An Exchange French with Queens coming off on move nine.
Gukesh mixed it up a little bit and at one stage stood slightly
worse but Ding was not interested in going for the long game
when all that effort could have or would have in my opinion,
ended in a draw. There is still a question mark over his health
and this may be affecting his OTB stamina. He knows best how
he feels. There are still nine games to go, the score is 2½ - 2½
D. Gukesh - Ding Liren, Game Five, World Chess Championship 2024
1. e4 e6 {Another French Defence from Ding.} 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 {Howls of anguish but the Exchange French despite its reputation can explode into complications.} 3... exd5 {A position Ding has only had twice, this is new territory for Gukesh.} 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bd3 c5 {A known move that gives Black a reasonable game.} 6. c3 c4 7. Bc2 Bd6 8. Qe2+ {If 8...Be6 9.Ng5 so the Queens are coming off.} 8... Qe7 9. Qxe7+ Kxe7 10. O-O Re8 11. Re1+ Kf8 12. Rxe8+ Kxe8 {Not just chopping wood. White will get the e-file with a check} 13. Bg5 Nbd7 14. Nbd2 h6 15. Bh4 Nh5 16. Re1+ Kf8 17. g4 {This move came as a surprise but the more you look at it the better it seems.} 17... Nf4 {It did not take Ding too long to jump onto f4. Ding in the last two games has handled his time much better.} 18. Bg3 {A pin on the f4 Knight. It could go Nh3+ Kg2, Nf4+ Kg1 and a quick draw.} 18... Nb6 {Looking at Nc4 after Nd3 Bxd3 and cxd3,} 19. g5 {I thought this was the follow up. It leads to a nice position.} 19... hxg5 20. Nxg5 {Threatening mate in three. I have found an RHP game with this mate.} 20... Bd7 {Preventing Nh7+ and Re8+} 21. Ngf3 {I was looking at 21.Ndf3 when this was played. Cannot see anything concrete for White now.} 21... Re8 22. Ne5 {What else? This will give us in a few moves opposite coloured Bishops.} 22... Bxe5 23. dxe5 Nd3 {Opposite coloured Bishops are not always drawn, far from it, especially with a Rook and Knight still on the board.} 24. Bxd3 cxd3 {Is that d3 pawn a thorn or a harmless nettle about to be taken.} 25. f3 {To activate the White King.} 25... Nc4 26. Nxc4 dxc4 {Now the d3 pawn is protected, it is a thorn.} 27. Re4 Bc6 {White cannot play 28.Rxc5 Rd8. I was thinking maybe they can, I'll show the line later.} 28. Rd4 Bxf3 29. Kf2 {Now apparently 29...Bh5 is the best move here.} 29... Bc6 {But Ding either missed it or possibly settled on a draw.} 30. Rxc4 {With the King on f2 this pawn can now be captured.} 30... Rd8 31. Rd4 Rxd4 32. cxd4 {Ding could have played the cheeky 32....Bb5 33.d5? d2 0-1.} 32... Bd5 33. b3 Ke7 34. Ke3 Ke6 35. Kxd3 {The thorn has been cut, there was no way to save it. 35,..Be4 36.Kxe4 d2 was not going to happen.} 35... g6 {The players are not allowed to agree a draw till after move 40 so a three fold rep is coming.} 36. Kc3 a6 37. Kd3 Kf5 38. Ke3 Ke6 39. Kd3 Kf5 40. Ke3 Ke6 {Game drawn.}
The variation I was working out thinking White could play 28.Rxc5.
FEN
4rk2/pp1b1pp1/8/4P3/2p5/2Pp1PB1/PP5P/4R1K1 w - - 0 27
[FEN "4rk2/pp1b1pp1/8/4P3/2p5/2Pp1PB1/PP5P/4R1K1 w - - 0 27"] 27. Re4 Bc6 {Now here how about.....} 28. Rxc4 {d2 then Rd4} 28... Rd8 29. Rh4 d2 30. Rh8+ Ke7 31. Bh4+ f6 32. exf6+ gxf6 33. Bxf6+ Ke6 34. Rxd8 {and then I saw....} 34... Bd7 {...and the pawn promotes.}
The three piece mate an RHP player delivered with the same set-up as in the main game.
Istvan1990 - spoonbill RHP 2013
FEN
rnb1r1k1/pp1pqppp/2p5/4P3/2B5/1P3N2/P1P2PPP/R2Q1RK1 w - - 0 13
[FEN "rnb1r1k1/pp1pqppp/2p5/4P3/2B5/1P3N2/P1P2PPP/R2Q1RK1 w - - 0 13"] 13. Qd6 Qxd6 14. exd6 b5 15. Rfe1 Rxe1+ 16. Rxe1 Kf8 17. Bd3 {Black is very cramped, they try to untangle but even if they prevent the mate White is winning.} 17... Ba6 18. Ng5 {g6 by Black then Re7 is winning easily.} 18... c5 19. Nxh7+ Kg8 20. Re8# {Checkmate}