Slow Grinding

The general strategy in a short match of two games is to try and play without any risk whenever possible, especially with the white pieces. Things went very well for the experienced Peruvian GM in the second game of the match Granda Zuniga-Fier at the World Chess Cup 2015 in Baku.

[Event "FIDE World Cup 2015"]
[Site "Baku AZE"]
[Date "2015.09.13"]
[Round "1.52"]
[White "Granda Zuniga, Julio E"]
[Black "Fier, Alexandr"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2667"]
[BlackElo "2624"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 {This game followed
Khismatullin-Tomashevsky from the Russian Superfinal that we have annotated
for chess.com not long time ago.} 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O e4 7. Ng5 Bxc3 8. bxc3 Re8
9. f3 {This is one of the main lines in the English opening, which was heavily
investigated after Garry Kasparov used it against his great rival Anatoly
Karpov in their match in Sevilla 1987.} exf3 10. Nxf3 Qe7 {Diagram [#]} ({A
couple of weeks ago Anand tried} 10... d5 11. d4 dxc4 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bxf6 Qxf6
14. e4 Bg4 {and held the game to a draw against the future winner of the
tournament in Aronian,L (2765)-Anand,V (2816) Saint Louis 2015}) 11. e3 Ne5 12.
d3 ({Nothing promises} 12. Nxe5 Qxe5 13. Rb1 Rb8 14. Rb5 Qe7 15. d3 d6 16. e4
Bg4 $1 {as seen in another encounter Aronian,L (2780)-Anand,V (2804) Stavanger
2015}) 12... d6 13. Nd4 c5 {Better than} (13... Bg4 14. Qc2 c5 {to which
Tomashevsky explained that the positional exchange sacrifice after} 15. Nf5
Bxf5 16. Rxf5 d5 17. cxd5 c4 18. d4 Nd3 19. Bd2 Ne4 20. Re5 $1 {is good for
White.}) 14. Nc2 $5 $146 {[%cal Rc1a3] Diagram [#] Granda Zuniga comes well
prepared for the game.} ({After the usual} 14. Nf5 Bxf5 15. Rxf5 d5 $1 $146 {
Tomashevsky uncorked a strong novelty. This was only the start of a superb
opening preparation by the former European champion which helped him win the
Russian title, Khismatullin,D (2642)-Tomashevsky,E (2747) Chita 2015.}) 14...
Bg4 15. Qd2 d5 {Fier follows Tomashevsky's footprints but this is exactly what
Granda wants. Instead} (15... Qe6 $5 {will be tested in the future.}) 16. cxd5
c4 17. Ba3 {The point behind White's knight retreat.} Qd8 {The only move as} (
17... Qd7 18. d4 Nd3 19. Rxf6 $1 {Diagram [#]} gxf6 20. e4 {followed by Nc2-e3
is awful for Black.}) 18. dxc4 (18. d4 Nd3 19. Rab1 {was another possibility.})
18... Nxc4 19. Qd4 Rc8 ({White is better after} 19... Nxa3 20. Nxa3 Qe7 21. Nc2
) 20. e4 {White managed to stabilize the situation and keep the extra pawn.
His play is easier.} Qb6 21. Rf4 Ne5 {Psychologically it was difficult to
retreat pieces, but} (21... Bd7 {followed by} 22. Bb4 Ng4 {[%cal Gg4e5]
Diagram [#] and Ng4-e5 with blockade might have been the better choice.}) 22.
Ne3 ({Better than} 22. Qxb6 axb6 23. Bb4 Nd3 {with counter play for Black. For
example} 24. Ne3 Nxf4 25. gxf4 Bd7 26. e5 g5 $1 {Diagram [#]}) 22... Be2 {This
makes things worse as the white knight can take advantage of the f5 square.} (
22... Bd7 {was still best.}) 23. d6 (23. Nf5 {at once was also very good. In
the forced line} Rxc3 24. Ne7+ Kh8 25. Qxb6 axb6 26. Bb2 Nf3+ 27. Bxf3 Rxf3 28.
