Ding Liren v Dommaraju Gukesh Game Three

1. d4 {Gukesh is primarily a 1.d4 player so no surprise here.} 1... Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 {A position Gukesh has had over 40 times before in the past.....} 4. cxd5 {...but he has never played this move played after 20 seconds thought.} 4... exd5 {A Q.G.A. too early to call for plans but the minority attack is conceivable.} 5. Nc3 c6 6. Qc2 {Ding has had this before back 2016 when he played 6....Nbd7.v Zhou Jianchao. A draw in 23 moves.} 6... g6 7. h3 Bf5 8. Qb3 Qb6 {I thought this might happen, another Queenless middle game.} 9. g4 {9. Na4 in a similar position sets a wee trap that an RHP player has fallen into see next game.} 9... Qxb3 {Ding spent 14 minutes on deciding on this move. It has good and bad points. Double pawns v a target on a7.} 10. axb3 Bc2 {That Bishop is possibly going to get into bother. Will Ding grab the b3 pawn.} 11. Bf4 h5 {Tempting 12.Bxb8 Rxb8 13.Rxa7 hxg4 and Black is winning.} 12. Rg1 hxg4 13. hxg4 {Erigaisi took the b3 pawn v Kramnik in 2023 a draw though White had very good winning chances.} 13... Nbd7 {A new position after a 33 minute think by Ding, I'll mention time taken a few times because it is relevant} 14. Nd2 {Starting the plan of putting the Bishop into bother.} 14... Rg8 {I do not think I would have given up the h-file but apparently it is OK.} 15. g5 Nh5 16. Bh2 Rh8 {OK I see it now. Ng7 and Nf5 or Ne6 is on the cards.} 17. f3 {Getting ready for e4 and keeping a Knight out of f5,} 17... Ng7 {Ding took 18 minutes on this obvious move.} 18. Bg3 {Now 18...Ne6 and hold up White from playing e2-e4} 18... Rh5 {This is OK if 19.Bf2 and 19...Ne6 or 19...Be7 Black is doing fine.} 19. e4 {After 11 Minutes by Gukesh. Did Ding miss this. The c2 Bishop is looking lonely.} 19... dxe4 20. fxe4 {Maybe that is what the long think was all about. Ding went into this knowing what will happen.} 20... Ne6 21. Rc1 {Ding has to give up a piece for a few pawns. It may not be as bad as it first appears.} 21... Nxd4 22. Bf2 Bg7 23. Ne2 {Maybe here 23...Ne6 getting the g5 pawn ignoring the doubled pawns.} 23... Nxb3 {A Bishop for two pawns. Not lost. If Black can swap the Queenside pawns for the lone b2 pawn it should draw.} 24. Rxc2 Nxd2 25. Kxd2 Ne5 {An interesting game. The good money will be on White but it should not be easy.} 26. Nd4 Rd8 {With the threat of Nf3+ which is easily countered.} 27. Ke2 Rh2 {Perhaps now 28.Nf3 to swap off a few bits.} 28. Bg2 a6 29. b3 {Moving the pawn out of sight from the g7 Bishop.} 29... Rd7 {I'm still trying to work out a plan how to break down Black but Ding is getting into time trouble.} 30. Rcc1 {Plan A. Challenge the d7 Rook which holds the 7th rank together.} 30... Ke7 31. Rcd1 {Chopping off a Rook each would help White a great deal.} 31... Ke8 {Played after 4 precious minutes. Is Ding saying this is a fortress.} 32. Bg3 {This is how I would have gone about it. chop some wood and put the extra piece to work.} 32... Rh5 {I'd want to chop wood but not 33.Bxe5 putting opposite coloured Bishops on the board.} 33. Nf3 {I like this way of forcing exchanges.} 33... Nxf3 {Ding's time is critical there is no 30 second increment till move 41.} 34. Kxf3 {34...Rxg5 35.Rxd7 Kxd7 36.Rd1+ and the Rook will get into the Q-side pawns.} 34... Bd4 {Trying to keep both Rooks on the board.} 35. Rh1 Rxg5 {Grabbing a 3rd pawn but spent 58 seconds on it. And that is all Ding had left....seconds.} 36. Bh3 {Blitzed out by Gukesh. If 36...Rd8 38.Bh4. A Harpoon!} 36... f5 {Even not being in time trouble this move is practically forced. The alternative 36...Rxg3+ is hopeless.} 37. Bf4 {Ding's flag fell just as he was making 37th move which was 37...Rh5. But it is clearly lost now.}

[FEN "rn2k1nr/pp2bpp1/1qp1p3/3pPb1p/2PP3P/1QN5/PP1B1PP1/R3KBNR w KQkq - 0 9"]
9. Na4 Qxb3 10. axb3 {Black should play Na6 but just as in the Gukesh-Ding game Black played...} 10... Bc2 {...here it is an OOPS!} 11. Nb6 {Black resigned.} 1-0