Where to Castle?

The penultimate round in Doha saw Vladimir Kramnik making his way for the top board after the following neat game against his compatriot:

[Event "Qatar Masters Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.12.28"]
[Round "8.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sjugirov, Sanan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2646"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:12:26"]
[BlackClock "0:10:00"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. Bf4 {Diagram [#] Kramnik is playing the London system
regularly of lately and scores very well.} c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 cxd4 6. exd4
Bf5 7. c3 {Now the position resembles the Exchange line of the Caro-Kann with
the important difference that white's light squared bishop did not have a
chance to occupy the b1-h7 diagonal.} e6 8. Qb3 Qc8 9. Nh4 Bg6 ({I annotated
recently a fresh game in the line between two of the participants in Doha. It
went:} 9... Be4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Nf3 Bd6 12. Bxd6 Nxd6 13. Bd3 Qc7 {and
here White uncorked a novelty} 14. Qc2 $146 {and went on to win later,
Carlsen-Wojtaszek, ETCC Reykjavik 2015.}) 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. Bd3 (11. h3 Be7 12.
Bd3 Bd8 $1 13. Nf3 Bc7 {with approximate equality, Grischuk,A (2774)-Motylev,A
(2649) Berlin 2015}) 11... Nh5 12. Be3 Bd6 13. O-O-O $146 {Diagram [#] A
novelty and a very aggressive set up. Since White is going to attack on the
kingside anyway now Sjugirov needs to think well what to do with his own
monarch.} ({In all the predecessors White played:} 13. g3 {avoiding the bishop
swap. One example is} Nf6 14. Qd1 O-O 15. f4 Rb8 16. a4 a6 17. a5 b6 18. axb6
Rxb6 19. Ra2 a5 {with approximate equality and a draw on move 141 in Kamsky,G
(2741)-Macieja,B (2614) Achaea 2012}) 13... a6 $1 {[%csl Yc1,Ge8][%cal Gb7b5,
Gc6a5,Ga5c4] Diagram [#] Sjugirov decided to postpone castling for the time
being and to create counter-play on the queenside.} ({White's play is easy
after} 13... Bf4 14. g4 Bxe3 15. fxe3 Nf6 16. Rdg1 {followed by g4-g5 and
e3-e4 with an edge for White.}) ({However, Black could seriously consider the
quick queenside castling} 13... Qc7 14. Kb1 O-O-O) 14. Kb1 b5 15. Qc2 Na5 ({
After} 15... O-O 16. h4 {with the idea g2-g4 and h4-h5 seems dangerous for
Black.}) 16. Nf3 Nc4 17. Bc1 Qc7 {Black had other tempting options:} (17... Rb8
$5 {and if the game continuation} 18. Ng5 {then} O-O $5) ({Also good seemed}
17... Qb7 $5 18. Ng5 Nf6) ({However,} 17... Bf4 $6 {should be avoided due to}
18. g4 $1 Bxc1 19. gxh5 Bxb2 20. Bxc4 $16) 18. Ng5 $1 {[%csl Re6,Ye8,Rf7,Rg6]
[%cal Rg5f7,Rg5e6,Rd3g6] Diagram [#] Kramnik underlines the fact that the
black king is not completely safe in the center. The sacrifices on e6, f7 and
g6 urge Sjugirov to saveguard his most important piece. But on which side to