Bxf6 ({Better than} 28. Rxf3 Bxf3 29. Bxf6 gxf6 30. d6) 28... gxf6 29. d6 {
White has serious winning chances.}) 23... Qa6 24. Bb4 Rcd8 25. Rxf6 $1 {
Diagram [#] This sacrifice is always good! Well sorry, it is not even a
sacrifice here.} gxf6 26. Nd5 Kg7 27. Nc7 Qc6 28. Qe3 {Solid and in accordance
with the general match strategy-no counter play at all for the opponent like in
the line} (28. Nxe8+ Rxe8 29. Qxa7 Bf3 30. Qd4 Bxg2 31. Kxg2 f5) 28... a5 $1 {
Diagram [#] Fier defends very well and takes care of the most dangerous white
pawn.} 29. Bxa5 (29. Bc5 Bf3 $1 {is OK for Black.}) 29... Qxd6 30. Nxe8+ Rxe8
31. Bb4 Qa6 32. Bc5 {Diagram [#] The tactical skirmish is over. Now the
grinding starts.} Qd3 33. Qxd3 Bxd3 34. Rd1 Ra8 35. a3 Bb5 36. Bh3 Bc6 37. Bf5
Nc4 {Misses the excellent chance} (37... Nf3+ 38. Kf2 Ng5 $1 {Diagram [#]} 39.
Re1 Re8 $14) 38. Kf2 h6 39. Bb4 b5 40. Bc5 Be8 41. g4 {White made a lot of
progress, activated his pieces and now the king.} Bc6 42. Kg3 Re8 43. Kf4 Re5
44. Bb4 Re8 45. h4 Ne5 46. Rd6 Ba8 47. h5 $1 {[%csl Yf6,Yf7,Rg7,Yh6][%cal
Gh4h5] Diagram [#] The signature of the great master. There will be no
annoying checks on g6, the black king will be in constant danger (if the black
rook leaves the back rank, the white one will occupy it and Bb4-f8 would prove
deadly).} Nc4 48. Ra6 Nd2 49. Bc5 ({Not bad was} 49. Rb6 Nxe4 50. Bd7 Rd8 51.
Bxb5 $18) 49... Bxe4 (49... Nxe4 $2 50. Rxa8) 50. Bd4 Bxf5 51. Bxf6+ Kh7 52.
Kxf5 {Diagram [#] A pair of pawn were traded but the most important
achievement for White is that he broke the blockade. His pieces are dominating.
} Nc4 53. Kf4 Ne3 54. Rd6 Nc4 55. Rd7 Kg8 56. g5 {The most convincing win.
White plays for an attack.} hxg5+ 57. Kxg5 Nxa3 58. Kh6 {With the idea
Rd7-d5-g5+} Kf8 59. Kh7 Re6 60. Rd8+ Re8 61. Rxe8+ Kxe8 62. Kg8 {Diagram [#]
The h pawn decided the game.} 1-0
Report.

Magnus Takes the Lead!

The second game of the WCC in Sochi must have been very demoralizing for the challenger and all his supporters. Carlsen did his usual thing of squeezing water out of the stone and won very convincingly. The fact that Anand's mistake was not obvious at all must have been very frustrating for the Indian GM.

[Event "World Chess Championship 2014"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2863"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]

{Once people tended to say that this move demonstrates the determination of
the first player.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 {Nowadays some people regret
of the old days. It did not take us long to see the Berlin in the match.} 4. d3
{Magnus decided to try and squeeze something out of the Anti Berlin.} Bc5 5.
O-O d6 6. Re1 ({Adams tried the trade on c6 recently} 6. Be3 Bb6 7. Bxc6+ bxc6
8. h3 O-O 9. Re1 h6 10. Nbd2 {Adams,M (2743)-Ponomariov,R (2723) Dortmund 2014}
) ({Looking into advance in the game we should say that there is another
adherent of the approach that the World Champion used in the game. Gata Kamsky
is the man in question, although he prefers to develop the bishop on e3
whenever he captures on c6.} 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. h3 O-O 8. Nc3 Bb6 9. Re1 {Kamsky,
G (2723)-Ponomariov,R (2718) Moscow 2008}) 6... O-O 7. Bxc6 {The fact that
Carlsen inserted the rook move before trading shows that he has something
original on his mind.} bxc6 8. h3 Re8 {Diagram [#]} 9. Nbd2 $146 {The actual
novelty. Previously only} (9. Be3 {had been tried. White won that game too, is
this the refutation of the Berlin?!} Bb6 10. Nbd2 {Moritz,A (1237)-Kyas,P
(1506) Willingen 2006}) 9... Nd7 {One idea is to conduct d6-d5. Another- to
bring the knight to e6 from where it will control both d4 and f4 squares.} ({
Also interesting is} 9... h6 10. Nc4 Nh7 {intending f7-f5} ({or} 10... Be6 $5))
10. Nc4 Bb6 ({The central aproach is tactically justified} 10... d5 11. exd5
cxd5 12. Ncxe5 Nxe5 13. Nxe5 Bxf2+ 14. Kxf2 Rxe5 15. Rxe5 Qf6+ 16. Qf3 Qxe5 {
but this would have led to the typical Carlsen's position after} 17. Qf4 Qe7
18. Be3 $14 {[%csl Ya7,Yc7,Rc8,Yd5,Ge3] slight edge without much counterplay
for the opponent.}) ({Anand also disliked} 10... Nf8 11. c3 Ne6 12. d4 exd4 13.
