Empty squares (In search of the ephemeral understanding)

Every square that is empty or occupied by a certain piece changes the entire way a position is perceived! In continuation with the previous blog, the following position intrigued me in search for more answers. 

Deceptive simplicity

"To improve at chess, you should in the first instance study the endgame" - Capablanca

Endgames are thought of to be relatively simple compared to the middlegame, because of the number of pieces that remain. However, this leads to a situation where there are more empty squares, and they are harder to contend with, while making decisions relative to the pieces. While a complex middlegame can be understood somewhat intuitively at least with regard to which pieces should be played and not played, we do not have the same liberty in the endgame with less pieces and more squares. I find Rook endgames and perhaps Queen endgames to be very complex in this regard to understand. Getting the key to the position is also far from easy!

The straw that broke the camel's back- Game 14

Ding mentioned on the previous day that the last round game would not be a short draw. Going by this it was clear that Ding would try and maintain small pressure as he did in game number 12, but not overtly taking any too many risks. The general opinion of most of the commentators were also that Ding was a favorite in the faster time control as he is more of an intuitive player than Gukesh and also his record as a rapid and blitz player was better than Gukesh's. Magnus even felt that Ding should perhaps choose 1.e4 as in the second game and steer the game to a forcing draw as he himself did in the last classical game against Karjakin in 2016!

Balancing on a tightrope - Game 13

After a long last back to 1.e4 to try and break down the French. This was a very tough fight, where Gukesh had Ding on the ropes, but Ding dodged defeat like a magician! At some point Ding could have played more positively and not just for equality, by sacrificing the exchange. This would have resonated confidence to continue from the last game, however Ding seems to have gone back to defensive mindset as he was in many of the earlier games. But at the very end, he found mighty good resources to defend the game by balancing on a tight rope despite time pressure. 

The potential of potential - game 12

Ding produced one of his best when pushed to dire straits. He played such a controlled game where there was never a chance for Black to completely equalize the game at all. I do not remember him having done it in his match against Nepo too. Though his game six win against Nepo was a great game, but even there Nepo had some chances to equalise at several points in the game, even though some where hard to find. In this game Ding used the potential energy to great effect. His pieces seemed to have more potential than his opponent, and this was the single most important factor in deciding the game.

Preparation and Mind games - game 11

 After a rather eventless draw in the 10th game, this game was turbo charged. Gukesh showed intent to surprise Ding, even with a not an entirely theoretical acceptable opening surprise with the White pieces. His opening surprise cost Ding about an hour on the clock, but Ding played perfectly acceptable moves and, in an attempt, to cash in on the time advantage Gukesh played a couple of moves which not only entirely lost his advantage he was also in a very risky position strategically speaking. To classical players it even looked his position was close to hopeless! Clearly a question of nerves. After that Ding starts playing in maximalist style, which he has not done in this match. He had every chance to retain a slight better position without any risk but decided against it. But after a few moves he turned pessimistic after he countered a surprise from Gukesh who fought on valiantly. And the final time pressure phase led to an abrupt collapse. Fatigue is kicking in with there being three games in a row before rest day and all the tension of the score. Apart from this psychology and mind games play a very unique role! We are in for a extremely interesting end of the match, as Ding is capable of recovery, as he showed last time.