins a piece. White could resign here.

34.Nxc5 bxc5 35.Qc4 cxd4 36.Qxe6+ Kh8 37.h6 Qc7 38.Rf1 Bxe4 39.Qg4 Bg6 40.Qxd4

Exercise (simple): Which move ended White’s last hope?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

40...gxh6

There are no more back rank threats.

0–1
Some lessons from this game: *
1.) We need to train ourselves to spot the critical moments in the game, when there is maximum
need for accurate calculation. (15.Rfc1! 17.Qb1? 26...e5!)
2.) “If one piece stands badly, the whole position is bad.” (17.Qb1? 21...b6!)
3.) Don’t forget “to invite everybody to the party.” (26...e5!)
4.) Preventing your opponent’s activity can be as important as activating your own forces. (18...d4!
21...b6!)
5.) Loose pieces and pins are tactical weaknesses. (33...Bc5!)
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

Game 18
Countering a novelty
In this game it was Nepomniachtchi who was caught in his opponent’s deep opening preparation. It
was an effective novelty and Ian used up a lot of time in the opening phase while Kramnik used up
almost none.
After they got out of the former World Champion’s prep Nepo reached a decent position and the
real battle began. White played it better.

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 The 46th Dortmund Sparkassen Chess Meeting was a big triumph for Nepomniachtchi, who
finished with a 2872 rating performance. It was his third time participating in Dortmund, having
played there in 2008 and 2015.

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Vladimir Kramnik
Ruy Lopez [C78]
Dortmund (5), 20.07.2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5

Facing the Berlin was not Nepomniachtchi’s most usual choice as White against Kramnik. Mostly
he had played the Scotch, the English and Reti, and in their 12 previous games (at all speeds) they
had reached this position only twice.
That day in Dortmund, though, he was prepared for it, but...

3...a6

This came as a big surprise for Nepo.

4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Bc5 6.c3 b5

7.Bb3

Question: Normally the bishop has to move to c2 after the attack ...Na5, so why not play 7.Bc2
here?

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 Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Times change. Decades ago masters could make choices in the opening based on common
sense or general evaluations, but now there are concrete reasons to choose a move. In this case, Nepo
rejected it because “7.Bc2 d5 leads to very sharp and irrational lines, which, as I know, have been
analyzed out to a draw.”

7...d6 8.a4 b4

Kramnik begins to show his excellent preparation in this variation. Nepo was surprised again, the
more usual continuations being 8...Rb8, 8...Bg4 and 8...Bb7.
Nepo thought that now “White’s thrust in the center will follow under less favorable conditions for
Black, because in some variations the b4–pawn will be left hanging,” but this was analyzed by
Kramnik at home and he concluded that it was not a disadvantage.

9.d4 Ba7

10.Bg5

Question: Confronted with a new position, White has to decide what to do. Which options did he
consider? What can you tell me about this position?

Show/Hide Solution

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 Answer: Right, he surely took a deep think in this position because he had several very different
paths to choose from.
He chose to pin the knight, something that could be troublesome for Black, considering the location
of the dark-squared bishop on a7.
The exchange of queens must be considered too, but Nepo concluded that although it looks
tempting, in the resulting endgame Black would get counterplay thanks to his active pieces and the
opening of the b-file. He showed this example:
A) 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Nxe5 dxe5 12.Qxd8+ Kxd8. If 13.Bxf7 then 13...Rf8 14.Bd5 Nxd5 15.exd5
a5 16.Be3 Bxe3 17.fxe3 Rxf1+ 18.Kxf1 bxc3 19.bxc3 Ba6+ (or 19...Rb8 and 20...Rb2) 20.Ke1 c6,
and Black is very active and no worse.
13.Nd2 instead of 13.Bxf7 doesn’t give White much either after 13...Ke7 14.cxb4 Be6 15.Bxe6
Kxe6 16.b3 Bd4 17.Ra2 c5 18.bxc5 Bxc5, “and after the activation of his rooks Black should achieve
equality.”
B) The immediate 10.Bd5 did not look particularly convincing to him either, as after 10...Nxd5
11.exd5 Ne7 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Nxe5 Qxd5 he reached the conclusion that chances are equal.
C) A few months later, a new idea appeared, 10.h3. It makes sense, considering that the e4-pawn is
still not hanging due to Bd5.

White controls g4 and will follow up with Be3 and Nbd2. After 10...0-0 the game McShane –
Adams, London 2018, continued 11.Be3 Bb7 12.Nbd2 bxc3 13.bxc3 exd4 14.cxd4. We see that
White has completed his idea and got harmonious development.
Later Black tried 10...Bb7 (after the c6-knight is defended White must look out for the capture
11...Nxe4) 11.Re1 and now 11...bxc3 could be answered by 12.dxe5 Nxe5 (not 12...dxe5? 13.Bxf7+!
and Qb3+) 13.Nxc3 where White’s position is again pleasant as all his pieces are well situated.

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 In Swiercz – Jones, Saint Louis 2019, in response to 11.Re1 Black chose 11...Ne7, but after
12.cxb4 Nxe4 13.Qc2 d5 14.Nxe5 0-0 (14...Bxd4 is met by 15.Nxf7!) 15.Be3 Nf5 16.Nf3 Qd6
17.Nc3 Rad8 18.b5 White was clearly better.
The engines even show two improvements for White, 13.Nc3! and 16.Nc3!, giving White a greater
advantage.
Let’s go back to 10.Bg5.

10...Rb8 11.Bd5

With the idea of dxe5, thanks to the pin of the f6-knight.

Here White didn’t find 11.dxe5 promising either: 11...Nxe5 12.Nxe5 dxe5 13.Qxd8+ Kxd8
14.Bxf7 bxc3 15.bxc3 Rf8, “with obvious compensation for the pawn,” or 15.Nxc3 Rxb2.
At the board he seriously considered the typical advance 11.a5 followed by 12.Ba4, but he finally
chose 11.Bd5.

11...Ne7 12.dxe5

Analyzing the game, Nepo looked at the alternative: 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Bc4 Ng6 14.Nbd2 0-0 15.a5,
with a comfortable game after damaging his opponent’s pawn structure. However, the g-file and
doubled pawns give Black enough counterplay after e.g., 15...f5 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.Qc2 Kh8, and
“Black has a series of interesting alternatives open to him.”

12...Nfxd5 13.exd5 0-0

A forced “sacrifice”, because 13...dxe5? 14.Nxe5 is losing.

14.exd6 Qxd6 15.c4 Nf5

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 The impact of the differing levels of preparation was that Nepo had consumed considerably more
time, considering the different alternatives we mentioned among others.
He commented that up until this point “Kramnik had been playing like lightning and at this moment
already had a few extra minutes – for that reason alone I had no great illusions about my position.
White’s pawn center is very unstable, and in addition almost all the opposing pieces are involved in
the action.”
Exercise: What did he play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

16.Nbd2

A human move, “simple and sensible – White completes his development,” as Nepo said.
After the game, he saw the computer’s recommendation 16.Qc1, to support Bf4, instead of the
natural move he played.
To postpone a developing move without quickly seeing it as a clear improvement is generally not
advisable. It is better to analyze the alternative thoroughly after the game, not while your clock is
ticking.

16...f6

The other method of expelling the bishop is bad, as after 16...h6? 17.Ne4 Qg6 18.Ne5 Black has no
compensation for the pawn.

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 17.Bh4

Question: What can you tell me about this strange position, and what should Black do?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Nepomniachtchi did a great job analyzing and explaining this position. Let’s see some of
his thoughts: “The critical position. Black has a choice: a) recover the pawn at once and in doing so
retain the advantage of the bishop pair, b) break open the center, before the White pieces can improve
their coordination, or c) complete his development with natural moves.”
Exercise (difficult): Knowing this, which idea and which move would you prefer?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

17...Qf4?!

Nepo also analyzed this position deeply. Let us review the most relevant lines of the alternatives.
A) 17...c6, which Nepo called “the most precise move. With accurate play the struggle soon ends in
a dead draw,” after 18.dxc6 Qxc6 Black “looks too dominant: the position which has occurred here
can serve as a striking example of the motif ‘the strength of the bishop pair,’” so White should play
18.Rc1, and after variations that are fairly logical and up to a certain point forced, the position ends up
equal.

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 B) 17...g5 arrives at a position similar to that of the game, with the only difference being the
position of this pawn. This impacts the game in two different ways. Nepo mentioned that Black
would have no more chance to attack the g2–pawn through the g-file, but the idea of playing ...g4
added more options. Which of these factors is more important? The answer can only be found after
some deep analysis.
Let’s mention one of the critical lines, 18.Bg3 Nxg3 19.hxg3 Qxg3 20.c5 (20.Ne4 is another
option) 20...Qf4 21.Nb3 (if 21.Rc1 then 21...g4 is strong, remember this detail) 21...Bb7 22.Na5 Ba8,
and “at least one of the Black bishops will make the break to freedom,” for example: 23.Nd4 Bxd5
24.Ndc6 Rbd8 25.Nxd8 Rxd8, with the ideas of 26...Bxc5 and 26...Qe4 after which Black is no
worse.
C) Finally, Nepo mentioned the moves 17...Bd7 and 17...Re8 which he thought were “too slow, but
on the other hand they do not spoil things.”
In these two cases, Nepo said White’s plan would be: “get the rook to c1 and if possible, the
knights to b3 and d4, let the bishop be exchanged on g3. Complicated, double-edged play with
chances for both sides can be expected.”

18.Bg3 Nxg3 19.hxg3 Qxg3

Exercise: We have enough information about similar positions, what do you think Nepo played?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

20.c5!

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 This is the key idea “which holds White’s plan together. With its help the dangerous bishop is
pacified.” (Nepomniachtchi).

20...Qg6

Exercise: What would you play after 20...Qf4?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Now White has 21.Rc1!, defending the c-pawn, with the idea of Qb3, and the move Rc4
should be taken into consideration too; there is an important difference between this position and the
one we mentioned with the Black pawn on g5, as here Black does not have the annoying reply 21...g4
available.
Exercise: What would you reply to the game continuation 20...Qg6?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

21.Rc1!

With the same move. This is the best defense. Nepo said that at the board both opponents at first
considered this position as more or less level, but his evaluation later changed during the game.
Question: Why did it change? What are the key motifs of the position?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Let Nepo explain: “Vladimir was counting on his bishops, and for my part I was hoping to
maintain my hanging pawns. But the more I immersed myself in this position, the rosier White’s
prospects appeared to me and the greater my hopes became. And even when analyzing later it was not
easy to find a satisfactory reaction for Black.”

21...Qf7

This is the first option of the engines in 2021. Black attacks the d-pawn, but at the same time it is a
bad sign because the queen retreats and is no longer as active as previously.
Attacking the pawn with an apparently more active move like 21...Rd8 turns out badly due to
22.d6! cxd6 23.c6 Ra8 24.Nc4, threatening 25.c7 and Qd5+.

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 In the event of 21...Bh3 22.Nh4 Qg4 23.Rc4 Qxd1 24.Rxd1 Bc8 25.Nb3, or 25.Nf1-e3, “it turns
out that even the exchange of queens does not make things any easier for Black.” (Nepomniachtchi).

22.Ne4

The knight moves to e4 to give more strength to the advance d6, but the alternative 22.Nb3 was no
weaker. After the variation with 22...Bb7 23.c6 Bc8, the idea 24.d6 is also effective, e.g., after
24...cxd6 the knight also gets a strong location, 25.Na5, to go to c4, or to c6 after pushing c7. After
e.g., 25...d5 26.c7 Ra8 27.Re1 Black has almost no play.

22...Re8

In case of 22...Bg4 Nepo mentioned the importance of the b3–square, that has remained vacant for
the queen. He analyzed 23.Qb3, but it seems that White can already continue advantageously with
23.d6!, and after 23...Rfe8 24.Qd3! Bf5 25.dxc7 Bxe4 26.cxb8=Q Bxb8 (or 26...Bxd3 27.Qxb4) he
plays 27.Qc4 without fearing 27...Qxc4 28.Rxc4 Bd3 due to 29.Rxb4, where Black has insufficient
compensation for the material deficit.

23.Re1 Bf5

Here 23...Bg4 is met by the strong sequence 24.Qd3! Rbd8 25.Nfd2! and not 25...Rxd5? due to
26.Nxf6+! gxf6 27.Rxe8+ Kg7 28.Qe4, so after 25...Bc8 26.d6 cxd6 (or 26...Bb8 27.Qd4) 27.cxd6
White has “tangible pressure.” (Nepomniachtchi).

24.Ng3 Rxe1+

24...Bg4 was no better due to 25.Qd3, keeping the queen very active and securing the d-pawn.

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 25.Qxe1 Bg4

After 25...Qxd5? 26.Nxf5 Qxf5 27.Qe7 “Black is helpless,” with all his pieces so passively
situated, while after 25...Bg6 26.d6! cxd6 27.cxd6 Bb6 28.Nh4 Qd5 29.Rd1 Qe5 30.Qxe5 fxe5
31.Nxg6 hxg6 32.b3 Bd4 33.Ne4 White has a big advantage thanks to his passed pawn, his strong
knight and the weakened Black pawn structure.

26.Qe4

Question: The situation seems to have stabilized in White’s favor, is it true?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Nepo answers: “Now we can come to an intermediate evaluation. White has managed to
hold his center and position his pieces cleverly. After the exchange of rooks Black’s back rank has
become a genuine weakness and the breakthrough d5–d6 an extremely insistent threat.”

26...h5 27.Nf5

The knight maneuvers to find a good way to support the advance d6; 27.Nh4 with the same idea
was also good, and although 27.d6 is strong according to the computers, White prefers to prepare it
without being forced to calculate variations.

27...Re8

After 27...Bxf5 28.Qxf5 Rd8 White can successfully play 29.d6, thanks to the mentioned back rank

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issues Black has. After 29...cxd6 30.cxd6 g6 31.Qd3 Bb8 32.Rc6 a5 33.Nd2, planning Ne4 or Nc4,
Black is defenseless.

28.Qd3 Bb8

A sad move trying to fight against the advance d5–d6, but Black had no better options either. After
28...Qd7 29.N3h4 Re5 30.Ne3 White arrives at an optimal position for his knights while preventing
his opponent’s attempts to become active, as Nepo pointed out.
Exercise (simple): How did Nepo continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

29.N3h4

Preparing Ne3 without giving Black the chance to play ...Bxf3, even when it is not something to be
too worried about.

29...Be2

“In the absence of better options, Black drives the opposing queen away from its optimal square.”
(Nepomniachtchi).

30.Qd2 Bg4

In case of 30...a5 White can play 31.Ne3 or the immediate 31.d6 cxd6 32.cxd6 and the pawn is too
strong.

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 Exercise: How should White continue here?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

31.Ne3

Nepo was very critical of this natural move, which is strong but not the best. He commented that he
did not of course miss 31.Qxb4, “but I had been carried away by maneuvering and I did not want to
change the character of the position,” although the result of the line 31...Qxd5 32.Qxb8 Qe6 33.Qxc7
Bxf5 34.Nxf5 Qxf5 turns out to be very clear. After 35.c6 the active move 35...Re2 leads to nothing
if White plays 36.Qb6, winning easily.

31...Bd7?!

The reason why Nepo was angry with himself was the possibility of 31...f5!, which would have
given Black some small practical chances, although “after the precise reply 32.g3” with the further
continuation 32...Ba7 33.Rc4 (not 33.Qxb4 yet due to 33...g5; with the queen on d2 33...g5 loses to
34.Nxg4) “White still has a great advantage, but a ‘mechanical’ win is no longer there.”

32.Qxb4 a5

After 32...g5 33.c6 gxh4 34.cxd7 Qxd7 35.Qxh4 Black has no defense.

33.Qxa5 c6 34.d6

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 White is two pawns up with a tremendous passed pawn on d6, while Black has only passive pieces.
The rest is easy: White has many ways to win.

34...Qb3 35.Qc3 Qxa4 36.Nhf5 Qe4 37.Ne7+ Kh8 38.Qb3

Aiming at f7 or b7, among other squares.

38...Rf8

Exercise: What is the easiest way to continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

39.Qc2

There are many good moves, but “for the sake of safety White exchanges queens,” said Nepo. The
Black queen can’t avoid it due to 40.Ng6+.

39...Qxc2 40.Nxc2 Kh7 41.Nd4

1–0
This is the summary Nepomniachtchi gave: “It was a very complicated game. The main events
happened in the relatively short section between moves 15 and 23, and the nuances of the struggle
between the nimble knights and the mighty bishops only show up under later analysis.”

269
 Some lessons from this game: *
1.) Good preparation in the opening is essential, and it can give you a large advantage in time and
sometimes even in the position.
2.) Good preparation in the opening may give you a very good position, but the game is still starting
and you should adjust to the new situation.
3) Even in difficult positions there is a chance to fight. (31...f5!)
4.) In better positions, when your opponent has no counterplay, “don’t hurry!.” (27.Nf5! 29.N3h4!
39.Qc2!)
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

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 Show in Text Mode

Game 19
Finishing the tournament in Tal style
Nepomniachtchi ended the Dortmund tournament with an attacking game that could have been
played by the idol of his younger days, Mikhail Tal. July 2018 was especially sweet for Nepo, who
turned 28 during the first round of the tournament, two weeks after winning the Japhet Memorial, a
rapid tournament in Jerusalem. He took first place in Dortmund.

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Georg Meier
French Defense [C10]
Dortmund (7), 22.07.2018

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4

Meier plays the French Defense almost exclusively, and the Rubinstein Variation is his speciality.

4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6

7.Ne5

Question: This is not the first move to look at, right?

271
 Show/Hide Solution

Answer: This move was first played by none less than Capablanca. The objective is to prevent the
development of the c8–bishop via b7 after ...b6. Capablanca explained that “Generally it is bad to
move the same piece twice in an opening before the other pieces are out, and the violation of that
principle is the only objection that can be made to this move, which otherwise has everything to
recommend it.”
Meier had considerable experience against the other options too, 7.c3, 7.Be3, 7.Bd3, etc.

7...Bd6

Black puts pressure on e5 with a developing move. There are a lot of games with 7...Be7 and Meier
had also tried 7...Nd7.

8.Bg5

This was the move recommended by Capablanca.

In Capablanca – Blanco, Havana 1913, he chose 8.Qf3 and the game was praised by Lasker. Black
played 8...c6?! (“the text move accomplishes nothing, and puts Black in an altogether defensive
position. The veiled threat 9...Bxe5 followed by 10...Qa5+ is easily met,” wrote Capablanca) 9.c3 0-0
10.Bg5 Be7 11.Bd3 Ne8 12.Qh3 f5, and now, “White no longer has an attack, but he has compelled
Black to create a marked weakness. Now White’s whole plan will be to exploit this weakness (the
weak e-pawn), and the student can now see how the principles expounded previously are applied in
this game. Every move is directed to make the weak e-pawn unviable, or to profit from the inactivity

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of the Black pieces in defending the pawn, in order to improve the position of White at another
point,” (Capablanca). After 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.0-0 Rf6 15.Rfe1 Nd6 16.Re2 Bd7 17.Rae1 White won a
model game.
On the only occasion Meier faced 8.Qf3 he played 8...c5. Capablanca thought this was the right
move, but after 9.Bb5+ Ke7 10.0-0 cxd4 11.Bf4, Meier, instead of for instance, 11...Qc7 followed by
...Rd8, initiated a plan Capablanca would hardly have approved of, 11...g5? 12.Bg3 h5, Dominguez
Perez – Meier, chess.com 2018. White played 13.h3 with an advantage and won, but anyway the
computer immediately shows that Black’s idea is too risky and suggests 13.h4!, with a nice variation
to prove the dangers of leaving the king in the center and opening the game, 13...gxh4? 14.Bxh4
Bxe5 15.Rfe1 Qd6 16.Rxe5! Qxe5 17.Bxf6+ Qxf6 18.Qa3+ and mate.
Let’s return to 8.Bg5.

8...h6

This move forces the White bishop to decide which diagonal to stay on and allows a future ...g5 in
case of necessity, but it also weakens the kingside. This may seem irrelevant now, but in the course of
the game it was important.

9.Bh4 0-0

After what we saw, the move 9...c5 wouldn’t be our choice, as White benefits from the open lines
after 10.Bb5+ Ke7 11.0-0 cxd4 12.Qxd4 Qc7 13.Ng4 e5 14.Nxe5!, winning a pawn thanks to the
exposed king on e7, 14...Rd8 (if 14...Bxe5 one of the rooks goes to e1) 15.Rfe1 Be6 16.Bg3, etc.,
Rogers – Gerber, Biel 1996.

10.Bd3 c5

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 11.Qe2

Question: Why did Nepo choose this set-up?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: It’s difficult to say. Instead of the quieter but good 11.0-0 Nepo played this aggressive
idea, intending 0-0-0. It seems that it suits his style perfectly.
There are very few examples with the diagram position. In one of the previous games White played
the poor 11.Ng4?, and Black showed another point of the move ...h6 playing 11...Qa5+. The dark-
squared bishop can’t return to d2, and after 12.c3 Nxg4 13.Qxg4 f5 14.Qg6 cxd4 Black was a pawn
up without compensation.

11...Qa5+

Black chose a line that quickly leads to great complications.

The obvious alternative was 11...cxd4 12.0-0-0, where Black still has problems with his Bc8 and
White has an easier game with attacking chances. If 12...Be7 then 13.f4, planning a quick g4, while
after 12...Qc7 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Qg4+ Kh8 15.Nf3 White has enough compensation for the pawn, but
this line was no worse than what Black played.