castle?} Nf4 ({White is better after} 18... O-O-O 19. g3 (19. b3 Na5 20. g3)) (
{And faster after} 18... O-O 19. h4) ({White is also very serious about the
black king in the line} 18... Nf6 19. Bxg6 $1 fxg6 20. Qxg6+ Kd7 21. Rhe1 {
with strong attack.}) ({And if} 18... a5 19. Bxg6 $1 {Diagram [#] is very
strong and leads to devastating attack after} fxg6 20. Qxg6+ Kd7 21. Nxe6 Qb8
22. Rhe1) 19. Bf1 {This could be named the natural dominance of the bishops
against the knights. Although the horses did everything they could to scare
the bishops they are there only temporary and the little peasants- "b" and "g"
pawns will help the lords get back to their lands.} O-O-O $2 {[%csl Rc8]
Diagram [#] Only this move can be named a real mistake. Black castles into it.}
({Similar is} 19... O-O 20. h4 a5 21. g3 Nh5 22. Be2 Nf6 23. h5) ({But
Sjugirov could and should have kept the same policy of not-castling-yet with}
19... Be7 20. Nf3 Nh5 21. g3 {and only now} O-O) 20. a4 $1 {Black was probably
bitterly sorry for pushing these pawns that far.} Qb7 21. axb5 axb5 22. b3 ({
Also good is} 22. g3 Nh5 23. b3) 22... Na5 {Or else the "b" pawn will suffer
after} (22... Na3+ 23. Bxa3 Bxa3 24. Qa2 Bd6 25. g3 Nh5 26. Qa5) 23. Qa2 Nc6
24. g3 Nh5 25. Bd3 {[%csl Yb5,Rb7,Rc8][%cal Ga2e2,Ge2b5,Rb5a6,Ra6c8,Yd1d2,
Yd2a2] Diagram [#] To hit where it hurts-on the light squares.} ({Another
set-up was very good as well-} 25. Qe2 Na7 26. Rd2) 25... Kb8 26. Qe2 Na7 27.
Bd2 {Kramnik's moves are easy and straight to the point. Next he intends to
bring the rooks out.} Rc8 28. Kb2 Rc6 (28... b4 29. c4 $1 {will be immediately
over.}) 29. Ra1 Rf8 {To free the queen and at least trade a pair of rooks.} (
29... Nf6 30. Ra2) 30. Ra2 Ra6 31. Rxa6 Qxa6 32. Ra1 Qb7 33. b4 $1 {[%csl Rb5]
[%cal Ga1a5,Ga5b5] Diagram [#] Fixes the weakness. The end is near.} Nf6 34.
Ra5 Bc7 35. Bf4 {Concrete solution.} Bxf4 36. gxf4 Qc7 37. Bxb5 Qxf4 38. Nf3
Ne4 ({Nothing changes} 38... Qc7 39. Ne5 Rc8 40. Qd3 Ne4 41. c4 $18) 39. Ne5
Rh8 40. Nc6+ Nxc6 41. Bxc6 {The loss of the "b" pawn weakened decisively the
black king.} Nxc3 {The last desperate try.} ({After the most resilent} 41...
Rd8 {White has a bunch of winning options, but I suspect he would have chosen:}
42. b5 (42. Kc2 Qxf2 43. Qxf2 Nxf2 44. b5 Kc7 45. Ra7+ Kd6 46. Rxf7) (42. Qb5+
Kc7 43. Qb7+ Kd6 44. Ra6 Qd2+ 45. Ka3 Qxc3+ 46. Ka4 Qxd4 47. Bxd5+ Ke5 48. Bxe4
) 42... Qd2+ 43. Qxd2 Nxd2 44. Ra8+ Kc7 45. b6+ Kxb6 46. Rxd8 Kxc6 47. Rf8 {
Diagram [#]}) 42. Kxc3 Rh3+ 43. Kc2 Qxd4 44. Qb5+ Kc7 45. Qb7+ Kd6 46. Qb8+ Ke7
{Or mate after} (46... Kxc6 47. Ra6+ Kd7 48. Rd6+ Ke7 49. Qd8#) 47. Qa7+ {
Diagram [#] The former world champion leaves no chances at all. The endgame is
easily won for White.} Qxa7 48. Rxa7+ Kd6 49. Ba4 Rh4 50. Kb3 Rh3+ 51. Kb2 Rh4
(51... Rxh2 52. Rd7+ Ke5 53. Rxf7 $18) 52. Rd7+ Ke5 53. Ka3 Kd4 54. Rxf7 Rxh2
55. b5 Kc5 56. Rc7+ {Black resigned due to} (56. Rc7+ Kb6 57. Rc6+ Kb7 58. Rxe6
Rxf2 59. Rxg6) 1-0

