Anand back in Business

After a bad performance in Gibraltar the former world champion Vishy Anand is in his element in Zurich. First he did well at the blitz event, sharing the second place and defeating the sole winner Hikaru Nakamura. Yesterday was even better for him after a convincing start of the rapid part of the event. First there was a blitz-krieg against Aronian:

[Event "Zürich Chess Challenge 2016"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.02.13"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:28:15"]
[BlackClock "0:23:36"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. Nc3 {[%csl Gc3,Gc6,Gf3,Gf6] Diagram [#] One
more way to avoid the Berlin- just get into the Four Knights.} Bd6 {A fighting
move. Aronian avoids the heavily explored lines after} (4... Bb4) ({Or} 4...
Nd4 {which both have somewhat drawish reputation.}) 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 Re8 {
One of Black's plans is to transfer the knight to g6 and go for regroupment
with c7-c6 and Bd6-c7. The immediate} (6... Ne7 {however allows the highly
entertaining} 7. Nxe5 Bxe5 8. d4 d6 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Be3 {with advantage for
White in Michiels,B (2462) -Stefanova,A (2527) Antwerp 2009}) 7. a3 h6 8. Bc4
Bc5 9. Be3 Bxe3 (9... d6 {looks more solid.}) 10. fxe3 {[%csl Yf7,Rg8][%cal
Gf1f7,Gc4f7,Gf3h4,Gh4f5,Rd1f3,Rd1e1,Re1g3] Diagram [#] Now that the "f" file
has been opened White's plan is crystal-clear- Nf3-h4-f5 followed by either
Qd1-f3 or sometimes Qd1-e1-g3 and mate on the kingside.} d6 11. Nh4 ({Also
good is} 11. Qe1 Ne7 12. Nh4 c6 13. Qg3 {with kingside attack in Bicho,
N-Santos,A Aveiro 2003}) 11... Be6 $146 {This is Black's best bet but his
position remains highly suspicious after Anand's reply.} ({The only
predecessor saw:} 11... Na5 $2 {When instead of White could have won with the
beautiful} 12. Bxf7+ $3 {Diagram [#]} Kxf7 13. Qh5+ Kg8 (13... Kf8 14. Rxf6+
Qxf6 (14... gxf6 15. Qxh6+ Kf7 16. Qh7+ Kf8 (16... Ke6 17. Nd5 Nc6 18. Nf5 {
and Black is helpless.}) 17. Ng6#) 15. Rf1) 14. Rxf6 $1 gxf6 (14... Qxf6 15.
Qxe8+) 15. Qg6+ Kf8 16. Qh7 Re6 17. Nf5 Ke8 18. Nd5 $18 {[%csl Ya5,Ya8,Rc7,Yc8,
Yd8,Ye6,Re8][%cal Rd5c7] Diagram [#] and Black cannot parry the threat Nd5xc7+!
}) 12. Nf5 $1 {The knight on f5 is more important than any double pawns on the
"c" file. There will be no endgame!} Bxc4 ({Or} 12... Bxf5 13. Rxf5 {when
White proceeds with his kingside attack and the attempt to bring fresh
defenders with} Ne7 {fails to} 14. Rxf6 $1 gxf6 15. Qh5 Rf8 16. Qxh6 $18) 13.
dxc4 Kh7 14. Qf3 {Diagram [#] The outcome of the opening battle is a failiure
for Aronian. On the top of that he blunders.} Nb8 $2 ({Black is usually trying
to bring a pawn on f6 in these positions. However} 14... Ng8 {will be strongly
met with} 15. c5 $1 ({It is too early for} 15. Nxg7 Kxg7 16. Qxf7+ Kh8) 15...
dxc5 16. Rad1 {with clear edge for White after} Qg5 17. Rd7 Qg6 18. Rxc7 {
[%csl Gc7,Gf1,Gf3,Gf5] Diagram [#]} ({Or} 18. Nd5)) 15. Nxh6 $1 {[%csl Yh7]
Diagram [#] A deadly blow! It is highly unusual to see a top GM losing that
quickly, albeit in a rapid game.} Kxh6 ({Or} 15... gxh6 16. Qxf6 Qxf6 17. Rxf6
{with certain loss in the endgame.}) 16. Qh3+ Kg6 ({Since} 16... Nh5 {loses to
both} 17. g4 ({And} 17. Rxf7 {is very convincing too.}) 17... g6 18. gxh5) 17.
Rf3 Nh5 18. Rf5 $1 {Diagram [#] The final touch.} Nf6 (18... Rh8 19. Qg4+ Kh6
20. Rxh5#) 19. Qh4 {Aronian resigned just a move before the mate.} 1-0

Then came a devilish trick against Giri:

[Event "Zurich Chess Challenge 2016"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.02.13"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2798"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:02:42"]
[BlackClock "0:06:21"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 O-O 8. Re1 h6
({A fresh game saw} 8... Ba7 9. Na3 h6 10. Nc2 Re8 11. Be3 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6
13. Bxa7 Rxa7 14. d4 exd4 15. Nfxd4 Nxd4 16. Qxd4 Ra8 {with approximate
equality, So,W (2773)-Mamedyarov,S (2747) Wijk aan Zee 2016}) 9. h3 Be6 10.
Bxe6 fxe6 {[%csl Rf2][%cal Gd8e8,Ge8g6,Rf6h5,Rh5f4,Rf8f2,Rc5f2] Diagram [#]
Funnily, Anand is trying to achieve similar position to the one he had against
Aronian the round before with reversed colours!} 11. Be3 Bxe3 $146 {The
simplest and strongest move.} ({The predecessor saw Black getting into some
trouble after:} 11... Ba7 12. Bxa7 Rxa7 13. d4 (13. b4 $5) 13... exd4 14. cxd4
e5 15. Nc3 $14 {[%csl Gd4,Ge4] Diagram [#] Duexmann,M (1060)-Fraenzel,M (1495)
Solingen 2005}) 12. Rxe3 Qd7 (12... Nh5 {is premature due to the standard trick
} 13. Nxe5 $1) ({But} 12... Qe8 {is perfectly playable.}) 13. Nbd2 ({Normally
White will be happy to advance in the center, but} 13. d4 {allows} exd4 14.
cxd4 d5 15. e5 Ne4 $11) 13... Qf7 14. g3 (14. b4 $5 {Diagram [#] to exapand on
the queenside makes sense as well.}) 14... Nd7 15. Kg2 a5 $1 {[%csl Gb4][%cal
Ga5b4] Diagram [#] Anand can be happy with the opening, he equalized
comfortably.} 16. Qc2 Nc5 17. Rf1 Qd7 18. b3 Ne7 (18... Rf7 {is more obvious,
but Anand's move is more concrete.}) 19. Nc4 b5 {[%csl Rb3] Diagram [#] The
point behind Black's play. He gets counterplay against the b3 pawn.} 20. axb5
Qxb5 21. Rb1 Nc6 22. Ncd2 Rab8 23. d4 {Giri is trying to reduce the pressure
against the b3 pawn.} Nd7 (23... exd4 24. Nxd4 Qb7 25. Nxc6 Qxc6 26. b4 {
is somewhat better for White instead.}) 24. dxe5 Ndxe5 25. Nd4 {Safer was} (25.
Nxe5 Qxe5 26. f4 Qc5 27. Qd3 Qb5 28. Qxb5 Rxb5 {Diagram [#] with approximate
equality.}) 25... Nxd4 26. cxd4 Nc6 27. Qc3 Qb6 {Now the weaknesses are
leveling themselves. The black pawns on c7 and a5 do not look too good, but
neither do d4 and b3 in White's camp.} 28. Nf3 Nb4 29. Qc4 Rbe8 30. Rc1 Rf7 31.
Nd2 $6 {A serious inaccuracy. Correct was:} (31. Ne1 $1 {when} Ref8 32. Qxe6 {
may lead to a sweet draw after} d5 $1 33. exd5 (33. Qxb6 $2 Rxf2+ {is bad for
White.}) 33... Qxe6 34. dxe6 Rxf2+ 35. Kg1 Rf1+ 36. Kh2 R8f2+ 37. Ng2 Rxc1 38.
e7 {Diagram [#]} Rf8 39. exf8=Q+ Kxf8 $11) 31... Ref8 32. f4 $2 {One
inaccuracy leads to a serious mistake.} ({This time} 32. Qxe6 $2 {was bad for
White as the knight on d2 is hanging} d5 $1 33. exd5 Qxe6 34. dxe6 Rxf2+) ({
However} 32. Rf1 $1 {was correct when the game would have remained
approximately even.}) 32... e5 $1 {[%csl Yd4,Re3,Yf4,Rg2] Diagram [#] Anand
immediately spots a tactical possibility and nets a pawn.} 33. Nf3 (33. f5 exd4
) (33. fxe5 d5 $1) 33... exf4 34. gxf4 d5 $1 {[%csl Yc4,Ye4,Rg2] Diagram [#]
And sacrifices is back for activity. The real problem for Giri is not the pawn,
but the horrendous situation of his king.} 35. exd5 Qd6 36. Ne5 Rxf4 37. Kg1 {
The pawn on c7 is taboo due to the knight fork} (37. Qxc7 Qxc7 38. Rxc7 Nxd5
$19 {[%csl Yc7,Ye3] Diagram [#]}) 37... Kh7 (37... Nxd5 38. Rg3 {is less clear.
}) 38. Rg3 R8f5 39. Rg4 {Once more the c7 pawn is invincible:} (39. Qxc7 Rf1+
40. Kh2 R5f2+ 41. Rg2 Qf6 $19 {[%csl Rh2] Diagram [#]}) 39... Qf6 {Anand
energetically conducts the attack.} 40. Rxf4 Rxf4 41. Rf1 Qg5+ 42. Kh2 Re4 43.
Nf3 ({Slightly more resilent is} 43. Rg1 {but this should also lose say after}
Qf4+ 44. Kh1 Qf5 45. Kh2 Re3 46. Qf1 Qxf1 47. Rxf1 Rxb3 $19) 43... Qf4+ {
Diagram [#]} 44. Kg2 Re3 45. Qc1 Re2+ 46. Kh1 Qg3 0-1

Report.

Giri Back on Track

Round six of the Tata Steel Chess saw two of the rating favorites win comfortably their games. Magnus Carlsen won unexpectedly quickly against the reigning Russian champion Evegeny Tomashevsky. While the local hope produced the following game:

[Event "Tata Steel Chess - Masters"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.01.22"]
[Round "6.2"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2798"]
[BlackElo "2747"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:17:45"]
[BlackClock "0:59:33"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. d4 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bd6 {Diagram [#] A fashionable
line.} (5... Be7 {is also quite popular} 6. Bg2 c6 7. O-O Nbd7 8. Qc2 O-O 9.
Rd1 b6 10. Ne5 Bb7 11. cxd5 cxd5 {as in Radjabov,T (2738)-Gelfand,B (2741)
Berlin 2015}) 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O Nbd7 8. b3 dxc4 $146 {[%csl Yc4,Yd4][%cal
Rc7c5] Diagram [#] A good novelty. In these positions Black is trying to free
himself in two ways. First and foremost he trades the c4 pawn and then goes
for either e6-e5 or c7(c6)-c5. The former plan was tested so far:} ({In two
games, which saw} 8... c6 9. Nc3 Re8 10. Qc2 dxc4 11. bxc4 e5 {Khairullin,I
(2658)-Ovetchkin,R (2529) Ekaterinburg 2013}) 9. bxc4 c5 {Instead Mamedyarov
goes for instant c7-c5 without the usual waste of a move (as in the Slav
defenses for example).} 10. e3 Qc7 11. Qc2 cxd4 ({The knight has nothing to do
on b6} 11... Nb6 12. Rc1) (11... a6 $5 {at once deserved attention as it is a
needed move. Black can chose the right moment for the central capture.}) 12.
Nxd4 a6 13. Rc1 Rd8 {In combination with Black's next move- a very unfortunate
decision. The development of the queenside bishop was priority.} ({Both} 13...
Rb8 $1 {[%cal Gb7b6,Gc8b7] Diagram [#]} 14. Nb3 b6 $11) ({And} 13... Nc5 $1 14.
Nb3 Rb8 {were comfortably levelling the game.}) 14. Nb3 Rb8 {Due to the skewer
threat it seems as this move is forced.} (14... Nc5 $2 15. Ba5 {drops the
exchange.}) ({However, the immediate} 14... Be5 {was Black's best after which
things are not as bad for him} 15. Ba5 ({Or} 15. c5 Bxa1 16. Ba5 b6 17. Bxa8
bxa5 18. Nxa1) 15... b6 16. Bxa8 Bxa1 17. Nxa1 bxa5 {[%csl Ya1,Ya5,Ya6,Yb1]
[%cal Gc8c1] Diagram [#] Black is not in a bad shape despite the doubled pawns.
}) 15. c5 Be5 16. Nd4 $1 {[%csl Gd4][%cal Gb1a3,Ga3c4,Rd2a5,Ya1b1] Diagram [#]
Probably Mamedyarov underestimated this retreat. Now the queenside is
paralyzed.} b6 {Pawns are usually not allowed on c6 from good live.} ({If}
16... Nf8 17. Na3 {White finishes development and will soon start concrete
threats} Bd7 (17... Ng6 18. Rab1) (17... Bxd4 18. exd4 Rxd4 19. Qb2 e5 20. Bc3
{loses material for Black.}) 18. Rab1 Ng6 19. Nc4 $1 Qxc5 20. Ba5 Rdc8 21. Qd2
{[%csl Yc5] Diagram [#] and the black pieces look awkward.}) 17. c6 Nf8 (17...
Nc5 18. Na3 {does not change much.}) 18. Nc3 $1 {Diagram [#] Giri is not
afraid to sacrifice a pawn. Threats like Nc3(d4)-b5 followed by c6-c7 are in
the air and Black still does not have much to move.} Ng6 ({Black will be
paralyzed after} 18... Bxd4 19. exd4 Rxd4 20. Be3 ({Or} 20. Bg5 $5) 20... Rd8
21. Rd1) 19. Rab1 Qe7 {Mamedyarov gives up the exchange.} ({Once again} 19...
Bxd4 20. exd4 Rxd4 21. Be3 Rd8 22. Rd1 {is not fun for Black.}) ({The threat
was} 19... h6 {(nothing move)} 20. Ncb5 $1 axb5 21. Nxb5 Qe7 22. Bb4 Qe8 23. c7
{with complete demolition.}) 20. c7 $1 {[%csl Rc6][%cal Rd4c6] Diagram [#]}
Qxc7 21. Nc6 Bb7 22. Nxd8 Bxg2 23. Kxg2 Rxd8 24. Na4 {Giri has too many open
files for the rooks thus his material advantage is decisive.} Qb7+ 25. f3 b5
26. Nc5 Qa8 27. Nd3 h5 28. Ba5 {Little by little the white pieces take
commanding positions.} Nd5 (28... Rd7 29. Qc8+) 29. Qe2 Re8 30. e4 Nde7 31. Bc3
{Diagram [#] Speculating with threats is one good way to get rid of the active
pieces.} Bb8 32. Qb2 f5 {Last chance to muddy the waters.} 33. Qb3 fxe4 (33...
Nf8 34. Nc5 $18) 34. Qxe6+ Kh7 35. Qxe4 Qd5 36. Rb2 {Giri could have exchanged
the queens already, but he correctly understands that this can be done anytime.
} (36. Qxd5 Nxd5 37. Re1 Rc8 38. Bd2 $18) 36... Qf7 37. Re2 h4 38. Qe6 Qxe6 39.
Rxe6 Rd8 40. Nf2 Nf5 41. Ne4 Rd5 42. Rxa6 hxg3 43. hxg3 Bxg3 $1 {Diagram [#]
Out of nothing Mamedyarov created some practical problems.} 44. Rh1+ $1 {
But Giri is alert.} (44. Nxg3 Nf4+ 45. Kh2 Nxg3 {would not be clear at all.})
44... Bh4 45. Bd2 Rd4 46. Bg5 Rb4 47. Rxg6 {[%csl Yh4][%cal Gg5h4] Diagram [#]
A small combination a' la Capablanca does the job.} Rb2+ 48. Kh3 Kxg6 49. Bxh4
Rxa2 50. Rg1+ Kf7 51. Bf2 Rb2 52. Kg4 {The rest was easy for the Dutch GM.} g6
53. Bc5 b4 54. Nd6+ Nxd6 55. Bxd6 Ke6 56. Bf8 Kf7 57. Bd6 Ke6 58. Bb8 b3 59.
Kf4 Kf7 60. Ke3 Rc2 61. Be5 Rc5 62. f4 {Diagram [#]} Rb5 63. Bb2 Rh5 64. Rg2
Rh1 65. Kf3 Rf1+ 66. Kg4 1-0