12.c3 cxd4 13.Nc4

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 13...Qc5?!

Defending the bishop with this move look natural, and the idea is to have the check on b4 available
when White plays cxd4 (if ...Qxd4 is not possible).
Of course, that is just one possibility. The situation is complex and it all depends on accurate
calculations.
In fact, the upshot of analysis is that this move costs Black precious time.
The engines prefer 13...Qd5, then after 14.Bxf6 (14.0-0-0?! allows 14...Be7, protecting the pawn
structure) 14...gxf6 15.Be4 (this is probably the reason why Black preferred 13...Qc5) 15...Qc5
16.Qg4+ Kh8 17.Qh4 Kg7 18.Nxd6 Qxd6 19.0-0-0 Qe5 20.Rxd4 Qg5+ most of Black’s troubles
disappear.
This is just an example. There are many more permutations, such as 16.Nxd6 (instead of 16.Qg4+)
16...Qxd6 17.Rd1 (not castling long in order to avoid the queen check on f4) 17...e5 18.Qh5, and the
best defense is to give back the pawn with 18...f5. Here, White has a small advantage as his pawn
structure is better.

14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Qg4+

The computer suggests 15.b4, a move that seems inconsistent with the idea of playing 11.Qe2,
because after this move castling long is no longer attractive for a human. After 15...Qc6 (controlling
e4) 16.Qg4+ Kh8 17.Qxd4 Be7 the computer still likes 18.0-0-0, but a master would probably
choose to castle short after 18.Qf4 Kg7, with no significant advantage for White if any.

15...Kh8 16.cxd4 Qb4+

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 17.Kf1

This move was criticized after the game, and considered dubious.
Question: Why is it dubious? What choice did he have?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: This retreat looks logical, yes. The king runs away from the center, but for tactical reasons
17.Ke2 was slightly better, as Black can’t take advantage of the exposed position of the king, White
retains connected rooks, and the attack is more effective. This is clear after analysis, but of course at
the board it requires a lot of calculation.
For example, 17...b5? is not possible due to 18.Nxd6 Qxd6 (or 18...Qxb2+ 19.Ke3) 19.Qe4 f5
20.Qxa8, and White wins.
17...Rg8 involves a pawn sacrifice, to exchange queens after 18.Qh5 Bf8 19.Qxf7 Qe7 20.Qxe7
Bxe7, trusting in the two bishops, but White is better after playing 21.Be4.
After the same reply of the game, 17...Bc7, White has many options. 18.Qh4 Kg7 19.Rac1 was
suggested, while another attractive possibility is 18.Qe4 f5 19.Qh4 Kh7 20.a3!, to force the Black
queen to move to an inferior square: 20...Qb3? loses to 21.Qe7, while after 20...Qa4 White follows
21.Rhg1!, planning g4, although the position remains complex.

17...Bc7

This was a difficult decision to make without a clear reason, but here Black has 17...Rg8 18.Qh5

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Bf8 19.Qxf7 Qe7 20.Qxe7 Bxe7. After 21.Be4 the White king is on f1, not on e2, and this makes the
defensive task easier for Black. He can play 21...Rb8, but even 21...Bd7!? deserves to be considered,
when after 22.Bxb7 Rad8 23.Rd1 Bb5 24.b3 Rd7 25.Be4 Rc8 Black recovers one of the sacrificed
pawns and should hold the endgame without much difficulty.

18.Qe4 f5 19.Qh4

Black must decide how to defend the h-pawn. This sharp position is the most critical moment of the
game. We will devote the time its complexity deserves, so “fasten your seat belts.”

19...Kg7?

It’s amazing that this is a losing move, although White has to play very accurately to demonstrate
it.
Black had to play 19...Kh7!, putting his king on the same diagonal as the d3-bishop, and he still
needs to tread very carefully. Still, this was the right move.
After 20.g4 the best defense is 20...b5!, threatening the knight and adding more pieces to the
counterattack; the direct attempt, sacrificing two pieces with 21.gxf5 bxc4 22.f6+ cxd3 only gets a
draw after 23.Qe4+ Kh8 24.Qe3 Kh7. Here the lonely queen is not that dangerous if White can’t take
advantage of the g-file.
21.g5 is more dangerous.

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 Exercise (difficult): Black now has only one way to stay in the game, what is it?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Defending the h6-pawn is not enough to stop the attack. After 21...Rh8 22.Rg1! h5 (after
22...Bd7 23.Qh5 Kg7 24.Ne5 or 22...bxc4 23.gxh6 White’s attack is winning) 23.g6+! fxg6 24.Be2
(threatening 25.Bxh5) 24...Bd8 25.Qg3 g5 26.Ne5 White is clearly on top.
The best defense is the pretty resource 21...Bf4!, distracting the White queen from h6, because after
22.Qxh6+ Kg8 the g pawn is pinned, and after 23.Qh5 Kg7 Black threatens the knight and also
24...Rh8. If 24.Ne5? Black has 24...Qxd4, so White has nothing better than to repeat moves with
24.Qh6+.
After 22.Qxf4 bxc4 23.Qh4 Black uses the pin on the c1-h6 diagonal once more with the
counterattack 23...Qd2!, then after 24.Qxh6+ Kg8 Black is just in time to add more forces to the
counterattack before White’s attack prevails.
Let’s see some lines after 25.Be2 Rb8.

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 If 26.Rg1 Black must now be precise: 26...c3! (but not 26...Rxb2? 27.Qh5! and here the threat g6 is
too strong, after 27...Kg7 28.g6 Black must give up the exchange with 28...Qxe2+ without enough
compensation) 27.Rd1 (if 27.bxc3 Black gets more than enough counterplay with 27...Rb2 28.Qh5
Ba6!) 27...Qf4 28.bxc3 (28.Rg4 fxg4 29.Bd3 f5 only leads to a draw after 30.Qg6+) 28...Rb2,
planning, again, 29...Ba6, and Black is in time to defend his king.
If, instead of 26.Rg1, White chooses 26.Rd1, then after 26...Qf4 he still needs two tempi to win the
game. There could follow 27.Rg1 Rxb2 28.Qh5 c3 29.g6, and here Black again has only one move to
save the game, 29...Kg7!!, but it is enough: 30.Qh7+ Kf6 31.g7 c2 32.Re1 c1=Q leads to no
advantage for White.
There are many more lines of course, but we have got the picture: Black was in the game and all
three results were possible.
Let’s go back to 19...Kg7, where the situation is completely different.

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 Exercise: Why was it a bad choice?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

20.g4!

The same move, but here it is stronger because the Black king is badly situated on g7 in several
variations, for instance because a future Rg1 will come with check, and also because after g4-g5
White will take gxh6 with check, too.

20...f4

Unlike in the earlier note, Black has no time for 20...b5 as 21.gxf5 bxc4 22.f6+ leads to mate.
The defense 20...Bd8 21.Qh5 Qe7 is met by 22.h4!, avoiding both ...Qg5 and ...Qh4, and White
continues with his strong attack.
Exercise: Now White has two strong moves, point out one of them.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

21.Rg1

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 This is one of them, the most natural one. White wants to follow up with g5.

21...Bd7

Black has no time for 21...b5, as after 22.g5 h5 23.g6 f5 there is 24.a3! and Black loses too much
material because his attacked queen can’t avoid the deadly 25.Qe7+.
23...f6 instead of 23...f5 leads to mate after 24.Qxh5 Rh8 25.Qxh8+! Kxh8 26.g7+.
The attempt 21...Rh8 is no better and White would play as in the game.

Exercise: What is the last precise move of the game?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

22.Qh5!

After this move the opening of the g-file is unavoidable.

But not the immediate 22.g5? due to 22...h5!, and the situation totally changes. Black is fine, his
king is safer than White’s, and 23.Qxh5? Rh8 followed by 24...e5 is nearly winning.
Going back to the previous move, the second strong move was 21.Qh5!

22...Rh8 23.g5 hxg5

23...Kf8 is no defense. Black has no threat and any normal move such as 24.gxh6, 24.g6 or 24.Rc1

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is winning.

24.Qxg5+ Kf8

Exercise: What did Nepo play here?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

25.Qf6!

Threatening the h8-rook, and still with the opposite king as a target.

25...Rxh2

After 25...Rg8 White eliminates the only defender and brings new attackers into play, for example
26.Rxg8+ Kxg8 27.Qh6 f5 28.Ke2.
Exercise (simple): How did the attack continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

26.Rg7

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 This was the idea of the previous move.

26...Be8

Or 26...Qe7 27.Rg8+.

Exercise: Which move leads to the quickest mate?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

27.Bh7!

The knight is not needed, as after 27...Qxc4+ 28.Kg1, or 27...Rh1+ 28.Kg2 Bc6+ 29.f3, there is no
defense.
1–0
Some lessons from this game: *
1.) You should train to sense the critical moments of the game, when precise calculation is needed.
(13...Qc5? 19...Kg7?)
2.) Preventing your opponent’s plan is as important as advancing your own. (21...Bf4! 22.Qh5!)
3.) Don’t forget to ‘invite everyone to the party’, bringing fresh forces into the attack. (20.g4!
21.Rg1! 26.Rg7!)
4.) Don’t forget to ask yourself “What can my opponent reply?” (22.g5? 22.Qh5!)

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 * Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

Game 20
“A fantastic miniature by Nepo in an extremely important match”
Russia was sharing 3rd-5th place (5th by tie-break), before the last round of the 43rd Chess
Olympiad 2018 in Batumi. A win against France in the last match was essential to fight for medals.
Russia managed it: Nepomniachtchi won the only decisive game of the match and Russia shared
1st-3rd place, gaining the bronze medal. Nepo also won the individual silver medal for his second
board, and his 2790 rating performance was the best of the Russian team.
The above title was the description of this game provided by Surya Ganguly, which has similarity
with our game 15. Here, Nepo in an important match played an even wilder attacking game, with g4
and h4, obliging Black to play with precision. Two weak moves by Bacrot led to a quick denouement.

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Etienne Bacrot
English Opening [A13]
Olympiad, Batumi (11), 05.10.2018

1.Nf3 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Be7

5.b3

As we saw in game 15, Nepomniachtchi postpones the move d4, trying to give the game an
independent character.

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 White keeps the a1–h8 diagonal open for a possible kingside attack, but of course the move d4 will
also be considered later. He has played this order of moves, and this idea, several times in rapid and
blitz games on the internet.

5...0-0

Two months later, in Nepomniachtchi – Nakamura, St Petersburg 2018 (rapid), Black played 5...c5,
then after 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Bb2 Nxc3 8.Bxc3 0-0 Nepo played a similar idea to what we will see here:
he played 9.h4 and after 9...Bf6 10.Qc2 Bxc3 11.dxc3 Nc6?! (11...Nd7, to eventually get to f6,
deserves consideration) 12.Bd3 f5 13.0-0-0 Qa5 14.e4 White, with all his pieces active and better
development, gained an advantage.

6.Bb2 c5

Question: It seems that we are in new territory, tell me something about this position.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Black has many development ideas. The move 6...b6 is very interesting, when Black
doesn’t commit to ...c5 early and focuses on neutralizing the aggressive set-up that White is planning:
the possibility of playing ...Ba6, exchanging the light-colored bishops, makes White’s attack less
dangerous; in Nepomniachtchi – Kramnik, chess.com 2020, the game continued 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.h4
Ba6 9.Be2 c5 10.Qb1 Nb4 11.Bxa6?! N8xa6 12.Ke2 f5, and Black was already better.
In the same tournament he faced 6...dxc4 7.Bxc4 c5. Nepo then played 8.h4 (the engines prefer
8.g4, a move that wouldn’t be a surprise if Nepo had played it) but the same recipe Nepo used in our
game was not successful after 8...a6 9.Qb1 b5 10.Be2 Bb7 11.Ng5 Nbd7 12.Bf3 Bxf3 13.Nxf3 Rc8
14.Ne2 c4 when Black was faster, in Nepomniachtchi – Yu, St Petersburg 2018.
Two years later, Nepomniachtchi – Leko, chess24.com 2020, saw 6...c6 7.Qc2 b6, and now, instead
of 8.d4, which leads to standard positions, Nepo played 8.g4!? Nxg4 9.Rg1 Nf6 10.0-0-0, with
attacking chances and decent compensation for the pawn.

7.cxd5 Nxd5

After 7...exd5 in Nepomniachtchi – Nyzhnyk, Chess.com 2020, Nepo give up his h4 and/or g4
ideas and did play 8.d4, reaching a typical isolated d-pawn setup after 8...Nc6 9.Be2 Bg4 10.dxc5
Bxc5 11.0-0 Re8 12.Rc1, etc.

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 8.h4

Not a surprise for us. White has mainly tried Qc2 followed by h4. Playing h4 first could transpose
to known examples, but in our game it acquires a character of its own.
8.Qc2 Nc6 9.h4 was first seen in the Moscow Candidates 2016 between Karjakin and Anand; then
9...b6 (9...h6?! is weak due to 10.g4!, played months later in a rapid game, Carlsen – Ganguly, Doha
2016) 10.a3 (this precaution is advisable with the queen on c2 to avoid ...Nb4). Therefore, to save a
tempo by avoiding playing a3, 8.Qb1 was also tried, but after 8...b6 9.Nxd5 exd5 10.d4?!,
Mamedyarov – So, Saint Louis 2018 (blitz), Black missed 10...cxd4! followed by ...Bb4+.

8...b6

After this game, in 2019 and 2020, Black played 8...Nc6 more often, with decent results.

9.Qb1

This was the point, similar to Karjakin’s idea, saving the move a3 with the queen on b1 in order to
avoid any ...Nb4 tricks, but of course the queen is not better placed here than on c2.

9...h6?!

Played after thinking for 38 minutes. Maybe objectively it’s not a mistake, there is no clear way to
demonstrate it, but it is an inaccurate move, and in the practical sense a poor decision because it
obliges Black to defend precisely.
There is no need to rush yet. Black has more useful moves than weakening his kingside.
10.Ng5 was not a dangerous threat as long as Black keeps his bishop on c8, so as to be ready to

286
meet Ng5 with ...f5.
So 9...Bb7? should also be avoided, because 10.Ng5 g6 11.Nxh7! Kxh7 12.h5 leads to disaster.
The best answer seems, as in the previous move, to continue development with 9...Nc6, as Anand
did against Karjakin.

Exercise (simple): What did Nepo play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

10.g4!

A natural move for us, just like Magnus played in the above game (see the note to move 8). The
break Black offered on g5 by playing ...h7-h6 is welcome.

10...Bb7

Exercise:

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: How to continue?

11.Rh3!

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 The most ambitious way to defend against the threat 11...Nxc3 and 12...Bxf3. Nepo keeps the rook
on the h-file. The alternative was 11.Be2, but White is thinking of a more aggressive square for his
light-squared bishop.

11...Nd7

The knight comes to the defense. Exchanging knights first with 11...Nxc3?! 12.Bxc3 Nd7 is not an
improvement, as after 13.g5 h5 14.g6! Bf6 15.Ng5! Bxg5 16.hxg5 Qxg5 17.Rg3 White has a
promising attack for the sacrificed pawn.

12.g5 h5

Naturally, Black needs to close the files on his kingside.

13.Bd3

The engines prefer 13.g6 f5 14.Qd1 or 14.Bc4, but it is not clear that they are better.
A master must see a concrete and convincing line if he is willing to eliminate the tension, whereas
here the computer’s suggestion closes the position and stops his attack.

13...Nb4?

This is a loss of time. The knight is getting too far away from the kingside and Black should have
played 13...Qc7, or even 13...Nxc3 14.Bxc3 Qc7, and, after the typical maneuver to worsen the
location of the enemy king 15.Bh7+ Kh8 16.Be4, White probably still keeps a minimal edge, though
Black is fully in the game.

Exercise (simple): How did Nepo reply?

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 Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

14.Bh7+!

The bishop is not obliged to go back at all.

14...Kh8 15.Be4

After the exchange of bishops with 15...Bxe4 16.Nxe4, the difference in strength between the b4
and e4 knights is obvious, while the absence of a defender of d3 is not relevant.

15...Nd5

Exercise: How did Nepo continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

16.Ne2!

White’s knight will be much more powerful than Black’s knight centralized on d5; the threat is
17.Ng3.

16...f5?

This move defends the h-pawn, but the kingside is severely weakened and it’s clearly a decisive
mistake.
He needed to evade the threat with 16...Bd6!, when after 17.Ng3 Bxg3 18.Rxg3 White is better but
it is still a fight.

17.gxf6 N7xf6

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 Exercise: How did the attack continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

18.Ng5

Threatening to win with 19.Bxd5 and 20.Bxf6. Black can’t do much as White’s attack is too strong.

18...Nxe4 19.Qxe4 Bxg5 20.hxg5 Nf4

This move loses, but 20...Qxg5 21.Rg3 and 20...Qe8 21.Ng3 are no better.

21.Qxb7 Nd3+ 22.Kf1 Nxb2

22...Qxg5 23.Rxh5+ leads to a quick mate, while Black has only a few checks after 22...Rxf2+
23.Kg1 Qxg5+ 24.Rg3 and it’s over.

23.Rxh5+ Kg8

290
 Exercise: What is the quickest way to force resignation?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

24.g6

Threatening both 25.Qh1 and 25.Rh8+ followed by 26.Qh1+, against which there is no defense.
1–0
Some lessons from this game: *
1.) You should train to sense the critical moments of the game, when precise evaluation and/or
calculation is needed. (13...Nxc3! 16...f5?)
2.) Unless you see it clearly, keep your options open! (11.Rh3! 13.Bd3! 13.g6?)
3.) “Which piece should I exchange? Which one should I keep?” If you can find the right answers,
you’ll probably discover the correct plan. (13...Nxc3! 16.Ne2! 16...Bd6!)
4.) “Which piece can I improve? Are all of my pieces in the best place?” – these are questions we
should ask ourselves from time to time. (16.Ne2!)
5.) After a move you missed, don’t panic! Even though it’s easier said than done, as we saw in
previous games. (16...f5? 16...Bd6!)
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

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 Show in Text Mode

Game 21
Out of the book as soon as possible
In this game Nepomniachtchi didn’t show an opening novelty or new idea. Rather, he chose to
divert from normal lines, avoiding a theoretical discussion. His approach worked well, and he adapted
much better than his opponent to the nonstandard position that soon appeared, obtaining a quick
victory with the Black pieces against a top player.

Anish Giri
Ian Nepomniachtchi
Pirc Defense [B07]
Tata Steel, Wijk aan Zee (1), 12.01.2019

1.e4 d6

Question: The Pirc Defense is seldom played by Nepo, right?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: The Pirc is not his main defense, that’s true, but he has played it several times in rapid and
blitz games.

2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6

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 4.Be3

4.Nf3 followed by Be3 is a line Giri has used more frequently: he played this at the end of 2019
against Nepo again. After 4...a6 5.Be3 Bg7 6.Qd2 b5 7.Bh6 0-0 8.Bd3 Bb7?! (8...Nc6!) 9.Bxg7
Kxg7 10.e5! White got a significant advantage, although Black finally won, Giri – Nepomniachtchi,
Paris 2019 (blitz).

4...a6 5.Qd2

In the 12th round, against Shankland, Nepo played the Pirc again. White was better after 5.h3 e6
(5...Nbd7) 6.Bd3 Nbd7 7.Nf3 b5 8.e5 b4 9.Ne4 Nxe4 10.Bxe4 d5 11.Bd3 c5 12.c3 bxc3 13.bxc3
Qa5 14.Bd2 and Nepo could not save the game.
That was a painful defeat (but totally justified, as he was outplayed), because Nepo, with 7 points
out of 11 with two rounds to go, was half a point behind the leaders Carlsen and Giri, and his
opponent was not in the best of moods because he had resigned in a drawn position against Giri in the
previous round.

5...b5 6.f3

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 This position was new in Giri’s career, whereas Nepo had some experience in this system in shorter
formats. If it was not an improvisation, Giri’s choice was made because he took note of the
unconvincing treatment Nepo had given this line before, without regards to the actual results of the
games.

6...Nbd7

Nepo rightly postpones the development of both of his bishops. He had got some dubious positions
with three other alternatives:
One questionable move was 6...Bb7, in Fressinet – Nepomniachtchi, Berlin 2015 (blitz), which was
convincingly met by 7.a4! b4 8.Nd1 a5 9.c3 Na6 10.Bd3 Bg7 11.Ne2, and White, with his solid
center and impressive coordination, was better.
In Fressinet – Nepomniachtchi, Dubai 2014, he tried 6...b4, which looks even more suspicious.
After 7.Nd1 a5 8.a3! bxa3 9.Rxa3 c6 10.Bd3 Bg7 11.Ne2 0-0, as in the previous game between them,
Fressinet played Bh6 maybe too quickly. Here the natural 12.0-0 offered a clear advantage, while the
engines like to take the pawn with 12.b4.
Finally, he tried 6...Bg7 in Leko – Nepomniachtchi, Beijing 2014 (rapid). After 7.h4 h5 8.Nh3
Bxh3 9.Rxh3 Nbd7 10.0-0-0 Nb6 11.Bd3, White again had a solid position and stood better, though
this was still his best position of these three games. Instead of 10...Nb6 the computer suggests
improving Black’s play with the slow 10...c6 followed by ...Qc7 and later ...c5 with a decent game.

7.0-0-0

Nepo thought that the pawn structure was in general rather tricky, and maybe White shouldn’t
castle until Black developed his f8–bishop.