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A blunder or not?

The Polish Grandmaster Radoslaw Wojtaszek is known for his strong white color. After his loss in round three against Anish Giri in Qatar he wanted to recover as quick as possible with the white pieces. Things did not go so well for him at the beginning of his game against the yesterday's hero D. Vocaturo:

[Event "Qatar Masters Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.12.23"]
[Round "4.14"]
[White "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Black "Vocaturo, Daniele"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2597"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:09:06"]
[BlackClock "0:01:36"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Bb4+ {Diagram [#] How to name this opening? Advanced
Bogo-Indian? Or flexible Bogo-Indian?} 3. Bd2 Bxd2+ 4. Qxd2 Nf6 5. Nc3 d5 6. e3
{Wojtaszek wants to develop his knight on e2.} ({Now} 6. Nf3 {will switch
into proper Bogo-Indian and this move was a choice of Mamedyarov and Bacrot
among others.}) 6... O-O 7. cxd5 ({The move} 7. Nf3 {is still possible, for
example} Qe7 8. Qc2 c6 9. Bd3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nbd7 11. O-O e5 12. Bb3 exd4 13.
exd4 {and White was better in Riazantsev,A (2646)-Roiz,M (2600) Berlin 2015})
7... exd5 8. Bd3 Nc6 {[%csl Yc8,Yd3][%cal Gc6e7,Gc8f5] Diagram [#] This was
played only once before but seems very, very logical. In the arising Carlsbad
pawn structure Black would love to swap off the light-squared bishops. In
the usual Carlsbad the black queenside knight is already on d7 and in order to
achieve the desired trades the knight has to take the long route via f8-e6-g7
and on the top of this Black has to spend time on Rf8-e8 and g7-g6. Vocaturo
is more clever, he creates the positional threat in just two moves.} 9. Nge2
Ne7 10. Qc2 {Stops Bc8-f5.} g6 $146 {Diagram [#] A novelty. Black consistently
plays for Bc8-f5.} ({The only predecessor saw} 10... b6 11. b4 c6 12. Rb1 Bd7
13. O-O {with slight but long-lasting advantage for White, Vaisser,A (2555)
-Bricard,E (2460) France 1993}) 11. h3 {Agressive play. White wants to prove
that g7-g6 was not perfect and that the kingside is weak as well.} (11. O-O Bf5
{should be fine for Black.}) 11... Bf5 12. g4 Bxd3 13. Qxd3 {"I thought this
position is promising for me" Wojtaszek "but Black's next move is very strong."
} Nc8 $1 {[%csl Ge4][%cal Gc8d6,Gd6c4,Gd6e4,Gf6e4] Diagram [#] The knight is
heading for the optimal d6 square and then it will have the pleasant choice
between the e4 and c4 beauties.} 14. O-O-O Nd6 15. f3 {If White had now the
time to play Ne2-g3 followed by g4-g5 everything would be great, but...} Re8
16. Nf4 {White found nothing better than this move, but it has a flaw.} ({
It transpires that} 16. Ng3 {is too slow due to} b5 $1 {[%csl Re4][%cal Rb5b4]
Diagram [#]} 17. e4 ({Worse is} 17. Nxb5 Nc4 $1 ({Or} 17... Nxb5 18. Qxb5 Rxe3
{in both cases with advantage for Black.})) 17... dxe4 (17... b4 18. Nxd5 Nxd5
19. exd5 Qg5+ $17 {is even stronger.}) 18. fxe4 b4 {with Black's edge
(Wojtaszek)}) ({Black is also doing great after} 16. g5 Nh5 17. Nxd5 Qxg5 {
(Wojtaszek)}) 16... c6 17. h4 Nc4 $1 18. e4 Qd6 $1 {[%cal Rd6b4,Rb4b2,Rd6f4]