Report.

Chinese Perfection

The fourth round of Tata Steel was extremely interesting. Fabiano Caruana came very close to increasing his lead even further but slipped in the rook endgame and only drew to Anish Giri.
Somewhat surprising, but fully deserved the pack of followers was joined by the former women world champion Hou Yifan. She played a true masterpiece:

[Event "Tata Steel Chess - Masters"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.01.19"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Navara, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2673"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:54:33"]
[BlackClock "0:38:20"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 {The Advanced line of the Caro Kann was considered
inferior for White up to the 1990-ies. Nowadays it is the main choice of the
top players.} Bf5 {It is all about this bishop- is it better placed outside
the pawn chain or not?} 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Nd7 6. O-O Bg6 7. Nbd2 Nh6 8. Nb3 Nf5
9. Bd2 {Diagram [#]} ({Navara had also faced} 9. a4 a6 10. a5 c5 11. dxc5 Bxc5
12. Nxc5 Nxc5 13. c3 {Grischuk,A (2774)-Navara,D (2734) Berlin 2015}) 9... Be7
10. g4 Nh4 {A small surprise. Previously, the Czech GM had only tested} (10...
Nh6 {for example} 11. Ne1 O-O 12. Ng2 c5 {as in Motylev,A (2649)-Navara,D
(2734) Berlin 2015}) 11. Nxh4 Bxh4 12. f4 {This is what the Advanced line is
all about. White has strong center and likes to attack on the kingside. The
black bishop(s) helps her providing some extra tempos.} f5 13. c4 {An
interesting move that Hou had prepared before, but checked only briefly as
"David plays many openings".} (13. exf6 {is more common. Caruana had played it
in 2011.}) ({And} 13. Bd3 {has been seen as well.}) 13... a5 $146 {[%cal Ga5a4]
Diagram [#] A sharp novelty in comparison to} (13... Be7 14. cxd5 cxd5 15. Rc1
O-O {Mortensen,E (2450)-Rasmussen,K (2466) Denmark 2008}) 14. a4 {Hou fixes
the pawn on a5. To more tactical play will lead:} (14. cxd5 cxd5 15. Bb5 {
When White considered} Be7 ({While Navara intended to go for} 15... O-O 16.
Bxa5 Rxa5 17. Nxa5 Nxe5 {with huge complications.}) 16. a4 O-O 17. g5 {with
some advantage for White after} h6 (17... Nb8 18. Rc1) 18. h4) 14... O-O ({
Black could have transposed to the line from above with} 14... Be7 15. cxd5
cxd5 ({Weaker is} 15... exd5 16. Qc2 O-O 17. Bd3 {when the f5 square will be
cracked.}) 16. Bb5 {and this was probably the lesser evil for Black.}) 15. g5 {
[%csl Yh4][%cal Ga1c1,Gc1c3,Gc3h3,Gh3h4] Diagram [#] With the idea
Ra1-c1-c3-h3 to trap the bishop (Hou).} h6 ({In case of} 15... dxc4 16. Bxc4
Re8 {White planned} 17. Rc1 ({Although} 17. Qf3 {with the idea} Nb6 18. Be2 h6
19. gxh6 gxh6 20. Bxa5 {is equally good.}) 17... h6 18. gxh6 gxh6 {with
advantage for White.}) 16. gxh6 gxh6 17. Kh1 {White's position is extremely
promising. Navra had to open the kingside in order to save the bishop and this
only strengthened Hou's attack.} Kh7 18. cxd5 {Before White starts the attack
she saveguards her center.} ({The computer suggests the direct approach} 18. c5
b6 19. Rg1 $1 {[%csl Yg6,Yh7][%cal Ge2h5] Diagram [#] with the tactical point}
bxc5 20. Bh5 Rg8 21. Bxg6+ Rxg6 22. Qh5 Nf8 23. Nxc5 {and White is in total
command.}) 18... cxd5 19. Rc1 b6 {This weakens the c6 square but takes away
the c5 one from the white knight.} ({If Navara had foreseen what is coming
next, he would have chosen} 19... Rg8 20. Rc3 Be8 {in order to build some
kingside barricades although it is questionable if his position is bulletproof
enough.}) 20. Rc6 {[%csl Ye6][%cal Gc6e6] Diagram [#]} Rc8 {This was Black's
idea as} (20... Bf7 21. Qc2 (21. Bb5 $5 {with the idea} Rc8 $2 22. Rd6 {
also looks nice for White.}) 21... Rc8 22. Rc1 {is awful from positional point
of view.}) 21. Rxe6 $3 {How is not afraid to sacrifice the rook! Black would
be happy after both} (21. Rxc8 Qxc8) ({And} 21. Qc2 Nb8 (21... Rxc6 22. Qxc6
Nb8)) 21... Bf7 22. Rd6 Be7 23. Bd3 {[%csl Yf5,Rh7][%cal Gd3f5] Diagram [#] So
far all moves are forced. White had also considered:} (23. Nxa5 bxa5 24. Bxa5
Qxa5 25. Rxd7 {but abandoned this line for} Rc7) 23... Bxd6 24. Bxf5+ Kh8 25.
Qg4 $1 {Diagram [#] Super-precision. If} (25. exd6 {then} Rg8 {will
significantly slow White's attack.}) 25... Rc7 ({In the other principled line}
25... Rg8 26. Qh3 Bf8 27. Bxd7 {Hou charmingly admitted that she missed} Bg6 {
Still, her position is so strong that her advantage is indisputable after} 28.
Bf5 Rc6 29. Bxg6 Rcxg6 30. f5 Qc8 31. Be3 {(Hou) is also good for big advantage
} (31. Bf4 {followed by Nb3-d2 and e5-e6 will soon win for White.}) 31... Qc2
32. Nd2) 26. Qh3 $1 {[%csl Yh6,Rh8][%cal Yh6h5] Diagram [#] Insted of taking
the bishop with a tempo this! Another cool move that weakens the black king
further.} (26. exd6 Rb7 27. Qh3 {would actually transpose.}) 26... h5 27. exd6
Ra7 28. Be6 $1 {[%cal Gf4f5,Yd2f4,Yf4e5,Yf4g5,Yg5h6] Diagram [#] With the idea
f4-f5 in order to insert the dark-squared bishop in the attack.} ({Not} 28.
Bxd7 Qxd7 29. f5 {with the idea Bd2-f4-e5+ and mating attack due to the strong
resource} Bg6 $1 {(Hou) when tables will be turned in Black's favour.}) (28.
Nc1 Nf6 29. Nd3 Qxd6 30. Ne5) 28... Nf6 {A bit more stubborn was} (28... Qe8 {
Although after} 29. Re1 Nf6 30. d7 $1 Qe7 31. Bf5 Qd6 32. Nc1 {White is
winning since} Nxd7 {leads to mate after} 33. Re6 $1 {Diagram [#]} Bxe6 34.
Qxh5+ Kg7 35. Qg6+ Kh8 36. Qh7#) ({A cute mate will happen after} 28... Bxe6
29. Qxh5+ Kg7 30. Rg1+ Kf6 31. Qg6#) 29. f5 Qxd6 30. Bf4 Qd8 31. Be5 {Black is
completely paralized and the rest is curtains.} Bg8 (31... Kh7 32. Rg1) 32.
Qxh5+ Rh7 33. Qg5 Qe7 34. Nc1 $1 {[%csl Re7,Rf8,Rh8][%cal Gc1d3,Gd3f4,Gf4g6]
Diagram [#] The last piece joins the action.} Qg7 35. Qxg7+ Rxg7 36. Nd3 Rg4
37. Nf4 {[%csl Rg4][%cal Gf4g6,Gh2h3] Diagram [#] As a desert- a rook trap.}
Kh7 38. h3 Rg3 39. Ng6 Rxh3+ 40. Kg2 {A model game by Hou!} 1-0

Report.

The Pawn or the Initiative?

Round six of the super-open in Qatar saw one of the most complex battles. Trying to catch up with the world champion Anish Giri squeezed the maximum (almost) of his position in his game against the former second of Anand- Sury Shekhar Ganguly:

[Event "Qatar Masters Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.12.26"]
[Round "6.3"]
[White "Ganguly, Surya Shekhar"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2648"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:05:10"]
[BlackClock "0:01:04"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e5 7. Nde2 h5 {
[%csl Yf1][%cal Rh5g4,Yg2g3,Yf1g2] Diagram [#] The modern Najdorf player will
surely not allow and "advanced version" of the fianchettoe line. Although both}
(7... Be6 8. g4 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Bg2 Bb4 11. O-O Bxc3 12. Nxc3 Nxc3 13. bxc3
{Kamsky,G (2733)-Shankland,S (2512) Saint Louis 2011}) ({And} 7... Be7 {
are still playable, but it seems as Black is suffering here. One example} 8. g4
O-O 9. Be3 Nbd7 10. Ng3 b5 11. g5 {with advantage for White, Swiercz,D (2629)
-Kempinski,R (2647) Poland 2015}) 8. Bg5 {White on his term tries to prove
that h7-h5 was a weakening move.} Be6 9. Bxf6 {And then switches to play for
the d5 outpost.} Qxf6 10. Nd5 Qd8 11. Qd3 Nd7 12. O-O-O g6 {Still, Black has
two bishops and harmonious development in return for the powerful knight on d5.
} 13. Kb1 Nc5 $146 {[%csl Gc5] Diagram [#] A novelty in comparison to} (13...
Rc8 {which was played not long time ago. In a game that both adversaries knew
well. One of them played at this same tournament and Ganguly was a long-time
second of the former world champion Anand and possibly has worked this line
with him some time ago-} 14. Nec3 Rc5 15. Be2 b5 16. a3 Nb6 17. g4 hxg4 18.
Nxb6 Qxb6 19. hxg4 Rxh1 20. Rxh1 {and Anand went on to win a modal endgame in
Anand,V (2803)-Topalov,V (2803) London 2015}) 14. Qf3 Bg7 ({Naturally, anytime
Black captures on d5 White will recapture with a piece} 14... Bxd5 15. Rxd5 $14
) 15. Nec3 b5 16. Be2 Rb8 {[%csl Rc3][%cal Rb5b4] Impudently intending to trap
the white knight on c3 after b5-b4.} 17. a3 ({As otherwise White may have
problems with his e4 pawn-} 17. Rd2 b4 18. Nd1 Qh4) 17... Bd7 $1 {A nice
maneuver that prepares both a6-a5 and b5-b4 as well as Nc5-e6-d4.} 18. Qe3 {
Ganguly decided to defend vigorously.} ({Another idea was to swap the roles of
the knights but after} 18. Ne3 Bc6 (18... a5 19. Rxd6) 19. Ncd5 Ne6 20. Bd3 Nd4
21. Qg3 h4 22. Qh2 {Diagram [#] White's pieces are awkwardly placed.}) ({
Objectively best might be} 18. g4 {with the idea to meet} Ne6 {with} ({Black
can also try} 18... a5 $5 {which may lead to tremendous complications after}
19. gxh5 (19. b4 {is still an option for White} Ne6 20. gxh5 Rxh5 21. Qg3 Rh8
22. h4 {with unclear play.}) 19... Rxh5 20. Qg3 {and now} b4 $1 21. Bxh5 bxc3
22. Bxg6 Rxb2+ 23. Ka1 Qb8 {Threatens mate in two after 24...Rb2-a2+} ({Not}
23... fxg6 $2 24. Qxg6+ Kf8 25. Qxd6+ Kg8 26. Qxc5 $18) 24. Qxc3 Na4 25. Qc4
fxg6 {[%csl Ya1,Ye8] Diagram [#] When everything is unclear and my computer
claims 0.00...} 26. Nc7+ Ke7 (26... Kd8 27. Rxd6 Qxc7 28. Qg8+ Ke7 29. Rxg6 Bf6
30. Qh7+ Ke6 31. Qg8+ $11) 27. Rhg1 $13) 19. gxh5 Rxh5 20. Qg3 Rh4 21. Bg4 {
which will be much better version that the game continuation for White.}) 18...
a5 {Simple and strong, although} (18... Ne6 {was also interesting. True, Black
has to sacrifice a pair of pawns in the line} 19. Qa7 a5 20. Qa6 b4 21. axb4
axb4 22. Na2 b3 23. cxb3 O-O) 19. b4 $5 {[%csl Rc5] Diagram [#] This was
Ganguly's idea. He believes that his central construction is solid enough to
survive any flank attacks.} ({Safer was} 19. Na2) 19... Ne6 20. g3 Nd4 21. Bd3
Be6 {Giri is not afraid of f2-f4, but perhaps it made good sense to avoid that
option with the preliminary} (21... h4 $5 {[%csl Rg3] Diagram [#]} 22. g4 (22.
f4 hxg3 23. f5 Qh4 {looks good for Black.}) 22... O-O {with good play for
Black.}) 22. f4 {Obviously White cannot sit and wait until his opponent opens
the game on the queenside.} axb4 23. axb4 Ra8 {Once again "Show me what you've
got" approach.} ({Instead} 23... exf4 24. gxf4 Ra8 25. e5 {is a mess.}) 24. f5
{[%csl Rf5] Diagram [#] White is consistently trying to reach the black king.}
gxf5 25. exf5 Nxf5 {Better than} (25... Bxf5 26. Bxf5 Nxf5 {When White has a
choice of attacking options} 27. Qd3 ({Or} 27. Qf3 Nd4 28. Rxd4 exd4 29. Re1+
Be5 30. Nxb5) 27... Nd4 28. Nxb5 {and as the black Rh8 is not joining the game
soon, White should be better.}) 26. Bxf5 Bxf5 27. g4 {The same policy again-
no shelter for the black king as in the line:} (27. Nxb5 O-O 28. g4 Bh7 {
However, it seems as Ganguly forgot that Giri likes to keep his Monarch in the
center. Somewhere around the e6-d5-f5 squares...}) 27... hxg4 28. hxg4 Rxh1 29.
Rxh1 Be6 $1 {Diagram [#] The pawn is anything but yummy} ({After} 29... Bxg4 $6
30. Qe4 $1 Be6 {Now best is the preliminary} 31. Rh7 $1 {Diagram [#]} ({
White can reagin the exchange at once with} 31. Nc7+ Qxc7 32. Qxa8+ {but this
is less appealing due to the simple} Ke7 33. Nd5+ (33. Nxb5 $5) 33... Bxd5 34.
Qxd5 Qc3 {with e5-e4 coming White will have to force perpetual sooner or later.
}) 31... Bf8 32. Nxb5 Rc8 33. Rh8 {when White is dominating.}) 30. g5 ({If} 30.
Qe4 Kf8 {stops any Nd5-c7 fork ideas.}) 30... Kf8 {Giri repelled the attack
and is now in command. Still, the vulnerable position of his king and the
naughty white knights prevent him of winning smoothly.} 31. Nf6 $1 {[%csl Rf6,
Yf8] Diagram [#] White's best chance is to keep this bishop away from his king.
The other one is not that dangerous.} Ra6 {Defends the d6 pawn and prepares
the doubling of the heavy pieces along the "a" file.} (31... Qc7 32. Qd3) 32.
Qf3 Qc7 ({Premature is} 32... Qa8 33. Qxa8+ Rxa8 34. Rd1 Ke7 35. Nxb5 ({Or even
} 35. Nfd5+ Kd8 36. Nxb5) 35... Bxf6 36. gxf6+ Kxf6 37. Nxd6 {when White
should get the draw.}) 33. Nh7+ Ke8 34. Nf6+ Bxf6 {In mutual time trouble Giri
saveguards the king. Also possible was} (34... Kd8 {with the idea to meet} 35.
Rh7 $2 ({White should better defend with} 35. Qd3 Qa7 36. Kb2 {with good
chances of survival.}) {with} 35... Qa7 $1 {and Black wins.}) 35. gxf6 {
The only move as the counterattack} (35. Qxf6 {fails to} Qc4 $1 ({Even the
rook endgame after} 35... Qxc3 36. Rh8+ Kd7 37. Qd8+ Kc6 38. Qc8+ Bxc8 39.
Rxc8+ Kd7 40. Rxc3 Ra4 {is won for Black.}) 36. Rh8+ Kd7 {and if anyone is
mated, it not going to be Black.}) 35... Kd7 {Diagram [#] Misses a good chance
to increase the advantage after} (35... Qc6 $1 {Black should try to get rid of
the queens.} 36. Qxc6+ (36. Rh8+ Kd7 37. Qd3 Qc4) 36... Rxc6 37. Nxb5 Rb6 {
and Black is close to winning.}) 36. Rd1 Qa7 37. Kb2 Bc4 38. Qe4 Kc7 39. Nd5+
Kb8 ({But not} 39... Bxd5 $2 40. Qxd5 Kc8 41. Rh1 {when White is better.}) 40.
Nc3 Kc7 {Giri repeats the moves for the second time to get the additional time
after move forty.} ({If} 40... Qf2 41. Rh1 Qxf6 42. Qg4 {creates the threat
Qg4-g8+ followed by Rh1-h8 with strong attack. Nothing is clear after} Qd8 43.
Qg7) ({However, Black can deviate from the repetition with} 40... Qb7) 41. Qf3
{Knowing the latter, Ganguly deviates first. He then tries to get in the
opponent's camp with his queen.} Qa8 42. Qe3 Qc6 43. Qg3 Ra8 44. Ra1 $1 {
[%csl Rc3,Yc4,Yc6,Rg3] Diagram [#] Weakens the eight rank and leads to a
favorable pair or pieces.} Rxa1 45. Kxa1 Qb6 46. Qh4 d5 47. Kb2 ({Tricks do
not work} 47. Qxc4+ $2 dxc4 48. Nd5+ Kc6 49. Nxb6 Kxb6) 47... Qd6 48. Kc1 {
Diagram [#] The culmination of the game. Black is up a pawn but the position
of his king is insecure. It is quite obvious that he cannot make progress
without advancing his pawns.} Qa6 {Now the white queen gets too much activity.
Correct was} (48... d4 49. Ne4 {and now not} Qxb4 $6 ({Here strong is} 49...
Qc6 $1 50. Qg4 Be6 51. Qe2 Qc4 {with excellent winning chances for Black.}) 50.
Qg3 $1 {when Black loses the important e5 pawn.}) 49. Qg5 $1 Kd6 50. Qg8 $1 {
[%csl Rd6][%cal Rg8f8,Rf8d8] Diagram [#] The queen is ready for the perpetual.}
Qa3+ ({Perhaps Giri intended to go for the f6 pawn and realized only now that}
50... Ke6 51. Qg4+ Kxf6 52. Qh4+ {will force him to abandon the e5 pawn in
order to avoid the perpetual.}) 51. Kd2 Qa7 52. Qe8 Qd7 53. Qg8 Qb7 54. Qe8 Qd7
55. Qg8 e4 {There is practically no choice.} (55... Qc7 56. Qe8 e4 57. Nxb5+
Bxb5 58. Qxb5 $11) (55... d4 56. Ne4+ Kc7 57. Qf8 $11) 56. Qg3+ Kc6 57. Qe5 Qc7
58. Qe8+ Kb6 59. Qe7 Qf4+ 60. Kd1 Qf1+ 61. Kd2 Qf4+ 62. Kd1 e3 63. Qd8+ Ka6 {
[%csl Ra6,Rd8] Diagram [#] The perpetual is a fact as} (63... Qc7 64. Nxd5+
Bxd5 65. Qxd5 $11 {draws as well.}) 64. Qa8+ Kb6 65. Qd8+ Ka6 {Fundamental
battle!} 1/2-1/2

Report.

Giri's Short King

Carlsen's reluctance to stay on board one in Doha brought there Kramnik, who on his turn freed it to the young and shiny Anish Giri. The Dutchman played a brilliant game to outplay another young diamond- Nils Grandelius from Sweden to secure the top position at least for the next round. In a certain moment Giri was brave enough to walk with his king in the middle of the board a la Short:

[Event "Qatar Masters Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.12.21"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Grandelius, Nils"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2632"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:32:06"]
[BlackClock "0:04:36"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 {Diagram [#] Giri
generally prefers the Taimanov Sicilian, but every once in a while he opts for
the Najdorf too.} 6. h3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f4 ({Another plan is} 8. Be3 Be7 9.
Qf3 O-O 10. g4 a5 11. O-O-O a4 12. Nc5 a3 {as in the recent masterpiece
Khismatullin,D (2654)-Sjugirov,S (2646) Khanty-Mansiysk 2015}) 8... Be7 {
Diagram [#] Giri revealed at the press-conference that he was not sure about
his memories of the line and mentioned two recent games, important for the
line:} (8... b5 9. f5 Bc8 10. Bg5 Bb7 11. Qf3 Nbd7 12. O-O-O Be7 13. Kb1 Rc8 {
Grischuk,A (2785)-Wojtaszek,R (2701) Riga 2013}) ({And} 8... Nbd7 9. f5 Bxb3
10. axb3 d5 11. exd5 Bb4 12. Bd2 O-O 13. Qe2 Bxc3 14. bxc3 e4 {Sutovsky,E
(2635)-Shirov,A (2712) Poikovsky 2015 Although White won both these games
Black did reasonably well out of the opening.}) 9. f5 Bd7 $146 {A novelty. The
bishop is heading for the c6 square.} ({A Najdorf specialist chose instead}
9... Bc8 {trying to fianchettoe the bishop asap and keeping the queenside
knight's options open-} 10. Qf3 b5 11. a3 Bb7 12. g4 d5 $1 {and Black was
already better in Sutovsky,E (2632)-Wojtaszek,R (2736) Bilbao 2014}) 10. Be3 b5
{The fight for the d5 square is fierce. Black dismissed the immediate} (10...
Bc6 11. Qf3 d5 {due to} 12. Nxd5 $1 ({Giri also calculated the cunning line}
12. exd5 Bxd5 $1 13. Qg3 $6 Ne4 $1 14. Qxe5 Nc6 15. Qxd5 Bh4+ {[%csl Rd5]
Diagram [#] and all of a sudden Black wins the queen} 16. Ke2 Nxc3+) 12... Bxd5
13. O-O-O Nxe4 14. Bc4 $1 {where Black's position falls apart.}) 11. Qf3 ({
Perhaps Grandelius should have gone for} 11. a3 Bc6 12. Qf3 {which seems more
stable.}) 11... b4 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. exd5 {Now that the d5 outpost disappeared
Black should be fine.} Bg5 {[%csl Ye3,Yg5] Diagram [#] In order to trade the
"poor bishop". This however leaves the queenside somewhat poorly placed.} (
13... a5 14. Nd2 {would have been somewhat better for White.}) ({But} 13...
O-O {looks quite good for him. I suspect that Giri did not want to show where
is his king going yet. He often leaves it in the middle in the Taimanov and if
you remember his game again Saric in Wijk this year you might find a lot of
similarities to the one you are following right now.}) 14. Bxg5 ({White has
nothing after} 14. Bf2 O-O 15. Bd3 Bb5) 14... Qxg5 15. Bd3 Bb5 16. h4 {
Grandelius is a very strong attacking player and remains true to his style.
Objectively though a better approach would have been the one suggested by the
top commentator P.Svidler:} (16. Nd2 Nd7 17. Ne4 Qe7 18. O-O {followed by the
opening of the queenside with a2-a3} Nf6 19. a3 {[%csl Ya6,Yb4,Yb5][%cal Ra1a8]
Diagram [#] Giri believed this should not be too bad for Black but the
impression is that he is worse.}) 16... Qd8 17. g4 Nd7 18. g5 $6 {"A mistake
that gives the "h" file to Black." (Giri).} (18. O-O-O $11) 18... h6 $1 {
[%cal Rh8h1,Rh1h8] Diagram [#] Or else White's initiative on the kingside
might become annoying-} (18... Qb6 19. O-O-O a5 20. Nd2 Nc5 21. Bxb5+ Qxb5 22.
h5 {and White is ready to open files (Giri).}) 19. Rg1 {One more timid move.
The Dutch GM believed that White should do better if sacrifices a pawn:} (19.
f6 gxf6 20. g6 fxg6 21. Bxg6+ Ke7 22. O-O-O {intending Rh1-e1 and Nb3-d4-f5
with compensation for a pawn.}) 19... hxg5 20. hxg5 Bxd3 21. Qxd3 Rh5 $1 {
[%cal Gh5g5,Yd3e3] Diagram [#] "A strong move that forces the white queen to
be misplaced" (Giri). Things are not that simple though...} 22. Qg3 ({Black is
indeed doing great in the endgame after} 22. Qe3 Qb6 $1 $17 {as the white
pawns are overstretched.}) ({Also in the line} 22. Qd2 a5 $1 {when the knight
is deprived of the d2 square.}) ({However, there was a third possibility that
Giri did not mention:} 22. f6 $1 {Diagram [#] with the idea} gxf6 ({Safer is}
22... g6 23. O-O-O {but then the white queen would not have to leave.}) 23. g6
$1 {This looks like an improved version of the pawn sacrifice from above.}) ({
And even} 22. O-O-O $5 {was interesting with the idea to get the file back
after} Rxg5 23. Rh1 $132) 22... Qc7 23. O-O-O Rc8 {[%csl Rc2,Gc7,Gc8,Yd7,Gh5]
[%cal Gh8h1,Gc8c1] Diagram [#] Now Black has almost all his pieces wonderfully
placed. Only the knight can do better and once that the "a" pawn starts moving
White's position will become critical.} 24. Rd2 a5 25. Kb1 ({Giri was a bit
afraid of the line} 25. f6 g6 26. Qe1 a4 27. Nd4 {but it fail tactically due to
} Nb6 28. Nc6 Nxd5 {and Black nets a pawn.}) 25... a4 26. Nc1 Qc4 $1 {Better
than} (26... Nb6 27. Qg4 $1 {that forces the black rook back} Nc4 28. Re2 Rh8 {
(Giri)}) 27. Qf3 ({Here} 27. Qg4 Rh4 28. Qxc4 Rcxc4 {leads to perfect endgame
for Black.}) 27... Rh4 28. f6 g6 {Black controls all the files and does not
need to open more.} 29. Rh1 Nc5 {This brings the last piece into the action.} (
{Svidler mentioned} 29... e4 {but it is not better due to} 30. Re1 Ne5 31. Qd1
{Diagram [#]}) (29... Nb6 $5 {deserved attention too.}) ({But the preliminary}
29... a3 $1 30. bxa3 Nc5 {with huge attack seems best.}) 30. Rdh2 Ne4 {Diagram
[#] The critical moment of the game.} ({The computer believes} 30... Rxh2 31.
Rxh2 Kd8 {was best for Black, but I am not sure I understand a thing here.})
31. Qd1 ({Both players missed that in the line} 31. Qe3 a3 {White does not
have to go for} 32. Qa7 {which is indeed winning for Black after Giri's
recommendation} ({But can free himself of the mating threat with} 32. c3 $1 {
[%csl Gb1,Rc2,Re8][%cal Rh1h8] Diagram [#] which takes over the initiative for
him. For example} Rxh2 33. Rxh2 {is already losing for Black-} bxc3 34. Rh8+
Kd7 35. Qh3+) 32... Kf8 $1 $19 (32... Rc7 33. Qa4+ Kd8 34. Rxh4 (34. Qa8+ Rc8
35. Qa5+ Ke8 36. Qa7 {returns to the main line where Black can still find the
move} Kf8 $1) 34... Nd2+ 35. Ka1 axb2+ 36. Kxb2 Qc3# {Diagram [#]})) 31... Rxh2
32. Rxh2 Kd7 $1 ({Avoiding the cunning trap:} 32... Nxg5 33. Qg1 Nf3 34. Rh8+
Kd7 35. Qa7+ Rc7 36. Qxa4+ {and White wins.}) 33. Qg1 Qxd5 34. Qa7+ Ke6 $1 {
[%csl Ge6][%cal Ge6f5,Gf5g5] Diagram [#] Too many Short followers...} 35. Qg1 {
With the innocent threat of a check from g4.} ({The barce black king will eat
all the white kingside pawns after} 35. Qe7+ Kf5 36. Qd7+ Qe6 37. Qxa4 Kxg5 ({
Or} 37... Qc4 {first.})) 35... Kd7 36. Qa7+ Ke6 ({There was an alternative}
36... Rc7 37. Qxa4+ Ke6 38. Qe8+ Kf5 {with serious advantage for Black.}) 37.
Qg1 Qc4 $1 {Frees the d5 square for the king!} 38. Re2 $2 {This loses. For
good or bad Grandelius should have gone for the complications} (38. Qg4+ Kd5
39. Qd7 Rc7 ({Carlsen showed a sense of humor with his suggestion} 39... Kd4 {
[%csl Rd4] Diagram [#] but it is doubtful he would have used it in his own game
} 40. Ne2+ Ke3 41. Qh3+ $18) 40. Qxa4 {and here instead of the suggested by
Giri} Nxg5 {that leads to a mess after} ({Black has a safer try} 40... Ke6 $1 {
with good winning chances.}) 41. Rd2+ Ke6 42. Qe8+ Kf5 (42... Kxf6 43. Qd8+ Re7
44. Qxd6+ Qe6 (44... Re6 $2 45. Qd8+ Re7 46. Rf2+) 45. Qxb4 $13) 43. Rf2+ Kg4 {
Still messy, but objectively much better for Black.}) 38... b3 $1 {[%csl Rb1]
[%cal Rc8c1] Diagram [#]} 39. axb3 {Allows a nice finish of the game.} ({
We already know where is the king heading to after} 39. Qg4+ Kd5 $1) ({
Objectively best was} 39. cxb3 axb3 40. a3 Nc5 $19) 39... axb3 40. cxb3 Qxe2 $1
{A pretty final strike. White resigned due to the mate:} (40... Qxe2 41. Nxe2
Nd2+ 42. Ka2 Ra8+ {Diagram [#]} 43. Qa7 Rxa7#) 0-1

Report.

Miracles in Game Three

Those of you who have followed closely the matches from the World Cup remember how easily Svidler went through the semi-final. After a win with the black pieces in game one against Anish Giri, he simply did not let a single chance to his opponent in game two by choosing an ultra-solid opening line as White. Soon many of the pieces disappeared and the Russian GM comfortably went into the final.
Many people expected a similar scenario in game three of the final match. Svidler needed only a draw to win the event outright after the furious 2-0 start. At the beginning everything seemed fine with his strategy, although Karjakin tried to complicate matters at an early stage of the game:

[Event "FIDE World Chess Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.10.03"]
[Round "57.1"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:12:32"]
[BlackClock "0:16:45"]

1. e4 c5 {In a must-win situation Karjakin probably did not even consider the
Berlin as an option.} 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 {Diagram [#] The last time
Svidler played this solid was back in 1999 against Garry Kasparov.} a6 5. c4
Nc6 6. Qe3 Nf6 7. h3 g6 8. Nc3 Bg7 9. Be2 Nd7 {[%cal Gg7a1] Diagram [#] Sooner
or later this knight will step back to open up the bishop and get to a better
position. Black can also start with the castling:} ({Relevant:} 9... O-O 10.
O-O Rb8 11. Rd1 Nd7 12. Rb1 Qb6 13. Qd2 Nde5 {as in Lagarde,M (2540)-Edouard,R
(2634) Saint Quentin 2015}) 10. Rb1 {White carefully finishes the development.}
Nde5 11. O-O O-O 12. Rd1 Nxf3+ 13. Bxf3 {Both sides achieved what they wanted-
approximate equality. However, we should not forget that Karjakin is in a
must-win situation.} f5 {The typical Accelerated Dragon counter-play.} 14. exf5
$146 {[%csl Re7][%cal Re1e7,Rd1d8] Diagram [#] And a standard reply which
appears to be a novelty. Svidler does not want to allow the f5-f4 advance. In
correspondence game another player with the white pieces did:} ({Predecessor:}
14. Nd5 e6 15. Nf4 e5 16. Ne2 f4 17. Qa3 Qg5 18. Rxd6 Bxh3 {with complications
in Szymanski,R (2372)-Chomicki,H (2229) ICCF email 2011. Karjakin definitely
would not mind these.}) 14... Bxf5 15. Be4 Qd7 16. Nd5 Qe6 17. Bxf5 Qxf5 {
Diagram [#] One more light piece disappeared. At least Black got some activity
along the half-open f file.} 18. Bd2 {Of course not} (18. Nxe7+ $4 Nxe7 19.
Qxe7 Rae8 20. Qxd6 Qxf2+ 21. Kh1 Re1+ 22. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 23. Kh2 Be5+ $19) 18...
Rae8 19. Bc3 e6 20. Nb6 d5 $1 {[%csl Yb6,Rg1] Diagram [#] The only chance to
complicate matters. Black starts an attack through the center while the white
knight is away from the main battlefield.} 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 {Third light piece
leaves the board...} 22. Qc5 ({Black is somewhat better in the endgame after}
22. cxd5 $6 exd5 23. Qc5 d4 24. Qxf5 Rxf5 25. Rd2 $15) 22... Rf6 {A risky
decision, the only real chance to play for a win! If this was an ordinary game
Karjakin would have opted for} (22... dxc4 23. Qxf5 exf5 24. Nxc4 Re7 $11 {
Diagram [#]}) 23. b4 {With the idea b4-b5. Once again the d5 pawn is poisoned
due to} (23. cxd5 exd5 24. Nxd5 Re2 25. Qb6 Qxf2+ 26. Qxf2 Rfxf2 {and the
rooks rock.}) 23... Ne5 24. cxd5 Nd3 {This was the position that Karjakin had
in mind. He will regain the pawn on f2 and open up the white king. True, in
the process his knight might get trapped, but did he have anything to lose?}
25. Qe3 ({Another way to defend is} 25. Qc7+ $5 {when Black has to choose
wisely where to go with the king. The obvious square} Kg8 $2 {is a bad choice
because of} (25... Kh8 {is better but then the line} 26. Qc3 Nxf2 ({White has
risk-free advantage in the line} 26... Qxf2+ 27. Kh1 e5 28. Qxd3 Qxb6 29. d6
$14) 27. Nd7 {is good for White.}) ({According to the computer, the best move
is} 25... Kh6 {but then White can win a tempo with a timely check against the
enemy king as in the line} 26. Qg3 Nf4 27. Qh4+ $1 {(away from the fork on e2)}
Kg7 28. dxe6 g5 29. Qg4 $11) 26. Nd7 Qxf2+ 27. Kh2 Rf7 28. Rf1 Qxf1 29. Rxf1
Rxf1 30. dxe6) 25... Nxf2 {The match situation is not about rational decisions
any more! Once again, from objective perspective best was} (25... Qxf2+ 26.
Qxf2 Nxf2 27. Re1 Nd3 28. Re3 Nf4 {Diagram [#] with a draw.}) 26. Rf1 {The
knight is trapped.} Qe4 27. Rbe1 {Svidler plays according to the position. He
had probably calculated the line which happened later in the game. A draw
could have been achieved by simple means with} (27. Qxe4 Nxe4 28. dxe6 Rfxe6
29. Nd5 Nd2 30. Nc7 $11) 27... exd5 (27... Ref8 28. Qxe4 Nxe4 29. Rxf6 Nxf6 $16
{leaves Black no hint of a chance.}) 28. Rxf2 $6 {Diagram [#] Not yet a
mistake but a huge step forward it. White could have won the knight with} (28.
Qd2 Nxh3+ 29. gxh3 Rxf1+ 30. Rxf1 {Diagram [#] when Black has chances for a
draw. But only in this game, not in the match...}) 28... Qh4 {Probably Svidler
was hoping for the nice line:} (28... Qxe3 29. Rxe3 Rxe3 30. Rxf6 Kxf6 31.
Nxd5+) 29. Qd2 $4 {[%csl Re1] Diagram [#] Unbelievable! The exhausting matches
and the final pressure came too much for Svidler. He blunders the game away.} (
{Instead} 29. Qxe8 Qxf2+ 30. Kh2 Qxb6 {would give some winning chances for
Black but should be still a draw with careful play. For example} 31. Re7+ Kh6
32. Rd7 Qxb4 33. Qg8 Qf4+ 34. Kh1 Qe5 35. Rxh7+ Kg5 36. Qd8 {followed by
Rh7-d7. Black cannot win with his king that exposed.}) 29... Rxf2 30. Qc3+ (30.
Qxf2 Rxe1+) 30... d4 {Diagram [#] Svidler resigned due to} (30... d4 31. Qc7+
Rf7) 0-1

Report.

The Spanner in Topalov's Tournament

Topalov's great performance in Stavanger was put to an end in round eight. Anish Giri of Netherlands played a strong positional endgame and guessed correctly the most unpleasant line of battle against the former number one.