cxd4 Bb6 14. Be3 {which seems a bit better for White as well.}) 11. a4 $1 {
Typical Scotch idea. Magnus wants to trade the bishop but does not want to
allow} (11. Nxb6 axb6 {[%csl Yc6,Ye6][%cal Gc6c5,Gd7f8,Gf8e6,Gd7b8,Gb8c6,Yc6d4,
Ye6f4] which will reinforce black's dark-squared control.}) 11... a5 12. Nxb6
cxb6 13. d4 {White managed to get something out of the opening. Still, it
should not be much.} Qc7 {One of the natural moves that remain unnoticed
without thorough analyzes. I would not call it a mistake but since White's
initiative grew after it with alarming speed this moment is worth mentioning!}
({Probably Vishy had to clarify the situation in the center with} 13... c5 $5 {
[%csl Yd4]} 14. dxe5 (14. c3 cxd4 15. cxd4 Bb7 16. Ra3 d5) 14... Nxe5 {with
the idea to meet} 15. Ra3 {with} Ba6 $11) 14. Ra3 $1 {[%csl Yg8][%cal Ga3d3,
Rd3d8,Gd3g3,Gg3g8] Diagram [#] The rook is looking for a career in the center
or on the king's flank.} Nf8 15. dxe5 dxe5 16. Nh4 ({There is nothing to hope
for on the open file at the moment} 16. Rd3 Ba6 17. Rd2 Rad8 $11) 16... Rd8 17.
Qh5 (17. Rd3 Ba6 $11) 17... f6 {Anand is carefully defending. He brings fresh
forces on the flank- the queen at first, then centralizes the bishop} (17...
Ng6 {may transpose to the game.} 18. Nf5 f6 19. Rg3 Be6) 18. Nf5 Be6 19. Rg3 {
Carlsen also did everything that he could to create threats. Now the defense
is quite unpleasant for the Indian GM.} Ng6 ({Vishy could have also defended
with} 19... Rd7 20. Bh6 g6 21. Qh4 Qd8 22. Qg4 Kh8 23. h4 Raa7 ({Not} 23...
gxf5 $2 24. exf5 Qe7 25. fxe6 Nxe6 26. Qf5 $16) 24. h5 g5 {although Black's
situation remains unpleasant.}) 20. h4 {White already had a choice of
interesting continuations} (20. Bh6 $5 {Diagram [#] would have most likely
transposed to the previous note as if} gxh6 (20... Rd7 21. h4 {transposes to
the line above}) 21. Rxg6+ $1 hxg6 22. Qxg6+ Kf8 (22... Kh8 $2 23. Qxf6+ Kh7
24. Qxh6+ Kg8 25. Qxe6+ $18) 23. Qxf6+ Qf7 (23... Bf7 24. f4 $3 exf4 25. e5 {
Diagram [#] is mate in 8 if you ask your engine...}) 24. Qxh6+ Ke8 (24... Kg8
25. Re3 $18) 25. Qh8+ Kd7 26. Rd1+ Kc7 27. Qxe5+ Kb7 28. Rxd8 Rxd8 29. Nd6+
Rxd6 30. Qxd6 {the four pawns should be definitely stronger than the bishop.})
20... Bxf5 {A critical moment of the game! The knight was definitely annoying
but after this trade Vishy gives the keys of the castle to Magnus.} ({The
inhuman defense} 20... Rd7 21. Qg4 ({However, White can play better} 21. Bh6 $1
{with the point} gxh6 22. Qxh6 {that leads to unstoppable h4-h5 and powerful
attack.}) 21... Nf4 22. Bxf4 exf4 23. Rf3 Re8 {is sugegsted by the engines} 24.
