Half Moon Run

Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi – Fabiano Caruana
43rd Sparkassen Chess Meeting; Dortmund, June 27, 2015
Grünfeld Defence D78

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 c6 5. 0-0 Nf6 6. b3 0-0 7. Bb2 Ne4 8. Nbd2 Bf5 9. c4 Nd7 10. Rc1 a5 11. Nh4 Nxd2 12. Qxd2 Be6 13. cxd5. For the vintage 13. e4 dxe4 14. Bxe4 a4 see Smejkal – Donner, 34th Hoogovens Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 1972. 13. ... cxd5 14. Nf3 Nf6 15. Ne5 Ne4 16. Qe3 a4 17. Nd3 axb3 18. axb3 Qb6 19. Nc5 Ra2 20. Bxe4 dxe4 21. Bc3 Qb5 22. Nxe6 fxe6 23. Rfe1 Qd5 24. Red1 Ra3 25. Qd2 Qxb3. “After 25. ... Qxb3 Fabiano has a dream position and would be surprised to see him not convert this advantage”, International Master Lawrence Adam Trent said.

26. Qg5 Ra2 27. Rd2 Bf6. “27. ... Bf6 was inaccurate allowing Ian to drum up enough counterplay. Instead 27. ... Rxd2 would have led to immense suffering for White”, Trent said. 28. Qc5 Rxd2 29. Bxd2 Qd5 30. Be3 Rd8 31. Rb1 Rd7 32. Rb5 Kf7 33. Qb4 Qc6 34. Rb6 Qd5 35. Rb5 Qc6 36. Rb6 Qc2 37. Rxb7 Rxb7 38. Qxb7 Bxd4 39. Bxd4 Qd1+ 40. Kg2 Qxd4 41. e3 Qd5 42. Qb2 Qf5 43. Qh8 Qf3+ 44. Kg1 Qd1+ 45. Kg2 Qf3+ 46. Kg1 ½ : ½.

Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi vs. Fabiano Caruana
Photo: Sparkassen CM (‏@SparkassenChess)