Two Lines

Hikaru Nakamura – Ian Alexandrovich Nepomniachtchi

5th Champions Showdown: Chess 9LX; time control: 20 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; Saint Louis, September 14, 2022

rkbbnqnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RKBBNQNR w HAha - 0 1

Position #725

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Qxf4 Ne7 4. Ne2 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. Qf3 Nef6 7. h3 Qd6 8. d4 Re8 9. Nd3 Ne4 Nepomniachtchi does not hesitate to sacrifice a couple of Pawns for the sake of initiative.
10. Ne5?! 10. Qxf7 Ndf6 11. Qxg7 a5! 12. a4 Ra6! gives Black enough compensation — which is what he wanted, after all.

10. ... Rxe5! Of course Nepomniachtchi doesn’t need be told twice!
11. dxe5 Qxe5 12. Rf1?! Now 12. Qxf7?? is refuted by 12. ... Bf6! threatening ... Ne4-d2+ followed by mate. White’s best seems to be 12. c3 Bf5 13. Bc2, although after 13. ... Bf6 followed by ... 0-0-0 Black is fine.

12. ... a5! 13. Qd3? (13. a4 Ra6⩱↑)
13. ... Ra6!

14. c4? Indeed White cannot afford such luxury, but anyway after 14. Qd4 Qe6 15. a4 Rd6 Black has too many threats.
14. ... Nb4 15. Qxd8 Rd6 16. Qxd6. Desperation, but if 16. Qf8 then 16. ... Nd2+ followed by mate in a few moves.
16. ... Qxd6 17. b3 Nd2+ 18. Bxd2 Qxd2 19. a3 (19. g4 Nd3 20. Bc2 Ne1 21. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 22. Nc1 Qe3−+)
19. ... Bf5+! 0 : 1. For after 20. Rxf5 Qxd1+ mate follows next move.

The rapid development of Black’s forces is well reminiscent of Morphy’s style of play. Photo © Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club.