Rxf4 Qe5 25. c3 g6 26. h5 Kf7 27. hxg6+ hxg6 28. Nh6+ Kg7 29. Nf5+ Kf7 $11) ({
One more inhuman defense is the line} 20... Kh8 {I have no idea what marks to
put on that one...} 21. Rxg6 ({Most likely Carlsen would prefer} 21. Qf3 Bxf5
22. exf5 (22. Qxf5) 22... Ne7 {but this would be more favorable version of the
game continuation for Black.}) 21... Qf7 22. Bh6 {Still no idea...} gxh6 23.
Rxh6 Qxh5 24. Rxh5 Rd2 25. Ne3 {[%csl Yh5] Diagram [#] White is a pawn up but
play without the rook on h5.}) 21. exf5 Nf4 ({White is also better after} 21...
Nf8 22. Be3 c5 23. Qg4 Kh8 24. h5 Qf7 (24... h6 $2 25. Bxh6) 25. h6 g5 26. Qe2
{but was probably preferable to the game continuation.} (26. fxg6 Nxg6 27. f4 (
27. Qf5))) 22. Bxf4 exf4 23. Rc3 $16 {[%csl Ya8,Gc3,Yc7,Ge1,Gh5] Diagram [#]
The difference in the activity of the heavy pieces spells trouble to the
Challenger.} c5 24. Re6 $1 ({Magnus wisely refuses to win the pawn in return
for activity} 24. Rc4 Qf7 25. Qxf7+ Kxf7 26. Rxf4 Rd2 27. Re6 Rb8 28. Rc6 Rb7 (
{There is no time for} 28... Rxc2 29. Rc7+ Kf8 (29... Kg8 30. Rg4) 30. Rg4 $18)
29. Rc4 Rd5 (29... Re7 30. Rxb6 Re1+ 31. Kh2 Rxf2 32. Rxc5) 30. g4 h5 31. f3
$16 {White has good winning chances but the game continuation was even
stronger!}) 24... Rab8 25. Rc4 Qd7 26. Kh2 $1 ({Once again discarding} 26. Rxf4
Qd1+ 27. Qxd1 Rxd1+ 28. Kh2 Rd2 29. h5 h6) 26... Rf8 (26... Re8 27. Rce4 Rxe6
28. fxe6 Qe7 29. Qf5 $16) 27. Rce4 Rb7 28. Qe2 $1 {[%csl Re2,Ge4,Ge6] Diagram
[#] The Alekhine doubling of the heavy pieces in action.} ({It was also
possible to grab the pawn} 28. Rxf4 Qd2 29. Qf3) 28... b5 29. b3 bxa4 ({Anand
will be happy to get rid of the queenside pawn but after} 29... c4 30. axb5
cxb3 31. b6 b2 32. Qc4 $1 {White wins due to the line} b1=Q 33. Re8+ Qf7 34.
Rxf8+ Kxf8 35. Qc8+ Qe8 36. Qxe8#) 30. bxa4 {Once more no rush. It might have
been horrible to be in Anand's shows this game.} (30. Re7 Qd5 31. Rxb7 Qxb7 32.
Rxa4 $16) 30... Rb4 (30... h6 31. c3 {would not have changed the situation.
White will start the harvest soon.}) 31. Re7 Qd6 $1 {The best defense.} ({In
case of} 31... Rxe4 32. Qxe4 Qc8 {White would have taken the more valuable
pawns first} 33. Ra7 Re8 34. Qd5+ Kh8 35. Rxa5 $18) 32. Qf3 Rxe4 33. Qxe4 f3+
34. g3 h5 $4 {[%csl Rg7][%cal Ra7g7] Diagram [#] This loses instantly. Vishy
blunders under the constant pressure. After} (34... Qd2 35. Qxf3 Qxc2 36. Ra7
Re8 37. Rxa5 $16 {Magnus would still need to show good technique to deserve
the full point.}) 35. Qb7 {One of those typical Magnus games where one wonders
where did his opponent made a mistake! The new plan chosen by the World
Champion proved more venomous than expected. But it was the super neat play of
Carlsen that won the game!} 1-0