Another piece of Rock 'n' Roll from both players. Ding wheeled
out the French Defence as he did in game one and walked into some
wonderful prep by team Gukesh. Ding’s position looked liked it was
ready to go under, he was trailing (again) on the clock and Gukesh had
the move 11.Qg4 on the board which I was screaming out to be played.
Gukesh at last out of his prep and somewhat put off by Ding’s stubborn
defence drifted slightly but throughout the whole game he put kept the
pressure on. Ding held out and we went in to a book drawn Rook ending.
6½ - 6½ last classical game tomorrow. it has been a great match
D. Gukesh - Ding Liren, Game 13, World Chess Championship 2024.
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 {Are we going to see the same opening idea as game one..} 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Nce2 {Yes. Is Gukesh going to go the f4 or put the Knight on f4.} 5... c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. a3 {Encouraging Ding to take an early dip into the think tank.} 7... Be7 {After nearly 18 minutes and Gukesh immediately replied....} 8. Be3 {A new move in opening theory prompting Ding to take another bite out of his time} 8... Nb6 {Ding now just under an hour down on the clock. Black is planning Nc4.} 9. Nf4 {Played after a few minutes. We are still in Gukesh's prep.} 9... cxd4 10. cxd4 Nc4 {Gukesh now spent 5 minutes settling down and knows which line to follow.} 11. Bxc4 dxc4 {I now wanted Qg4 that looks like fun.} 12. Nge2 {Developing the last piece and getting ready for 0-0.} 12... b5 {Holds the c4 pawn and gives the c8 Bishop a home on b7. Be interesting to see how long takes to reply. 13.0-0 is my bet.} 13. O-O {Of course. Gukesh has used 20 minutes but I suspect he has had this position on board in preparation.} 13... O-O {Ding (49 minute s left for 26 moves) The pawn structure and piece placement indicate a Kingside attack.} 14. Nc3 {Hitting the b-pawn with Ne4 ideas} 14... Rb8 {Defending the b5 pawn.} 15. Nh5 {This is game on. Gukesh has over an hour on the clock. Ding has some serious defending to do.} 15... f5 16. exf6 {Played after 20 minutes thought.} 16... Bxf6 17. Qf3 {Gukesh has now caught up Ding regarding the clock this opens up a Pandora's box of variations.} 17... Qe8 {I'll show a variation after 16....Nxd4 which Gukesh spent a lot time analysing.} (17... Nxd4 18. Nxf6+ Rxf6 19. Qg3 Nf3+ 20. Kh1 Bb7 21. Nxb5 Rg6 22. Rad1 Qe8 23. Nd6 Qc6 24. Nf5 Re8) 18. Nxf6+ Rxf6 19. Qe2 Qg6 20. f3 {Played before Black can set up Bb7 and Nxd4 ideas.} 20... Rf8 21. Rad1 {Angling for d4-d5.} 21... Ne7 {Looks OK but Gukesh now switches to positional pressure mode.} 22. Bf4 Rb6 23. Bc7 Rb7 24. Bd6 Re8 25. Bxe7 Rexe7 {That last serious of moves was forced.} 26. Qe5 {You can see Ne4 to c5 coming.} 26... a6 {Tidying up a weakness.} 27. d5 {I did not expect that but Gukesh has looked very deeper than me.} 27... exd5 28. Qxd5+ Qe6 29. Qc5 Re8 30. Rde1 {I was looking at 30...Qxe1 Rxe1 Rxe1+ but Ding rejected it quite quickly.} 30... Qf7 31. Ne4 {Times to make 10 moves. Ding has 5 minutes. Gukesh 12 minutes.