Forward to the Future

Ian Alexandrovich Nepomniachtchi – Fabiano Caruana
Candidates Tournament 2022; Madrid, June 18, 2022
Giuoco Piano C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. 0-0 d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 Ba7 8. Re1 h6 9. Nbd2 g5 10. b4 Ng4. Caruana is renowned for his theoretical preparation, and his judgment is usually sound. In such sense one can guess that the text move, with regard to Black’s goals, is the best one, whether a novelty or not. A recent game continued 10. ... Ne7 11. Nf1 Ng6 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Nxe3 g4 14. Nd2 h5 15. d4 h4 16. Qb3 Rh7 17. g3 Kf8 18. b5 Bd7 19. bxa6 bxa6 20. Rab1 a5 21. Bf1 Rh5 22. Bg2 Nh7 23. Qd1 Nf6 24. Ndc4 Qe8 25. Ra1 Be6 26. Qe2 Qc8 27. Rab1 Bd7 28. Nf5 Qa6 29. dxe5 dxe5 30. Qa2 Kg8 31. Nce3 Qc6 32. Qa3 Qxa4 33. Ne7+ Nxe7 34. Qxe7 Qc6 35. Nf5 Qe6 36. Qc5 a4 37. Qxc7 Rc8 38. Rb8 Rxb8 39. Qxb8+ Kh7 40. Qf8 Ne8 41. Rb1 Qa2 42. Rb8 hxg3 43. Nxg3 Rh6 44. Nf5 Rg6 45. Qe7 Nf6 46. Rf8 Be6 47. Qd8 Ng8 48. Rxg8 1 : 0 Nepomniachtchi – Grischuk, 1st Online Rapid Chess Championship Week 8 Swiss, chess.com, April 2, 2022 (time control: 10 minutes with no increment). 11. Re2 Qf6 12. Qe1 Qg7 13. Nf1 0-0 14. Ng3 Ne7

15. d4. The move implies a Pawn sacrifice and might not be improvisation. 15. ... exd4 16. cxd4 (16. Bb2!? Nc6∞) 16. ... Nc6 17. Ra3 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 Bxd4 19. h3 Ne5 20. Ba2 c5 21. bxc5 Bxc5 (21. ... dxc5!?) 22. Rb3 (22. Qd1!? Be6∞) 22. ... b5!

White’s compensation is dubious, to say the least — but much will depend on how Caruana will cope with possible complications, both subjective and objective. 23. Nf5 Qf6. Or 23. ... Bxf5 24. exf5 bxa4 25. Rg3 Qf6 similarly to the game. 24. Kh2 bxa4 25. Rg3 Kh7 26. Qd1 Bd7 27. Rc2 Bxf5 28. exf5 Rab8 29. Qh5 Rg8 (29. ... Qxf5?? 30. Rxc5! dxc5 31. Rxg5!+−) 30. Bb2

30. ... Rge8. Caruana had about 10 minutes to the time control, and apparently felt too insecure in himself to venture the sacrifice of the Exchange (which was objectively strongest), instead contenting himself with a draw by repetition. After 30. ... Rxb2! 31. Rxb2 a3! 32. Rb7 (32. Re2 Rb8) 32. ... Bxf2 33. Rxa3 d5! Black has strong compensation and he is obviously the only one who can win the game. 31. Bc1 Rg8 32. Bb2 Rge8 33. Bc1 ½ : ½.

It’s not the first time and won’t be the last that a tense struggle ends in a draw. Photo: Stev Bonhage/FIDE.