London Chess Classic R 9

Most of the games at the London Chess Classic ended peacefully as expected. The last round has its own rules. Many things are already decided and players are exhausted.

The only exception was the game between Levon Aronian and Veselin Topalov:

As usual you can find the pgn at the Peter Doggers's report.

London Chess Classic Round 6

A lot of excitement after the free day in London! Once more three decisive games, and the draws were very interesting too.

Wesley So keeps the lead with a sharp win over Veselin Topalov with the black pieces.

Vachier-Lagrave got into fifty percent after winning against Levon Aronian.

Last, but not least we had a very important game for the lead, overall Grand Chess Tour standing and the (second) top rating position. That was a game:

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.

On a High Note

The battle for the first place at the Norway Chess finished early with a quick draw between the leader and his closest pursuer. Veselin Topalov played solidly in the opening and left no chance to his opponent Vishy Anand. However, Hikaru Nakamura found a way to try his luck with the black pieces and managed to outplay Levon Aronian to take joint second place.

[Event "Norway Chess"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.06.25"]
[Round "9.4"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "1:00:34"]
[BlackClock "1:07:22"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 Bc5 4. Bg2 d6 5. e3 a6 {Diagram [#] Sooner or later
Black will have to saveguard his bishop.} ({Also possible is} 5... Nf6 6. Nge2
Bf5 7. d4 Bb6 8. h3 O-O 9. O-O h6 10. Kh2 Re8 {Erdos,V (2621)-Wojtaszek,R
(2742) Germany 2015}) 6. Nge2 Ba7 7. a3 h5 {[%cal Gh5h4,Rh8h1] This is why
Nakamura kept his knight on g8, he wants to create play along the h file. This
plan is possible because the center is closed.} 8. d4 ({The problem with the
move} 8. h4 {is that Black can use the g4 square for his bishop} Bg4 9. b3 Nge7
10. Bb2 Rb8 11. Qc2 Qd7 12. d3 O-O {and Black is solid, Mwali,C (2250)-Anton
Guijarro,D (2624) Tromso 2014}) (8. h3) 8... h4 9. b4 $146 {[%csl Ya7][%cal
Gc4c5] Diagram [#] A novelty by Aronian. He plans to lock the bishop on a7.} ({
In the only predecessor White played rather inconsistently} 9. d5 Nce7 10. e4
$6 {Opens the bishop on a7 for no good reason.} Nf6 11. h3 $6 hxg3 12. fxg3 c6
13. b4 cxd5 14. Nxd5 Nfxd5 15. exd5 Qb6 $17 {and White's position is on the
verge of colapse, Felser,M (1913) -Jorczik,J (2333) Schwaebisch Gmuend 2010})
9... Nge7 10. c5 Bf5 {The first critical moment of the game as both the
players mentioned later.} ({Nakamura also considered alternative closure of
the white bishop after} 10... h3 11. Bf3 d5 12. O-O (12. dxe5 Nxe5 {followed
by c7-c6 and Ba7-b8 is good for Black.}) 12... e4 13. Bh1 ({The USA GM was
also afraif of the position sacrifice} 13. Nxe4 $5 {Diagram [#]} dxe4 14. Bxe4
{as the Ba7 needs plenty of moves to get into the game.}) 13... f5 {but he was
afraid that he cannot hold the line after} 14. f3 {Indeed} Be6 15. Nf4 Qd7 16.
Nxe6 Qxe6 17. Bd2 {followed by Qd1-b3, a3-a4 and b4-b5 looks easy for White.})
11. Bb2 ({Aronian was considering the sharp play after} 11. d5 $5 Nb8 12. f4