} 31... Rf8 {To counter 32. Nd6 Rc7} 32. Nd6 Rc7 33. Qe5 Qf6 {Gukesh quite rightly keeps the Queens on.} 34. Qd5+ Kh8 35. Re5 Re7 {Ding is happy to exchange at least one pair of Rooks.} 36. Rfe1 Rxe5 37. Rxe5 h6 {Luft which is needed due to all the back rank trick this position holds.} 38. Qc5 Bd7 39. Ne4 Qf4 40. Re7 {40...Qc1+ 41.Kf2 Qxb2+ 42.Kg3 The Black Queen is out of the game.} 40... Bf5 {Time control reach both players had little time remaining now have 15 minutes + 30 second increment on the clock.} 41. Qd4 {Do not miss the mate on g7.} 41... Rg8 42. h3 Qc1+ 43. Kf2 {Gukesh avoids the perpetual variation. 43. Kh2 Qf4+} 43... Bxe4 44. Rxe4 c3 {Offering a Queen trade after 45.Qxc3.} 45. bxc3 {White is not yet ready to get the Queens off with 45.Qxc3.} 45... Qxa3 46. Kg3 {Cutting out 2nd rank checks.} 46... Qb3 47. Re7 {Keeping Ding's Rook tied to holding g7.} 47... a5 {Running the a-pawn} 48. Rb7 Qc4 {Ding happy to get the Queens and go into an ending a pawn down.} 49. Qe5 {Gukesh still keeping Ding at the board.} 49... Qc6 {If 50.Rxb5 then 50...Re8 or 50...Qg3+} 50. Qxb5 Qxc3 51. Ra7 Qe1+ 52. Kh2 {I was thinking 52...Qe3 with a clear perpetual.} 52... Qb4 53. Qxb4 axb4 54. Rb7 Ra8 55. Rxb4 {A book draw at this level.} 55... Ra2 56. Kg3 Kh7 57. Rb5 Kg6 58. f4 Kf6 59. Kf3 Rc2 60. g3 Rc3+ 61. Kg4 Ra3 62. h4 Rc3 63. Rb6+ Kf7 64. f5 h5+ {If 65 Kxh5 Rxg3.} 65. Kf4 Rc4+ 66. Kf3 Rc3+ 67. Kf4 Rc4+ 68. Kf3 Rc3+ {Draw by three fold rep.}
The variation I mentioned if Black had played 17...Nxd4
FEN
1rbq1rk1/p5pp/2n1pb2/1p5N/2pP4/P1N1BQ2/1P3PPP/R4RK1 b - - 0 17
[FEN "1rbq1rk1/p5pp/2n1pb2/1p5N/2pP4/P1N1BQ2/1P3PPP/R4RK1 b - - 0 17"] 17... Nxd4 {This double-edge move instead of 17...Qe8} 18. Nxf6+ Rxf6 19. Qg3 {Hitting the b8 Rook and the skewer threat Bg5.} 19... Nf3+ {gxf3 Rg8 is 0-1} 20. Kh1 Bb7 {White cannot play gxf3 because of Rxf3.} 21. Nxb5 {Qxb5 Qxb8+} 21... Rg6 22. Rad1 Qe8 23. Nd6 Qc6 24. Nf5 {With a hit on the b8 Rook and Ne7+ and Nxc6 as a possible saving resource.} 24... Re8 {And White is lost. But this is just one line to show just some of the tricks in this game.}
In Game 12 this position was reach with Ding to play.
I mentioned that White was threatening Bxh6 gch6 Nf6+ winning the Queen.
I have an RHP game with the same tactic in mind but Black need not have lost
buddhalaf - lezzy RHP 2024
FEN
r5k1/1prqbpp1/p3p1bp/P2p3N/1P1P4/2P5/3BQPPP/R3R1K1 w - - 0 21
[FEN "r5k1/1prqbpp1/p3p1bp/P2p3N/1P1P4/2P5/3BQPPP/R3R1K1 w - - 0 21"] 21. Qg4 {Rac8 getting the last piece into play was better.} 21... Bd6 {Rac8 getting the last piece into play was better.} 22. Bxh6 {Best but it should only draw. Black played gxh6 and lost their Queen to Nf6+ 1-0.} 22... e5 {This move is a better defence. You should always look carefully when someone sacs a piece against you.} 23. Qg5 {Qg3 meets exd5.} 23... gxh6 {Black can now take the Bishop because the h-pawn now attacks the Queen.} 24. Nf6+ {Kh8 gets mated after Qxh6+ and Kf8 Qxh6+ so Black's only move is ...} 24... Kg7 25. Nh5+ {White has not better than taking the perpetual check.} 25... Kh7 26. Nf6+ Kg7 27. Nh5+ Kg8 28. Nf6+ Kg7