[Event "Norway Chess"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.06.24"]
[Round "8.3"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2798"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:58:33"]
[BlackClock "0:11:02"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 {Diagram [#] Topalov has a lot of
experience in the Catalan. He had played it in two matches for the world
championship.} Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Qc2 Nbd7 9. Rd1 b6 10.
b3 a5 ({It is funny that Giri had played this position very recently, but with
the black pieces! He did not do so well after} 10... Ba6 11. a4 c5 12. a5 Rc8
13. Qa2 Nb8 14. axb6 axb6 15. Nc3 dxc4 16. Bf4 cxb3 17. Qxb3 Bb7 18. dxc5 {in
the game Caruana,F (2802)-Giri,A (2790) Shamkir 2015, in which he miraculously
survived.}) 11. Bc3 Bb7 12. Nbd2 c5 {The central clash frees Black's position.
Two pairs of central pawns will soon leave the board, as well as some minor
pieces.} 13. Ne5 cxd4 14. Bxd4 Nxe5 15. Bxe5 Qc8 $146 {Diagram [#] Once again,
the Bulgarian GM comes with a novelty.} ({Previously only} 15... Ng4 16. Bd4 e5
17. h3 exd4 18. hxg4 Rc8 {has been tested, Hungaski,R (2486)-Gajewski,G (2628)
Barcelona 2012}) 16. Rac1 dxc4 17. Bxf6 {Giri is heading for slight advantage
without any risk.} ({Nothing gives} 17. Qxc4 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Qb7+ {as now White
cannot block the check with the queen from e4 and the line} 19. Qc6 Qxc6+ 20.
Rxc6 Rfd8 {is equal (Giri).}) (17. Nxc4 $5 {was interesting as well, for
example} Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Qb7+ 19. f3 Rac8 20. Qb2 $14) 17... Bxf6 18. Qxc4 Bxg2
19. Kxg2 {[%csl Gd2,Yf6] Diagram [#] Very soon a famous Catalan endgame will
arise in which the knight proves superior to the enemy bishop. The other
problem for the second player is that he has no control of the open "c" and"d"
files.} Qb7+ 20. Qe4 {The point behind White's previous play. He wants to get
the knight active on e4.} Rfb8 {The rook on a8 stands well to support the
advance of the queenside pawns.} (20... Rab8 21. Qxb7 Rxb7 22. Ne4 $14) 21. Rc6
Qd7 22. Rcc1 ({The pawn is invincible due to the pin along the "d" file} 22.
Rxb6 $6 Rd8 $1 {[%csl Yd1][%cal Rd8d1] Diagram [#] for example} (22... h6 23.
Rc6 Rc8) 23. Rc6 Rac8 24. Rxc8 Qxc8 25. Qc4 Qb7+ 26. Kg1 Be7 {and White cannot
free the knight easily.}) 22... Qb7 23. Qxb7 Rxb7 {[%csl Ya1,Yb2,Yc3,Gd2,Yd4,
Ye5][%cal Yf6a1,Gd2e4,Ge4d6,Gd2c4,Gc4e5,Ge5c6] Diagram [#] This is the endgame
in question. The black bishop is rather empty and cannnot attack anything,
while the knight can go pretty much everywhere. On the top of this it seems
that he arising positions not to the liking of Veselin Topalov. His two main
weapons- creativity and attacking skills are taken away and he needs to suffer
forever to held the game to a draw.} 24. Ne4 Be7 25. Nd6 Rd7 ({In case of}
25... Bxd6 26. Rxd6 Kf8 {Giri intended to proceed} 27. Rcc6 Rab8 28. e4 $16 {
"and after e4-e4 and h2-h4-h5 like he did in his game against Aronian." (Giri)}
) 26. Nc4 Rxd1 ({In case of} 26... Rb7 {Giri planned} 27. Ne5 {but it seems as
Black can defend with both the rooks on the board after} f6 28. Nc6 Bc5 {
followed by Kg8-f7.}) 27. Rxd1 b5 ({Both player spent time analyzing the
endgames after} 27... Rd8 28. Rxd8+ Bxd8 29. Kf3 Kf8 30. Ke4 Ke7 31. a4 f6 32.
Kd4 Kd7 33. Nb2 Kc6 34. Kc4 {Diagram [#] and came to the conclusion that it is
drawish, but with some difficulties still.}) 28. Ne5 Bf6 29. Nd7 {Giri found
an interesting attacking construction.} ({Worse is} 29. Nd3 Rc8) 29... a4 {
Topalov is trying to trade all the pawns on the queenside. However, this is
where Black missed the interesting resource} (29... Rc8 30. Rd6 Rc7 $1 {[%cal
Gc8c7,Rf6e7] Diagram [#] very difficult move for a human. The idea is to get
rid of the annoying rook with Bf6-e6, possible line} (30... Rc2 31. Ra6) 31.
Nxf6+ (31. Kf3 Be7 $1 {is the point behindBlack's last move.} 32. Rd2 f6) 31...
gxf6 32. Ra6 Rc2 33. Rxa5 Rxe2 $11) 30. Rc1 (30. Rd6 $5) 30... axb3 31. axb3
Be7 32. Rc7 $1 {The position that Giri had in mind. The knight on d7 is placed
superbly, stopping the black king from getting into the center.} Rd8 33. Rb7 ({
Black can defend after} 33. Nc5 Kf8 34. Nd3 g5 35. Rb7 Rd5 {(Giri)}) 33... Bd6
34. g4 {Since the knight is paralyzing Black's position, White can improve the
position of his pawns.} (34. Nb6 Rb8 $1 $11) 34... h5 $6 {[%csl Yh5] Diagram
[#] Being low on time Topalov decided to sacrifice a pawn, but this looks
dubious. He had to stick to the passive defense} (34... h6 {although after} 35.
h4 {"things are not that easy" (Topalov), say} b4 36. h5 Rc8 37. Rb6 Be7 38.
Ne5 $16) 35. gxh5 Kh7 {The king is getting active at last but a pawn is a pawn.
} 36. b4 $1 (36. e4 Kh6 {allows counterplay.}) 36... Bxb4 ({Topalov's last
chance was the rook endgame after} 36... Kh6 37. Nc5 Bxc5 38. bxc5 Rd5 {with
chances for a draw.} (38... Kxh5 39. Rxf7)) 37. Ne5 $1 {[%csl Re6,Yf7,Rg7]
Diagram [#] Now the key pawn on f7 drops, and with it the black kingside
crumbles.} Rd5 ({No time for} 37... f6 $2 38. Nc6) 38. Nxf7 Rxh5 (38... Bd2 39.
e3 Rxh5 40. Nd8) 39. f4 Kg6 40. Ne5+ ({White did good to avoid the tempting}
40. Ng5 e5 41. Rb6+ Kf5 42. Rxb5 ({and there is no mate after} 42. Kf3 exf4 43.
Rxb5+ Kg6 44. Kg4 Bc3) 42... Bd2 $1 $11 {(Giri)}) 40... Kh7 41. Nf7 Kg6 42.
Ne5+ Kh7 43. Nf3 $1 {Diagram [#] Wins the e6 pawn and the game.} Rf5 ({The
point is that} 43... Kg6 44. Nd4 e5 {does not save the pawn due to} 45. Rb6+
Kf7 46. Rxb5 Bd6 47. Nf3 {(Giri)}) 44. Ng5+ Kh6 45. Kf3 ({No need to rush} 45.
Nxe6 Rf6) 45... Bd2 46. e3 b4 47. Nxe6 Rh5 ({Topalov suggested} 47... Bc3 {as
a more stubborn defense, but White is winning anyway} 48. Kg4 Rd5 49. Ng5 $18)
48. Nxg7 Rxh2 49. Nf5+ Kg6 50. Ne7+ Kf6 51. Nd5+ Ke6 52. Ke4 Rh3 53. Rb6+ Kd7
54. Kd3 Bc1 55. Rxb4 Kd6 56. Kd4 {Diagram [#]} 1-0

Report.

Out of Shape

Round three of the Norway Chess proved two things:
1) Being a host is not definitely not an advantage at chess. Actually, it is most certainly disadvantage in our sport.
2) Carlsen is not at his greatest chess form ever.
The world champion achieved completely won position but spoiled everything by missing a spectacular. On the other hand, one of the spectators in the tournament hall saw it at once. His name- Garry Kasparov.

[Event "Norway Chess"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.06.18"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2876"]
[BlackElo "2773"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "152"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:29:13"]
[BlackClock "0:19:31"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 {A small surprise. Giri usually opts for 2...e6 of lately.}
3. Bb5+ {Diagram [#] The Moscow line has been used by the world champion
before, but it is curious to know what did the Dutchman prepare against the
main lines?} Nd7 4. c3 Ngf6 5. Qe2 a6 6. Ba4 b5 7. Bc2 e6 8. d4 Bb7 9. O-O Be7
10. Re1 ({Another option is} 10. a4 O-O 11. e5 $5 dxe5 12. dxe5 Bxf3 13. gxf3
Nd5 14. f4 {Svidler,P (2732)-Grischuk,A (2797) Baku 2014}) 10... O-O 11. Nbd2
cxd4 12. cxd4 Rc8 $146 {Diagram [#] A novelty. Giri decided to occupy the open
file with his "a" rook. Previously Black had done this only with his f rook-} (
12... Qc7 13. Nf1 Rfc8 14. Bd3 b4 15. Ng3 a5 {Indeed, the rook is useful on
the a file, enabling Black a chance to trade the light-squared bishop via the
a6 square, Rasik,V (2437)-Laznicka,V (2667) Czechia 2015}) 13. Nf1 {White
finishes the development and looks for a good moment to advance his central
pawns. This will open the road of his pieces towards the black king.} Re8 14.
Ng3 Bf8 15. Be3 (15. a4 $5 {is interesting in order to weaken the black
queenside pawns and make use of the fact that the rook is not on a8.}) 15...
Rc7 $6 {[%csl Ra8,Re4][%cal Gd8a8,Ye8c8,Rb7e4,Ra1a8] Diagram [#] Giri decided
to regroup in a hedgehog way (Qd8-a8, followed by Re8-c8) but later realized
that this is simply not good.} (15... Nb6 {instead would be about equal.}) 16.
Bd3 {A typical Ruy Lopez idea, which prepares the a2-a4 advance.} (16. Rad1 Qa8
17. Bc1 Rec8 18. Bd3 {was suggested by Black at the press-conference as good
for his opponent. But there is no reason to move the rook away from the "a"
file.}) (16. a4 {at once was again makes sense} b4 17. a5 Qa8 18. Rec1 Rec8 ({
The point is that the e4 pawn is untouchable} 18... Nxe4 $2 19. Bxe4 Rxc1+ 20.
Bxc1 $18) 19. Bd3 Rxc1+ 20. Bxc1 $14) 16... e5 {Now the pawn structure
transforms into a Ruy Lopez one, in a very favourable version for White. The
black bishop is misplaced on b7.} ({Giri disliked} 16... Qa8 17. Bd2 {and
indeed, what is the queen doing on a8 after} Rec8 18. a4 $1) 17. d5 $14 Nc5 18.
Bc2 b4 $6 {[%csl Ya5,Yb4,Yb5,Yc4] Diagram [#] This makes things worse. Giri
wanted to open up the bishop with a6-a5 and Bb7-a6 but gave too many squares
in the process.} 19. a3 ({White also had} 19. Nd2 {with the deep idea} a5 20.
Bxc5 $5 {a move that a GM will easily miss as we do not like spending a bishop
for a knight. However it works concretely as the a5 pawn hangs after} Rxc5 21.
Ba4 Re7 22. Nb3 Rc8 23. Nf5 Rec7 24. Nxa5 $16) 19... b3 {Now this pawn is
doomed. However} (19... bxa3 {is even worse due to} 20. b4 $1 Ncd7 21. Bd3 {
and next White will win both the pawns along the "a" file.}) 20. Bxc5 Rxc5 21.
Bxb3 Qb6 {Instead Giri suggested as an improved version the line} (21... Qc7 {
in order to prevent the bishop from getting on a better position and to
control the c4 pawn. After} 22. Nd2 g6 23. Ngf1 Bh6 24. Ne3 Rc8 {"Black is
simply much worse, which means that I am completely lost in the game."(Giri)})
22. Bc4 Rec8 23. Bd3 {Diagram [#] Carlsen won a pawn and the rest should be "a
matter of technique". At first everything goes smoothly for him.} g6 24. Nf1 $1
{Since the knight is limited by the pawn it finds a better working place.} Bh6
25. Ne3 a5 26. b4 $1 {Naturally White does not want to get blocked after} (26.
Nd2 a4) 26... axb4 27. axb4 R5c7 {Giri thought it was better to sacrifice the
queen with} (27... Rc3 $5 28. Nc4 Qxb4 29. Reb1 ({Also possible is} 29. Rab1
R8xc4 30. Bxc4 Qxc4 31. Rxb7) 29... R3xc4 {Most likely the worl champion would
have declined the sacrifice and taken the exchange with} 30. Bxc4 $1 ({Black
has serious drawing chances after} 30. Rxb4 Rxb4) 30... Qxc4 31. Qxc4 Rxc4 32.
Rxb7 Nxe4 33. g3 Rc1+ 34. Rxc1 Bxc1 {and White should win later.}) 28. b5 Qc5
29. h3 {There is no need to hurry. Black was hoping for a trick} (29. Nc4 $2 {
[%csl Yc4] Diagram [#]} Bxd5 $1 30. exd5 e4 31. Bxe4 Qxc4 32. Qxc4 Rxc4 33. Bd3
Rb4 {with serious drawing chances.}) 29... Nh5 30. Qb2 Qb6 31. Qb4 Bxe3 ({
Black also calculated the desperate} 31... Rc3 32. Nc4 R8xc4 $5 33. Bxc4 Rxf3
34. gxf3 Qd8 {but abandoned it on the account of} 35. f4 $1 ({Instead} 35. Bf1
Bf4 {keeps a lot of tricks in the position.})) 32. Rxe3 Rc3 33. Rae1 {[%cal
Yd3f1,Re1e3] Diagram [#] Overprotecs the rook on e3 and prepares Bd3-f1.} f5 {
The last desperate try.} 34. exf5 Nf4 35. Be4 R3c5 36. fxg6 hxg6 {Carlsen won
another pawn and weakened the enemy king. The end is close and...miracles
start to happen.} 37. Bxg6 {Was this needed? If Carlsen had won, we would have
praised him for the stylish finish. Now we can criticise him for the
inpractical approach.} (37. Nh4 {wins prosaically after} Rxb5 38. Qa4 Rb4 39.
Qd7 Qd8 40. Qg4) 37... Rxb5 38. Qe4 $2 {Misses the brilliancy. Instead} (38.
Bf7+ $3 {would have made the Norwegians happy} Kxf7 ({Or else the checkmate
will be for free after} 38... Kf8 39. Qe4) 39. Qe4 {[%csl Yf7][%cal Ge4h7,
Gf3g5] Diagram [#] The threat is Qe4-h7 followed by Nf3-g5 and checkmate.
There is no escape of it as the lines prove:} Kg7 (39... Rh8 40. Qf5+ Kg7 (
40... Ke7 41. Nxe5 $1 {is mate} ({although} 41. Qxf4 {wins easily as well.}))
41. Ng5 Qc7 42. Ne6+ Nxe6 43. Rg3+ Kh6 44. Qg6#) (39... Nxd5 40. Qh7+ Kf6 41.
Nxe5 $1 dxe5 42. Rxe5 {with the unstoppable threat Re5-f5.}) (39... Bxd5 40.
Qf5+ Ke7 41. Qxc8 {wins tons of material.}) (39... Ng6 40. Qf5+ Kg7 41. Nh4 $1
Nxh4 42. Rg3+ Kh6 43. Qf6+ Kh7 44. Qxh4#) 40. Ng5 Kh6 41. Qh7+ Kxg5 42. Rg3+
Kf6 43. Qg7+ Kf5 44. Rg5#) 38... Rf8 39. Nxe5 $6 {And this misses the
remaining advantage.} ({White is at least up a pawn after} 39. Nh4 Bxd5 40. Qa4
{as} Bxg2 $2 {is bad due to} 41. Bd3 $1 ({Or even} 41. Rg3 $1)) 39... dxe5 40.
Rg3 Rxd5 {[%csl Yg8] Diagram [#] White has plenty of discovered checks, the
black kingside is a wreck and it is a draw...} 41. Qb1 {Carlsen uses his last
chance. Two forced lines lead to instant draw} (41. Rb1 Rd1+ 42. Kh2 Rxb1 43.
Bf5+ Kh8 44. Qxe5+ Qf6 45. Qc7 Rf7 46. Qb8+ Rf8 $11) (41. Kh2 Kh8 42. Rb1 Rb5
43. Qxe5+ Rxe5 44. Rxb6 $11) 41... Qxb1 42. Bxb1+ Kh8 43. Be4 Rd7 ({Worse is}
43... Rd2 44. Bxb7 Ne2+ 45. Rxe2 Rxe2 46. f3 Rg8 47. Rxg8+ Kxg8 {followed by
h3-h4, Kg1-h2-h3 and g3-g4 (Giri)}) ({And} 43... Rd1 44. Rxd1 Bxe4 45. Kh2 Bxg2
46. Rxg2 Nxg2 47. Kxg2 {(Giri) albeit drawish leaves Black suffering.}) 44.
Bxb7 Rxb7 45. Rxe5 {Diagram [#] Objectively, the position is equal but it is
much easier to play it as White. He risks nothing while Black has to be
careful what to trade and how to arrange his forces.} Rh7 46. Re4 Rhf7 47. Kh2
Kh7 48. Rf3 Kg6 49. h4 Nh5 50. Rxf7 Rxf7 51. Re2 Nf4 52. Rd2 Nh5 53. g3 Nf6 54.
Kg2 Rd7 55. Ra2 Rd5 56. Ra4 Re5 57. g4 Re4 58. Rxe4 Nxe4 {[%cal Ra5h5] Diagram
[#] Giri was happy to swap off the rooks as he felt that this should be a draw.
Indeed, the theory of this engame states that it is a draw as long as the
passers do not cross the equator of the board. If they (all of them!) reach
the fifth rank, then it is a win.} 59. Kf3 Nd6 60. Kf4 Nf7 61. Ke4 Kf6 62. f4
Nd6+ 63. Kd5 Nb5 64. h5 Nc3+ ({An easier fortress is} 64... Nc7+ 65. Ke4 Ne6 {
Since none of the white pawns can move} 66. Ke3 (66. f5 Ng5+ $11 {is a nice
blockade.}) (66. g5+ Nxg5+ {is an instant draw.}) 66... Nf8 {and White can
make no progress.}) 65. Kd4 Nb5+ 66. Kc4 Nd6+ 67. Kc5 Ke6 {[%csl Yg4,Yh5][%cal
Gd6f7,Gf7h6] Diagram [#] Giri found a good defensive set up.} (67... Nf7 68.
Kd5 Nd8 $11) 68. Kc6 Nf7 69. Kc7 Nh6 $1 {Now the pawns are blocked and Anish
Giri can keep his positive score against the world champion.} 70. g5 Nf7 71. g6
Nh6 72. Kd8 Kf5 73. Ke7 Kxf4 74. Kf8 Kg5 75. g7 Kxh5 76. g8=Q Nxg8 {Diagram [#]
} 1/2-1/2