dxc5 13. d6 {to which Black react with an exchange sacrifice} cxd6 (13... Nec6
{is also possible though.}) 14. Bxb7 Nbc6 {(Nakamura)} ({Or} 14... Nd7 {In
both cases Black will have plenty of play on the light squares for the
exchange.})) 11... Qd7 {Diagram [#]} 12. Qb3 ({Once again} 12. d5 {does not
yield White anything} Nd8 13. e4 Bh3 14. Bxh3 Qxh3 15. Qa4+ Qd7 $11 {but this
was perhaps the best that he had.}) 12... h3 $1 {It is time to worry the white
king before it escapes from the center. If this happens, the locked bishop on
a7 might become the key factor of the position.} ({Better than the preliminary
trade} 12... exd4 13. exd4 h3 {when after} 14. Be4 Bxe4 15. Nxe4 Qf5 {White
has the important move} 16. f3 {(Nakamura)}) 13. Bf3 ({The line} 13. Be4 Bxe4
14. Nxe4 Qf5 {looks good for Black (Nakamura)}) ({White cannot evacuate the
king from the center} 13. Bxc6 Qxc6 14. O-O-O {because if the strong} Qf3 {
(Aronian)}) 13... exd4 {Diagram [#] Dynamic play.} (13... d5 14. O-O e4 15. Bh1
$11) 14. Nxd4 {Black clears too many lines in case of} (14. exd4 dxc5 15. dxc5
$6 Ne5 $17) 14... Bg4 15. Bxg4 Qxg4 16. Nxc6 ({The immediate} 16. Qd1 Qxd1+ 17.
Rxd1 {sacrifices a pawn but after} dxc5 18. Nxc6 bxc6 19. bxc5 f6 20. Ne4 {
White has compensation for it. Both Aronian and Nakamura considered this
position good for Black on the account of the excellent d5 square for the
black knight.}) 16... Nxc6 17. Qd1 $1 {[%csl Re1] Diagram [#] Aronian
correctly seeks trade of queens.} (17. cxd6 O-O-O {looks very dangerous for
White with the king in the middle.}) 17... Qg6 $1 {And Nakamura rejects it.}
18. cxd6 {Now Black's attack is very dangerous. The lesser evil was to chase
the black queen with} (18. Qb1 $5 Qxb1+ (18... Qh5 19. Qe4+ $1) 19. Rxb1 dxc5
20. b5 {when White should have enough compensation for the pawn. The excluded
bishop feels worse with less pieces on the board.}) 18... O-O-O 19. Rc1 $2 {"A
terrible move." (Aronian)} ({Close to equal was} 19. Qb1 Qh5 (19... f5 {can be
answered by} 20. b5 $1 axb5 21. dxc7) 20. Qd1 {although I would definitely
prefer Black after} Qe5 {The white king is still not safe.}) 19... Rxd6 20. Qc2
Qh5 $1 {[%csl Yd1,Yd3,Ye2,Yf3,Yg2] Diagram [#] Now White's weakened light
squares are a pain in the neck.} ({"Somehow I felt} 20... Rd3 {was kind of
forced." (Aronian) Indeed, White will be OK after} 21. Ne2 Qe4 22. Rf1 Rhd8 23.
Nf4 {as the sacrifice} Bxe3 24. fxe3 Rxe3+ 25. Ne2 {is not decisive.}) 21. Qe2
Ne5 {Also missed by Aronian. Now the weakness of the white squares decides the
game.} 22. Qxh5 {White loses the exchange as} (22. O-O Nf3+ 23. Kh1 Rd2 {loses
the house.}) 22... Nd3+ {Diagram [#]} 23. Ke2 {In case of} (23. Kf1 Rxh5 24.
Rc2 {Black has the nice} Bxe3 $1 25. fxe3 Rf5+ 26. Kg1 (26. Ke2 Rf2+ 27. Kd1
Nxb4+) 26... Rdf6 {Diagram [#] with unstoppable mate.}) 23... Nxc1+ 24. Rxc1
Rxh5 {The extra exchange wins easily.} 25. g4 Re5 26. Rg1 Re8 27. Rg3 Bd4 $1
28. Na4 (28. Rxh3 b5 {dominates the knight.} (28... Bf6 {with the ideas Rd6-c6
and Re8-d8 would also do.})) 28... Bxb2 29. Nxb2 Red8 {Diagram [#] The rooks
enter the second rank and it is all over.} 30. Nc4 Rc6 31. Ne5 Rc2+ 32. Ke1 f6
33. Nf3 Rh8 34. g5 Ra2 35. Nd4 Rxa3 36. Ne6 Ra1+ 37. Ke2 Rh1 38. gxf6 gxf6 39.
Nf4 b6 40. Nxh3 Rb1 0-1

Report.

