Sunday, April 23, 2023

London System Attack Ding Liren

London System is as strong or weak as the players involved in the game. In this 2023 World Championship match Ding Liren outplays Ian Nepomniachtchi with a clash of plans. Black obtained a passed a-pawn which seemed destined to become a queen. But before that could happen, White weaved a mating net on the kingside.

Ding Liren (2788) – Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2795), WCh 2023 Astana KAZ, 16.04.2023 begins 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 [This is more dynamic than 4.c3 cxd4 5.cxd4, which transposes to a more drawish Slav Defense Exchange Variation.] 4...Nc6 5.Nbd2 cxd4 6.exd4 Bf5 [Both players develop the queenside bishop in a similar manner.] 7.c3 e6 8.Bb5 Bd6 9.Bxd6 Qxd6 10.0–0 0–0 11.Re1 h6 12.Ne5 Ne7 13.a4 a6 14.Bf1 Nd7 15.Nxd7 Qxd7 16.a5 Qc7 17.Qf3 Rfc8 18.Ra3 Bg6 19.Nb3 Nc6 20.Qg3 Qe7 21.h4 Re8 22.Nc5 e5 [Black attacks the pawn that defends White's knight.] 23.Rb3 Nxa5 24.Rxe5 Qf6 25.Ra3 Nc4 26.Bxc4 dxc4 27.h5 Bc2 28.Nxb7 [White has won a pawn.] 28...Qb6 29.Nd6 Rxe5 30.Qxe5 Qxb2 [Black regains the pawn and prepares to push the passed a-pawn.] 31.Ra5 Kh7 32.Rc5 Qc1+ 33.Kh2 f6 34.Qg3 a5 35.Nxc4 a4 36.Ne3 Bb1 [White takes deadly aim at mate on g7.] 37.Rc7 Rg8 38.Nd5 [The threat is 39.Nxf6+.] 38...Kh8 39.Ra7 a3 40.Ne7 Rf8 41.d5
[This pawn covers the escape square e6. Black is in a mating net.] 41...a2 42.Qc7 Kh7 43.Ng6 Rg8 44.Qf7 [The threat is 45.Qxg8+ Kxg8 46.Ra8+ Kf7 47.Rf8 mate] 1–0

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