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 Exercise: How did Nepo reply?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

7...Nb6

Black continues to progress on the queenside without developing his bishops. If 7...Bg7 then 8.Bh6
favors White, and if 8...0-0?! White could play 9.e5! followed by h4.
Black doesn’t yet play...Bb7 either, as we saw in the game with Leko. In case of the sequence h4-
h5 and Nh3, the bishop may be useful on c8 to capture the knight and avoid the unpleasant Ng5.

8.g4

In Morozevich – Zvyagintsev Tula 2018 (rapid), White chose 8.h4. Black didn’t answer with the
standard 8...h5, but initiated his own attack with 8...b4 9.Nb1 a5. Now 10.Nh3 would be the normal
move, but White played 10.g4 instead, allowing 10...h5!. This is a typical idea to fight against
expansion, cementing the kingside, and after 11.g5 Nfd7 Black was already slightly better.
8.Bh6 Bb7 9.Bxf8 Rxf8 isn’t dangerous either.

8...Bb7

In Morozevich – Zvyagintsev, Sochi 2017 (blitz), Black reacted with our known 8...h5!. Now 9.e5
Nfd5 10.Nxd5 Nxd5 is fine for Black, while 9.gxh5 Nxh5, threatening 10...Ng3 doesn’t give White
anything either, so White played 9.g5, but after 9...Nfd7 10.e5 Bg7 11.e6 fxe6 12.Bd3 Nf8 13.Nge2
Nc4 14.Bxc4 bxc4 Black was fine again.
8...h5! was a good move, but what Nepo chose doesn’t eliminate the opportunity of playing ...h5
later.

9.Nh3 Nfd7 10.Be2

Normally it is advisable not to touch our “weak” side, but here 10.a3 should be considered.

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 Exercise: There are several options, what would you play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

10...e6

Black doesn’t want to develop his bishop to g7 and plays a useful move, controlling d5. This gives
more justification to a future ...c5.
Nepo rejected 10...Bg7 11.Bh6 again, moves that White would like.
Question: It looks like both sides are playing useful moves, but not dangerous ones for the
opponent, right?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: You can see it in that way, yes, but remember that Black has a clear target, the White
king, while White hasn’t found one yet, so the slow moves Black is playing are directed to attack the
enemy king at the right moment. He has the advances ...b4 followed by ...a5 and also ...c5 as
possibilities to consider.
Anyway, the computers prefer the immediate 10...b4 11.Nb1 a5, without further preparation.

11.Bg5

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 Nepo criticized this move, because the exchange of bishops merely helps Black’s development.
A logical move was 11.Nf2, although Black is completely fine after 11...b4 12.Nb1 a5, so maybe
the best option was 11.a3, and Black would surely consider 11...c5 as a response.

11...Be7 12.Qe3?!

White seems to be playing without a clear plan. Again, 12.a3 should be considered.

12...Bxg5

Black continues with his strategy; he had a good maneuver in mind.

Again, 12...b4! was also adequate, forcing 13.Nb1, and Black has several attractive moves
available, such as 13...Rc8 preparing ...c5, 13...h5 or even 13...0-0, in better conditions than before.

13.Nxg5

Exercise: What was the first part of Nepo’s idea?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

13...h6!

The knight must retreat.

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 14.Nh3

Exercise: And now?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

14...Qh4

14...b4 and 14...c5 were also good, but Nepo continues with his idea. He takes advantage of the
exchange of the dark-squared bishops and activates his queen; he said that after this move “Black
should be OK.”

15.Nf2

“Maybe not a great move” (Nepomniachtchi). He suggested 15.Nf4, but he was not very convinced
either.

15...0-0-0

The computer slightly prefers Black, but in the practical sense, considering that Black’s position is
easier to handle, the advantage is surely greater at the board.
Remember how highly Magnus Carlsen regards having a position that is easy to play.

16.f4?!

White finally decides to take active measures, but this is a mistake.

He should have continued with waiting tactics, with no advantage for sure, but still in the game.
The centralizing 16.Nd3 was better. It wouldn’t be surprising if Nepo answered it with 16...Kb8,
and then decided which break was the most convenient, ...f5, ...e5, or something else.

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 Exercise: Why was 16.f4 a mistake?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

16...f5!

The increase in the tension favors Black, as he will prove that White’s overextended pawn structure
is weak.

17.Bf3

After 17.a3 Nf6 the difficulties continue.

Exercise (simple): How did Nepo continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

17...b4

Finally, in one of the most interesting positions, the knight is “invited” to retreat, losing a pawn.

18.exf5

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 White decides to sacrifice a piece, because playing 18.Nb1 was not pleasant at all.
“Anyway, I was surprised, as the idea exf5 never seemed to me like something real. When he
decided to go for it, at least I wasn’t disappointed,” said Nepo after the game.
After 18.Nb1 fxe4 both 19.Nxe4 Nd5 and 19.Bxe4 Bxe4 20.Nxe4 Qxg4 are already hopeless for
White.

18...bxc3 19.fxe6 cxb2+ 20.Kb1 Nf6

Clearly White doesn’t have enough compensation, as he can’t create any problems for Black’s king.

21.Bxb7+ Kxb7 22.Qf3+ d5 23.Nd3 Ne4 24.Nc5+ Ka7 25.Qa3 Nxc5 26.Qxc5 Kb7

White only has a pawn for the piece, and too many weaknesses. If 27.h3 then 27...Rd6, and more
losses are unavoidable, so Giri resigned.
0–1
This was the only loss Giri suffered in the tournament. He finished second, half a point behind
Carlsen.
Some lessons from this game: *
1.) A position which is easy to play should be preferred to a theoretically better one that is difficult
to handle, as Magnus Carlsen says.
2.) “How can I improve the position of my pieces?” This is another question which, posed at the
right moment, can give us clues to finding the best move. (10...e6! 14...Qh4!)
3.) There is a saying: “Things are as they are, not as we’d like them to be,” which, when applied to
chess, could be expressed as “Let your moves be dictated by what the position demands, not what you

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want to do. (10.a3! 11.a3! 12.Qe3? 16.f4?)
4.) Preventing your opponent’s activity can be as important as activating your own forces. (10.a3!
11.a3! 12.a3!)
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

Game 22
Playing in Carlsen’s style
Nepomniachtchi was surprised by his opponent’s choice in the opening in this game, and, instead of
discussing a theoretical line, he decided to head straight for the ending. We could say he played in
Carlsen’s style, as for a start the opening idea belongs to Carlsen, but the similarity didn’t finish there.
The complex ending was about equal most of the time, but, like Carlsen (and Lasker) he continued
pressing until his opponent collapsed.

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Vidit Gujrathi
Petroff Defense [C42]
Tata steel, Wijk aan Zee (9), 22.01.2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6

Nepomniachtchi admitted that he did not expect the Petroff.

3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nd3

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 Question: What a strange move!

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: It was a practical decision, because, as Nepo explained: “As far as I know Vidit is not a
big specialist in the Petroff Defense. I thought maybe this endgame would be interesting to play and
somehow it paid off.”
Anyway, this was not fresh inspiration at the board. Nepo followed Magnus Carlsen’s footsteps
when he played this move, although the World Champion had played it just once at the time, two
months before this game, in game 6 of his World Championship match against Caruana.
In the six games where Carlsen (always White) reached such a position after three moves against
Caruana from 2018 to 2020, he chose 4.Nf3 in four of them, and in the other one he played 4.Nc4,
quickly reaching an ending, too.

4...Nxe4 5.Qe2 Qe7 6.Nf4

Question: I realize the knight will not stay on d3 forever, but what’s going on?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Nepo is continuing with Carlsen’s idea. The knight wants to reach d5 at some point, and
the d-pawn is now free to advance, not only to d3 as in similar lines, but also to d4 in just one move;
besides, with the knight not on f3, White can even consider f3 followed by d4.

6...Nc6

This was Caruana’s novelty in the above game. Black can of course also continue with normal
moves to stop 7.Nd5, such as 6...Nf6 or 6...c6.
In case of 6...Nf6 White could play 7.d4, and claim he has saved the d3 move to expel the knight
from e4, while if 6...c6 White could continue 7.f3 Nf6 8.d4.
These are just examples. There are more options of course, but in any case they are not much
different to what Nepo was aiming for when he decided to reach what is a complex ending.

7.c3

Ian diverges from Carlsen – Caruana, London (m/6) 2018, which continued 7.Nd5 Nd4 8.Nxe7
Nxe2 9.Nd5 Nd4 10.Na3 Ne6 11.f3 N4c5 12.d4 Nd7 13.c3 c6 14.Nf4 Nb6 15.Bd3, and after this
very unusual dance of knights White got what he wanted: the structure is symmetrical, but White is
slightly ahead in development. Play ended in a draw after 80 moves.

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 7...Nc5

A rather provocative move. Black encourages White to push his pawns with tempo.
On the other occasion that Nepo had this position, Black reacted in a more natural way: 7...Nf6 was
played in Nepomniachtchi – Wei, Y, Abidjan 2019 (rapid). Ian then played 8.h4, but after 8...h5 9.d4
g6 10.Na3 a6 11.Nc4 Bg7 12.f3 0-0 13.Qxe7 Nxe7 14.Kf2 b5 15.Ne3 c5 16.dxc5 dxc5 17.a4 Bd7
Black had a solid position.
Let’s see a short game where White, instead of 8.h4, played 8.d4. Nakamura – Duda, Chess.com
2019 (blitz), continued 8...Bf5 and White didn’t go for an ending but decided to play more
aggressively, castling long with queens on the board, with 9.Be3. After 9...d5 10.Nd2 0-0-0 White
completed his idea by playing 11.0-0-0.

Exercise: Why was 11.0-0-0 a terrible mistake?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Because Black has the beautiful 11...Qa3!, and White loses the a-pawn. The queen can’t
be taken, and White must stop the main threat 12...Qxc3+ and mate. The game (blitz, after all) didn’t
last much longer: 12.Qb5 Qxa2 13.Bd3 Bxd3 14.Qxd3 Na5 15.Kc2 Qa4+ 16.Kb1 Kb8 17.Nf3 Rd6
18.Nd2 Ra6 19.Qc2 Qa1+! 0–1

8.d4 Qxe2+ 9.Bxe2 Ne6 10.d5

This advance with tempo, “forcing” Black to help with White’s development, is very natural.
However, rather surprisingly it doesn’t give much.

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 Looking for other options, 10.0-0 is interesting: it doesn’t leave Black many good alternatives for
development, so in case of 10...Nxf4 11.Bxf4 Be6 White could try 12.Rd1, threatening d5, and after
12...Ne7 13.c4 White obtains a little more than in the actual game. He has more space and hasn’t
given up the e5 square yet.

10...Nxf4 11.Bxf4 Ne5 12.Na3

Question: The knight voluntarily moves to the edge of the board?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: The knight will be there just for a while, but yes, the alternative was 12.c4 followed by
Nc3. However, White wants to accelerate his development to try to create some discomfort by
playing a quick Nb5.

12...Bf5 13.Nb5

13...0-0-0!

Sacrificing this pawn is not needed, although it is also fine.

At first, this is the first option of the engines in June 2021, but after taking more time they prefer
13...Kd7, which is good enough to equalize, too. Further, this was what Nepomniachtchi had
expected.
After almost any normal move, such as 14.0-0-0, Black would continue with 14...a6, and if 15.Nd4

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then 15...Be4 and 16...Re8 with a satisfactory position.

14.Nxa7+ Kb8 15.Nb5 Nd3+ 16.Bxd3 Bxd3

After the sacrifice Black will regain his pawn and also get an equal game.

17.a4

After 17.Nd4 Bc4 Black recovers the pawn and he is fine.

17...Bc4!

Nepo praised this idea ...Bc4–b3.

Exercise: Why? What’s wrong with 17...Be4?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Because 18.c4! Bxg2 19.Rg1 followed by a rook lift along the third rank may give White
good attacking chances despite the limited material, as Nepomniachtchi said after the game.

18.0-0-0 Bb3

Exercise: Where to move the rook?

Show/Hide Solution

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 Answer:

19.Rd2!

White decides to return the pawn immediately, because after 19.Rd4 Be7 it is not advisable to try to
keep the pawn with 20.a5?! Bf6 21.Rd2 Rde8 22.f3 g5! 23.Bg3 h5 24.h3 g4 and Black’s initiative is
strong.
Or 20.Re4 Bf6 21.c4 Rhe8 22.Rhe1 Rxe4 23.Rxe4 Bxa4 and there is nothing for White.

19...Bxa4

With his two bishops he could get compensation for the pawn playing 19...Re8!. After 20.a5 g6
Black will activate his forces and have nothing to fear.
Black instead decides to recover his pawn. There is nothing wrong with that either, but it contains
more practical problems.
We know how important it is in practice to have a position where finding the best moves doesn’t
require too much effort.

20.Nd4

Now we see the point of White’s idea. He is trying to get a dangerous attack along the a-file.

20...Be7 21.b3 Be8

Question: Why is he going there, is 21...Bd7 a mistake?

Show/Hide Solution

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 Answer: No, it isn’t, but it doesn’t completely fit Black’s priority, to exchange off the knight on
d4.
After 21...Bd7 22.Ra2 Bf6 23.Kd2 Bxd4 24.Rha1, the bishop on d7 block’s the king’s escape route.
It is true that, unlike how it looks, even this cooperative line doesn’t lose. Black can play 24...b5,
avoiding mate, but this needs careful consideration before moving the bishop to d7, so in practice
Black’s choice is better.

22.Ra2 Bf6!

This was the idea, now 23.Kd2?! Bxd4 24.Rha1 Kc8 only favors Black.

23.Rd1

The computer slightly prefers 23.Be3, but White wants to create more practical chances with his
rooks.

23...Bxd4 24.Rxd4

Question: This doesn’t seem to give White much either, or am I wrong?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: You are absolutely right if you are talking about an objective evaluation, but we are in a
practical game, where this opposite-colored bishop endgame with rooks is “not that simple [for
Black]... White has a slight initiative and is not taking any risks.” (Nepomniachtchi).

24...Bd7

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 Exercise: How did Nepo try to get something?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

25.c4!

An attack with only the rooks delivers White nothing, He needs more assets on board, so the
infantry comes to join to the offensive.

25...b6

Avoiding c5; he could also have played 25...Rhe8 when White has 26.c5!, and Black must be
careful, as 26...dxc5? loses to 27.d6!, so he must play 26...Re1+!, then after 27.Kd2 Rf1! 28.cxd6
Rxf2+ Black survives.

26.b4!

White continues with his idea.

26...Kb7?

A logical defense. Black prepares ...Ra8 but it is a mistake.

After the game Nepo mentioned the calmer response 26...Rhe8, but he thought that White had a
slight initiative anyway, retaining practical chances to win.

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 In case of 27.Rd3 Black has time to play 27...Kb7, and 28.Rda3 Ra8 29.c5 dxc5! 30.bxc5 c6!
should be enough for a draw.
After 27.c5 Black can coordinate his defense of the queenside with a counterattack playing
27...Bb5!, threatening to enter enemy territory with a rook and exchange it, which is enough to
neutralize White’s initiative.
White has no time to keep both rooks on the board and double them on the a-file, as after 28.Be3
dxc5 29.bxc5 bxc5 30.Rf4 Bd3 31.Rxf7 Rxd5 Black’s pieces are coordinated. If now 32.Bf4 then
32...Re1+! saves the day after 33.Kd2 Bg6+ or 33.Kb2 Re2+, with perpetual check among other
options, 34.Ka3? in the latter line even loses to 34...Bc2!

Exercise: How did Nepo show that 26...Kb7 was a mistake?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

27.c5!

Now Black has no counterplay, and has no time to play the saving ...Ra8.

27...dxc5

Black is forced to open lines, weakening his king’s position.

28.bxc5 c6

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 There is no defense after 28...bxc5 29.Rb2+ Kc8 30.Rc4 and Rxc5.

29.cxb6 cxd5

Exercise: A key move is still required to clarify everything, what is it?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

30.Be3!

White keeps hold of his passed pawn, which tips the scales in his favor.
30.Rxd5 Be6 31.Rxd8 Rxd8 32.Rb2 is not bad and White is a pawn up, but it offers much less than
the game continuation. Also, 30.Rb4? is just wrong due to 30...Ra8.

30...Ra8

Exercise (simple): Which move made 30.Be3! stronger than 30.Rxd5?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

31.Ra7+!

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 White gets a passed pawn on a7, not on b6, which gives him a greater advantage.

31...Rxa7 32.bxa7 Bc6 33.Rg4

White’s plan is to force weakening pawn moves to facilitate the entrance of his rook, or even the
king.
There is no rush, as Black can only sit and wait.

33...Rg8 34.Kd2 Kc7?!

Exercise: Black’s move shortens the end, why?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

35.Rb4!

After the king moves away from the a-pawn Black’s position becomes lost.
White has Rb8 and Bf4-b8–type tactics. Black can avoid them, but by remaining too passive he
can’t stop the White king from invading Black’s territory, be it the kingside or the queenside.

35...Bb7

Of course 35...Ra8 36.Bf4+ Kc8 37.Bb8 is lost, but marking time is not enough either. After for
example 35...Kd7 36.Rb8 Rc8 37.Bd4 g6 Black can prevent White’s king from reaching the kingside

311
to capture one of the pawns, but going to the queenside seems good enough too. After 38.Kc3,
followed by Kb4, before moving to a5-b6 or c5, with f3 before to neutralize a possible ...d4 and give
more freedom to the bishop, Black is almost in zugzwang, White also has tactics based on Rb6xc6.

36.Bb6+ Kc6

Exercise: What was the last move of the game?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

37.Ba5

There is no good defense to 38.Rb6+, capturing material.

1–0
Some lessons from this game: *
1.) Opposite-colored bishops, far from being drawish, make a draw less likely when there are other
pieces on the board and one side has the initiative.
2.) “A game of chess, after all, is a fight...” (Lasker). Even in an equal position there are always
chances to press your opponent, fight and play for a win. (25.c4!)
3.) It is always useful to ask oneself “Which piece should I exchange?” and “Which piece should I
keep?” (22...Bf6!)
4.) Don’t forget to ask yourself “What can my opponent reply?” (26...Kb7? 26...Rhe8!)

312
 5.) Don’t forget to ‘invite everyone to the party’, bringing fresh forces into the attack. (25.c4!
26.b4!)
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

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 Show in Text Mode

Game 23
More great preparation and a model game
“Nepomniachtchi’s win was quite impressive. Using deep preparation in a 3.d4 Petroff, he ended
the game with six minutes more on the clock than when he started!” according to chess.com. White’s
preparation didn’t give him a mating attack or an overwhelming advantage, just a (big) practical
advantage in the form of a position that was easier to play, which was also why he ended up with
more time at his disposal.
After some mistakes by his opponent, Nepo got tremendous activity that led to a decisive material
advantage.
Russia won the 2019 World Team Championship played in Astana with a round to spare. This was
the only decisive game of the third round match, in which Russia defeated China.

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Yu Yangyi
Petroff Defense [C43]
World Team Championship, Astana (3.2), 07.03.2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6

Not a surprise, this is Yu Yangyi’s main defense.

3.d4

When they met again with this position, at the end of 2019, the game went 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4
5.Nc3 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Be3, Nepomniachtchi – Yu Yangyi, Moscow 2019 (rapid).

3...Nxe4

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 4.Bd3

It’s really amazing that, according to Mega Database 2021, Nepo reached this position 15 times
between 2008 and the end of 2020, but in all the other games he continued 4.dxe5. This was the only
time he chose this heavily analyzed line.

4...d5 5.Nxe5 Nd7

After this game Yu Yangyi played this move just once, in a loss against Caruana at Wijk aan Zee
2020. White played 6.0-0 on that occasion.
The three times that he chose the other main move, 5...Bd6, his results were much better. He got 2.5
points, but the draw was in the only classical game. The wins were in rapid and blitz encounters.

6.Nxd7 Bxd7 7.0-0 Bd6

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 8.Nc3

This was the “surprise” Nepo had prepared. It is not a new move at all, just a continuation that Yu
Yangyi had not encountered at the board before. He had only faced 8.Qh5.

8...Nxc3 9.bxc3 0-0

Let’s check your theoretical knowledge in this line. If you haven’t studied it, no problem: just use
your brain.
Exercise: What is the best move for White?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

10.Qh5

To force a weakening of his opponent’s kingside.

10...f5 11.Re1

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 11...c6

Question: I guess we are still in theory, please tell me why he made this move?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: It’s a logical move, defending the unprotected d-pawn.

Its effectiveness can be seen if compared with a seemingly logical move like 11...Qf6?!. White has
12.Qf3!, then after 12...c6 White offers the favorable exchange of dark-squared bishops with 13.Bf4!.
If now 13...Rae8 White can create favorable tension in the center with 14.c4!; avoiding the exchange
of bishops with 13...Be7?! instead is dubious: 14.Rab1 b6 15.c4! is unpleasant again.
Exercise: In this line, how would you answer 14...b5 (instead of 14...b6), avoiding 15.c4?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: White has the strong 15.Rxb5!, as after 15...cxb5 16.Qxd5+ Kh8 17.Qxd7 White gets a
third pawn for the exchange and is clearly better.

12.Bg5

White continues with his development. The advance c4 should be considered, but 12.c4 is not
dangerous now, as after the simple 12...Qf6 13.c3 Rfe8 14.Bg5 Qf7 Black has no problems.

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 12...Qc7

Exercise: Why is 12...Qa5 worse?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: For the reason we already know: White has 13.Be7!, exchanging bishops in a favorable
situation. After 13...Bxe7 14.Rxe7 Qxc3 White can play 15.Rb1, and 15...Be8 doesn’t avoid
16.Rbxb7!, threatening mate.
If 14...Be8 instead of 14...Qxc3, played in Savic – Todorovic, Valjevo 2011, White got a strong
initiative after 15.Qg5 Bg6 16.h4! Qxc3 17.Rb1.

