Hypermodern Spirit - Game 8

Playing nonstandard positions have given rise to the most fighting positions in this world championship.

There were several interesting moments in the 8th game, which White played in true hypermodern spirit after encountering a very early novelty by Gukesh. He played f6, to bolster the centre and then setup an e5-d5 pawn duo in the centre. Ding apparently moved d3 (either of the centre pawn) as late as move 19!! The earlier record belonged to Euwe in game 18 of the 1935 World Championship against Alekhine played d3 also in an English opening on the 14th move.

This was the position after Black's 7th move f6! where Black tried to establish a strong pawn formation in the centre with d5 as well.

Position after White's 19th move d3- the first move with either the e or d-pawns.

On White's 23rd turn he decided to play Rb1 trying to stop Black's b5 break, perhaps. But this resulted in making the pawn break even stronger.

Black responded with 

23....b5! 24.cxb5 Qb6+

It remains to be seen if Ding either underestimated or missed this move altogether

25.Kf1 cxb5 26. Bb2 Bxa2! 27.Bd4!?

All natural where White tries to create counterplay for the pawn. Ding agreed that this was based on a miscalculation. He perhaps expected Black to continue with something like 27....Qb8 which would be answered by 28. Ra1 winning back the pawn. Self-pinning oneself with either knight on c5 is counter intuitive, and Ding being short of time (or wanting to avoid a bigger time scramble instinctively decided on this position)

Here Gukesh went for 

27.... Nac5?!

Anish reasoned it out as bringing a piece towards the centre. Apparently, this is the moment where Black lost his chance to get a big advantage. While it is difficult to understand that this move loses the advantage while the other knight moves retains it, we can nevertheless try to think which move suits the position in terms of logic. The knights defending each other (Khokki Ghoda கொக்கி கோடா as is known in Tamil circles!) are not good units in terms of solidity. The problem, as I understand is because if one of the knights are attacked, the other knight it defends also loses support, especially with pawns, or sometimes Bishops using pins. Apart from this in this position, after the knight walks into a self-pin Black needs to think how to get reinforcements to support it. White would double on the c-file and attack the knight on c5. Black would have to support the same with Rc8, and this walks into another pin and the Rook on c8 is unsupported. To support the Rook, Be6 is an option, but for this the c8-h3 diagonal should be open and not blocked by the knight on d7! This would show that retaining the knight on a6 keeps black more coordinated. I would also feel the knight being on d7 would invite Bh3 by White at some point.

26... Ndc5 27. Rc1 Bd5 apparently, this is very strong, Black is going to support the knight with Rc8 and get his rook to c7 next and White cannot make any use of the pin.  

 28. Qc2 Rc8 29. Be3 29... Qe6 30. Bf2 Nb4 -+

29. Bg1 Qb7 (29. Bh3 Rc7!)30. d4 Nb4!

Showing that the knight on a6 was not placed on a worse square after all! 

But even if Black continues with 

27... Be6 28. Qc2 Rc8 29. Bg1 Qb8 -+

28. Bg1 threatening d4-d5, but here too Black can wriggle out with Qd6! or even (28... Bb3 29. Qe1 b4 30. Qf2 Bf7 Now that the bishop is on g1, this works well for Black, his connected passed pawns decide.) 29. Nd4 Bd7 when Black is still better

 27. Rc1 Bb3 

This was the move that Gukesh thought was winning for him. As he admitted he missed White's next move. According to Gukesh if he had seen White's response, he would have probably gone back to analysing Nac5 instead of Ndc5.

28. Qe1!  Bringing the Queen over to f2 to put pressure on c5.

 28. Qd2 b4! wins for Black

28... Be6?

 Apparently, this even tilts the balance in White's favour. A typical feature of such complex positions. 

Black can still maintain the equilibrium with 28... a4! 29. Qb4 (29. Qf2 a3 30. Bxc5 Nxc5 31. Qxc5 Qxc5 32. Rxc5 a2 33. Rc1 b4 wins for Black- illustrates the power of the connected passed pawns) 

29... Na6 (29... Rc8?! 30. Bh3! exploits the bad coordination among the knights) 30. Qxb3+ axb3 31. Bxb6 Nxb6 32. Rb1 White regains the pawn 32....Nd5 =

29. Qf2!  Rc8 30. Be3!  

 threatening d4 and d5, with sudden coordination issues for Black!

30.... Rc7

Here White continued with the natural

31. Nd4!?  which was good, but he had a much stronger continuation with

31. Ne1!! 

This essentially guards a check on c1 and establishes the threat of Bf4. This retreating move is especially difficult when short of time. 

 Bf7 32. Bf4 Ra7 33. Bh3! This exploits the problem of Nac5!

 Be6 34. Bxe6+ Qxe6 35. Be3 and White wins material.

The strength of the retreat Ne1! is understood if we look at the following variation, if instead White continues with

 

31. Bf4 Ne5 32. Nxe5 fxe5 33. Bxe5

 Black has a brilliant resource Nxd3 !! or 33... Ne4!! completely turning the tables and winning the game

31... Bf7 32. Nc6!?  Rxc6 33. Bxc6 Qxc6 34. Bxc5 h6 

While this was also assessed by the computer to be a sizeable advantage for White. In practical terms with White's king being unsafe and the play on light squares, this felt not at all easy and Ding was completely fine with a draw here, it seemed during the game. 

35. Ke1 b4 36. Qd4 Ne5 37. Kd2 Qg2 38. Qf2 Qd5 39. Qd4 Qg2 40. Qf2 Qd5 41. Qd4 Qa2+ 

 It was shocking to many that Black was the one to avoid the repetition once again, but again in practical terms both Black and White thought there was no risk and that being exchange down was merely formal and attacking chance compensate the material deficit.

 41... Qg2! 

Black could have forced a repetition for the third time and forced the draw.

The game nevertheless ended in draw after several more moves where Black was hardly troubled at all.

Link to the full game in a replayable board