Diagram [#] A very nice maneuver, missed by the Polish GM.} 19. e5 Qb4 {
With the double threat of checkmate in one and Nc4xe5! Wojtaszek thought for a
moment that he is lost, but then managed to put himself together and found an
excellent resource.} 20. Qe2 $1 {[%csl Rf4][%cal Ga2a3] Diagram [#]} ({White
also calculated the line} 20. Qc2 Ne3 21. Qd2 Nxd1 22. Kxd1 Nd7 23. h5 {
but came to the conclusion that there is not enough compensation after} c5 ({
Or first} 23... Nb6)) 20... Nxe5 21. a3 {The black queen feels overburdened.}
Qc4 22. g5 $1 {Diagram [#]} Nfd7 (22... Qxe2 23. Ncxe2 {drops a piece.}) 23.
Qc2 $1 {Suddenly, the black knight is in danger.} ({Wojtaszek dismissed} 23.
Qd2 {due to the pretty resource} Nc5 $1 {Diagram [#]} 24. dxc5 Nxf3 $17) ({
He also did not like} 23. Qh2 $5 {for the same reason-} Nc5 {but here he
missed a simple move for White in the line} ({However, Black can play for
compensation with} 23... b5 $5 24. Kb1 (24. dxe5 Nxe5 25. Kb1 a5) 24... a5 {
and nothing is clear at all.}) 24. dxe5 (24. dxc5 Nxf3 25. Qg3 Re3 {is indeed
good for Black (Wojtaszek)}) 24... d4 25. Qe2 $1 {and White wins a piece.})
23... Nxf3 ({The familiar trick} 23... Nc5 {was still there when Black can
save the knight but lose precious time. Wojtaszek planned} 24. Kb1 Ned7 {
and now either} 25. Nfxd5 ({But not} 25. Ncxd5 cxd5 $1) (25. h5 $1 {with
strong attack is also great for White.}) 25... cxd5 26. dxc5 {with advantage
for White.}) ({Black can sacrifice the knight for three pawns in the line}
23... Nf8 24. b3 Qa6 25. dxe5 Qxa3+ 26. Qb2 Qxb2+ 27. Kxb2 Rxe5 {but it is
clear that White has the better chances.}) 24. Qf2 $1 {[%csl Rf3] Diagram [#]
The queen dance is over, the knight is trapped.} Nde5 25. Kb1 (25. dxe5 $2
Qxf4+) 25... Nxd4 $2 {A time-trouble blunder.} ({White expected} 25... Rad8 {
(to stop the knight sacrifice on d5)} 26. dxe5 Nxe5 (26... Qxf4 27. Rd3 {
In both cases White has the upper hand but there is plenty of play ahead.}))
26. Rxd4 Qc5 27. Ncxd5 {The correct idea, but in the wrong move order.} ({Not}
27. h5 Nf3 $1 {(Wojtaszek)}) ({However, the preliminary} 27. Rc1 $1 {and only
after} Qf8 28. Ncxd5 $1 {Diagram [#] was the correct move order.} cxd5 29. Nxd5
) 27... cxd5 28. Rc1 (28. Nxd5 Nf3 $1 {is again good for Black.}) 28... Qf8 $2
{Now the attack is unstoppable.} ({Correct was} 28... Qb5 $1 29. a4 (29. Nxd5
$2 Nd3 $1) 29... Qa6 30. Nxd5 Nd3 31. Nf6+ Kh8 {when nothing is clear. Most
likely the players should split the point after something like} 32. Qf3 Nxc1
33. Nxe8 Rxe8 34. Qxf7 Qe2 35. Kxc1 Qe1+ 36. Kc2 Rc8+ 37. Rc4 Qe2+ 38. Kb3 Qd3+
39. Rc3 Qd1+ 40. Ka2 Qxa4+ 41. Ra3 Qc4+ 42. Qxc4 Rxc4 43. Rxa7 Rxh4 44. Rxb7
Ra4+ 45. Kb3 Ra5 46. Rb8+ $11 {Diagram [#]}) 29. Nxd5 {Once that the knight
occupies f6 outpost, the "h" pawn will rush in and open the file for the heavy
pieces.} Rec8 30. Re1 Nc6 31. Rde4 (31. Nf6+ Kh8 32. Rd7 $18) 31... Rd8 32.
Nf6+ {[%csl Gf6,Yg8,Rh7][%cal Rh1h7] Diagram [#]} Kh8 33. h5 gxh5 34. Rh1 Rd6
35. Rxh5 Rxf6 36. gxf6 (36. Qxf6+ Qg7 37. Reh4 $18) 36... Qd6 37. Rxh7+ $1 Kxh7
38. Qf5+ {[%csl Rh7] Diagram [#] Black resigned as it is mate in three.} (38.
Qf5+ Kh8 39. Rh4+ Kg8 40. Qg4+ Kf8 41. Rh8#) 1-0