13.Re3

White prepares Rae1, bringing his inactive rook into the game.
Question: What’s going on? I think 13.Be7 and 13.c4 should also be considered.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Yes, both moves have been tested, let’s look a little.
After 13.Be7 Rfe8 14.Bxd6 Qxd6 White did get the desirable exchange of bishops, but in better
conditions for Black than before. Now 15.Bxf5? g6 is not possible, while after 15.c4 dxc4 16.Bxc4+
Kh8 17.c3 b5 followed by ...a5 Black has nothing to complain about.

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 In Balogh – Yusupov, Bastia 2004, White didn’t get anything positive playing 14.Bxf5?! instead of
14.Bxd6. There followed 14...Bxh2+ 15.Qxh2 Qxh2+ 16.Kxh2 Bxf5, and the c2-pawn is lost.
After 13.c4 Black has successfully held the position with 13...Be8!, for example 14.Qh3 dxc4!
(better than 14...h6?! 15.Bd2 Qf7 16.c5! Bc7 17.Rab1 Qd7 18.Qf3!, planning Bf4, and White was
better in Adams – Topalov, Dortmund 2005) and White got nothing after 15.Bxc4+ Bf7
(Mamedyarov – Gashimov, Kallithea 2008). In Vachier-Lagrave – Gelfand, Khanty-Mansiysk 2009,
White preferred 15.Bxf5, but after 15...h6 16.Be6+ Bf7 17.Bxh6 gxh6 18.Qxh6 Bxh2+ 19.Qxh2
Qxh2+ 20.Kxh2 Bxe6 21.Rxe6 Rxf2 22.Re7 the game was drawn.

13...g6 14.Qh4 Rae8

Black exchanges rooks before White takes control of the e-file with 15.Rae1, where Be7 for White
would now be more attractive than on move 13.

15.Rae1 Rxe3 16.Rxe3 Re8?!

Exercise: Show that the natural move Black played was inaccurate.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

17.c4!

It is time to break in the center. This was a novelty from Nepo.

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 White could have again tried the exchange of bishops with 17.Be7, but after 17...b5! we reach the
game Kobalia – Esipenko, Sochi 2020, where White has no available break to open lines. They
continued 18.g3 Qb8 19.Kg2 Rxe7 20.Rxe7 Bxe7 21.Qxe7 Qe8 22.Qf6 a5 23.h4 Qf8 24.Qe5 a4, and
Black holds the game without trouble.
In that game the order of moves was 16...b5! 17.Be7 Rfe8, thanks to which Black avoided 17.c4 as
played in the text.

17...Rxe3 18.Bxe3 Be8

As we have already seen, the bishop heads for f7 in order to play ...dxc4.
Exercise: White has made a small advance, how should he try to take another step forward?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

19.c5

Gaining more space. Black should now either allow the exchange of the dark-squared bishops,
which is good news for White, or retreat the bishop to a passive square.

19...Qe7?

Maybe 19...Bf8 was the best option, as 19...Be7 20.Bg5 Bxg5 21.Qxg5 followed by 22.h4 is more
attractive for White.

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 Exercise: Why was Black’s reply a mistake?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

20.Bg5!

Allowing the check on e1 is not to be feared, and this move is stronger than 20.Qh6 Bc7, as Black’s
forces here are more coordinated than in the game, as you will see.

20...Qe1+ 21.Bf1 Bf8

Exercise: Why did Nepo allow the queen’s raid?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

22.Be3!

Because Black’s queen is alone, she can’t create threats. Now she is far from her king, which
allows White to launch a dangerous attack.

22...Qa5

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 Black prevents 23.Qd8.

Exercise: How did Nepo answer?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

23.Bf4!

Now it is time to stop the queen’s return 23...Qc7 to help the defense.

23...Bf7

In case of 23...Qe1, White would stop 24...Qe7 by playing 24.Be5!, planning 25.Qf6 or 25.Qd8.
This unusual zig-zag by the bishop is beautiful and very effective. Black is almost lost. He can’t
avoid the queen’s penetration with a decisive attack.

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 24.Qf6!

The infiltration of the queen is decisive. The threat is 25.Be5.

White has another way to break through, playing the inverse order of moves, 24.Be5!, which
threatens 25.Qf6, then after 24...Bg7 25.Qe7 Bxe5 26.dxe5, White is winning.

24...Bg7 25.Qd6!

Again there was another way to win, 25.Qe7!, with the idea of 26.Qxb7 and 27.Qxc6, while after
25...b5? White wins playing 26.Bc7, then 27.Qd8+ and 28.Bd6.
In case of 25...Bxd4 White follows his plan, 26.Bd6 Bg7 27.Qxb7 h5 28.Qxc6, winning.

25...Qe1

Black gets caught in a zugzwang position after 25...Bxd4 26.Qb8+ (not 26.Bh6? Kh8) 26...Kg7
27.Bd6 Bg8 (27...Qd2? loses to 28.Qf8+ Kf6 29.Qd8+ Kg7 30.Bf8+ and mate) 28.Qxb7+ Kh8

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 Exercise: What would Nepo play here?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: 29.Qe7! (preventing 29...Qe1) 29...Qc3 30.Qe8!

Let’s see an example given by Krasenkow in Mega Database 2021. Note that Black is almost
defenseless. White can slowly advance by means of g3, Bd3, h4-h5, preceded by a4 if it is necessary
or helpful: 30...Kg7 31.g3 h5 32.Bd3 Qd2 33.Qe7+ Kh8 34.Be5+ Bxe5 35.Qxe5+ Kh7 36.Qc7+
Kh6 37.Qxc6, winning.

26.Be3!

A nice echo of the previous dance by the bishop. Now the queen invades the queenside, winning
material. Black can’t avoid 27.Qb8.

26...Bf8 27.Qb8 b6 28.cxb6 axb6 29.Qxb6 Qa1 30.Qa7

White naturally keeps his passed a-pawn.

30...c5

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 Exercise: What would you play here?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

31.Qa8

Not the only move, as 31.Qb8 with the same threat of 32.Bh6 was also enough, but not 31.dxc5?
due to 31...d4 and 32...Bc4.

31...Qe1 32.dxc5 d4 33.Bh6 Be8

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 34.Qd5+!

Good enough, although 34.c6! followed by 35.c7 was another way.

34...Bf7 35.Qd8 Qe7

The ending is lost, of course, but 35...Be8 was no better due to our familiar advance 36.c6 and
37.c7.

36.Qxe7 Bxe7 37.c6 Bd6 38.g3 Bd5

If 38...Bxa2 then 39.Bf4 Bxf4 40.gxf4 Bd5 41.Bb5 and c7.

39.a4

Without needing to defend the pawn with 39.Bb5.

39...Kf7

After 39...Bxc6 40.Bc4+ Kh8 the Black king can’t participate in the game and White wins without
effort after 41.a5.

40.Bb5

Black could have resigned at this point, or even some moves earlier.

40...Bc7 41.Bf4 Bxf4 42.gxf4 Ke7 43.c7 Bb7 44.a5

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 1–0
Some lessons from this game: *
1.) Nepo’s opening preparation for this game was awesome!
2.) Pay close attention to any change in the pawn structure. (12.c4? 13.c4? 17.c4!)
3.) Don’t forget to ask yourself “What can my opponent reply?” (16...Re8? 16...b5! 19...Qe7?
23.Bf4!)
4.) It is always useful to ask oneself “Which piece should I exchange?” and “Which piece should I
keep?” (20.Bg5!)
5.) But don’t forget that, to make the exchange favorable (as always) you need to control the tactics.
(17.Be7?)
6.) It’s essential to stay focused, since no-one is immune to making errors. (31.dxc5?)
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

Russia took outright first place after the third round and kept it until the end. They didn’t lose a
single match, with seven wins and two draws, against England in the fourth round and against
Azerbaijan in the sixth.
A key game allowing them to remain undefeated was the win Nepo obtained in the sixth round
against Mamedov from Azerbaijan. That match ended 2-2, let’s see how the game finished.

Rauf Mamedov
Ian Nepomniachtchi
World Team Championship, Astana (6.2), 11.03.2019

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 Black to play

This position is about equal according to the engines.

In practice, Black needs to be more careful than White here, as the c5 and a6-pawns are hanging
and his king is more exposed. Further, some potential endings are not attractive, given the worse
pawn structure.

23...Nf4!

Black is willing to lose a pawn, but for some activity. Now, thanks to the mate threatened, he gets
the d-file.

24.Rg1 Qe5 25.Rce1?!

White wants to fight for the initiative too and wants to attack.
Black holds the position after 25.Qxc5 Qxc5 26.Rxc5 Rd2, for example 27.Rc7+ Kg8 28.Rc2 Rbd8,
recovering the pawn quickly.
Taking the other pawn leads to a more complicated position, but it doesn’t give any advantage
either. After 25.Qxa6 Kg8 26.Qa7 Qf6 27.Rxc5 Rb4 Black has a lot of activity, enough to equalize.
His knight is too strong while White’s king is weak.

25...Qd6

Now Black defends both his pawns and his position has improved compared with the one he had
two moves ago.

26.Rg4?

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 This was the idea. White threatens to win by 27.Rxf4+, but it is too optimistic, his opponent also
has a move...
It was better to try 26.Rc1, but of course in this case the previous moves make no sense and Black’s
position is already slightly better.

26...Rb4!

Black’s activity is the deciding factor. The queen on f4 will be defended by this rook.

27.Rxf4+

Not a good sacrifice but the alternatives were sad. Both 27.Qc1 e5 and 27.Qc3 Rd4 followed by
...e5 and ...Rd2 give Black a clear advantage.

27...Qxf4 28.Qxc5

If 28.Qxa6 Black can consolidate his position with 28...Qd6 before invading White’s camp.

28...Rb5 29.Qa7+ Kf8

Threatening 30...Rh5. Black’s attack is unbeatable.

30.Rg1 Rh5 31.Rg3 Qh6

0–1
Game 24
An excellent start to the 2019 Grand Prix
Ian Nepomniachtchi qualified for the 2020-2021 Candidates Tournament through the 2019 Grand
Prix, which awarded two places. He finished second after Alexander Grischuk. It consisted of four
knock-out tournaments, where two classical games were played in each round, followed by rapid and
blitz games if needed.
There were 22 participants playing in three of the four legs held in Moscow, Riga, Hamburg and
Jerusalem, from May to December 2019. Nepo started with a win in the first stage played in Moscow
in May. He defeated Alexander Grischuk in the final.
Let’s review the difficult win of the first round, “A game characterized by nerves, well conveying
the atmosphere of knockout tournaments,” as described by Aronian.

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Levon Aronian
Ruy Lopez [C88]
Moscow FIDE Grand Prix (1.1), 17.05.2019

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 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0

8.d4

Question: Not a frequent move, right?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: You are right. It was made for practical reasons. Nepo was surprised at the fact that this
continuation had rarely been employed against Aronian to avoid his Marshall Gambit.
Anyway, we already know that avoiding the pet lines of his opponents is not the only practical
resource Nepo uses. In Game 23 we saw Nepo going directly for one of the main lines that his
opponent uses, but having prepared a surprise.

8...Nxd4 9.Bxf7+

Deviating from the more popular 9.Nxd4 exd4 10.e5 Ne8 11.c3. Aronian had experience with this
gambit but not with 9.Bxf7+.

9...Rxf7 10.Nxe5 Rf8

“All attempts to get two pieces for the rook are doomed. 10...Ne6 11.Nxf7 Kxf7 12.e5; 10...Nc6
11.Nxf7 Kxf7 12.e5; 10...c5 11.Nxf7 Kxf7 12.e5.” (Nepomniachtchi).

11.Qxd4

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 Question: I guess there were more reasons to choose this unusual line, right? Why did Nepo play
it?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Normally the players don’t share this sort of thing. They never give any clue about their
opening preferences or preparation and admit only the obvious, but you (and I and everybody else)
are lucky in this case.
Nepomniachtchi said that he decided after seeing that even such a meticulous theoretician as Peter
Leko had some problems dealing with this line, at least three times with Black.

11...Bb7

Black could also play 11...c5 first.

12.Nc3 c5 13.Qd1 b4

Question: I guess Black has more options, is this the best move?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: That is a tough question, but Nepo will enlighten us again.

He said that in the event of 13...Qc7 or 13...Qe8 the struggle would have less of a forced nature, but
“It should be pointed out that almost everywhere Black has considerable compensation for the pawn.”

14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.exd5 Bd6

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 16.c4

16.Nf3 Rf5 is not attractive. Nepo wants a fighting position.

After the most popular move 16.f4 he saw that it is difficult to avoid simplifications and an equal
position, as in Amin – Leko, Ningbo 2011: 16...Bxe5 17.fxe5 (or 17.Rxe5 d6 18.Re6 Rf5, recovering
the pawn) 17...Qh4 18.Be3 Qc4 19.b3 Qxd5 20.Qxd5+ Bxd5 21.Red1 Be6 22.Bxc5 Rfc8 23.Bxb4
Rxc2, and the game was soon drawn.

16...bxc3

The surprise effect already had a practical reward: for the first time in the game Levon took a long
think: “It is hard to say what induced the choice of this particular moment, since there is no
alternative to the en passant capture.” (Nepomniachtchi).
After for example, 16...Bxe5? 17.Rxe5 Rxf2 (or 17...Qf6 18.Qe1) 18.Bg5 Qf8 19.Qg4 or 19.Qd3,
the b7-bishop is a dead piece. White has more activity and is much better.

17.bxc3

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 17...a5?

Question: Is this really a bad move? After all, the bishop can now be activated via a6.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Yes, that’s true, a top player never makes an illogical move, but as we saw, logical moves
are not always good.
First, he tried to get something down the f-file, but he couldn’t make it work tactically, so he went
for this apparently useful move.
Nepo said: “There are many levels to this move but it does not correspond to the rhythm of the
position. Although the comfortable a6–square has now become available for the bishop (or the rook),
Black should instead have acted more quickly: the White pieces are ready to get into the game and
then Black’s compensation will evaporate.”
Maybe Aronian thought something similar, but, as we said, the move chosen must be tactically
supported, and Aronian couldn’t get it to work.
He analyzed “the principled continuation” 17...Qf6. White gets no advantage after 18.f4 Rae8
19.Be3 Bxe5 20.fxe5 Rxe5 or 18.Nf3 Qxc3 19.Rb1 Rab8, with unclear play. However, Nepo wrote
that after the game Levon told him that he rejected the move on account of the reply 18.Ng4.
Exercise (difficult): Black has a satisfactory continuation against 18.Ng4, what is it?

Show/Hide Solution

333
 Answer: Aronian rejected it because after 18...Qxc3 19.Rb1 Rab8 20.Rb6 White has a strong
initiative, and this looks convincing.
“But a stronger move is the quiet 18...Qf5! (instead of taking on c3), after which Black obtains
excellent counterplay.” (Nepomniachtchi).
Nepo didn’t mention 17...Rxf2, which may not be entirely satisfactory, but is not losing either.
Exercise: What would you reply to 17...Rxf2?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Not with 18.Kxf2? Bxe5 19.Rxe5 Qf6+, but with 18.Nf3!
After 18...Rxf3 in Sulskis – Svane, Riga 2019, White played 19.gxf3?! Qf6 20.Re4 and now Black
could have gained good compensation by playing 20...Rf8, then in case of 21.Be3 Qf5 Black
threatens the d-pawn and plans 22...Qh5.
It is better to play 19.Qxf3, then after 19...Bxh2+ 20.Kh1 Qh4 21.Bg5! Qxg5 22.Kxh2 Bxd5
23.Qg3 Black should exchange queens with a worse ending.

18.Nf3

Question: Is this move better than 18.f4?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: It’s hard to say. Nepo even agreed that perhaps 18.f4 was better; Black would play
18...Bxe5 19.fxe5 Qh4.
He took into consideration that compared with the line 17...Qf6 18.Nf3, now White is practically a
tempo up; this gives new options without weakening his kingside.

18...Qf6

Black naturally avoids the positional threat 19.c4.

Exercise: How did White continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

19.Bg5

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 This was the idea. Instead of protecting his pawn advantage White seeks active play. The
alternative was 19.Be3, which is also fine, but Nepo had another idea in mind.

19...Qg6

“As Homer’s Iliad taught us, it is dangerous to accept gifts from Greeks: after 19...Qxc3 20.Rb1
(20.Rc1 Qa3 21.Be7 Bxe7 22.Rxe7, with the initiative) 20...Ba6 21.Rb3 Qc4 22.Be7 Bxe7 23.Rxe7
the White pieces force their way into Troy.” (Nepomniachtchi).

Exercise: What is the idea that White had when he chose 18.Nf3?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

20.Be7!

One of the dangerous bishops is eliminated. It’s true that Black can recover his pawn, but Nepo
considered that he would keep some advantage after that.

20...Bxe7 21.Rxe7 Qd6

Black gets back his pawn, a logical decision Nepo didn’t entirely approve of. He suggested playing
for activity and fighting for the e-file with 21...Rae8, then 22.Rxd7? Bc8 23.Rc7 Bh3 is good for
Black. This is a dream scenario for the Black bishop. So it would be better to try 22.Rxe8, then after
22...Rxe8 23.c4 the bishop is inactive again, but it comes back into the game after 23...d6 24.Nd2 Bc8
25.Nf1 Bf5, though Nepo didn’t believe it fully compensated for the pawn deficit.

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 22.Qe2

Exercise: White can’t be too clever playing the artificial 22.Qe1, so that the queen does not come
under attack in certain variations, as Nepo said, why?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Because it “led to a change of scenery: 22...Rxf3! 23.gxf3 Qg6+ 24.Kh1 Bxd5, and White
has to look for ways of saving the game.”

22...Bxd5

Now 22...Rxf3? does not work, as after 23.gxf3 Qg6+ 24.Kh1 Bxd5 White wins with 25.Rg1.
Exercise (simple): Why did Nepo return the pawn?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

23.Rd1

Because of this unpleasant pin, of course.

23...Rab8

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 In the endgame which arises after 23...Bxf3?! 24.Qc4+! Bd5 25.Rxd5! (better than 25.Qxd5+ Qxd5
26.Rxd5 Rfe8 27.Rdxd7 Rxe7 28.Rxe7 Rb8, with very good chances for a draw) 25...Qxe7 26.Rxd7+
Qf7 27.Rxf7 Rxf7 28.a4!, fixing the a-pawn, “the White queen has good reason to hope it will
annihilate the opposing weak pawns.” (Nepomniachtchi).

Exercise (difficult): White has more than one continuation to analyze, what is the best one?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

24.Ne1?!

For practical reasons (we see this factor present many times in Nepo’s play), White wanted to
maintain the tension, but this passive move, not unsurprisingly, gives Black chances to improve his
position.
Nepo rejected 24.Re5 Bxf3 25.Qc4+ Bd5 26.Rexd5, because after 26...Qe6 although the c-pawn
drops, he was afraid that White’s advantage would not be that big and that the outcome would
probably be the appearance on the board of the well-known drawing position “3 against 2.”
The best move was the good luft 24.h3!, as after 24...Bxf3 25.Qc4+ Bd5 26.Qxd5+ (in the event of
26.Rxd5 Rb1+! 27.Rd1+ Kh8 Black has good chances of defending) 26...Qxd5 27.Rxd5 Rf7 28.Re2,
White has a greater advantage in this double rook ending than in the previous ending arising after
24.Re5.
The practical reason to avoid these favorable simplifications is that Aronian was approaching time
trouble and Nepo wanted to maintain tension in the position.

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 24...Qc6 25.Qe5 Bf7

Suddenly the Black bishop has found a good square where it is attacking the a2–pawn, “and White
has to demonstrate incredible skill so as not to let his advantage finally slip through his fingers,” said
Nepomniachtchi.

26.Rdxd7

The intermediate 26.Rd6 promises nothing after 26...Qc7, said Nepo, and even 26...Qa4, to play
...Qxa2 later, also seems good: after 27.Rdxd7 Rfe8 (threatening 28...Qxd7) 28.Ra7 Rxe7 (or
28...Qxa2) 29.Rxe7 Rf8 Black is close to equality.

26...Rfe8 27.Qf4?!

27.Qf5 was better, the main reason being to avoid 27...Qf6 thanks to 28.Qxc5. After 27...Rxe7
28.Rxe7 Qd5 29.Qf4 Rb7 30.Re2, White is also a pawn up, but in better conditions than in the game,
as we will see.

27...Qf6 28.Rxe8+ Rxe8 29.Qd2

29...Qe6?

After 29...Qb6 to penetrate with the queen after 30.h3 Qb1 Black would have been fine, e.g.,
31.Rd8 h6, and the Black queen is very active.
“But there is the more accurate 29...Qf4! 30.Nf3 Qxd2 31.Rxd2 a4 32.a3 Bh5 with equality.”
(Nepomniachtchi).

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 Exercise (simple): Why was Black’s move a mistake?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

30.Rd8

Because Black allowed the exchange of rooks in circumstances which are unfavorable to him,
unlike after 29...Qb6.
Question: Now it seems clear to me. Why was it not clear to a player like Aronian when he played
29...Qe6?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Aronian answers: “29...Qe6 was imprecise. I wanted to clarify things but I underestimated
that my position is a bit passive. It was bad opening preparation and imprecise play at the decisive
moment, mainly due to lack of time.”

30...h6 31.Rxe8+ Qxe8 32.a3

Question: White is better, but rather passive, no?

