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Philidor Defence: Exchange Variation

Liem–Mamedov, Aeroflot Open 2008 · Gukesh–Nieto, IV Concello de Carballo 2021 · 7:08 · ECO C41

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In this video

Game 1: Le Quang Liem (2540) vs Rauf Mamedov (2583)

Aeroflot Open 2008, 16 February 2008 · Black won (0-1) · 33 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. 5...g6The first move after the opening line0:28
  2. 20.Nc3The evaluation moves from +0.30 to −1.561:29
  3. 25.Kd2The evaluation moves from −1.81 to −3.30, and Black stays more than two pawns ahead from here1:54
  4. 30.Qf6The evaluation moves from −6.71 to −9.622:19
  5. 33...Bb3+Black wins after 33 moves2:36

Evaluation

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

Game 2: Gukesh D (2599) vs David Larino Nieto (2447)

IV Concello de Carballo 2021, 6 September 2021 · White won (1-0) · 54 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. 5...g6The first move after the opening line3:04
  2. 15...f5The evaluation moves from −0.02 to +2.78, and White stays more than two pawns ahead from here3:42
  3. 21...Bxh6The evaluation moves from +3.02 to +4.174:12
  4. 24...Rad8The evaluation moves from +3.70 to +6.444:28
  5. 35.Nxd6The queens come off5:20
  6. 54.Kf3White wins after 54 moves6:55

Evaluation

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

About these games

After 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Black gives up the centre and accepts a small space disadvantage: White keeps the e4 pawn and a knight on d4, while Black relies on the solid d6 pawn and quick development. With 5.Nc3 White simply develops, and in both games Black answers 5...g6, putting the bishop on the long diagonal so the play resembles a Pirc or a Dragon Sicilian.

Le Quang Liem–Mamedov, Aeroflot Open 2008, saw White choose Be3, Qd2, O-O-O and f3, then push h4-h5 and open the h-file with 13.hxg6. Black replied with ...a6 and ...b5 against the white king. White grabbed a pawn with 19.Nxb5, but after 19...Qf7 the retreat 20.Nc3 let the score drop from +0.30 to −1.56: 20...Nxe4 and 21...Rxa2 broke open the queenside, and 23...Qxf4+ won a piece. By 25.Kd2 Black was more than two pawns ahead, and 30.Qf6 (−9.62) ignored the threats. After 32...Rbxb2+ and 33...Bb3+ Black won.

Gukesh–Larino Nieto, Carballo 2021, followed a quieter plan: g3, Bg2 and short castling against Black's fianchetto. The position stayed level until 15...f5, which loosened Black's king; the sacrifice 16.Nxf5 turned −0.02 into +2.78, as 17.Qxh5 regained the piece. Tactics with 21.Bxh6, 22.Rd5 and 23.Nf6+ won more material, and 24...Rad8 raised the score to +6.44. The queens came off with 35.Nxd6, and White, a knight and rook against rook and bishop with an extra pawn, pushed the h-pawn. White won.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Introduction and the opening line
  2. 0:10Game 1: Le vs Mamedov, Aeroflot Open 2008
  3. 2:45Game 2: Gukesh vs Larino Nieto, IV Concello de Carballo 2021

The opening line

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3

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