Topalov on the Lead

After the miraculous save in round one Veselin Topalov revived and took control of his tournament destiny in Stavanger. Three rounds later he is already a sole leader. His last win was against Levon Aronian of Armenia:

[Event "Norway Chess"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.06.19"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2798"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:20:27"]
[BlackClock "0:20:29"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 {Aronian's passion for the Ragozin is
not a top secret.} 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qa4+ {Diagram [#] Topalov is as
usual very well prepared for the game and chooses a fashionable line. The
Armenian GM was tested in the Carlsbad type of positions that arise after the
capture on d5 in Wijk an Zee. By Magnus Carlsen himself.} Nc6 8. e3 O-O 9. Be2
({Kramnik chose a different approach that suits his style} 9. Rc1 Qg6 10. Qc2
Qxc2 11. Rxc2 Rd8 12. a3 Bf8 13. Nb5 Rd7 14. Bd3 a6 15. Nc3 Ne7 16. Ke2 Rd8 17.
b4 {with somewhat better position for White in Kramnik,V (2783)-Aronian,L
(2777) Zuerich 2015}) 9... dxc4 10. O-O Bd7 11. Bxc4 {Diagram [#] The
statistics of this line is quite favourable for White.} Bxc3 {Somewhat
unexpected. Black parts with the bishop pair and is happy to trade a pair of
light pieces. Still, his position looks rather passive. Black had also tried:}
(11... Qe7 12. Qc2 Rac8 13. a3 Bd6 14. b4 {White looks great for White as} e5
$6 {leads to big advantage after} 15. Nd5 Qd8 16. b5 $16 {Iotov,V (2560)
-Kacheishvili,G (2612) Richardson 2012}) ({A more common idea is to prepare
the freeing e6-e5 advance with} 11... Bd6 {Although White had also proved some
advantage here with} 12. Ne4 Qe7 13. Qc2 e5 14. d5 Nd8 15. Nxd6 cxd6 16. Rac1
$14 {Wagner,D (2481)-Landa,K (2640) Germany 2013}) 12. bxc3 Rfd8 13. Be2 $146 {
[%csl Ga4,Rc6][%cal Yc6d4,Ya4d4,Ra4a5] Diagram [#] A novelty which prevents
the threat Nc6xd4. For the time being Topalov keeps the queen on a4 not
letting the freeing operation that Aronian have used before (Nc6-a5 followed
by c7-c5). (See the game below)} ({Not long ago the Armenian GM had to defend
against the immediate} 13. Qa3 {He did well after} Qe7 14. Qb2 Na5 15. Bd3 c5
16. e4 Be8 17. Rad1 cxd4 18. cxd4 Rac8 $11 {Shankland,S (2661)-Aronian,L (2770)
Tsaghkadzor 2015}) ({Also} 13. Qc2 {had been tested some days ago} Na5 14. Bd3
c5 15. Ne5 Be8 16. f4 {Hansen,C (2621)-Hammer,J (2665) Oslo 2015}) 13... Be8 {
This renews the threat Nc6xd4 and forces the white queen to move.} ({In case of
} 13... Qe7 {White can make an useful move} 14. Rab1) ({Generally speaking
Black would be happy to trade more pieces but after} 13... Ne5 14. Qb4 Nxf3+
15. Bxf3 {the difference between the bishops is too big.}) 14. Qa3 (14. Rab1 $2
{drops a pawn after} Nxd4) (14. Qc2 $5 {deserves attention.}) 14... Qe7 {Black
is happy to trade queens as the strong white center will not be as dangerous
in the endgame.} 15. Qb2 (15. Qxe7 Nxe7 16. Rab1 b6 $11) 15... Na5 $6 ({A
safer choice seems} 15... b6 {followed by Nc6-a5 after that.}) 16. Qb4 $1 {
[%csl Yc7,Ye8][%cal Rc3b4,Gc1c7] Diagram [#] Now Topalov offers the trade
himself! But in the process he changes the pawn structure in his favour. He
opens the "c" file for his rooks and can later attack with his "a" and "b"
pawns.} Qxb4 17. cxb4 Nc6 18. Rab1 $14 {Topalov got slight but comfortable
advantage from the opening. His plan is Rf1-c1, a2-a4 and b4-b5 in the proper
moment.} a5 $1 {Aronian does not want to stay still and opens a file for his
rooks.} 19. bxa5 Nxa5 20. Rfc1 Rdc8 21. Ne1 $1 {[%csl Yb7,Yc7][%cal Ge1d3,
Gd3c5,Ye2f3,Yf3b7] Diagram [#] Nice regroupment. White plans Be2-f3 and
Ne1-d3-c5.} Ra7 ({The black bishop can not get activated with} 21... Bc6 22.
Nd3 Bd5 {due to} 23. Nb4 b6 $2 24. Nxd5 exd5 25. Bg4 {and White wins a pawn.})
22. Nd3 Nc6 23. Bf3 Nd8 $1 {[%csl Ya2,Ga7,Yb7][%cal Ga7a2,Rd8b7] Diagram [#]
Nice regroupment by Aronian now. The knight gets back but opens the "a" file