Show/Hide Solution

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 Answer: Nepo clarifies the situation, not only at the board, but the practical situation as well:
“White has a sound extra pawn. As for the knight, it will find a good square sooner or later.
Additionally, Black was in time trouble, which made his task even more difficult.”

32...Qa4 33.Qc1 Bg6

Black can’t avoid the activation of the knight. After 33...Bd5 there could follow 34.Nc2 Be4
35.Ne3.

34.Nf3 Qb3 35.Ne5 Bc2

Exercise (simple): How did White defend his c3-pawn?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

36.Ng4

Indirectly protecting the c3–pawn, as 36...Qxc3?? loses to 37.Ne3.

36...a4 37.h3 Bf5 38.Ne5 Kh7 39.Kh2 Qa2 40.Kg1 Kg8

At this point Nepo talked about the practical side to the battle again: “The time control has been

340
reached. Levon managed to get in his final move literally one second before his clock ran out, so it
does not make much sense to look into the quality of the final decisions taken by the players.”

41.Qf4!

Threatening the bishop, the a-pawn and exchanging queens with 42.Qc4+, too many positives,
right?
Nepo mentioned 41.c4, which “would also have very much been in tune with the position,” but he
wanted to clarify whether his opponent “was going to sacrifice his bishop and thus make it easier for
me to convert my advantage.”

41...Qxa3

After 41...Bc2 42.Qc4+ Qxc4 43.Nxc4 Kf7 44.f4 Bb3 45.Nd2 Black would hardly save the game
either.

42.Qxf5 Qxc3

42...Qb3 to accelerate the advance of the a-pawn wouldn’t be better, as Nepo showed. There could
follow 43.Nd3 a3 44.Nxc5 Qd1+ 45.Kh2 a2 (or 45...Qd6+ 46.f4 a2 47.Nb3) 46.Qe6+ Kh7 47.Qxa2
Qd6+ 48.g3 Qxc5 49.Qc2+, with a winning ending.

Exercise (difficult): White has a won position, and more than one good move. But here there is
one particularly strong continuation, not easy to make at the board, what is it?

Show/Hide Solution

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 Answer:

43.Nc6?!

White missed a mating attack. The strange thing is that Nepo saw it, this is his explanation: “It is a
pity that I first found the nice idea 43.Qe6+ Kh8 44.Ng6+ Kh7 45.Qe8 a3 46.h4! a2 47.h5 a1=Q+
48.Kh2 but could not believe my luck.”
A “translation” of his words could be that he saw the idea, but he needed to check it very carefully
or the win could be gone, so, taking a practical decision, as he frequently does, he decided to follow
another path, which was also enough to win.

43...Kh8

Moving off the a2-g8 diagonal to threaten to advance the a-pawn.

44.Qf7 Qb3 45.Qe8+ Kh7 46.Qe4+ Kh8 47.Na5

“After some tricky maneuvers White has managed to stop his opponent’s pawns.”
(Nepomniachtchi).

47...Qd1+ 48.Kh2 Qd6+ 49.f4 a3

White stops both pawns without problem after 49...Qd4 50.Qxd4 cxd4 51.Kg3 a3 52.Kf3 or
52.Nb3, and the d-pawn falls.

50.Qa4?

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 The game had already been exhausting for both players, so mistakes are understandable.
This move doesn’t let the win go, but it is not the best continuation White had at his disposal.
Exercise: Which continuation was missed by Nepo?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: “It turned out to be anything but simple to find the continuation 50.Nc4! Qa6 51.Ne5! a2
52.Nf7+ Kg8 53.Qe8+ Kh7 54.f5 in the sixth hour of play. In any case the desire to liquidate the
dangerous pawns is easily achievable.” (Nepomniachtchi).

50...c4

The resource 50...Qd3 does not save the game either, as after 51.Qb3 c4 52.Qa2 h5 53.Nxc4 h4
54.Qxa3 Qxc4 55.Qf8+ Kh7 56.Qf5+ Kg8 57.Qg5 White wins the h-pawn too.

51.Qxc4 Qd2 52.Nb3

“The typical combination when playing with queens 52.Qc8+ Kh7 53.Qf5+ Kg8 (53...Kh8
54.Qf8+ Kh7 55.Qxa3, winning) 54.Nc4 Qb4 (or 54...Qc3 55.Qd5+ Kh7 56.Qe4+ Kh8 57.Qa8+
Kh7 58.Nxa3) 55.Qd5+ Kh7 56.Qd3+ Kh8 57.Nxa3 could have crowned this long-suffering game.”
(Nepomniachtchi).

52...Qe3 53.Nc1

53...h5

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 Black plans ...h4 and dreams of perpetual check beginning with Qg3.
“Of course Black has no real chance of saving the day, but such a ‘psycho-attack’ is also a weapon
and to be sure a really effective one.” (Nepomniachtchi).
Exercise (difficult): What should White do?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

54.h4

This is the easiest answer, and also wins, but there was a stronger maneuver, indicated by the
winner: 54.Ne2! h4 55.Ng1, and the knight heads to g5 with decisive effect.

54...Qe7 55.Qc8+ Kh7 56.Qf5+ g6 57.Qh3 Qf7

The situation was not amusing for Nepo from the practical point of view, because: “Firstly, the
ending ‘queen and g- and h-pawns against queen’ is according to the endgame table bases
fundamentally drawn (although when the weaker side is being defended by a human, it is practically
impossible for him to achieve this result). Secondly, such a series of mistakes and failings seldom
goes unpunished.”
This comment by Nepo explains the following mistake that could have cost him half a point, at
least theoretically.
Exercise (difficult): What would you play?

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 Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

58.f5?

Nepo showed two better ways to play, firstly 58.Qe3 a2 59.Nxa2 Qxa2 60.Qe7+ Kg8 61.f5 gxf5
(61...Qf7 62.Qxf7+ Kxf7 63.Kg3!, and after Kf4 the extra tempo g3 allows White to win) 62.Qg5+
leads to the aforementioned queen ending with g- and h-pawns against a bare queen, theoretically
drawn but in practice very hard to hold.
It was even better to keep the knight on the board. After 58.Qxa3! Qxf4+ 59.Kg1 Qd4+ 60.Kf1
Qf4+ (to chase the king away from the kingside before taking on h4) 61.Ke2 Qe4+ 62.Kd1, Black
can capture the g- or the h-pawn, but despite the small amount of material left White wins without
major difficulty by defending his remaining pawn and bringing the knight back, as Nepo pointed out.
After 62...Qxh4 63.Qf3 or 62...Qxg2 63.Qe7+ Kh6 64.Qf8+ Kh7 65.Qf7+ Kh6 66.Qf4+ Kh7
67.Ne2.
But now “according to all appearances the move played in the game could have led to a sharing of
the points.”

58...Qc7+ 59.Qg3 Qxc1 60.Qxg6+ Kh8 61.Qxh5+ Kg7 62.Qg6+ Kf8 63.Qf6+

White will make mate threats which will allow him to trade one of his pawns for the dangerous
Black a-pawn, and get an ending with two pawns against zero.
The result of the game will be decided by the set-up of all the remaining pieces. The best set-up for

345
each side was far from easy to figure out at the board, however.

63...Ke8?

This is the wrong square, and it allows White to get a good version of the ending, as Nepo
demonstrated.
Exercise (difficult): What is the best continuation?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

64.Qe6+?

“After 64.Qe5+! Kf7 65.f6 Qh6 66.Qe7+ Kg6 67.f7 Qf4+ 68.Kh3 Qf5+ 69.Kg3 Qxf7 70.Qxa3
the aforementioned queen ending would have arisen.” (Nepomniachtchi).

64...Kf8 65.Qd6+ Kf7 66.Qe6+ Kf8 67.Qf6+ Kg8!

“There is no need to ask Levon twice – now he chooses the lesser evil.” (Nepomniachtchi).

68.Qe5

68...Kf7?!

Question: I see this is a very difficult ending, and the differences are so small. Please tell me

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something so that I can to try to understand it.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Let Ian provide an explanation, and we will give you an update later: “The move
68...Qh6! looks counter-intuitive, because it leaves the a3–pawn unprotected, but this is precisely the
continuation which forces a draw. An important variation, for example, is 69.Qg3+ Kf7 (only move)
70.Qb3+ Ke8 (only move) 71.Qxa3 Qxh4+ 72.Qh3 Qf4+ 73.Kg1 Qc1+ 74.Kf2 Qd2+ 75.Kg3 Qe3+
76.Kg4 Qd4+, and Black saves the day.”

69.f6

In June 2019 everybody, including the engines, thought this was wining for White, but in June 2021
the computer says it is a draw.
Of course, we are not talking about a practical game, it’s only a theoretical dilemma. The analysis
reaches dozens of moves and it is not relevant at the board, because nobody is able to defend the
position perfectly with so many options on every move.
And besides, will the computer say the same in, let’s say, 2023?

69...Qc4?

This seems to be the last mistake.

A draw can be reached with 69...Qh6 70.Qe7+ Kg6 71.f7 Qf4+ 72.Kh3 Qf5+ 73.Kg3, and now
after both 73...Qxf7 74.Qxa3 and 73...a2 74.f8=Q Qxf8 75.Qxf8 a1=Q, Black gets a draw according
to the computer.

70.Qe7+ Kg6 71.Qg7+ Kf5

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 72.Qg5+

Now “chess is easy again,” as Najdorf would say. Nepo explains: “With the king exiled on the
other flank resistance is futile: 72...Ke4 73.Qg4+ Kd5 74.Qxc4+ Kxc4 75.f7 a2 76.f8=Q a1=Q
77.Qf4+ with an easy win.”
1–0
Some lessons from this game: *
1.) The considerable importance of the practical side was clearly seen in this game, beginning with
the choice of opening. (8.d4! 9.Bxf7+!)
2.) Chess is played by humans, with limited time to think, not computers, so, again, the practical
side is very relevant in all parts of the game. (18.Nf3! 29...Qe6? 43.Qe6+! 50.Qa4? 54.h4?)
3.) “Chess is a state of mind.” (24.Ne1! 29...Qe6?)
4.) The initiative is more important than a slight material advantage, again talking about the
situation at the board, in a practical sense. (19.Bg5! 20.Be7!)
5) “Which piece should I exchange? Which one should I keep? In which conditions?” If you can
find the right answers, you’ll probably discover the correct plan. (20.Be7! 30.Rd8! 29...Qb6!
29...Qf4!)
6.) Some queen endings are extremely difficult!
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

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 Show in Text Mode

Game 25
Raising the floor
A few years back Magnus Carlsen said that Nepomniachtchi needed to “raise his floor” to be an
absolutely top player. That meant not only gaining excellent results, as Nepo had, but also avoiding
bad results when he was out of the fight for the top places. Nepo had indeed experienced several
tournaments of that kind.
Initially, the Croatia Grand Chess Tour 2019 seemed to be going very well. Nepo began with three
victories, but in the following eight rounds he didn’t win another game. His excellent start meant that
he avoided a truly bad result, finishing on 50%.
In the first round at Zagreb, playing Black against Anand, the opening didn’t turn out well. White
went all in for an attack against the Black king, but Nepo defended with great ingenuity and stayed in
the game. Then, after a few inaccuracies by his opponent, he grabbed the initiative and won
convincingly.

Viswanathan Anand
Ian Nepomniachtchi
Two Knights Defense [C55]
Croatia GCT Zagreb (1), 26.06.2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3

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 4...h6

Question: I don’t know this line but isn’t this move too timid for Nepo’s style?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: I figure you believe this move is to stop Bg5 or Ng5, but in fact it is not as timid as you
may believe.
It is true that Nepomniachtchi usually plays 4...Be7 here. He played the text move only on this
occasion, once, although he faced it twice with the White pieces.

5.c3

Playing White in an old game, Nepomniachtchi – Gorovykh, Kirishi 2007, he chose 5.0-0. After
5...d6 6.Nc3 g6 he launched a sort of Grand Prix Attack against the Sicilian (without the pawn on c5),
playing 7.Ne1 Bg7 8.f4 0-0 9.Nf3 followed by Qe1-h4, which is interesting but objectively not
dangerous for Black.
Much more recently, in Nepomniachtchi – Caruana, chess24.com 2021 (rapid), he again preferred
to develop his knight to c3 instead of playing c3. After 5.Nc3 Bc5 6.h3 d6 they arrived, by
transposition of moves, at an old variation of the Italian Opening. The most popular move here is 7.0-
0, but Nepo chose to eliminate the dark-squared bishop with 7.Na4.

5...d6 6.Nbd2 g5

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 Question: Now I understand what you said about 4...h6, but is this really sound?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: As we know, modern chess is very concrete. If after analysis the variation works, then the
initial reaction that it looks dubious or “ugly” doesn’t matter. Specifically, this sharp treatment was
developed by Shakhriyar Mamedyarov.

7.h3

Nepo mentioned 7.h4 as a critical line.

Months later, Anand chose another path, in Anand – Caruana, Bucharest 2019 (rapid). The game
went 7.Nf1 g4 8.N3d2 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Ne3 Nxe3 11.fxe3 f5 12.0-0 Bd6 13.d4 Qe7?!, and now
with three strong moves he took the initiative, 14.e4! f4 15.Bd5! h5 16.Nc4!, with an advantage.
White went on to win.

7...Bg7 8.Bb3

White of course has several options. A logical one is the standard “Spanish maneuver” 8.Nf1
followed by Ng3.

8...0-0 9.Nf1

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 9...Ne7?!

Question: White’s development is far from impressive, so I guess Black can go slowly too; what’s
wrong with this move?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Don’t forget that Black has already castled, and White not, so his king may be targeted in
this position. After the game Nepo proposed playing 9...d5 immediately.

10.h4!

Nepo thought he could be in some trouble here, as the kingside is opened.

In Dominguez – Mamedyarov, Saint Louis 2018, the game went 10.Ne3 Be6, and only here 11.h4.
After 11...g4 12.Nh2 h5 13.f3! Black was in trouble again.
It is interesting that 10.g4! followed by 11.h4 is what the computer prefers. This is possibly
stronger, but what Anand played is both logical and strong.

10...g4 11.N3h2 d5 12.f3

White continues with his plan of opening the kingside. 12.Ng3 doesn’t pose any problems and
Black can continue with 12...Ng6 or take on e4.

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 12...Ng6?!

“This is a sort of a blunder,” said Nepomniachtchi. He believed he had to play 12...gxf3 13.Qxf3.
That said, White’s chances seem preferable in this line: the f-file has opened in his favor and the f5-
square is now more accessible. After 13...Ng6 it is easy to agree with the computer move 14.g4!,
sacrificing the h-pawn to get full control of f5. The opened h-file is welcome for White, too, as after
14...Nxh4 15.Qe2 followed by Ng3 he has excellent compensation for the pawn.

13.fxg4

Nepo’s last move was indeed strange, because 13.Nxg4 Nxg4 14.fxg4 also favors White, and
Black has nothing clear for the lost pawn even if White’s pawns are doubled.

13...Nxh4 14.g3 Ng6 15.Qe2?!

Not the best move; it seems that White can play what he wants, because Black has no counterplay.
However, we will soon see that the situation is not that clear, so it was better to try 15.Qf3!,
occupying the square of the h2-knight but pressing d5, with Ne3 in mind; after 15...d4 16.g5 hxg5
17.Bxg5 White is better.

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 Exercise (difficult): How did Nepo get counterplay?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

15...a5!

Ian was far from thrilled with how he had played the Italian Opening in this game, describing
himself, with some justification, as “really pessimistic about my position.” It seems though that, at
least in a practical sense, he was able to turn the tables with this “very nice move.”

16.Bc2

This retreat doesn’t look anything special; it seems 15...a5! was an unpleasant surprise for White,
and nothing is clear now.
Question: But what makes 15...a5 so special?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: It arrives just in time to counter White’s attacking threats on the kingside.
Nepo pointed out that 16.g5 hxg5 17.Bxg5 can be met by 17...a4! and after 18.Bxd5 he has 18...c6!
when the bishop is trapped, and although Vishy could play 19.Ne3 here or 19.Bc4 b5 20.Ne3, it’s an
unclear position: “I’m not getting mated – it’s already some sort of good news for me!” said Nepo.

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 16...d4 17.g5

The exchange in the center with 17.cxd4 exd4 18.g5 hxg5 19.Bxg5 Re8 or 19...a4 was no better, as
the opening of the position is unfavorable for the White king, who lacks a safe haven.

17...hxg5 18.Bxg5

Exercise: How did Black made a small improvement?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

18...a4

Assuming that White will castle long, Black prepares a future ...a3.

Here Anand took a decision that puzzled his opponent:

19.c4

“19.c4 was a complete shocker for me! After c4 I can never be worse and this bishop on c2 is more
like a pawn.” He added that he would not consider ...dxc3, as it would free up e3 for the f1-knight.
Now Black is fine, but nothing else.
Exercise: How did Nepomniachtchi gradually continue to improve his chances?

Show/Hide Solution

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 Answer:

19...Qd6

Getting rid of the pin, with ...Qb4 as a possibility.

Nepomniachtchi felt that he already had an excellent pawn structure, and when Vishy went on to
make a series of inaccuracies, White’s position rapidly deteriorated from difficult to lost.

20.Nd2?!

The knight wants to move to f3, and probably to h4, while the other controls g4. The idea is fine,
but it is tactically inaccurate, so it is not a good move.
20.a3 was a natural move, to stop Black’s queen from getting to b4, but the safest move seems to be
just 20.0-0-0!, to decide later how to redeploy the knights, and White’s chances don’t seem bad.

20...Ra6

The rook plans to reach b6 or maybe transfer to the kingside.

20...Qb4 was another good move, recommended by many people and also the computer. It would
practically force Anand to play 21.0-0-0, which is not so bad for White, so maybe the rook move is
stronger in practice.

21.Rb1?

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 This was another shock move for Nepo, as the White king will suffer.
21.a3 was a better move, but again, the best choice was probably to play 21.0-0-0!
Question: Anand played this part of the game below his level, and Nepo much better, right?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Nepo answers: “I’m not sure if I was playing really well, because it was too hot in the
playing hall, it was pretty much unplayable at some point, but maybe it was one of the reasons why
Vishy made some strange decisions, let’s say.”
Exercise: How did Ian react?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

21...Nh7!

Showing one of the drawbacks of 20.Nd2. Nepo was satisfied with his position at this point. After
exchanging the important bishop Black will fight for the initiative on the kingside.
Going back, the move 20...Nh7! was also strong.

22.Qh5 Nxg5 23.Qxg5

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 Exercise: Black has several ideas, what did Nepo play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

23...Qe7!

A paradoxical decision. Black’s advantage will be greater without the queens on the board.
This move was better than for example 23...f5 24.Nhf3 Ne7 25.Ke2 and suddenly White is not so
bad. Rbf1 is coming and White recovers most of his coordination.
Question: But after the queens are gone the main problem you mentioned, the weak position of the
White king, is also solved.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Yes. Although the White king will not be in a great place, it will not be in real danger of
receiving mate, either. However, Black will soon gain other advantages, as we will see; it is a typical
case of transformation of the advantage.

24.Qxe7

Keeping queens on the board is not to White’s advantage, as we could guess: after 24.Qh5 Rd8
25.Nhf3 Nf8 White’s activity has finished and it is the turn for Black, who has more space and more
active pieces. The White king will suffer.

24...Nxe7 25.Nhf3

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 Exercise: How did Nepo demonstrate his advantage?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

25...f5!

Black opens up the position for both of his rooks. At the right moment he may also continue with
...fxe4 to get a passed d-pawn, as White can’t recapture on e4 with his knight or his other knight
drops.

26.Bd1

The bishop tries to return to the game.

26.c5 was probably slightly better, gaining c4 for a knight; nevertheless, after 26...fxe4 27.dxe4 Bf6
28.Nc4 Rc6 Black has more active pieces and his position is preferable.
Exercise (simple): How did Nepo make a further improvement?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

26...Bd7

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 The bishop defends the a-pawn, allowing the a6-rook to swing over to the kingside.

27.Nh4 Bh6!

The lord of the dark squares makes his entrance. This move is probably stronger than the good
alternative 27...Rh6, planning ...f4.

28.exf5

The knight finally gets the e4-square, but Black will gain bigger advantages.
White’s position is also difficult after 28.Rf1. There could follow 28...Bxd2+ 29.Kxd2 fxe4
30.Rxf8+ Kxf8 31.dxe4 c5 where White has two isolated pawns and Black has a passed d-pawn with
more active pieces. Black would be better.

28...Nxf5 29.Ne4

Exercise: What do you think Nepo played here?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

29...Be3!

The bishop dominates more dark squares, and Black has a strong positional threat.

30.Be2?

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 This was the decisive mistake.
It was necessary to find the computer-like defense: 30.Nxf5 Bxf5 31.Bf3. White is worse after e.g.,
31...a3 32.Rh2 Bg6 33.Bh1, but Black has still work to do to crack White’s position.
Exercise: What did White miss?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

30...Rh6!

The pin is very strong. All Black pieces are active while the b1-rook is too far from the battlefield
and the White king is weak. White now suffers diminishing mobility.

31.Rh2

Exercise: How should Black continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

31...Bc6

Activating the other bishop as well. The direct threat is to take on e4 followed by ...Nxg3.

32.Rg2

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 Exercise (simple): Black’s position is won. He has several good continuations – which one led to
White’s resignation?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

32...Nd6

White cannot avoid material losses.

