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Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 d6

Giri–Anand, Zurich CC 2016 · Ding–Aronian, London Classic 2019 · 6:41 · ECO C50

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In this video

Game 1: Anish Giri (2798) vs Viswanathan Anand (2784)

Zurich CC 2016, 13 February 2016 · Black won (0-1) · 45 moves

Click a move to jump the video to it. Dotted moves are the opening line the video is about.

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Key moments

  1. 6.c3The first move after the opening line0:29
  2. 32.Nf3The evaluation moves from −1.02 to −2.342:29
  3. 42.Nf3The evaluation moves from −1.83 to −5.76, and Black stays more than two pawns ahead from here3:19
  4. 44.Qc1The evaluation moves from −5.64 to −10.003:29
  5. 45...Qg3Black wins after 45 moves3:36

Evaluation

Above the line, White is better; below it, Black. Scores are in pawns, capped at five either way.

Game 2: Ding Liren (2801) vs Levon Aronian (2775)

London Classic 2019, 4 December 2019 · White won (1-0) · 36 moves

Click a move to jump the video to it. Dotted moves are the opening line the video is about.

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Key moments

  1. 6.c3The first move after the opening line4:05
  2. 27.Bh5The evaluation moves from +1.87 to −0.665:40
  3. 29.Bg5The evaluation moves from +0.63 to −4.015:50
  4. 30...gxh5The evaluation moves from −2.01 to +2.80, and White stays more than two pawns ahead from here5:58
  5. 34.cxd4The queens come off6:15
  6. 36...Ra5White wins after 36 moves6:28

Evaluation

Above the line, White is better; below it, Black. Scores are in pawns, capped at five either way.

About these games

Both sides develop quietly with 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 d6, so the centre stays closed with pawns on e4/d3 against e5/d6. The usual continuation is c3 to prepare a later d4, with Re1, Nbd2 and h3, while Black chooses between slow manoeuvring and an early ...f5 break to open the f-file against the white king.

Giri–Anand continued 6.c3 a6 7.a4, and both sides manoeuvred. After 9...Be6 10.Bxe6 fxe6 Black accepted doubled e-pawns in exchange for the half-open f-file, and the position stayed level, +0.10 at 20...Qxb5. White broke with 23.d4 and later 31.f4, which loosened the kingside. Black answered 31...e5, and at 32.Nf3 the score moved from −1.02 to −2.34. Black's rooks doubled on the f-file, and 42.Nf3 dropped the score from −1.83 to −5.76. After 44.Qc1 it reached −10.00, and 45...Qg3 left Black mating in five. Black won.

Ding–Aronian went 6.c3 O-O 7.Re1 Bb6 8.Nbd2 Ng4, and unlike Game 1 Black attacked at once with 10...f5 and 11...Nxf2, giving two minor pieces for rook and pawn. The attack held the balance, −0.62 at 20...Rf6, until 22...Ng6 moved the score from +0.04 to +1.94. White's 29.Bg5 then swung it from +0.63 to −4.01, but Black missed the chance and 30...gxh5 returned it to +2.80. The queens came off with 34.cxd4, and White won.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Introduction and the opening line
  2. 0:10Game 1: Giri vs Anand, Zurich CC 2016
  3. 3:45Game 2: Ding vs Aronian, London Classic 2019

The opening line

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6

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