for the rook.} 24. Nb4 (24. Rb2 $14) 24... Ra5 {Black prepares the freeing
c7-c5 advance. Another way to defend is} (24... c6 25. Rb2 (25. d5 exd5 26.
Nxd5 Rb8 $11) 25... Kf8 {with the idea to bring the king to c7.}) 25. h4 {
Grabs space and opens air for the king.} Kf8 {Black decided to postpone the
freeing c7-c5 advance for a while.} ({The utility of the luft is seen in the
line} 25... c5 26. Nd3 ({Or else Black equalizes at once} 26. Rxc5 Raxc5 27.
dxc5 Rxc5 $11) 26... Rxa2 ({White is also somewhat better after} 26... c4 27.
Rb6 (27. Nc5 b5) 27... Rb5 28. Rxb5 Bxb5 29. Nc5) 27. Nxc5 {and the black pawn
on b7 will soon drop.}) 26. Rc3 c6 27. Bd1 $1 {[%csl Ya2][%cal Gd1b3,Yb3a2,
Gb3g8] Diagram [#] Another nice maneuver by the former world champion. Since
the long diagonal was blocked, the bishop moves to a better position. From b3
it will pressurize the e6 pawn, but more importantly- will take the sting out
of the black rook(s) on the a file. Nevertheless, Aronian is getting closer
to the equality with each move.} Ke7 28. Bb3 c5 {Finally, Aronian frees
himself a bit, but some problems remain. For instance, he can never enter a
pawn (knight) endgame as the distant passer on a2 will win the game. The
knight on d8 remains passive too.} ({Black could have kept defending passively
with} 28... f6) 29. Nd3 b6 30. dxc5 bxc5 {It made sense to trade a pair of
bishops with} (30... Bb5 31. Bc4 Bxc4 32. Rxc4 bxc5 33. a4 f6 {White is still
slightly better but Black should hold.}) 31. f3 $1 {Topalov does not want to
let his opponent go. He expands in the center, earns space, limits the knight
and creates some other trouble.} Rc7 (31... f6 $5) 32. e4 Nb7 33. Rbc1 Ba4 34.
e5 Rc6 {[%csl Ga2,Yb7,Yc5,Ye7][%cal Re5d6] Diagram [#] Black plans to swap the
bishops on b3, bring the rook on the "b" file and trade the freshly produced
"b" pawn for his "c" one at last. This plan is very good, but there is one
important detail.} ({He would be relatively save also with} 34... Bxb3 35. axb3
Ra3 36. Kf2 Rd7 37. Ke3 Rd5 38. f4) 35. Kh2 Rb6 36. h5 Bxb3 37. axb3 {The
culmination of the game. With patient and careful defense Aronian came very
close to equlizing the game. But Topalov kept on posing problems all the time
and under the pressure the Armenian GM cracks...} Kd7 $2 {Blows the game away!}
(37... Rab5 $1 {was best eventhough Black loses a pawn. After} 38. Nxc5 (38. g4
{is an instant draw} Rxb3 39. Nxc5 Nxc5 40. Rxc5 Rb7 $11) (38. b4 {does not
work here due to} cxb4 39. Rc8 $2 (39. Nxb4 $11) 39... Rd5 $1 {and there is no
checkmate as in the game.}) 38... Nxc5 39. Rxc5 {Black has to find the subtle}
Rb7 $1 ({Instead} 39... Rxc5 {loses a pawn after} 40. Rxc5 Rxb3 41. Rc7+ Ke8
42. Rc8+ Ke7 43. Rg8 $1 {and most likely the game-} Rb5 44. f4 f6 45. Rxg7+ Kf8
46. Rh7 fxe5 47. fxe5 Rxe5 48. g4 $18) 40. R1c3 f6 41. exf6+ gxf6 {Black
should survive although careful play is still required.}) 38. b4 $1 {[%csl Rc7,
Rc8,Yd7] Diagram [#] Topalov will rarely miss a tactical shot. It is
remarkable that the computer understands the power of the move only once that
it is played on the board.} cxb4 39. Rc8 {Checkmate is threatened.} Nd8 40.
R1c7+ Ke8 41. Nc5 {The threat Rc7-d7 forces Black to part with the exchange.}
Rxc5 42. Rxc5 b3 43. Rc1 {Diagram [#] The rest is easy for the Bulgarian GM.}
Kd7 44. R8c7+ Ke8 45. Rc8 ({Better than} 45. R7c3 Rb5 46. f4 f6 {which
complicates matters.}) 45... Kd7 46. R8c3 {White combines the threats against
the b3 passer with checkmate motifs.} Ke7 ({Like this one} 46... Rb5 47. Rd1+
Ke7 48. Rc7+ Ke8 49. Rc8 b2 50. Rcxd8+ Ke7 51. R1d7# {Diagram [#]}) 47. Rd3 Nb7
48. Rdc3 Nd8 49. f4 f6 50. Rc7+ Ke8 51. Rxg7 fxe5 52. Rcc7 Kf8 53. Rh7 Kg8 54.
Rcg7+ Kf8 55. Rd7 Kg8 56. Rxh6 Nf7 {A nice finish is} (56... b2 57. Rg6+ Kf8
58. h6 b1=Q 59. h7 {Diagram [#] and despite the extra queen Black cannot stop
checkmate.}) 57. Rg6+ Kh8 58. Rf6 {Black resigned. A possible finish would
have been} (58. Rf6 b2 59. Rfxf7 Kg8 60. h6 b1=Q 61. Rg7+ Kf8 62. Rd8# {
Diagram [#]}) 1-0