Report.

A Good Finish

Magnus Carlsen had a very bad tournament in Reykjavik,with some horrible moments including a one-move piece blunder against Pelletier. His final game though was typical for his style:

[Event "Open European Team Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.11.22"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2850"]
[BlackElo "2748"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:24:24"]
[BlackClock "0:02:04"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 {Diagram [#] Carlsen did not have great tournament in Iceland
but remained true to his search of fresh opening lines.} d5 3. e3 c5 4. c3 {
A Reversed Slav defense arose on the board.} Nc6 5. Nd2 cxd4 6. exd4 {Now we
have typical Carlsbad pawn structure. Similar position can easily arise from
the exchange Caro-Kann after 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c3.} Bf5 7. Qb3 Qc8
{In case of} (7... Qb6 {White will leave his queen where it is} 8. Ngf3 {
and enjoy the possible trade after} Qxb3 9. axb3 {as he has the clear plan
b3-b4-(b5) and Nd2-b3-c5(a5).}) 8. Ngf3 e6 9. Nh4 Be4 {[%cal Yf2f3] Diagram [#]
Motylev decided not to provoke the f2-f3 move and played solidly against
Grischuk in Berlin:} (9... Bg6 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. h3 Be7 12. Bd3 Bd8 $1 13. Nf3
Bc7 {with approximate equality, Grischuk,A (2774)-Motylev,A (2649) Berlin 2015}
) 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Nf3 Bd6 {Not only finishes the development but reduces
White's attacking material on the kingside. In the Carlsbad the first player
is looking for piece attack there as he owes the nice e5 outpost and can
easily shift heavy pieces along the third (fifth) rank.} 12. Bxd6 Nxd6 13. Bd3
Qc7 14. Qc2 $146 {[%csl Ge1,Rh7][%cal Rd3h7] Diagram [#] A novelty. The idea
is clear- to prevent the immediate castling and to provoke kingside weakness
by Black.} ({The straightforward} 14. O-O {gave a chance to Black to castle at
once} O-O 15. Qc2 g6 (15... h6 $5 {looks safer.}) 16. Rfe1 b5 17. Qd2 Kg7 {
with mutual chances in Sandipan,C (2594)-Kasimdzhanov,R (2700) Dubai 2014})
14... O-O-O {Wojtaszek decided to avoid any kingside attacks and simply went
on the opposite wing.} ({If} 14... h6 {White can wait for his opponent's
castling with an useful move like} 15. Qe2) ({While} 14... g6 {can be answered}
15. h4 $5 O-O-O 16. h5 {and White is using his rook from its initial position.}
) 15. O-O h6 {Quite unusual situation arose. Instead of a minority attack,
Black will attack on the kingside himself, while White will push the pawns
against the enemy king as well.} 16. a4 Kb8 ({The line} 16... g5 17. a5 g4 18.
Ne5 Nxe5 19. dxe5 Nc4 20. Bxc4 Qxc4 21. a6 b6 22. Ra4 {is favourable for the
first player.}) 17. Rfe1 ({Black will reply in the same way after} 17. b4 Rc8)
17... Rc8 {[%cal Gc6b4] Diagram [#] The threat Nc6-b4 forces White to retreat
temporarily.} 18. Qd1 Rhe8 $1 {Wojtaszek switches to central play. A wise
decision that should nivilate White's aggressive intentions on the queen's wing.
} (18... g5 19. Ne5 h5 20. Nxc6+ Qxc6 21. a5 g4 22. a6 {looks better for White.
}) 19. Bf1 Re7 (19... f6 $5 {followed by e6-e5 is also good.}) 20. Rc1 Rd8 21.
Re2 $1 {[%cal Gf3e1,Ge1d3,Gd3c5] Diagram [#] A deep maneuver. The rook frees a
square for the knight that wants to get on the best square ever- c5.} Ne4 22.
b4 Ng5 23. Ne1 {The point behind Carlsen's maneuver. If Black manages to trade
the knights, he will be out of danger.} e5 $1 {This is the proper moment to
hit the center, all the pieces are either on the first or the second rank.} 24.
b5 Na5 25. Rxe5 Rxe5 26. dxe5 Qxe5 {Diagram [#] The Polish GM played
energetically and almost equalized completely. Now he wants to put pressure on
the backward c3 pawn, thus next move is forced:} (26... Nc4 $5 {was an
interesting pawn sacrifice} 27. f4 Ne6 {when Black has compensation thanks to
the weakened dark squares.}) 27. c4 Ne6 28. Nf3 Qf4 $2 {[%csl Ya5] Diagram [#]
But this is wrong. Black needed to try and trade the queens instead} (28... Qd6
29. cxd5 Qxd5 30. Qxd5 $6 (30. Qe1 $5 {might still give some hopes for an
advantage to the first player.}) 30... Rxd5 $11) 29. cxd5 Rxd5 30. Qxd5 Qxc1
31. g3 {Takes away the f4 square and prepares the development of the bishop.
Black's position is very unpleasant to say at least.} (31. Qd7 Qf4 {is less
precise.}) 31... Qc5 32. Qd7 Qf8 33. Ne5 {[%csl Ya5,Yb8,Yf8] Diagram [#] All
of a sudden the black pieces are completely helpless. The knights lack
co-ordination, the queen is extremely passive.} Nc5 34. Qd5 {With the major
threat Qd5xc5.} Kc7 35. Nxf7 Nxa4 36. Qe5+ Kb6 (36... Kc8 37. Bh3#) 37. Nd6 Nc5
38. Ne8 {Diagram [#]} ({The threat Qe7-c7 mate can be stopped only with} 38.
Ne8 Qf7 {but that loses a whole piece after} 39. Qd6+) 1-0

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