Report.

Anand and the Exchange Sacrifice

In Stavanger there are no boring games. Even the draws are agreed after complete and thorough battle:

[Event "Norway Chess"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.06.17"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:46:51"]
[BlackClock "0:53:05"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 {Diagram [#] Despite
his convincing blitz win in the Italian game, Giri decided to choose the quiet
Reti.} c5 7. Bb2 Nc6 8. e3 b6 9. Nc3 Ba6 {The second main move in the position
but one that scores better than its "bigger brother". Black usually chooses} (
9... Bb7 10. cxd5 Nxd5 (10... exd5 {is also possible}) 11. Nxd5 Qxd5 12. d4)
10. Qe2 {This is also the second main line. White usually chooses} (10. d3 Rc8
11. Qe2 {For example} Qc7 12. Ne1 (12. Rac1 {Paunovic,D (2506)-Sanchez Juncal,
B (2206) Mondariz 2006}) 12... Qd7 13. Nc2 Nb4 14. e4 {with complex play,
Eljanov,P (2702)-Roiz,M (2617) Legnica 2013}) 10... Qd7 {Diagram [#] Anand
proceeds easily with his development and connects the rooks. We can see the
point behind the Ba6 move- White cannot trade on d5 easily and modify the pawn
structure in his favor by creating hanging pawns in the black camp later.} 11.
Rfd1 Rac8 12. Nb5 {Prepares the d2-d4 advance.} Rfd8 13. Rac1 {But here the
Dutch GM prolonged the preparation one move too many. In case of} (13. d4 {
Anand planned} cxd4 14. exd4 Qe8 {This was a better try for White's advantage
though, say after} 15. Ne5) 13... dxc4 {Anand seizes his chance to occupy the
outpost on d3.} 14. bxc4 Qd3 15. Qxd3 $146 {Diagram [#] The novelty.} ({The
only predecessor saw:} 15. Bf1 {which should hardly yield White any advantage-}
Qxe2 16. Bxe2 Ne8 (16... Bb7 $5 $11) 17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. Bxe5 Rd7 (18... Bb7 $5)
19. a4 Rcd8 20. d3 {McNab,C (2420)-Thomson,C (2260) Edinburgh 1985}) 15... Rxd3
16. Bf1 ({At first Giri intended} 16. Ne5 {but then he realized that there is
not enough time to kick the rook back from it's active position} Nxe5 17. Bxe5
Rcd8 18. Rc2 Bxb5 19. cxb5 Nd5 20. Bf1 Ra3 {and "this is not very good" (Giri).
}) ({Perhaps White can fight for an advantage with} 16. a4 {as now} Rcd8 $2 {
loses material to} ({Also bad is} 16... Nb4 $6 17. Ne5 $16) 17. Ne1 Rxd2 18.
Rxd2 Rxd2 19. Bc3 $18) 16... Rd7 17. d4 Rcd8 $11 {[%csl Yd4] Diagram [#] Black
comfortably levelled the chances.} 18. a4 Bb7 $5 {An interesting approach by
the Indian GM. Instead of waiting passively he sacrifices the exchange for a
pawn and queenside passers.} ({Both} 18... Ne4 19. d5 Bf6 20. Bxf6 gxf6 $1 21.
Nd2 Nxd2 22. Rxd2 Ne5 $11) ({And even simpler} 18... cxd4 19. exd4 Ne4 {with
the idea Be7-f6 seemed perfectly comfortable for Black.}) 19. d5 exd5 ({Of
course not} 19... Nb4 $2 20. Ne5) 20. Bh3 dxc4 21. Bxd7 Nxd7 22. Nd6 Ba6 23.
Nxc4 f6 $1 {[%csl Yb2,Rf6,Rg7] Diagram [#] The point behind Anand's sacrifice.
He kills the bishop on b2 and intends to slowly advance on the queenside.} 24.
Rd2 {Giri self-criticized himself upon that move and suggested instead} (24. e4
$5 Bxc4 25. Rxc4 a6 26. Rc2 b5 27. axb5 axb5 {when in comparison to the game
he has an extra move e3-e4 and possibility to maneuver with his knight via the
d2 square. Indeed, here} 28. Nh4 {looks good for White with the idea} g6 29.
Rcd2 Nb6 30. Rxd8+ Nxd8 31. Bxf6 $1 Bxf6 32. Rd6 $16) 24... Bxc4 25. Rxc4 a6
26. Rc1 b5 27. axb5 axb5 28. Ba3 {Giri did not like the look of} (28. Rcd1 Nb6
29. Rxd8+ Nxd8 30. Nd2 Nc6 {"I am jealous at Black's position," although White
can always trade a light piece for the black queenside pawns and force a draw.}
) (28. Ra1 $5) 28... Kf7 29. Rxd7 $6 {Diagram [#] White decided to force a
draw but confused the move order.} ({"The easiest was"} 29. Bxc5 Nxc5 30. Rxd8
Nxd8 31. Rb1 $11 {(Anand)}) 29... Rxd7 30. Bxc5 Ne5 $1 {Missed by Giri "now I
have to suffer".} 31. Nxe5+ fxe5 32. Bxe7 Kxe7 {The outside passer provides
Black serious winning chances. White's problem is that he can never trade the
rooks as the resulting endgames are lost for him.} 33. Kf1 Kd6 34. Ke2 e4 35.
Rc8 $1 {[%csl Gc8][%cal Gc8b8,Gc8e8,Ge8e4] Diagram [#] Active rook is the
mantra of the rook endgames.} ({After} 35. f3 exf3+ 36. Kxf3 b4 37. Ke4 Rb7 38.
Kd4 b3 {White should fall into zugzwang soon.}) 35... Ra7 {A more serious
chance would have been} (35... Rc7 $5 {Both players analyzed the position in
the press conference and came to the conclusion that it should have ended in a
draw, but in far more difficult way than in the game:} 36. Rd8+ ({Or} 36. Rb8
Kc5 37. Kd2 Kb4) 36... Kc5 37. Rd4 b4 38. Rxe4 Rd7 ({Anand saw the nice line}
38... b3 39. Kd3 b2 40. Rc4+ Kb5 41. Rxc7 b1=Q+ 42. Ke2 {followed by h2-h4 and
rook transfer to d4 which will be a fortress.}) 39. Re8 b3 40. Rb8 Kc4 41. e4
Kc3 42. Rc8+ $1 {To force the king in front of the pawn and win some tempos}
Kb2 43. e5 Kb1 {when Black can win the rook, but White will have sufficient
counterplay after say} 44. Rb8 b2 45. Ke3 Ra7 46. Ke4 Ka2 47. Kd5 b1=Q 48. Rxb1
Kxb1 49. e6 Kc2 50. Kd6 $11) 36. Kd2 Ra2+ 37. Kc3 Rxf2 38. Rb8 Rxh2 ({The pawn
cannot be saved} 38... Kc6 39. Rc8+ Kb6 40. Rb8+) 39. Rxb5 Ke6 40. Kd4 Rg2 41.
Kxe4 Rxg3 42. Kf4 {Diagram [#] The White pieces are maximally activated. He
needs to trade any of the black pawns to achieve theoretically draw position.}
Rg1 43. Rb6+ Kf7 44. e4 h5 45. Rb7+ Ke6 46. Rb6+ Kd7 47. Kf5 Kc7 48. Rb2 Kd7
49. e5 Rf1+ 50. Kg5 Ke6 51. Kxh5 Kxe5 52. Kg4 g5 53. Kxg5 1/2-1/2

Report.

Blitz Jewel

The Norway Super tournament started with the traditional blitz tournament which defines the players who will have an extra white color during the main event. This year's edition was convincingly won by Maxime Vachier-Lagrave straight from the plane from Leon (Spain). As usual, there was a lot of drama suspens, and beautiful chess. Check this attack for example:

[Event "Norway Chess Blitz"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.06.15"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3rr2k/bppq1pp1/p1n2n1p/3bpN2/8/2PP2NP/PPB2PP1/R1BQR1K1 w - - 0 19"]
[PlyCount "15"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:00:40"]
[BlackClock "0:00:29"]

{A typical Ruy Lopez position appeared (via the Italian game indeed, but the
Nf5 can proudly call himself a Spanish citizen). Now Giri opens the road for
his pieces:} 19. d4 $1 {[%csl Rf5][%cal Gc1h6,Gc2h7,Ge1e8] Diagram [#]} exd4
20. Nxg7 $1 {And launches powerful attack.} Rxe1+ {The only move as} (20...
Kxg7 {is mate after} 21. Bxh6+ Kxh6 22. Qd2+ Kg7 23. Nh5+ (23. Qg5+ {is also
good}) 23... Nxh5 24. Qg5+ Kf8 25. Qh6+ Kg8 26. Qh7+ Kf8 27. Qh8# {Diagram [#]}
) 21. Qxe1 Kxg7 22. Bxh6+ $1 {One more powerful blow!} Kh8 $1 {The best
defense.} ({The bishop is taboo due to} 22... Kxh6 23. Qd2+ Kg7 24. Nf5+ {
Diagram [#] and Black will have to part with his queen} Qxf5 ({Or get
checkmated after} 24... Kf8 25. Qh6+ Ke8 26. Qh8+ Ng8 27. Qxg8#) 25. Bxf5 {
with the black king wide open White is clearly on top.}) 23. Qd2 {Another
interesting way to attack is} (23. Bg5 $5) 23... Rg8 24. Qf4 {[%cal Gf4h4]
Diagram [#] Straightforward and good. There was also the flashy} (24. Bf8 $5 {
with the idea} Rxf8 {Instead both} (24... Rg6) (24... d3 {are possible defenses
}) 25. Qh6+ Kg8 (25... Nh7 26. Qxh7#) 26. Nh5 Nxh5 27. Qh7#) 24... Qd6 $2 (
24... Nh5 {was mandatory although it is questionable if Black can survive here
as well.}) 25. Qh4 {It's over. The discovered check(mate) threat is
unstoppable.} Qxg3 26. fxg3 {What an attack for Anish Giri, played with only
five minutes on the clock!} 1-0

Positional Sacrifice

Anish Giri continued to play well at the end of the Tata Steel tournament and came in shared third place after a nice win against his compatriot Loek van Wely. The younger Dutchman played creatively and sacrificed twice to grind down his more experienced opponent.