0–1
Some lessons from this game: *
1.) “What is my opponent’s next move or plan?” is a question that can help us find our own best
move or correct plan. (15...a5! 19.c4? 21.Rb1? 21.0-0-0!)
2.) “Which piece can I improve? Are all of my pieces in play?” – these are questions we should ask
ourselves from time to time. (12...Ng6? 15...a5! 19...Qd6! 20...Ra6! 21.Rb1? 21.0-0-0! 29...Be3!)
3.) Decisions about piece exchanges are always of crucial importance; it is essential to keep asking
yourself: “Which piece would it suit me to exchange?” and “Which piece do I want to keep?”
(21...Nh7! 23...Qe7!)
4.) “The side that has the advantage is obliged to attack.” (25...f5!)
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

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 Game 26
A deadly novelty
Nepomniachtchi played a new move in an off-beat line of the Petroff. We could agree that it
doesn’t sound very exciting, but, surprisingly, it was. The game was a miniature: Nepo quickly got a
tremendous attack and the game lasted just 19 moves.

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Liviu Dieter Nisipeanu
Petroff Defense [C42]
Dortmund (6), 20.07.2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3

Nepomniachtchi returns to the line he used to play exclusively at the start of his career, whereas
later he added 5.d4 and 5.c4 to his repertoire.

5...Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Be3 0-0 8.Qd2

8...Qe8

Question: Quite a strange move, right?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: At first sight, if you don’t know it, for sure, but not so much after seeing that the queen

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will not stay there for long.
The idea is to send the queen to a4 before developing the knight, from where it will press the White
king who has been planning to castle long.
Nepomniachtchi had only been confronted with 8...Nd7 in this position, twice in fact. Nisipeanu by
contrast had also played this move before. Two months after this game, at the World Cup, he chose
8...c5 against Nakamura.
Exercise: What would you reply to Black’s rather surprising move?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

9.h4!

This was a novelty, though it’s a very logical move. White begins his attack as soon as possible,
and if the pawn is not stopped the idea is to play h5-h6.
We don’t know if it was preparation or improvisation at the board, but in any case it seems that
Nepo looked at the position with “fresh eyes” and rejected or postponed the other two moves, 9.Bd3
and 9.0-0-0 that White had played before.
The first time the idea 8...Qe8 was played was in a world championship match, Hou Yifan –
Koneru, Tirana 2011. White played 9.0-0-0 and the game continued 9...Qa4 10.Kb1 Nc6 11.h4 Be6
12.b3 Qa5 13.Nd4 Nxd4 14.cxd4 Qxd2 15.Rxd2. It ended in a draw after a long fight.

9...Qa4

The queen continues with the idea of putting pressure on the queenside, but the White king is not
there yet.
The move 9...Bg4 would not stop 10.h5!, as taking on f3 would only open the g-file for White.
After 10...Nd7 White can play 11.0-0-0, asking what the Black queen is doing on e8, or 11.h6, and
after 11...g6 12.Qd4 Nf6 13.0-0-0 White has more space. White’s position is more pleasant in both
cases.
Exercise: If Black stops the advance of the pawn with 9...Bg4 10.h5! h6, then after 11.0-0-0 why
wouldn’t it be good to play 11...Qa4?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Because White gets a crushing attack with 12.Bxh6! gxh6 (or 12...Qxa2 13.Qd4)
13.Qxh6 Nc6 14.Bd3 f5, and he now prepares the entrance of the d3-bishop and chases the Black

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queen from eyeing f4 with 15.b3!. After that, 15...Qxa2 loses to 16.Bc4+, while after 15...Qa3+
16.Kb1 the Black king is defenseless, e.g., 16...d5 17.Ng5 Bxg5 18.Qxg5+ Kh7 19.Qxg4, or
18...Kh8 19.Qh6+ Kg8 20.Bc4! dxc4 21.Rd7 Ne7 22.Qg5+ Kh8 23.Rxe7, winning.
9...Nc6 was also suggested. If for example 10.h5 h6 11.0-0-0 Black’s idea is to simplify with
11...Ne5. White’s chances are slightly better after 12.Nxe5 dxe5 13.Qd5 Bd6 14.Rg1!, preparing g4.

10.h5 h6 11.Bd3 Re8

Exercise: How did Nepo give an impulse to the attack?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

12.Kf1!

White cannot castle queenside but can improve his king’s position without interfering with his
offensive. The threat, as we know, is 13.Bxh6.
White gets nothing after 12.Nd4?! a6. The computer at first likes 12.b3, but after e.g., 12...Qa3
13.Nd4 Bg5 or 13...Bd7, the position is unclear.

12...Bf8 13.Nd4

Threatening 14.Bb5. This is a natural and attractive move, although it is not clear that it is the best
move.

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 The computer prefers 13.Rh4, and in case of 13...Qd7 the rook can go to h3. After for example
14.Rh3 Nc6 15.Rg3 Kh8 16.Re1 White has much better coordination, but instead of 14.Rh3-g3 he can
also consider 14.g4 followed by g5, which is less natural, but, if it works...

13...Qd7

In case of 13...c6 White can play 14.g4!, because the line 14...Bxg4?! 15.Bxh6! gxh6? 16.Rg1 is
wrong for Black, while after 14...Nd7 15.g5 c5 16.b3 Qa5 17.Nf3 White has progressed with his
offensive.
13...a6!? was interesting, not cutting off the return of the queen. If 14.g4 the idea is to counterattack
with 14...c5!, then after 15.b3 Qa5 16.Nf5 Nc6 the position is unclear.
Maybe White could get some advantage with 14.Rh4, now 14...c5?! 15.Nf5 Qd7 (or 15...Qc6
16.Nxh6+! gxh6 17.Bxh6) 16.Bxh6! leads to disaster for the Black king.
It would be better to continue 14...d5, then after 15.Nf5 Qc6 the Black queen supports the kingside.
White would probably prefer 15.Nf3, planning 16.g4 or 16.c4 if the former is not so promising;
White’s pieces would, again, be better situated.
Black decides to return his queen to the defense, but maybe 13...Qa5!, hitting h5, was the best way
to delay the brewing storm.

Exercise: How did Nepomniachtchi continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

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 14.Rh3!

As we saw in a similar position, the rook heads for g3.

14...Nc6?!

Black wants to develop his queenside as soon as possible, which is understandable, but it was
probably better to play 14...Qd8 15.Rg3 Kh8, and White is better after 16.Re1 but there is no obvious
way to gain a clear advantage.

15.Rg3 Kh8?!

A standard move against the threat 16.Bxh6, but, in a difficult position, the decisive mistake.
15...Qe7 was preferable, to try to complicate the position with ...Qh4, although after 16.Kg1 Qh4
17.Nb5 Re5 18.Be2 Qe7 19.Re1 Black’s position is hard to defend. White is ahead in development
and the Black king is weak, all without giving up material.

Exercise: Which strong move does White have at his disposal?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

16.Nxc6!

The first step. Black’s answer is forced, as 16...Qxc6 is punished by 17.Bxh6! gxh6 18.Qf4 f5
(18...Bg7 19.Qxf7 Rg8 20.Qg6) 19.Qd4+ Re5 20.f4, so the queen must stay on d7 to try to help.

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 16...bxc6

Exercise (simple): What was the idea of the previous move?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

17.Bd4!

White is threatening 18.Qxh6+.

17...Re6

Not the best defense. Black’s position is really sad after 17...f6 18.Qf4 Qf7 (18...c5 allows
19.Bxf6) and now 19.Kg1 is good, although 19.Bg6 Qc4+ 20.Kg1 Re7 21.b3 Qe6 22.c4 is also
possible, and Black has a terrible position but he doesn’t lose immediately.
Exercise: How to continue the attack?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

18.Qf4!

The queen arrives on the kingside with a direct threat, 19.Qf5. 18.Bf5 was of course also good, but
White rightly wants more than winning the exchange.

18...Qe8

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 Exercise: How did Ian force his opponent’s resignation?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

19.Re3!

Eliminating a key defensive piece. White threatens 20.Qf5.

19...Rxe3 of course receives mate after 20.Qxh6+, while in case of 19...Kg8 20.Qf5 g6 21.Rxe6
Qxe6 22.Qf3 Black has no defense against 23.Re1 followed by Qf6, for example 22...gxh5 23.Re1
Qg4 24.Qf6 Qg7 25.Qd8 Qg4 (to avoid 26.Re8) 26.f3 Qd7 27.Qf6.
1–0
Some lessons from this game: *
1.) When we are attacking the king, we should begin as soon as possible. (9.h4!)
2.) Don’t forget to ‘invite everybody to the party’. (12.Kf1! 14.Rh3! 16.Nxc6! 17.Bd4!)
3.) “Which piece should I exchange? Which one should I keep?” If you can find the right answers,
you’ll probably discover the correct plan. (16.Nxc6! 19.Re3!)
4.) We have already seen that “Preventing your opponent’s plan is as important as advancing your
own.” (13...a6! 13...Qa5!)
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

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 Show in Text Mode

Game 27
Jerusalem 2019, a win and qualification for the Candidates
Ian Nepomniachtchi had a bad result in his second (of three) tournaments of the 2019 Grand Prix.
He was knocked out in the first round in the tournament held in Hamburg in November, so he needed
to win the Jerusalem leg that was played one month later in order to qualify for the Candidates – and
he delivered it, defeating Chinese GM Wei Yi in the final.
No less important was the semi-final encounter with Frenchman Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, who
was his rival for the second qualification place (although he was eventually assigned a place after
Radjabov withdrew from the Candidates). In that crucial encounter with “MVL”, Nepomniachtchi
agreed to one of the lines in which his opponent excelled, but he had an unusual idea and MVL didn’t
react in the best possible way. A complex fight ensued, with Ian playing better at the critical
moments.

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Grunfeld Defense [D97]
Jerusalem FIDE Grand Prix (3.1), 17.12.2019

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5

Not a surprise. The Grunfeld Defense is the main opening that MVL uses against 1.d4, and it is also
one of the defenses that Nepo trusts the most playing with Black.
Question: Many top players commented that preparing against their own lines was not a pleasant
task. How did Nepo do it?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: He found a really clever path, as we will see.

4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 0-0 7.e4 Nc6

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 Nepomniachtchi did not spare superlatives about his opponent. “This line became popular basically
because of Maxime, who never lost a game in it.”

8.Be3!

Question: Why the exclamation mark? Is this the best move in the position?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Probably not. Even Nepomniachtchi admitted that, objectively speaking, Be3 is “surely
not the best move.”
“It could be an interesting idea, especially when the opponent faces it for the first time. It’s nothing
serious, but it worked out pretty well.”
In general, and not only when the opponent chooses our pet lines, we have two ways to prepare, to
enter lines our opponent knows well with a new idea (we saw Nepo doing this several times in
previous games), or we avoid it, playing maybe a secondary line but with some poison added. And
this is what Nepo did in this game.
The move 8.Be3 has surprise value: “the idea was to prevent 8...e5 9.d5 Nd4,” said
Nepomniachtchi. MVL is probably the world’s leading expert in this line of the Grunfeld.

8...Ng4

This is probably the best reply.

Instead, a typical Grunfeld move like 8...Bg4 gives White a wide choice of options.

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 The passive 9.Be2 allows 9...Bxf3 10.gxf3 e5!, and Black has good counterchances. However, 9.e5
Nd7 10.0-0-0, the preference of Serbian GM Aleksandar Indic, is interesting.
Nonetheless, 9.d5 looks like the strongest reply, e.g., 9...Bxf3 10.gxf3 Ne5 11.Qe2 c6 12.f4 Ned7
13.Rd1, with a more pleasant game.

Exercise: The second surprise came here, what did Nepo play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

9.e5!

Vachier-Lagrave was surprised indeed. Here is what he commented after 8.Be3: “The thing is that I
lost a lot of time figuring out 8...Ng4 9.Bg5, and this way I was already unprepared against facing
9.e5, and I didn’t react in the best way after that.”
If White just continues 9.Be2 Nxe3 10.fxe3 then Black again has the option of 10...e5! 11.d5 Ne7
12.0-0-0 a6 13.Kb1 Qd6, as in Murray – Olafsson, Reykjavik 1975. Black eventually opened up the
queenside and took the initiative.

9...Nxe3

Nepomniachtchi considered this decision creative but strategically dangerous for Black. White gets
a strong center and Black always has to be careful about the d5 break.
The recipe of another Grunfeld expert 9...Be6! is probably better. Indic-Svidler, chess.com 2021

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(blitz, by a transposition of moves) continued 10.Qc5?! a5! 11.d5? Nb4 12.dxe6 Nc2+ 13.Ke2 Nxa1,
and White couldn’t justify his exchange sacrifice.
In case of 11.a3 a4! 12.d5? Ra5! Black is optimally situated for the complications, e.g., 13.Bb5
Ncxe5, threatening ...Nd3+, 14.Qb4 Nxe3 15.fxe3 c5!, and White’s position collapses.

10.fxe3 Bg4 11.h3!

A nice novelty. In a previous e-mail game White continued with Be2 and 0-0-0, but
Nepomniachtchi is not afraid of 11...Bxf3, as he has another path in mind.

11...Bxf3 12.gxf3 e6 13.h4

Castling long was the obvious alternative to avoid 13...Qh4+, but this move is highly likely to be
useful, as h5 is a potential threat.

13...Ne7 14.f4

This is why Nepo played 11.h3. This pawn structure is almost a nightmare for a Grunfeld player:
instead of attacking a weakened center he is facing a majestic pawn formation.
The only possible weak spot is the e3-pawn, but it can be easily covered.

14...b5!?

Seeking complications. Naturally, it was possible to play 14...h5, but that would be more of a
waiting move, it wouldn’t drum up counterplay.
Pawn grabbing 14...Nf5 15.Kf2 Nxh4, opening the h-file, is not a pleasant option. After 16.Bd3
Nf5 17.Bxf5 exf5 18.Nb5 the White knight goes to d6 if 18...c6, or White recovers the pawn – White

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is better.
Exercise: How did Nepo answer the pawn sacrifice?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

15.Qc5!

Ian doesn’t want to give Black the desired counterplay for just a small investment.
There was nothing objectively wrong with 15.Nxb5 Rb8 16.0-0-0, and this is probably good for
White, but from the practical point of view it is not so clear. The scenario has changed, the position is
complicated, and Black has counterchances.
After 15.Qc5 Black’s weaknesses aren’t going to go away, so Black will probably be forced to
sharpen the game once more.

15...Nf5 16.Kf2 f6

Black is trying to fight for counterchances by exposing White’s king. If lines are opened the passive
g7–bishop will have a chance to join the game.

17.Rd1

17...b4!

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 Black insists on giving up the b-pawn, trying to open lines. This is the only way to justify his weak
pawn structure.
After a timid move like 17...Rb8 White consolidates with 18.Bd3 and Black is in trouble.
Nepo both praised his opponent’s play and hinted that it was dangerous at the same time: “[He]
chose an interesting way, but it’s strategically very dangerous because I had this superior pawn
center. I believe Maxime played in a very creative way with this ...b5–b4. He finally got some
counterplay, but I believe that it was more or less under control so White was never worse at least.”
Exercise (simple): How did Nepo reply?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

18.Qxb4

Now White was almost forced to take the pawn. If 18.Ne4? the d1-rook loses its protection and
18...fxe5 is strong. A possible continuation was 18.exf6 Bxf6 19.Ne4, but the g7-bishop enters the
game, so Black’s idea would be justified.

18...Rb8 19.Qa3

Exercise: Play for Black for the only time in this game.

Show/Hide Solution

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 Answer:

19...fxe5?

MVL is trying to open as many files as he can, however, here he is “betraying” his idea and his
previous moves. Tactics are the deciding factor, of course. Black misses an important move in his
calculations.
Black’s best move was 19...c5!, continuing with the idea of opening lines, “...but I feel White
should be alright,” said Nepomniachtchi, showing, again, that “chess is a state of mind.”
Then a possible line is 20.dxc5 Qe8 (which seems a little better than 20...Qc8, as in some lines after
White plays exf6 the queen on e8 gives more support to the advance ...e5) 21.exf6 Bxf6, threatening
22...e5 and also to take on h4. They would arrive at a position which MVL wanted, and his previous
moves would indeed prove to have been justified.

20.dxe5 Qe8 21.Bg2

The alternative was 21.Ne4, maintaining the possibility of playing Bd3.

After the text move, even though Black has succeeded in opening a few lines, White is close to
consolidating his position with moves like Ne4 and/or b3. He would hence kill the activity of the b8-
rook, and we must remember that Ian is a pawn up.

21...Bxe5!?

A final attempt to complicate the position.

Exercise (simple): How to reply?

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 Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

22.fxe5

This decision is similar to playing 18.Qxb4. White allows his opponent activity, yes, and it is rather
dangerous, but it is the only reasonable move. Rejecting the offer in both cases leads to a great
position for his opponent.

22...Nxh4+ 23.Kg1 Nxg2

Exercise: We talked about the importance of tactics, what did Nepomniachtchi play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

24.Ne4!

He took just 55 seconds to make this move. “That’s confidence!” (L’Ami in New In Chess
magazine). This move was missed from afar by Vachier-Lagrave.
White avoids 24.Kxg2?! Qc6+ 25.e4 Qb6, with plenty of threats such as 26...Rf2+ and 26...Qe3,
etc.

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 Now the Black knight is trapped, and, in this way, Nepomniachtchi not only covers his king but in a
short time he will be ready to attack first.
Now 24...Qc6 doesn’t work because of 25.Qe7.

24...Rd8

This is “a good try but not enough.” (Vachier-Lagrave).

Exercise: How did Nepo reply?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

25.Rc1!

25.Rxd8 Qxd8 26.Kxg2 Qd5 is also good, but it gives Maxime practical chances.
The knight on g2 remains trapped and the Black queen has no easy way to create threats against the
White king.

25...Qb5

Black tries to create threats, but without the help of his queen Black cannot defend his king.

26.Qe7

The move order 26.Nf6+ Rxf6 27.Qe7 was also good.

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 26...Rd7 27.Nf6+ Rxf6 28.Qxf6 Rf7 29.Qd8+

29...Rf8

Exercise (simple): How would White meet 29...Kg7?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: He could simply continue 30.Rxc7!, and after 30...Qf1+ 31.Kh2 the White king is
untouchable thanks to the Black knight.

30.Qxc7

Taking this pawn brings the c1–rook further into the game, as we will see.

30...Rf7 31.Qd8+ Rf8 32.Qe7 h5

After 32...Rf7 the quickest win is 33.Rc8+ Kg7 34.Qxf7+!

33.Qxe6+ Kg7 34.Rc7+ Kh6

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Exercise: This could be a problem: “White to play and win.”

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

35.Rxh5+!

The first move of a winning combination.

35...Kxh5

Exercise (simple): What is the key move?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

36.Qh3+

After 36...Nh4 37.Rh7+ White will capture the knight and then the rook.
1–0
Curiously, Nepomniachtchi never took the trapped knight!
Some lessons from this game: *

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 1.) Of course, it’s always good to capture material ‘for nothing’, but you should always check to see
whether it really is ‘for nothing’ and decide whether it’s better to decline the offer. (15.Qc5!
18.Qxb4! 22.fxe5!)
2.) Decisions about piece exchanges are always of crucial importance. (9...Nxe3? 9...Be6! 25.Rc1!)
3.) “In for a penny, in for a pound.” (19...c5!)
4.) Attacking skills are important, but defending accurately and counter-attacking at the right
moment are no less essential. (24.Ne4! 25.Rc1!)
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

Game 28
“This successful start set the tone for my subsequent performance”
Ian Nepomniachtchi won his second Russian Championship a decade after the first, with a 2813
rating performance. This tournament further demonstrated just how high Nepo’s “ceiling” had risen.
The win arrived after a two-horse race for the title with Sergey Karjakin: just like Nepomniachtchi’s
first victory in 2010.
The first-round game usually gives you an idea of how the player’s tournament may go; we see in
the header to this game that Nepo also thought so. After an opening both players knew well, they
arrived at a middle game that was difficult to handle, which led Black into severe time trouble. This
factor influenced the outcome of the game, resulting in a good start for Nepo.

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Maxim Matlakov
Queen’s Gambit [D35]
Russian Championship, Moscow (1), 05.12.2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Bb4

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 Nepomniachtchi wrote: “Maxim uses a comparatively rare hybrid of the Queen’s Gambit and the
Ragozin Defense, whose main advocate is Alexander Riazantsev. Dubov, Motylev and Matlakov
himself have also played this, mainly in rapid games.”
Question: Comparatively rare? It all seems pretty standard.

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: If White plays Nf3 now, he will switch into a standard line, right. But White can still
choose where to develop his knight. We will encounter a deeper explanation later, but the main
difference is that the knight can move to e2, and this possibility significantly changes the character of
the position.
With respect to Nepo’s comment, it was made six months before this book was written. Since then,
we should add Nepomniachtchi’s own name to the list of practitioners. He even twice defeated
Carlsen with it, in the Magnus Carlsen KO rapid tournament at the end of March 2021.

6.e3

In Dragomirescu – Nepomniachtchi, chess.com 2021, White chose 6.Nf3, reaching the Ragozin
Variation. That game continued 6...h6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 0-0 10.e3, and now, instead of
the standard 10...c5, Nepo played 10...Nc6 followed by ...Bf5. He finally won, but not as a result of
the opening.
By the way, Nepo had won all six games he played with the position after 5...Bb4, with White and
Black, as of June 2021.
In one of his encounters, Carlsen – Nepomniachtchi, chess24.com 2021, the World Champion

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played 6.Qa4+, forcing 6...Nc6. Then after 7.e3 h6 8.Bxf6 Qxf6 9.Nge2 0-0 10.a3 Bxc3+ 11.Nxc3
Ne7 12.Be2 c6 13.0-0 Nf5 14.b4 Nh4 15.Kh1 Qg6 16.g3 Nf5 17.b5 h5 Black had decent
counterplay.

