🔹8...Rc8? The idea of early c5 does not work! Black has to finish his development or at least a good part of it before going for c5. 8...Ngf6 is the move that makes the most sense! I really do not know what Ivanchuk was after. 9.0-0 a6 10.a4 Rc8 11.d3 Be7 12.e4 0-0 with slight edge for white.
🔹12.Nh4! Now d5 is under attack. f5 is weak and pressure along d-file and tactics with e4 are overwhelming!
🔹17...e6 Black is way behind in development. White's advantage should be decisive here.
🔹21.Qc4! Good judgement. The resulting endgame should be highly in white's favor.
🔹32.Rc6? Throws away the advantage.
32.Nc3 Be7 33.Rc7 Bf6 34.d4 Ne8 35.Rc6 Be7 36.Bc1 Looks like a lost endgame.
32.Nc3 Be7 33.Rc7 Bf6 34.d4 Ne8 35.Rc6 Be7 36.Bc1 Looks like a lost endgame.
🔹9.Re1 A very rare line. Almost a novelty. The idea is that white goes for a fight against e4 square rightaway.
9.Rc1 c5 10.d5 exd5 11.cxd5 Nxd2 Would have been my choice with trust in Karpov-Salov and Calrsen-Cordova, although Carlsen ruined his position and was lucky to win!
9.Rc1 c5 10.d5 exd5 11.cxd5 Nxd2 Would have been my choice with trust in Karpov-Salov and Calrsen-Cordova, although Carlsen ruined his position and was lucky to win!
🔹14.e4 Now white has a clear advantage. Ding Liren's opening finess earned him a very good position without any risk or complication with only two possible results!