[Event "Tata Steel Masters"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.01.23"]
[Round "11.6"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2667"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:43:17"]
[BlackClock "0:23:42"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 {The Pirc is a rare guest on top level. Since Kramnik is
missing in Wijk, one should normally expect it from Ivanchuk here, but it is
Van Wely who gives it a try.} 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 {The Austrian attack remains
White's most aggressive choice.} Bg7 5. Bd3 e5 {Not the most common move, but
one that was recently tested at the top level.} ({Black usually} 5... O-O {for
example} 6. Nf3 Na6 (6... Nc6 {seems like a good alternative} 7. e5 dxe5 8.
fxe5 Nh5 9. Be3 Bg4 10. Be2 f6 11. exf6 exf6 12. O-O Re8 {with playable
position for Black in Karjakin,S (2777)-Jones,G (2664) Bilbao 2014}) 7. O-O c5
8. d5 Rb8 9. a4 {when the position resembles the Benoni with the white pawn
shy of getting to c4, Polgar,J (2705)-Carlsen,M (2848) Mexico City 2012}) (5...
Nc6) 6. dxe5 dxe5 7. Nf3 exf4 8. Bxf4 O-O 9. Qd2 Nc6 10. O-O-O Ng4 $146 {
Diagram [#] Loek is trying to take control of the e5 square.} ({A novelty in
comparison to} 10... Be6 11. h3 Nd7 12. Bg5 (12. Bb5 $5) 12... Bf6 13. h4 h5
14. Qf4 Bxg5 15. hxg5 $1 {with strong pressure for White in Karjakin,S (2776)
-Wang,H (2752) Beijing 2013}) 11. Nd5 {You win something, you lose another.
The d5 square is no longer protected by the knight on f6. White's central
control secures him an edge.} Nce5 {The other move seems more natural} (11...
Nge5 {but is has its drawbacks as well. In particular in the line} 12. Bg5 (12.
Qe3 $5) 12... Qd6 13. Nxe5 Nxe5 $2 {is not good due to} 14. Be7) 12. h3 {Anish
is now fighting for the e5 square. He wants it all and now obviously.} Nxf3 ({
Perhaps the pawn sacrifice is interesting after} 12... c6 13. hxg4 Nxd3+ 14.
Qxd3 cxd5 15. g5 Bg4 16. exd5 Re8) 13. gxf3 Ne5 14. Be2 Be6 15. Bg5 {White
lures the pawn to the f6 square to lock the bsihop in prison. At least for a
while. Anish have taken down one of the knights. Now} (15. Qc3 $1 {to get rid
of the second one made a lot of sense. After} Nc6 16. Qe3 {seems as a fine
regroupment as now} Ne5 17. Bg5 {is way mre effective as in the game. In
particular} f6 {is hardly a move anymore...} 18. Nxf6+) 15... f6 ({Or else}
15... Qd7 16. f4) 16. Be3 c6 {Naturally, Black does not tolerate the knight in
the center.} 17. f4 $1 {An important idea. Giri plays extremely energetically
to hold the initiative.} (17. Nc3 Qa5 {would be great for Black.}) 17... Nf7
18. f5 $1 {Diagram [#]} gxf5 {Forced as the endgame is very bad for Black} (
18... Bxd5 19. exd5 Qxd5 (19... cxd5 20. Bf3 $16) 20. Qxd5 cxd5 21. Bf3 Rfe8 (
21... Bh6 22. Bxh6 Nxh6 23. Bxd5+) 22. Bf4 {the bishops rule, not King Loek.})
19. Nf4 $1 {Diagram [#] Completeting the idea. The knight is optimally placed
on f4 and the black pawns on f5 and f6 limit the scope of the black pieces.}
Qxd2+ 20. Bxd2 ({But not} 20. Rxd2 $2 Bh6 $1) 20... Rae8 {Alas, Black is
losing one of the bishops} (20... Bc8 {would be even worse for him} 21. Rhg1
Kh8 22. Bb4 Re8 23. Nh5 Bf8 24. Bc3) 21. Rhg1 $5 {This is tempting, but White
had solid alternative instead that would have given him the advantage without
any risk} (21. Nh5 $5 Kh8 22. Nxg7 Kxg7 23. Rhg1+ Kh8 24. Bh5 {with the threat
Bd2-c3} Rd8 ({Or else Black loses the exchange} 24... fxe4 25. Bc3 Ne5 26. Bxe8
Rxe8 27. Rdf1) 25. exf5 Bxf5 26. Rdf1 {The two bishops will soon shatter
Black's defense.}) 21... Kh8 {Diagram [#]} 22. Rxg7 $5 {This was Anish's point
but not Loek could have defended. The amazing profilaxys} (22. Kb1 $3 {would
have kept White in control as now Bg7-h6 is no longer a defenseive resourse.
Some lines:} Bh6 ({White wins the exchange after} 22... fxe4 23. Nxe6 Rxe6 24.
Bb4 Rfe8 25. Bc4) 23. Nxe6 Rxe6 24. Bb4 Rb8 25. Bc3 Ne5 26. exf5 $16 {with
clear advantage for White.}) 22... Kxg7 23. Nh5+ Kg6 $6 {Correct was} (23...
Kh8 $1 {Now in the line} 24. Bc3 ({But Van Wely saw ghosts in the line} 24.
Nxf6 Rd8 25. Bc3 Rxd1+ 26. Bxd1 Rd8 27. exf5 {it is extremely unpleasant for a
human being to play with the constat discovered threat in the air, but the cool
} Bc8 $1 {is a defense.} ({Rather than} 27... Bxf5 $2 28. Nd5+ Kg8 29. Ne7+ {
when White wins})) 24... Ne5 25. Nxf6 Rxf6 26. Bxe5 Kg7 27. Rg1+ Kf7 28. Bh5+
Rg6 29. Rf1 {White wins a pawn but Black should survive the OCB endgame after}
Kg8 30. exf5 Rf8 31. Bxg6 hxg6 32. f6 $14) 24. Rg1+ {The king is in danger,
White wins the knight.} Ng5 25. Nf4+ Kg7 26. h4 h6 27. Bh5 (27. Bc3 $5) 27...
Bf7 28. exf5 Bxh5 29. Nxh5+ Kf7 30. hxg5 fxg5 $6 {This gives White another
trump. Better was} (30... hxg5 31. Bc3 {with the idea} Re3 32. Bxf6 (32. Rd1 $1
{instead will keep White's chances higher.}) 32... Rh3 33. Rxg5 Rxh5 34. Rxh5
Kxf6) 31. Ng3 (31. Bb4 $1 {is more subtle.} Rg8 32. Bc3) 31... Rd8 32. Rh1 {
Diagram [#] In the endgame a R and a P are usually as good as the two light
pieces, and sometimes even better. However, this is not the case in the
actual position as the rooks are lacking open files and the balck pawns on the
kingside are weaknesses rather than passers. Giri converts his advantage with
an iron hand.} Rd4 ({The pawn cannot be saved} 32... Rh8 33. Bc3 Rh7 34. Ne4)
33. Rxh6 Rfd8 34. Rh7+ {Useful in between check to worsen the position of the
king.} (34. Rh2 Rg4) 34... Kg8 35. Rh2 Rg4 36. Ne2 Rd5 37. Rf2 Kf7 38. b3 {
White stabilized the situation.} b5 (38... Kf6 39. Bc3+ Kf7 40. Kb2) 39. b4 {
Fixes the pawns in order to attack them later with pieces.} c5 40. a3 cxb4 41.
axb4 a5 $1 {Loek correctly tries to trade as many pawns as possible.} 42. Nc3
Re5 43. bxa5 b4 44. Na2 Rxa5 45. Nxb4 Rg1+ ({Perhaps Black saw that in the line
} 45... Rb5 46. c3 Kf6 47. Kc2 {he cannot capture the pawn due to the trick}
Rxf5 $2 ({But instead} 47... Rg3 $1 {would have given him great drawing
chances.}) 48. Nd5+ $1 Ke5 49. Rxf5+ Kxf5 50. Ne3+) 46. Kb2 g4 47. Nd3 Rb5+ 48.
Kc3 g3 49. Rf3 Rb7 ({More stubborn was} 49... g2 50. Rg3 Rxf5 51. Be3 Ra1 52.
Rxg2) 50. Bf4 g2 51. Rg3 Re7 $2 {A blunder.} ({The game would have continued
after} 51... Kf6 52. Be3 Rc7+ 53. Kd2) 52. Ne5+ {A very creative and
intersteing game in which Anish Giri sacrificed first a pawn and then an
exchange to prove his advantage.} (52. Ne5+ {with the rook as} Ke8 53. Rg8# {
is a nice checkmate.}) 1-0

Report.

To Develop or not to Develop?

Chess have changed greatly in the past twenty years. It became much more concrete, thorough. The following game from the Tata Steel tournament is one good example.

[Event "Tata Steel Masters"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.01.21"]
[Round "10.4"]
[White "Saric, Ivan"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2666"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:37:34"]
[BlackClock "1:13:44"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qf3 {Not a
very commong choice in the Taimanov. White wants to castle long as quick as
possible and to place the queen as agressive as he can on the other side where
he will attack. The normal developing moves are} (7. Bd3) (7. Be2) 7... Ne5 8.
Qg3 h5 {Anish played this already against Karjakin and described it then with
the words "the worst possible line..."} 9. f4 {Ivan does not want to discover
the opponent's preparation after} (9. f3 b5 10. O-O-O d6 11. f4 Ng4 12. e5 dxe5
({it was pointed out by some sources that} 12... Nxe3 13. Qxe3 d5 {might be
better}) 13. fxe5 Nxe3 14. Qxe3 Bd7 {Karjakin-Giri, Tashent GP 2014}) 9... h4 {
This was what the previous move was all about. Now White will have to place
the queen in a less active square.} 10. Qh3 (10. Qf2 $6 Ng4) 10... Nc4 11. Bxc4
Qxc4 {Diagram [#] Some years back Giri would have be stripped of his GM title
and possibly sent in jail (at least) for violating all the opening rules. He
had not developed any piece yet, beside the queen and advanced the pawns on
the kingside where he is about to get checkmated. Nowadays, this is
considered normal. Black has a lot of hidden trumps up his sleeve, namely the
powerful bishop pair and the fluid pawn structure. One more thing of a great
importance is that there are no pawn clashes yet and this means that the balck
king will be safe in the center. At least for a while.} 12. O-O-O b5 {No, he
does not develop yet, but watches carefully for the white maneuvers.} 13. f5 {
Ivan decided to open some files.} (13. e5 {would be met with} Bb7 {that stops
Nc3-e4 jump.}) 13... Bb7 (13... b4 {would be a bit too much and White can
start attacking the weakened dark squares after} 14. Na4 Qc7 15. Nb3) 14. Rhf1
({Black remains remarkably solid after} 14. fxe6 dxe6 15. e5 Rc8 {and he has
all the time in the world to bring his knight to g6 or f5 after Ng8-e7. It is
true that White have opened a file in this line but there is nothing to attack
there yet and his queen is somewhat misplaced.}) 14... e5 $146 {Logically
closes the center, but allows a direct play against the d5 square.} ({In case
of} 14... Rc8 {which Anish tried in round six against Radjabov White has the
strong} 15. Nf3 $1 {with the threat Nf3-e5xf7! no matter what, or if Black
retreats} ({Radjabov played} 15. fxe6 {against Giri in Wijk some rounds before}
dxe6 16. Rxf7 Kxf7 17. b3 Ba3+ 18. Kb1 Qxc3 19. Qxe6+ Kf8 20. Rf1+ Nf6 21.
Rxf6+ gxf6 22. Qxf6+ Kg8 23. Qg6+ Kf8 24. Qf6+ Kg8 25. Qg6+ Kf8 26. Qf6+ {
½-½ (26) Radjabov,T (2734)-Giri,A (2784) 2015}) 15... Qc7 16. Ng5 {and once
again Ng5xf7 is in the air. For example} e5 $2 17. Nxf7 $3 Kxf7 18. f6 $1 {
This is the moment that White cherishes and it would be soon over} Nxf6 19.
Rxd7+ Qxd7 20. Qxd7+) 15. Nb3 ({Once again} 15. Nf3 $5 {was interesting but
less convincing due to} d6 16. Ng5 b4 17. Nd5 Bxd5 {and White cannot capture
with a piece on d5, whcih means that his whole strategy is wrong.}) 15... Qc7
16. Bg5 $5 {Nice regroupment. Not only the pawn on h4 is in danger, but the
bishop is ready to swap off the black knight and secure the d5 point for the
knight.} Rc8 17. Rf2 $5 {Protects c2 pawn and prepares Nc3-d5. White looks
better now, he managed to turn the threats of a tactical blitzkrieg into
strategical concessions in the black camp.} ({However, I have the feeling that
he should have stuck to the initial plan of opening the game and checkmating
the king after} 17. f6 $5) 17... Be7 $1 {In a difficult situation Giri is
amazingly resourceful.} 18. Bxe7 Kxe7 $3 {Diagram [#] Anish defends greatly.
As he does not intend to castle into the attack ever, it makes little sense to
capture with the knight as it will be very badly placed afterwards} (18... Nxe7
19. Rfd2 Bc6 20. a3 {and Black has nothing better than} Ng8 {to which} 21. g4
$1 {with the idea} Nf6 22. Qe3 {and g4-g5 gives large edge to White.}) 19. Rfd2
Nf6 {Now the knight is optimally placed for both attack and defense.} 20. a3
Rh6 $1 {One more important move in Black's plan. Black is out of danger.} 21.
Qe3 ({Black's position is solid after} 21. g4 hxg3 22. Qxg3 Kf8 23. Rg1 Rh7 {
but this was superior version of what White had later in the game.}) 21... Kf8
22. Kb1 Kg8 {Funny it might seem but Giri castled at last.} 23. Rg1 {Ivan
prepares the second wave of the attack.} ({It was tempting to regroup the
knight as well after} 23. Nc1 Bc6 24. Nd3 {but} a5 $1 {comes just in time.})
23... Ng4 24. Qf3 Qb6 25. Re1 Nf6 {And Anish is actively opposing it.} 26. g4
hxg3 27. Qxg3 ({In the race for the d5 square Black seems faster} 27. hxg3 a5
28. g4 b4 29. Na4 Qc6 30. Nac5 a4 {with complications which tend to favour the
second player.}) 27... d6 28. Rg2 Rh7 {Diagram [#] Anish survived the attack
and can start thinking of activity himself. The risky strategy succeeded!} 29.
Qg5 $6 {The beginning of a wrong idea.} (29. Qd3 {was better.}) 29... Kf8 30.
Qd2 $6 Rxc3 $1 {Typical and strong. This is not even an exchange sacrifice!}
31. Qxc3 Nxe4 32. Qd3 $2 {This makes things worse.} (32. Qb4 $1 {was mandatory
when in the line} Nc3+ 33. bxc3 Bxg2 {White can win a central pawn back} 34.
Rxe5 Rxh2 35. Re2 {with chances of survival, say} Rh1+ 36. Kb2 Bd5 37. Qf4 {
The threat Qf4-g5 is annoying, to say at least.}) 32... Nc3+ 33. Qxc3 Bxg2 34.
Qc8+ Ke7 35. Qg8 {Diagram [#]} Qf2 $1 {A cold shower. The attack is over
before it began.} ({Ivan was obviously hoping for something like} 35... Rxh2
36. Qxg7 Bh3 37. Rxe5+ dxe5 38. Qxe5+ Kf8 39. Qxh2 Bxf5 {when White is
definitely not worse.}) 36. Rd1 (36. Rxe5+ dxe5 37. Qxh7 Kf6 {is hopeless for
White who cannot co-ordinate his pieces.}) 36... Be4 $1 {One more subtle move.}
37. Rd2 ({Ivan probably missed that in the line} 37. Qxh7 {Black is not forced
to capture on c2 with the queen, but can play} Bxc2+ $1 ({Rather than} 37...
Qxc2+ 38. Ka2 Qxd1 39. Qh4+ {that wns a piece for White.}) 38. Kc1 Bxf5 {and
wins.}) 37... Qg1+ 38. Ka2 Bxf5 {Giri stabilized the situation and went on to
convert the extra pawns.} 39. Qb8 Rh6 40. Rd5 Bd7 41. Qb7 Qg4 42. Na5 {Diagram
[#] The last chace for some tricks but...} Kf6 $1 {This brave king won the
game.} (42... Rxh2 43. Qc7 Rxc2 $1 44. Qxc2 Qe6 45. Qb3 Qxd5 $1 46. Qxd5 Be6 {
wins as well, but why to complicate things?!}) 43. b3 (43. Rxd6+ Be6+ 44. Nb3
Rxh2 {is equally hopeless.}) 43... Rxh2 44. Rxd6+ Be6 45. Kb2 Qf4 46. Nc6 Rh1
47. Qe7+ Kf5 {An excellent game by Anish who risked greatly but achieved an
important win!} 0-1