6...h6 7.Bh4 g5 8.Bg3 Ne4

Question: What is Black achieving with his maneuver?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Nepo also talked about it. He said that Black’s basic idea was to gain the advantage of the
bishop pair, and he added an interesting statement: “the measured, Carlsbad-like course of the game
is quickly disrupted, and the customary guidelines are not fully effective. For example, the minority
attack, familiar since our childhood, is not something that White can count on.”
This was written, as we know, before the game with Carlsen that we just mentioned, where Carlsen,
challenging this evaluation, did play the minority attack, and he also did so in the other game versus
Nepo, as we will see, admittedly also without much success.

9.Nge2

9.Rc1 h5 10.f3 was played in Nepomniachtchi – Riazantsev, Dvoretsky Memorial, Moscow 2018.
Black was fine after 10...Nxg3 11.hxg3 c6 12.Bd3 Be6 13.Nge2 Nd7.
The move 9.Rc1 has also been played by other strong players, but, as we will see, Nepo later
thought that the development he played in that game was not the most promising choice.
Nepo provided this evaluation, and he follow it in our game: “One of the differences with the
Ragozin Defense is the possibility of developing the knight to e2, from where it controls the squares
c3 and g3. White manages without the move f3, and the important dark squares in the center and on
the kingside remain under control.”

9...h5 10.h4

In the other game Carlsen – Nepomniachtchi, chess24.com 2021, the World Champion preferred
10.h3, and after 10...Nxg3 11.Nxg3 h4 12.Nh5 c6 13.Be2 Nd7 14.Qb3 Bxc3+ 15.Qxc3 Nf6
16.Nxf6+ Qxf6, White played the minority attack again. After 17.b4 a6 18.a4 Bf5 19.b5 axb5
20.axb5 0-0 Black is fine. He can defend his weak c-pawn without difficulty. Carlsen later
overpressed and eventually lost.

10...Nxg3 11.Nxg3 gxh4 12.Nxh5

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 12...Qg5

Question: I don’t like Black’s weakened structure, is Black OK?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Ian said that Black’s achievements may indeed seem dubious. The h-pawn will become a
target and the knight on h5 may return to f4. However, at the same time, it is not at all easy for White
to demonstrate an advantage. He thought that “both the text move and 12...c6, after which Black
carefully completes his development, promise a full-scale battle.”
Exercise: What did Nepo play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

13.Qa4+

This is a well-known resource and we even saw Carlsen doing the same on move 6. White forces
Black to place his knight on c6. Usually, this ploy is made to delay the move ...c5, but in this case the
reason is different: by avoiding the move ...c6, White plans to exploit the vulnerability of the d-pawn.

13...Nc6 14.Nf4 Rh6!

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 Question: Why is this move so special?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Nepo said that vertically developing a rook is something he has always liked. This could
be said of Carlsen, too.
In this case, it is also the strongest move, because after 14...Bd7 15.Qb5 Nxd4 16.Qxb7 Rd8 17.0-
0-0 Bxc3 18.bxc3 Ne6 19.Nxd5 “White is a sound pawn to the good.”
This scenario will appear in the game several times: White can win a pawn, but giving something in
return. In this case the verdict is clear: capturing the pawn is advantageous for White, but at other
moments of the game it will not be so clear.

15.Qb5

15...Bf5

“A new move,” said Nepomniachtchi. Black does not try to defend his numerous weaknesses and
plays for activity.
He mentioned 15...Rd6 16.g3 a6 17.Qe2 hxg3 18.Qh5, which gave White an edge in Amico –
Esposito, correspondence game 2018. White has the initiative for a pawn, and Black must defend his
weak d-pawn and deal with back rank problems.
Question: So, Nepo was still in his preparation at this point?

Show/Hide Solution

385
 Answer: Yes he was, even in this side-line.
The level of opening preparation Nepo demonstrates is amazing, but we shouldn’t be too surprised,
we have already seen it in several games.
Exercise: What should White do now?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

16.Nfxd5

Black wants to castle long and complete his development, so “Something has to be captured – now
is the time!” said Nepo.
This is the best capture. The suicidal 16.Qxb7 loses to 16...Rb8 17.Qxc7 Ba5 or 17.Qa6 Nxd4.
16.Qxd5 is better, but it does not look too good either. The computer immediately shows the
unexpected but effective Black maneuver 16...Rd8 17.Qb5 a6 18.Qe2 Kd7! 19.0-0-0 Kc8, and after
“castling long” Black has very active pieces and enough compensation for the pawn.

16...a6

Question: This weakens the queenside, making castling long more difficult. Or am I wrong?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: You are right, but Black needs to chase the White queen away before retreating his
attacked bishop, as 16...Bd6? loses to 17.Qxb7.

17.Qa4

Not 17.Qxb7? Ra7.

17...Bd6 18.0-0-0

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 18...Kf8

Question: Why this move?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Black can’t play 18...0-0-0 in view of 19.Bxa6, and apparently, playing 18...Bd7 first
looked too passive to Matlakov.
But in fact, as Nepo pointed out, Matlakov had played very quickly so far, so he was still in his
preparation. Nepomniachtchi commented “I unfortunately didn’t remember the accurate response to
15...Bf5, it only remained for me to await new surprises.”
The text move is also the preference of the engines in June 2021.
Question: So, after the opening Black was more than satisfied. He was still familiar with the
position, so he was more optimistic for the following phase, right?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: It’s not that clear. Nepo believed “the situation is probably the proverbial dynamic
balance,” but he also mentioned a relevant practical side: “in order to maintain it, Black will have to
play more accurately than his opponent.”
Even Ian was not so sure about the objective evaluation: “White has an extra pawn, harmoniously
placed pieces, and a stable center. Black, at first sight, has only the two bishops and boundless

387
confidence, but his position in fact contains a great reserve of potential energy, which will become
kinetic as soon as the b-pawn is able to advance.”

The position is difficult to handle. In the near future both sides will have to take important
decisions.
Exercise (difficult): This is the beginning, what should Nepo play?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

19.f4!

A difficult decision. White creates a weak pawn on e3, and even Nepo said that “the move is
undoubtedly not the best.”
Question: Please explain this!

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Of course, Nepo didn’t play a clearly bad move on purpose. The position is very complex,
and he did it because the practical advantage he gains is more important, given that Black now faces a
choice after practically every move.
At first he looked at the “normal” move 19.Be2, but he was not convinced. After for example
19...Re8 20.Bf3 b5 21.Qxa6 Nb4 22.Nxb4 Bxb4 23.Qa7 Black plays 23...h3. Nepo pointed out that

388
this is an important idea: “Black wants to leave the bishop on f3 undefended: in such a sharp position
the stakes are high! 24.gxh3 Rxe3 25.fxe3 Qxe3+ 26.Rd2 Qxf3, with an unclear position,” and, “in
the event of accurate play by both sides – drawing tendencies.”
After evaluating the situation, he went for 19.f4 “Simply because I decided that in this type of
position, you have to strike first.”

19...Qg6

The practical effect of White’s ambitious move was seen immediately: “To me this seemed to be
the obvious and virtually only move. If White advances his e-pawn, his king will use the respite to
hide on b1 or a1, so White won’t have to worry about the position being opened. Nevertheless,
Maxim spent more than half an hour here, losing his entire opening time advantage.”

20.Be2 Re8

Black develops his only passive piece, pressing the newly created weakness. This move is perfectly
fine.
Nepo mentioned the less natural 20...Qe6. Then after 21.Bf3?! Black has 21...Nb4! as 22.Nxb4?
Qxe3+ 23.Rd2 Bxf4 followed by 24...Qxd4 is bad for White. So White should probably play 22.e4,
giving back the pawn.
Nepomniachtchi said that White would have been practically forced into a drawish continuation:
“21.g4 hxg3 22.Rxh6 Qxh6 23.Bf3 seemed very thematic to me, but after 23...Qh2 24.Rd2 Qh4
(24...Qg1+? 25.Qd1 and the endgame is very bad for Black) 25.Rd1 Qh2 White has to agree to
repetition.”

21.Bf3

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 21...b5

The far from natural 21...Nb8, defending the a-pawn in order to play 22...b5, was also fine.
Exercise (difficult): How would you answer 21...h3?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Nepo said that it would have forced White to play accurately, and gave some lines
showing some of the multiple tactical motifs the position has.
It’s amazing that 22.gxh3? loses to 22...Nb4!, because after 23.Nxb4 Rxe3 the f3-bishop is attacked
but, very importantly, White is impotent against the coming 24...Bxf4.
After 23.Rhg1 Qe6 24.e4 Nxd5 25.Nxd5 Bxe4 26.Rde1 b5! “preventing Rg8+ and other tricks
27.Qb3 Qf5 28.Rxe4 Rxe4 29.Qc2 Rg6, again preventing the motif Rg8+ and Nf6, 30.Rd1 (30.Rxg6
Re1+) 30...Rge6 31.Bxe4 Rxe4 White can only hope for a miracle.”
If 21...h3 White has to play 22.g4!, then 22...Bxg4 23.Bxg4 (“23.Rdg1 Bxf3 24.Rxg6 fxg6 25.Rh2
is terribly interesting, but from a human point of view more terrible than interesting”) 23...Qxg4
24.Rdg1 Qf3 25.Rf1 Qg3 26.Rfg1 Qf3, with a draw.

22.Qxa6

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 22...Nb8?

Nepo called this move “Maxim’s first significant error.”

22...Ne7! was much better, simplifying the position to weaken the control White has with his minor
pieces. After 23.Nxe7 Rxe7 “in the complications, Black seems to be holding everything together,
although the position is more suitable for analysis than for playing.” (Nepomniachtchi).
As we know, the move g4 was considered by Nepo on many occasions, because “for some reason, I
very much believed in the many possibilities of the move g4 during the game, but it would appear
that it almost always led to a draw,” and he gave as an example: 23.g4 Bxg4 24.Rdg1 Bxf3 25.Rxg6
Rxg6 26.Rxh4 Rg1+ 27.Kd2 Rg2+ 28.Kc1.

23.Qb7 c6 24.Nc7

“The only move, but more than adequate.” (Nepomniachtchi).

24...Rc8

The ingenious try 24...Rxe3? didn’t work. There would follow 25.Qxb8+ Kg7 26.Ne8+ Rxe8
27.Qxe8 Bxf4+ 28.Rd2 Qg5 29.Qe1 Re6 30.Ne2 and White can set about converting his advantage.”
(Nepomniachtchi).

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 Exercise: What should white play here?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

25.e4!

After 25.Na8 Re8 26.Nc7 nothing changes.

Nepo mentioned another imaginative line: 25.Be4 Bxc7? 26.g4! which is a nice trap, but alas,
capturing the knight with the bishop is not forced: “25...Rxc7, 25...Qf6 and even 25...Rd8 leads to
unclear play.”

25...Bxc7

The simplification favors White, but 25...Bd7 would have provided the White king with a safe
haven after 26.Na6 Bxf4+ 27.Kb1, a pawn up without compensation.
In case of 25...Bxf4+ 26.Kb1 Bxc7 27.exf5 Qxf5+ 28.Be4 Qd7 White has 29.d5! and all his pieces
come to life, with an advantage.

26.exf5 Qxf5 27.Be4 Qd7 28.Kb1 Bxf4 29.Qb6

With his king in a safe place and his active queen, White wants to keep the queens on the board.
Nonetheless, 29.Qxd7 Nxd7 30.d5, “eyeing the extra pawn in the endgame,” gave White some
advantage after 30...Nc5 31.Bf5 Rb8 32.dxc6 Rxc6 33.Rxh4, but Nepo thought this was “somehow

392
faint-hearted.”
In June 2021 the computer prefers 29.Qb6.

29...Qd6?!

Exercise: Black probably had to play 29...Qe7 instead, why?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

30.Rhf1?!

In Nepo’s words we can see, again, how important the practical factor is. He said of 29...Qd6 “it
was so bad that it is even good. I had not expected this move at all, and I completely forgot that I was
planning to advance d4–d5 at the first opportunity.”
After 30.d5! cxd5 31.Qxb5 Nepo commented: “White has either an extra pawn, a winning position,
or both”: 31...d4 32.Qf5 Re8 33.Rhf1 Rf6 34.Qh5 Rh6 35.Qf3 and wins, while the other line is
31...Rxc3 32.bxc3 Qc7 33.Qxd5 Rd6 (or 33...Rb6+ 34.Kc2) 34.Qh5 Qxc3 35.Rxd6, winning.

30...Nd7 31.Qa6 Re8 32.Bc2 Nf6

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 “Black has coordinated his forces, and the question of immediate capitulation has been removed
from the agenda,” said Nepomniachtchi.

33.a3?

We know that time trouble was already present, facilitating mistakes from both sides. Now the
position is one in which both sides have chances.
Exercise: Which move was better?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: The correct move was again 33.d5!, which, as Nepo said, “would have retained memories
of the decisive advantage” after 33...cxd5 34.Qxb5 Rb8 35.Qa5 Be5. Here we should extend the line
a little and check that it is safe and advantageous to play 36.b3! planning 37.Nxd5.

33...Qc7?

“Maxim was the first player to end up in time-trouble, and this undoubtedly influenced the outcome
of the game. For example, at this point, healthy optimism would have enabled him to equalize
completely: 33...Ng4! 34.Rde1 Ne3 35.Rf3 Qxd4 36.Bb3 Rf6.”

34.d5?

Chess is so difficult sometimes: the move that was good several times is now a mistake.
“An emotional decision. The queen on a6 has no moves, and after ...Rb8 and ...Nd5 the threat of it
getting trapped becomes real, although in the event of the accurate 34.Rf3 Rb8 35.Ne2 Nd5 36.Nxf4

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Nxf4, the rook on h6 will be temporarily undefended, and White develops an irresistible attack:
37.Bb3! Kg7 38.Rdf1 c5 39.Qxh6+ Kxh6 40.Rxf4, winning.”
Of course, the correctness of this variation was difficult to see at the board with just a few minutes
to think.

34...Nxd5 35.Nxd5 cxd5 36.Qxb5

The queen is free and active now, but Black had obtained counterchances against the White king.

36...Rb6 37.Qxd5 Qc3

“After the logical 37...Be5 38.b4 Bf6 39.Bb3, the extra pawn does not play any role, and the White
and Black monarchs feel equally uncomfortable,” said Nepomniachtchi. 39...Re2 or 39...Re3 next is
sufficient to get equal chances.

38.b4 Rf6??

“With this move, literally played in the last second, Maxim commits a nightmarish blunder. The
obvious (and only) move 38...Rd6 would have maintained equality. For example, 39.Rd3 Re1+
40.Rxe1 Qxe1+ 41.Rd1 Qc3 42.Qb3 Rxd1+ 43.Bxd1 Qxb3+ 44.Bxb3 Ke7, and after placing his
bishop on e1 Black easily makes a draw.” (Nepomniachtchi).

Exercise (simple): How did Nepo strike the decisive blow?

Show/Hide Solution

395
 Answer:

39.Rxf4!

White wins after 39...Rxf4 40.Qd6+.

1–0
Some lessons from this game: *
1.) Chess is played by humans, with limited time to think, not computers, so, again, the practical
side is very relevant. (19.f4! The time used before playing 19...Qg6! 30.d5! 33.d5! 34.d5? 38...Rf6?)
2.) Sometimes, even against a strong tactician, it’s necessary to enter complications. (16.Nfxd5!
19.f4! 21...h3! 33.d5!)
3.) “Which piece should I exchange? Which one should I keep?” If you can find the right answers,
you’ll probably discover the correct plan. (22...Ne7! 29.Qb6!)
4.) Loose pieces are tactical weaknesses. (16...Bd6? 17.Qxb7? 38...Rf6?)
5.) Nepo’s comments are very enlightening!
6.) Chess is sometimes extremely difficult!
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

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 Show in Text Mode

Game 29
A game of just one big mistake
The race between Karjakin and Nepomniachtchi was so close that both players were obliged, if it
were possible, to try to win with both colors. In fact, both obtained five wins, two of them playing
Black.
In his victory of the fourth round, playing with the Black pieces, Nepomniachtchi tried hard to
maintain the tension in a rather dry position. He managed to activate his pieces and create threats
against his opponent’s king. Nepo needed just one mistake from Antipov to obtain a clear advantage.

Mikhail Antipov
Ian Nepomniachtchi
Sicilian Defense [B90]
Russian Championship, Moscow (4), 08.12.2020

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a3

White decides to avoid a discussion in the most fashionable lines. This move looks harmless, but
even Magnus Carlsen has played it in classical games.

6...e5

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 The most natural response. Of course, there are several alternatives, such as 6...Nc6 or 6...e6,
transposing to a type of Scheveningen, or playing a Dragon variation with 6...g6.

7.Nf3

Antipov choses a quieter way of handling the position than Carlsen did. The more aggressive 7.Nf5
has been employed by the World Champion with success.
Undoubtedly, Ian was fully prepared for 7.Nf5.

7...h6

A standard prophylactic move, preventing Bg5. Now White’s potential control over d5 is
diminished.
7...Be7 is what Nepomniachtchi played the only other time he faced this line. He managed to solve
his problems after 8.Bc4 0-0 9.Bg5 Be6 10.Bxf6 Bxc4 11.Bxe7 Qxe7 12.Nd2 Be6 13.Nf1 Nd7
14.Ne3 Nf6 15.0-0 Rac8 16.Qd3 Rc6 17.Rfd1 Rfc8 in Anand – Nepomniachtchi, Riyadh 2017
(rapid).

8.Bc4 Be6

9.Bb3

This novelty didn’t pose Black any problems.

9.Bxe6 fxe6 was previously played, but after 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.Ne1 Be7 12.Nd3 0-0 13.f4 Qc7
Black got a comfortable position in Short – Aronian, Gibraltar 2019.

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 10.Nh4 (instead of 10.0-0) 10...Nc6 11.f4 looks more challenging, but Black should be able to
neutralize White’s aggression with 11...Rg8! (now ...Nxe4 could be considered in some lines, because
Qh5+ doesn’t win as Black has ...g6). After for example 12.f5 d5 13.fxe6 d4 followed by 14...Qd6
Black recovers his pawn with better chances; in case of 14.Nd5? Black has 14...Nxd5, targeting the
h4-knight, and if 15.Qh5+ Black has the already mentioned resource 15...g6, winning material after
16.Nxg6 Nf6.
In Dvoirys – Zanan, Tiberias 2016, White answered 11...Rg8 with 12.Nf3, but Black got a good
position too after 12...Qb6 13.Qd3 Ng4 14.Rf1 exf4 15.Bxf4 g5. Black has e5 for his knights and his
king will find a safe place on the queenside.

9...Nc6

Question: Why not double pawns by taking on b3, practically getting an extra pawn?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: It is possible, but after 9...Bxb3 10.cxb3 Black loses control of the light squares and the
virtual pawn up is the backward d-pawn, which is not a strong one. After castling, White would
follow up with Be3, Qd3 a rook on d1, b4, etc., and White has more space and is pressing, while
Black’s options are less exciting.

10.0-0 Rc8

10...Be7 was also possible, but these lines would most probably merge.

11.h3

The natural alternative was 11.Qd3, defending the e4-pawn, to jump to d5 with the c3-knight. After
11...Be7 12.Nd5 Bxd5 13.Bxd5 Nxd5 14.Qxd5 the White knight is far from d5. Black could next
play 14...Qa5, forcing the retreat of the White queen, because allowing the queen’s swap with 15.Rd1
gives Black a good game after 15...Qxd5 16.Rxd5 and he now reorganize his forces by means of
16...Nb8, to go to d7 and probably to f6.

11...Be7 12.Nh2

This was the idea of 11.h3. White wants to get more control over d5, exchanging the f6-knight or
moving his own knight to e3, but this plan takes too much time so it is not dangerous.

12...0-0

Black shows no fear of his opponent’s plan, as he has a good response. He could also have changed
the character of the position with 12...Nd4, then 13.Bxe6 fxe6 would imply forgetting about control

399
of d5, while after 13.Ba2 0-0 14.Be3 Bxa2 15.Rxa2 Nb5 the knight on h2 is far from the action and
Black is even slightly better.

13.Ng4 Nxg4 14.hxg4

Exercise: Black has more than one satisfactory way to continue. What was Nepo’s idea?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

14...Bg5

Black exchanges his “bad” bishop without paying any price. This indicates that Black’s position is
fine.
Another good move was 14...Nd4. After 15.Bxe6 fxe6 16.Be3 Rc4 17.Qd3 Qc7 Black is active,
and 18.f4 can be answered by 18...Nb5!.
If White meets 14...Nd4 with 15.Be3 Black is also the first to take the initiative with 15...Nxb3
16.cxb3 Bg5 17.Bxg5 Qxg5, and Black also has a minimal advantage, but Nepo wanted more.

15.Nd5 Nd4

15...Bxc1 16.Rxc1 Na5 17.Ba2 Nc4 was also good. The knight on d5 is well situated but White has
no easy way to maintain it in a favorable way because his pieces are passive.

16.c3!

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 White holds his position with this move, forcing simplifications that reduce the tension.

16...Bxc1 17.Rxc1 Nxb3 18.Qxb3

Exercise: The position is about equal, so how did Nepo get practical chances?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

18...Bxg4

This is the best attempt to breathe life into the position. The alternative 18...b5 gives very few
chances to play for a win after the simple 19.Qd1.

19.Qxb7 Rb8 20.Qxa6 Rxb2

Black has now managed to get a rook on the seventh rank and threatens 21...Be2. If 21.Rfe1 Black
has several attractive continuations, such as 21...f5, 21...Qh4 or 21...Qg5.

