Reactions to 4.h3 by Ding Liren

Anti-Skolkovo chess :). #NepoDing

— Pavel Eljanov (@Eljanov) April 10, 2023

It’s brilliant, the woes for white started after the inexplainable 12.Nxf6. It seems illogical, since the placement of white pawn on h3 can not be more advantageous after 12…gf.

— Levon Aronian (@LevAronian) April 10, 2023

4.h3 by Ding Liren is so rare, that there is only one course on @chessable that looks into it – Opening Oddities by @palmbeachchess 💥https://t.co/MCkRENPAWu #NepoDing @blackatlantic @SusanPolgar

— Chessdom (@chessdom) April 11, 2023

From an openings viewpoint, it doesn't look amazing for Ding so far. The first game Ian got serious chances, Ding wasn't fully ready for Bxc6. Second game, h3 feels like a desperate attempt since Black can basically make any 4th move and all are adequate

— Fabiano Caruana (@FabianoCaruana) April 10, 2023

Liren's 4.h3 is complete N at @ICCF_Official database, reaching only 1 game by transpositon. After move 7, we're back with 7.0-0 scoring +5 =8 -3.#FIDEWorldChampionshipMatch #NepoDing pic.twitter.com/T9pgGllXNM

— Leonardo Ljubičić (@LeoLjubicic66) April 10, 2023

It's move 4, and Ding has played a novelty according to the #Lichess OTB masters database.

Online, the position has occurred fewer than 30,000 times out of >4.3 billion games. Lichess players as Black did best with 4… c5 (51% wins for black), which is also the engine's line pic.twitter.com/nyn6pbqKEC

— lichess.org (@lichess) April 10, 2023

Mickey Mouse in da house 🖱️🖱️🖱️

#NepoDing https://t.co/MvFR4OiSES

— Chessdom (@chessdom) April 10, 2023

richie rapport has entered the building pic.twitter.com/xFwuXBiSvX

— MrDodgy (olympic champion) 🏆 (@ChessProblem) April 10, 2023

Wow! 4.h3 is already a huge surprise! https://t.co/kE8urrym4W #NepoDing #c24live pic.twitter.com/M3odMTPMu9

— chess24.com (@chess24com) April 10, 2023

Nepo couldn't believe it 😅 #NepoDing https://t.co/eBD1CcAQJl pic.twitter.com/TdiV9i5ka3

— Chess.com (@chesscom) April 10, 2023

Look who is coming to the game today with a surprise 😁 #NepoDing #WorldChessChampionship #Astana pic.twitter.com/Mji61arUWg

— Susan Polgar (@SusanPolgar) April 10, 2023

4.h3!? #nepoding pic.twitter.com/vc0B6MYSs0

— David Llada ♞ (@davidllada) April 10, 2023

Before the World Championship Match, 4.h3 was played by GM Nikita Meshkovs against IM Polina Shuvalova on July 5, 2022, in Titled Tuesday. #NepoDing pic.twitter.com/juDmTus3OF

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) April 10, 2023

Unreal. Ding Liren mouseslipped in the World Championship on move 4! pic.twitter.com/qMokkoVOML

— GothamChess (@GothamChess) April 10, 2023

Can I get some credit for this 4.h3?! https://t.co/OwsnygnQPH

— Christof Sielecki (@ChessExplained) April 10, 2023