Report by Peter Doggers here.

Giri and Kramnik in the Lead

Two games proved decisive yesterday in London. Vladimir Kramnik won quickly to Hikaru Nakamura and Anish Giri managed to grind down Michael Adams's stubborn defense at the end.

[Event "6th London Chess Classic"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2768"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Bb4+ 5. Nd2 (5. Bd2 {is the more
conventional choice but Anish prepared something interesting for the game.})
5... O-O 6. Ngf3 dxc4 7. Qc2 {[%csl Yh7][%cal Gc2h7] Diagram [#] A tricky
opening line.} ({Caruana had tested the castling twice. His game with Gelfand
saw} 7. O-O b5 8. a4 c6 9. b3 c3 10. Nb1 Bb7 11. Qc2 bxa4 12. Rxa4 c5 13. Nxc3
a5 {with approximately equal chances, Caruana,F (2697)-Gelfand,B (2739)
Amsterdam 2010}) 7... c5 {Anish thought that Mickey was not too familiar with
the line. According to my Megabase, this is the third main move.} ({The main
move is} 7... Nc6 {One recent game saw} 8. Qxc4 Qd5 9. O-O Bxd2 10. Qxd5 exd5
11. Bxd2 Re8 12. e3 Bf5 13. Rfc1 Be4 {and Black held the ballance in Belov,V
(2625)-Tomashevsky,E (2708) Irkutsk 2010}) ({The idea of White's early queen
sortie is revealed in the line} 7... b5 8. a4 $1 c6 (8... bxa4 9. O-O {is very
nice for White who enjoys clear play against the black weak pawns.}) 9. axb5
cxb5 $2 ({Black can avaoid the immediate disater but his position will not be
enviable after} 9... Qd5 10. b6 Ba6 11. bxa7 Bxd2+ 12. Bxd2 Rxa7 13. O-O $16 {
Roiz,M (2579)-Gaprindashvili,V (2415) Warsaw 2005}) 10. Ng5 $1 $18 {White win
at least the exchange as} Nd5 11. Qxh7# {does not look great for the second
player...Giri revealed that a lot of Grandmasters had felt for this idea only
to realize in the process the Nf3-g5! resource.}) 8. dxc5 c3 {It is useful to
break the opponent's pawn chain whenever possible.} 9. bxc3 Bxc5 10. O-O Qc7 ({
More natural seems to be the development of the knight} 10... Nc6 {This was
played three times by Sergey Tiviakov. Giri mentioned the idea} 11. Ng5 ({
Rather than} 11. Ne4 Be7 12. Rd1 Qa5 13. Nd4 Nxd4 14. cxd4 Bd7 15. Nxf6+ Bxf6
16. Bxb7 Rab8 17. Be4 Ba4 18. Qd2 Qd8 19. Ba3 Re8 20. Bc2 Bxc2 21. Qxc2 Bxd4 {
1/2 (21) Riazantsev,A (2621)-Tiviakov,S (2663) Sochi 2007}) 11... h6 12. Nde4
Nxe4 13. Nxe4 Be7 14. Rd1 Qc7 {although the impression is that Black should be
able to gradually equalize. If he did not already.}) 11. Ne4 $146 {[%cal Gg2a8,
Gf4b8] A logical novelty. White clears the road for his pieces.} ({The only
previous game saw the interesting pawn sacrifice} 11. Nc4 $5 {which Tiviakov
decided not to accept} Nbd7 (11... Bxf2+ 12. Rxf2 Qxc4 13. Ba3 Re8 14. Ng5 {
would lead to sharp, lively play instead.}) 12. Qb3 e5 13. a4 Rb8 14. Bg5 Re8
15. a5 Bf8 16. Na3 a6 17. Nc4 b5 18. axb6 Nxb6 19. Nxb6 Rxb6 $11 {Kaidanov,G
(2540)-Tiviakov,S (2520) Torcy 1991}) 11... Nxe4 12. Qxe4 Nd7 13. Bf4 $14 {
White's lead in the development gives him the advantage.} Bd6 14. Bxd6 Qxd6 15.
Rfd1 Qc7 (15... Qc5 {can be answered} 16. Rab1 {when the pawn on c3 is
untouchable} (16. Qb4 {is not bad either.}) 16... Qxc3 17. Rbc1 Qa5 18. Rxc8
Raxc8 19. Rxd7 $16) 16. Qb4 {[%csl Yb7,Rc8][%cal Gg2b7,Gb1b8] Black's main
problem is his bishop on c8. If it can come out and jump on c6, everything
will be fine. But since the white bishop dominates on the long diagonal and
the half-open b file is in White's hands this is not easy to achieve. That is
what Catalan is all about!} Nf6 (16... Nc5 17. Nd4 Bd7 18. Nb3 Nxb3 19. axb3
Bc6 20. Qc5 {is aline given by Giri where he believed he wins a pawn. If go a
bit deeper} Qb6 21. Qxb6 axb6 22. Rxa8 Rxa8 23. Bxc6 bxc6 24. Rd6 Rc8 25. f4 {
we see that the rook endgame is very unpleasant for Black. The active rook
makes the big difference. Still, from a hinsight this was probably Black's
best chance.}) 17. Nd4 {Opens the g2 monster and threatens Nd4-b5-d6.} a6 18.
Nb3 a5 $6 {An important moment. Adams lures teh queen on c5 in order to win a
tempo for the b7-b6 move and free the bishop. That appears a bit slow though.}
({Giri was afraid of the typical pawn sacrifice} 18... Nd5 $5 19. Bxd5 exd5 20.
Rxd5 Be6 21. Rc5 Qe7 (21... Qd7 $5) 22. Nd4 Bh3 {For the pawn Black has some
play on the light squares and a good bishop. Still, White should be better.})
19. Qc5 Qb8 ({Black loses a pawn in the endgame} 19... Qxc5 20. Nxc5 Rb8 21.
Rab1 b6 22. Rd6 b5 23. a4 b4 24. cxb4 axb4 25. Rd4 $18) 20. Rab1 {Mounts the
pressure along the b file. Mickey will have to sacrifice a pawn to free his
position sooner or later. However Anish missed some counterplay by his
opponent.} (20. Rd6 $5 {not to allow b7-b6 was also good, for example} Nd7 21.
Qa3 Ne5 22. Nd2 Qc7 23. Rb1 {and White dominates.}) 20... b6 21. Qd6 Nd5 $1 {
Or else Black is completely paralized} (21... Qxd6 22. Rxd6 Ra6 (22... Rb8 23.
Nxa5) 23. Nd4 e5 24. Nb5 $16) 22. Qxb8 Rxb8 23. Bxd5 exd5 24. Nxa5 {Captures
the more important pawn.} (24. Rxd5 Be6 25. Rd2 Rfc8 26. Rc1 b5 27. Nxa5 b4 28.
c4 Ra8 29. Nb3 Rxc4 30. Rxc4 Bxc4 {gives excellent drawing chances to Black.})
24... Bf5 $1 {Initially missed by White when he played Ra1-b1.} 25. Nc6 Bxb1
26. Nxb8 Bxa2 27. Nd7 Re8 28. Nxb6 Rxe2 {[%csl Ga2,Ge2] Diagram [#] Mickey can
be happy with his defense so far. He managed to trade a lot of pawns and
activate his pieces. Anish tries his best chance} 29. c4 $1 ({The rook endgame
after} 29. Nxd5 Bxd5 30. Rxd5 g6 {should be a draw with precise defense. The
most dangerous passer on the queenside in these situations is the b one.})
29... Kf8 30. Rxd5 $1 {Giri admitted at the press conference that the position
should be objectively a draw "Of course" and started producing devilish tricks.
} ({Black holds after} 30. cxd5 Ke7 (30... Rb2 31. d6 Ke8 32. d7+ Kd8 33. Rd6
Rc2 {followed by Ba2-e6 and Rc2-c7 is equal as well.}) 31. d6+ Kd8 32. Rc1 Be6
33. d7 (33. Ra1 Ba2 $1) 33... Bxd7 34. Rd1 Re7 $11) 30... Bb1 {The move in the
game intended to meet the natural} (30... Re6 {with the nice regrouping} 31.
Rb5 $1 Rc6 32. Nd5 {threatens back-rank mate.} Rc8 33. Rb4 g6 ({One more trcik
is seen after} 33... Bxc4 $2 34. Nb6) (33... Rxc4 34. Rb8+ Rc8 35. Rxc8#) 34.
Ne3 {the pawn is well defended and more importantly- the black bishop is out
of the game for very long time, if not for ever.}) 31. Rd8+ $1 {An important
in-between check. Anish did not want to allow the bishop a chance to seize the
long diagonal} (31. Kf1 Rb2 32. c5 Be4 {when Black will have plenty of
counterplay.}) 31... Ke7 32. Rd1 Bc2 $6 ({Now} 32... Be4 33. Kf1 Rb2 34. Nc8+ {
looks awkward for Black. In the arising time trouble Adams did not dare to go
for this line and this was probably a mistake. After} (34. Re1 Rxb6 35. Rxe4+
Kd6 {is very close to a draw}) 34... Kf6 35. Rc1 Ra2 36. c5 Bc6 {[%cal Gf6e6,
Ge6d5] Black should be able to hold.}) 33. Nc8+ {One more nasty in-between
check.} Kf6 ({White's idea is revealed in the line} 33... Ke8 34. Rd4 Re1+ 35.
Kg2 Be4+ $2 36. Rxe4+ Rxe4 37. Nd6+ $18) 34. Rd6+ Kg5 ({The central sqaure is
not advisible due to the tricky knight again} 34... Ke5 $2 35. Kf1 Re4 36. f4+
Kf5 37. Rd2 {with the dual threat of a knight fork and the bishop.}) 35. Kf1
Re8 36. Rd5+ (36. Nb6 $5) 36... Kf6 37. Nd6 Ra8 38. Ke2 {Giri made a lot of
progress. He centralized his pieces and the king and deprived the black pieces
from their best squares. It is somewhat unusual to see the bishop dominated by
the knight in such an empty board.} Ra1 {Diagram [#] A blunder in the time
trouble.} ({Both the king moves were preferable} 38... Ke6 39. Nb5 Ke7) ({Or}
38... Ke7 39. Ke3 {In either case though it is not certain if Black could
survive.}) 39. Ne8+ $1 {White wins a second pawn and the game.} Kg6 (39... Ke7
40. Nxg7) 40. Rd6+ f6 41. Rd7 Kh6 42. Nxg7 Ra2 43. Ke3 Ra5 ({Anish also
mentioned the last chance for Black} 43... Ra3+ 44. Kf4 Rc3 {but here too
White wins after} 45. Rc7 Bd3 46. Ne6 Rxc4+ (46... Bxc4 47. Nf8) 47. Rxc4 Bxc4
48. Kf5 $18) 44. Re7 Rc5 45. Kd4 Re5 46. Rxe5 fxe5+ 47. Kc3 {A fine win by
Giri who used the little details to turn the small advantage into a win!} 1-0

Kramnik and Giri share the lead after two rounds. Full report.