21.Rb1!

White defends well. If 21...Rc2 then 22.Qd3.

In case of 21...Rd2 White can play 22.f3 and if 22...Bc8 then 23.Qa7 followed by Rf2.
The aggressive 22...Qh4 (instead of 22...Bc8), although scary, only leads to a draw after the only
move 23.Qxd6! (an unusual way to come to the defense, it threatens 24.Ne7+) 23...Rxg2+ 24.Kxg2

401
Bh3+ 25.Kh2 Bxf1+ 26.Kg1 (threatening 27.Qxf8+!) 26...Qg3+ 27.Kxf1 Qxf3+ 28.Kg1 and a draw
by perpetual check.
Exercise: Why was 21.f3 not acceptable?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Because Black now has 21...Qg5!, threatening 22...Qd2, 22...Bxf3, 22...Bh3, etc. White
can’t defend against all the threats at once and the c1-rook is a tactical weakness.
In this case we see how important 21.Rb1! was.

21...Be2 22.Qc6?

The queen wants to keep the pressure on d6, but the move is tactically faulty. Indeed, this proves to
be a very unfortunate square for the queen. It is too far from the defense and his move spoils all his
previous efforts to hold the position.
22.Qa7! was correct, then after 22...Rd2 23.Rfe1 Qg5, exchanging queens to strengthen the value of
the a-pawn would give White an equal game. He could do this with 24.Qe7 (threatening 25.Qxf8+) or
with 24.Qe3. After the exchange of queens White would eventually play a4, Ra1, etc., and the passed
a-pawn would guarantee enough counterplay.

22...Rd2 23.Rfe1

Exercise: How did Nepo continue?

Show/Hide Solution

402
 Answer:

23...Qg5!

Possibly the strength of this move was underestimated by White: his king is in big danger, his
queen is too far away, and his knight is not sufficient to defend it.

24.Rxe2

A sad recognition of the severe defects of his position: White has to give up the exchange. Of
course, there are tactical points here, not just a general evaluation behind it.
Exercise: What would happen in case of 24.Qxd6?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: Black first eliminates the best defender with 24...Rxd5! and there is no defense after
25.exd5 Bf3 26.g3 Qh5.

24...Rxe2 25.Qxd6

White has a pawn for the exchange and a strong knight on d5, so he still hopes to put up tough
resistance.
Exercise: How did Nepo give a new impulse to his initiative?

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 Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

25...Re8!

Avoiding our known threat 26.Qxf8+! and adding the rook to the offensive, this precise move
practically kills all of White’s defensive hopes.

26.Qd7 Re6 27.g3

This move gives more freedom to the rook. It couldn’t give up the first line due to ...Re1+ and
...Qh4#, but now the king has the g2 square.
Exercise: How should Black continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

27...Qh5

Attacking. Black wants to play 28...Qf3. Of course not 27...Rxe4? which allows 28.Rb8+ followed
by 29.Qxf7 and White gets enough counterchances.

28.Kg2?!

This stops 28...Qf3, but the wasted tempo is decisive.

White should have played 28.Ne7+ Kh7 29.Qe8 Rxe7 30.Qxe7 Qf3 31.Rf1 Rxe4, and here, despite
the equal material, White’s position is very difficult because his pawns are weak and his king is
exposed.
Let’s look a little more: 32.Qc5, defending the c3 and f2 pawns to eventually free the rook, allows
the immediate 32...h5, while after 32.Rc1 Re2 33.Rf1 Black has 33...e4, threatening ...e3, and if now
34.Qb7 then 34...h5 comes again.

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 Exercise: How did Nepo continue with his attack?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

28...Kh7!

With this “silent” move, the king evades checks and all of Black’s three pieces are free. Now White
is absolutely lost.

29.Qd8

There is no defense after 29.Ne7 Rf6 nor after 29.Rb8 Re1.

29...Qg4 30.Rb4

Of course there is no salvation after 30.Qh4 Qxh4 31.gxh4 Rxe4.

Exercise (simple): How did Black force Antipov’s resignation?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

30...Rg6

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 There is no good defense against 31...Qxg3+.
0–1
Some lessons from this game: *
1.) We know how important it is to ask ourselves “Which piece should I exchange? Which one
should I keep?” (9...Bxb3? 14...Bg5!)
2.) Don’t forget to ‘invite everyone to the party’, bringing fresh forces to the attack. (23...Qg5!
25...Re8!)
3.) You should train to sense the critical moments of the game, when precise calculation is needed.
(22.Qa7!)
4.) Something we have seen many times: “Preventing your opponent’s plan is as important as
advancing your own.” (22.Qc6? 28...Kh7!)
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

Game 30
A crushing novelty in a decisive game
The race between Karjakin and Nepomniachtchi lasted until the final round. They arrived at the last
round with 7 points each. Then, in the final round Nepo drew while Karjakin was defeated in a
beautiful game by Daniil Dubov. Hence, we can say that the key encounter of the tournament was our
last game in this book from the seventh round.
Nepomniachtchi had prepared excellently, while Karjakin turned out to be unprepared for the
novelty that Ian employed. Sergey began to burn up time, and, a few moves after encountering the
novelty, went astray. “I was lucky that I got to play such a crucial game as White after a rest day. I
managed to prepare well and win the opening,” said Nepomniachtchi after the game.
“A powerful game by Nepo, starting with great prep and finishing with a top-notch conversion,”
was how Anish Giri described this decisive game.

Ian Nepomniachtchi
Sergey Karjakin
Nimzo-Indian Defense [E20]
Russian Championship, Moscow (7), 12.12.2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3!

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 Question: Why the exclamation mark?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: It is given for the move’s practical impact. Nepomniachtchi chose a principled line that
Sergey Karjakin couldn’t possibly have expected, as this was the first time that Nepo had played it.
On the previous occasion they had a Nimzo-Indian, almost 10 years before, in the Tal Memorial,
Moscow 2011, Nepo played 4.Qc2.
After this game he played it twice in blitz and rapid games.

4...d5 5.a3 Be7 6.e4 dxe4 7.fxe4 c5

This move was chosen by Karjakin all the three times that he had this position at the board. 7...e5 is
the other main line.

8.d5 exd5 9.exd5 0-0

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 10.Be2

Question: Aren’t knights supposed to be developed before bishops?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: That’s a general rule, and it’s useful, but not set in stone. This move was first employed
by Caruana against Alekseenko at the FIDE Candidates in March 2020, and since then it has
overtaken 10.Nf3 as White’s main choice.
By breaking the above rule, developing the bishop before the knight, White prevents the immediate
...Bg4 and thus limits Black’s move order options.
10.Nf3 Bg4 11.Be2 Bd6 12.0-0 (if 12.Nb5 then 12...Bxf3 is unpleasant, both 13.Bxf3 Re8+ 14.Be2
Be5 and 13.gxf3 Nh5 are good for Black) 12...Nbd7 is the set-up Black is aiming for, Tsvetkov –
Najer, Moscow 2019. Here, 13.Nb5 is harmless due to 13...Bb8.

10...Re8

If 10...Bd6 White now has the option of 11.Nb5, e.g., 11...Re8 12.Nf3 Bg4 13.0-0, and the d6-
bishop still can’t withdraw, as if 13...Bf8?! then 14.d6.

11.Nf3 Bg4 12.0-0 Nbd7 13.d6!?

Disrupting Black’s plan of blockading the d-pawn.

Question: Is this better than a normal move like 13.h3 and later Bf4, for example?

408
 Show/Hide Solution

Answer: It’s hard to say, maybe not, but the pawn advance is not a bad move, and the real blow (in
a practical sense, not objectively), is still to come.
The position is very complex after 13.d6. The question is whether the pawn will turn out to be a
strength or a weakness. This question may only be objectively answered by analysis, but after the
game: at the board it is too difficult. So we have a fight where all three results are possible.

13...Bf8 14.h3 Bh5

15.Bf4

This novelty turns out to be a real blow, and surprisingly Karjakin reacted poorly.
In the above game Caruana – Alekseenko, Ekaterinburg 2020, White chose 15.Nb5, then 15...Re6?!
16.Bf4 was good for White.
15...Rb8 was suggested as an improvement for Black. This should not appear strange, as it is the
first suggestion from the computer. Vidit – Aronian, chess.com 2020, continued 16.Bf4 a6 17.Nc7
Re4 18.Bg3 Bxf3 19.Bxf3 Rd4 20.Qe1 Bxd6 21.Nd5, and White got reasonable compensation for the
pawn but Black is fine too.
The third option is 15...Qb6, offering an exchange for a pawn sacrifice. It was Karjakin’s choice in
a game played less than two months before this one. After 16.Nc7 Bxd6 17.Nxa8 Rxa8 18.Nh4 Bg6,
although the computer slightly prefers White, Black’s dark-square domination and potential play
against White’s king gave Black decent compensation for the small material deficit, Vidit – Karjakin,

409
chess.com 2020.
In his preparation (the free day before this crucial encounter) Nepo would have undoubtedly been
aware of these games, and now he makes a natural move, overprotecting the passed d-pawn.

15...Qb6 16.b3

Question: The position seems to be asking for active measures, so isn’t this move too timid?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: It seems to be too cautious, yes. Defending the b-pawn with a developing move like
16.Qd2, preparing Rad1, was the obvious choice, but actually it is not that clear. Ian’s move, despite
all appearances, is not so passive.

16...Rad8

White’s move has a sort of intoxicating effect. It looks so harmless that Karjakin decides to calmly
develop his only inactive piece.
There are two critical lines involving an attack on the invading d-pawn: 16...Re6 and 16...Ne4.
Karjakin surely assumed that these lines were in Nepo’s preparation, and he decided not to test
White’s analysis.
There are no practical examples with tries yet, as nobody has repeated 15.Bf4.
Let’s consider an example: the position is very complex and there are numerous lines we could
analyze, but this is the best line for both sides after 16...Re6 according to the engines in June 2021:
17.Nb5 (17.Ng5 is also possible) 17...Rd8 18.a4 a6 19.a5 Qc6 20.Nc7 Re4 21.Bh2 Bxd6! 22.Bxd6
Nf8 23.Bd3 Re3 24.Nd5! Nxd5 25.Bxf8! Kxf8 26.Bc2 Rxf3 (or 26...Bxf3 27.Rxf3 Rxf3) 27.Rxf3
Bxf3 28.gxf3 Qc7 29.cxd5 Qg3+ 30.Kf1 Qxh3+ 31.Kg1 Qg3+ 32.Kf1 with perpetual check. Of
course, there are a lot of possibilities in between.
The other attempt is not that complicated at first sight. After 16...Ne4 there could follow 17.Nd5
Qc6 18.Nh4 Bxe2 19.Qxe2 Nxd6 (19...Ng3? 20.Qf2 Nxf1 21.Rxf1 planning Nf5 gives up too much
for the exchange) 20.Qh5, with decent compensation for the pawn, but no more.

410
 Black has just avoided the critical lines, but his position is still sound.
Exercise: How did Ian continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

17.Ra2!

Revealing a key point behind 16.b3, to offer the a1-rook a path to d2 in order to provide crucial
support to the d6–pawn. The rook is more effective there than on d1, behind the queen.

17...h6

Question: This move reminds me of 16.b3, is there a hidden point to this timid move as well?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: It has a reason, sure: Black would like to play 17...Bxf3 18.Bxf3 Ne5, but at the board the
possibility 19.Bg5 looks dangerous; at home the engines may convince you otherwise, they believe
Black is okay after 19...Nxf3+ (19...Rxd6 20.Nd5 Nxd5 21.Bxd5 Rd7 22.Re2 is less convincing)
20.Qxf3 Qxb3 21.Bxf6 gxf6 22.d7 Re6 23.Qg3+ Kh8 24.Qc7 Qb6, but it is difficult to be sure about
it with limited time to analyze.

18.a4!

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 Question: 18.Rd2 looks far more obvious. Why is this move stronger?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer: It is a surprising decision, as your suggestion 18.Rd2! is what the engines prefer and
maybe it is objectively stronger.
We must give Nepomniachtchi full credit for understanding Karjakin’s intentions behind 17...h6
and preparing the best way to neutralize the move.

18...Bxf3?

Four moves after the opening surprise Karjakin now goes astray with the most natural continuation.
We can see it as a logical follow-up to 17...h6. Now Bg5 is prevented, but the exchange that was
correct on the previous move is wrong here, for tactical reasons, as we can imagine.
Black had to play 18...Qa5! 19.Qd2 Re6, and chances are about equal. White could continue 20.g4
Bg6 21.g5, but Black has enough defensive resources after 21...Nh5 22.Bh2 Bxd6! 23.Bxd6 Nf8, and
Black recovers the piece with a decent position. Of course there are more possibilities and more
complicated lines here, too.

19.Bxf3 Ne5

Exercise: How did Nepo demonstrate that Black’s maneuver was mistaken in this position?

Show/Hide Solution

412
 Answer:

20.Nb5!

Showing the key idea behind 18.a4. Now 20...a6 is met by 21.a5!, and the Black queen is trapped.
Black must stop the threat of 21.a5 winning material.

20...Bxd6

The move 20.Nb5 was made to avoid this capture. The capture indeed loses, but Black’s position
was already difficult.
After 20...Nxf3+ 21.Qxf3 Qc6 White can take on c6 and then the a-pawn, but 22.Nc7! is even
better, then 22...Re4 (22...Qxf3 23.gxf3 loses the exchange) 23.Nd5 Re6, and now maybe even better
than 24.Bxh6, suggested by Giri, is simply 24.Re2, and Black has serious problems attempting to
defend his kingside.
It was probably more tenacious to settle for a passive defense with 20...Rd7, leaving d8 for his
queen, but the situation remains very unattractive after, for example, 21.a5 Qd8 22.a6 Bxd6 23.Nxd6
Rxd6 24.Bxe5! Rxe5 (24...Rxd1 25.Rxd1 followed by 26.Bxf6 and 27.axb7 is close to winning for
White) 25.Qa1.
Exercise: How did Nepo continue?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

21.a5!

Marking the complete triumph of 18.a4! The queen must retreat to a horrible square.

21...Qa6 22.Rd2 Nxf3+ 23.Rxf3 Ne4

23...Be7 was met by 24.Nc7.

Now “Black gets a rook for two pieces, but White is so well coordinated that the game has already
been decided at this point.” (Giri).

24.Nxd6 Nxd2 25.Qxd2

White’s active bishop and knight are much stronger than the rook, and Black is even worse if we
add the sad location of his queen.

25...Re6 26.Rd3 b6 27.Nf5 Rxd3 28.Qxd3 Qb7

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 Exercise: The Black queen makes a timid return to the game, how did White reply?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

29.Qd5!

“A powerful move. White bullies Black’s queen, using the fact that a queen exchange creates a very
dangerous passed d-pawn.” (Giri).
The Black queen controlled e7, so 29.Qg3 was ineffective due to 29...Rg6.

29...Qxd5

29...Qc8 30.Be5 (or 30.axb6 first) was no better.

30.cxd5 Re1+ 31.Kf2 Rd1

Exercise (simple): How did Nepo finish off the game?

Show/Hide Solution

Answer:

32.Ke2!

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 And the d-pawn queens or White wins the rook after 32...Rxd5 33.Ne7+.
1–0
Some lessons from this game: *
1.) Nepomniachtchi’s opening preparation is, again, amazing.
2.) Chess is played by humans, with limited time to think, so, again, the practical side is very
relevant. (15.Bf4! 16.b3! 18.a4!)
3.) Preventing your opponent’s activity can be as important as activating your own forces.
(17...Bxf3! 18.a4!)
4.) “Which piece should I exchange? Which one should I keep?” If you can find the right answers,
be also sure they are tactically flawless. (17...Bxf3! 18...Bxf3? 29.Qd5!)
5.) “If one piece is bad, the whole position is bad.” (21.a5!)
* Italics refer to variations, as opposed to moves actually played.

415
 Timeline

Ian Alexandrovich Nepomniachtchi was born on 14 July 1990 in Bryansk, Russia. He learned to
play chess at four-and-a-half years.
2000
Chalkidiki, European Youth Chess Championship under-10, 1st.
2001
Chalkidiki, European Youth Chess Championship under-12, 1st.
2002
Peniscola, European Youth Chess Championship under-12, 1st (first encounter with Magnus
Carlsen), in September – October.
Heraklion, World Youth Chess Championship under-12 1st, edging out Magnus Carlsen on the
tiebreak, in November.
2007
Corus Chess Wijk aan Zee, group C, 2nd, earning his first GM norm, in January.
Dresden, European Individual Chess Championship, earning his second GM norm, in April.
Kirishi, 5th Vanya Somov Memorial – World’s Youth Stars tournament, 1st, earning his third norm
required for the GM title, edging out Rauf Mamedov, Parimarjan Negi and Zaven Andriasian on
tiebreak, in May.
2008
Moscow, Aeroflot Open, 1st, in February. He qualified for the Dortmund Sparkassen Chess
Meeting.
Dortmund Sparkassen Chess Meeting, 2nd-5th, half a point behind Peter Leko, in June – July.
Ordix Open, Mainz (rapid) 1st, in August.
2010
Rijeka, European Individual Championship, 1st, in March.
Khanty-Mansiysk, Chess Olympiad, he won the individual bronze playing board one for Russia B,
in September – October.
Moscow, Russian Championship Superfinal, 1st, after defeating Sergey Karjakin in the playoff, in
December.
2011
Vladimir Potkin became Nepomniachtchi’s coach.
2013
Legnica, European Individual Championship, Nepomniachtchi tied for 1st–10th with Alexander

416
Moiseenko, Evgeny Romanov, Alexander Beliavsky, Constantin Lupulescu, Francisco Vallejo Pons,
Sergei Movsesian, Hrant Melkumyan, Alexey Dreev and Evgeny Alekseev. Moiseenko won by a
better tiebreak, and Nepomniachtchi finished 8th, in May.
Khanty-Mansiysk, World Rapid Chess Championship, 2nd, in June.
Moscow, Russian Championship Superfinal, 2nd after losing the tiebreak to Peter Svidler, in
October.
Antalya, World Team Chess Championship, team gold playing for Russia, individual gold playing
fourth board, in November – December.
2014
Dubai, World Blitz Chess Championship, 2nd, in June.
Yaroslavl, 5th International Chess Festival Yaroslav the Wise, Tournament of Champions, 1st
(rapid), in August.
2015
Moscow, Aeroflot Open, 1st, edging out Daniil Dubov on tiebreak, in March – April. He qualified
for the Dortmund Sparkassen Chess Meeting.
Moscow, Aeroflot blitz tournament, 1st, in April.
Moscow Blitz Championship, 1st, in April.
Berlin, World Rapid Chess Championship, 2nd, in October.
2016
Danzhou, Hainan tournament, 1st, in July.
Baku, Chess Olympiad, he won the team bronze medal and an individual silver playing board four
for Russia, in September.
Moscow, Tal Memorial, 1st, in September – October.
2017
Zurich, 2nd in the combined standings (classical and blitz) in the Korchnoi Chess Challenge, 1st-
2nd with Nakamura in the classical tournament, in April.
London, 2nd, after losing the tiebreak against Fabiano Caruana, in December.
Riyadh, World Rapid Chess Championship, 3rd, in December.
2018
Jerusalem, 4th Gideon Japhet Memorial (rapid), 1st, in July.
Dortmund Sparkassen Chess Meeting, 1st, in July.
Batumi, Chess Olympiad, he won the team bronze medal and an individual silver playing board two
for Russia, in September – October.
2019

417
 Astana, World Team Chess Championship, team gold playing for Russia, second board, in March.
Moscow FIDE Grand Prix tournament, 1st, defeating Alexander Grischuk in the final in rapid
tiebreaks, in May.
Jerusalem, FIDE Grand Prix tournament, 1st, defeating Wei Yi in the final, in December.
2020
Moscow, Russian Championship Superfinal, 1st, in December.
2021
Ekaterinburg 2020-2021 Candidates Tournament, 1st, earning the right to challenge World
Champion Magnus Carlsen. The first leg was played in March – April 2020 and the second in April
2021.

418
 Index of Openings

Bold type indicates that Nepomniachtchi had the Black pieces

English Opening
[A13] 20, [A17] 15, [A29] 8, [A33] 17, [A37] 7
Pirc Defense
[B07] 21
Caro-Kann Defense
[B12] 3, 14
Sicilian Defense
[B60] 1, [B90] 9, 29, [B92] 6, 12, [B94] 13
French Defense
[C10] 19
Petroff Defense
[C42] 22, 26, [C43] 23
Scotch Opening
[C45] 5, 10
Italian Opening
[C54] 11
Two Knights Defense
[C55] 25
Ruy Lopez
[C78] 18, [C84] 2, [C88] 24
Slav Defense
[D13] 16
Queen’s Gambit
[D35] 28
Grunfeld Defense
[D76] 4, [D97] 27
Nimzo-Indian Defense

419
[E20] 30

420
 Bibliography

New In Chess Magazine

Mega Database 2021, ChessBase
The Week in Chess

421
Table of Contents
Title page 3
Index of Complete Games 4
Introduction 6
Nepo’s Style 7
Nepo’s 30 Best Wins 24
Games 3-4 53
Games 5-6 76
Games 7-8 107
Games 9-10 138
Games 11-12 165
Games 13-14 195
Games 15-16 217
Games 17-18 247
Games 19-20 271
Games 21-22 292
Games 23-24 314
Games 25-26 349
Games 27-28 370
Games 29-30 397
Timeline 416
Index of Openings 419
Bibliography 421

422