Report.

The Value of a Blunder

The fifth round of Grenke Classic was once again quite eventful. The most dramatic game turned to be this one:

[Event "3rd GRENKE Chess Classic"]
[Site "Baden Baden GER"]
[Date "2015.02.07"]
[Round "5.4"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2015.02.02"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 d5 4. d4 Bb4 {The Ragozin line. We are skipping the
opening phase as all of the moves have been played three weeks ago by Levon
with the back pieces in his game with Magnus Carlsen from Wijk aan Zee.} 5.
cxd5 exd5 6. Qa4+ Nc6 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. e3 O-O 10. Be2 a6 11. O-O Be6
12. Rfc1 Bd6 13. a3 {Diagram [#] Levon came well prepared for the game. White
immediately starts the minority attack. This move is not as common as} (13. Qd1
{which was Carlsen's chose in Tata. Then after} Ne7 14. a3 Rfd8 15. b4 Nc8 {
was Levon's novelty from Wijk an Zee. It did not work with Magnus, but Anand
obviously thrusts this position and belives he can develop his pieces better
than in the abovementioned game. There are also early improvements for Black
in the position.} 16. Na4 {We will have to wait and see what Anand had in mind
when choosing this line. Was it an improvement earlier, or the one I suggested
in this position Now} b6 $6 {led to problems for Black in Carlsen,M (2862)
-Aronian,L (2797) Tata Steel Masters 2015} (16... b5 $5 17. Nc5 Nb6 18. a4 ({
In case of} 18. Nb7 Rdb8 19. Nxd6 cxd6 {the doubled pawn on d6 will cover the
vital e5 and c5 points.}) 18... Nxa4 19. Nxa4 bxa4 20. Rxa4 Rab8 21. Ne1 Bxb4
22. Nd3)) 13... Ne7 {The knight belongs to the kingside as Black will attack
there. Vishy also prepares his next move.} 14. b4 c6 {This somewhat slows the
attack, but White can regroup.} 15. Qb3 g5 ({A game by another Grenke Classic
participant saw White successfully conducting the Minority Attack after} 15...
h5 16. Na4 h4 17. Nc5 Rab8 18. Qd1 Bc7 19. a4 Bg4 20. Nd2 Bf5 21. b5 axb5 22.
axb5 Qd6 23. Nf1 $1 {White is solid on the kingside and is already creating
weaknesses on the other side in Bacrot,E (2723)-Grandadam,N (2286) Basel 2011})
16. Qb2 $1 $146 {[%csl Ye2,Yf2][%cal Gb2e2,Ge2f2] Diagram [#] A deep
profilactical novelty. White defends...the bishop on e2!} ({The only
predecessor saw} 16. g3 {but this weakens the kingside and after} g4 17. Ne1 h5
18. Qd1 Nf5 19. Ng2 Rae8 20. Na4 Kg7 21. Nc5 Bc8 22. Nd3 Rh8 23. Ndf4 Bxf4 24.
Nxf4 h4 {when Black had serious threats on the kingside, Mirzoev,A (2510)
-Peralta,F (2590) Navalmoral 2011}) ({White idea is revealed after careful
study of the most natural move} 16. Na4 {Then Black has this tricky idea in
his disposal} g4 $1 17. Nd2 (17. Ne1 Bxh2+ $1 18. Kxh2 Qxf2 19. Bd3 Nf5 {looks
scary for White, to say at least.}) 17... a5 $5 {with the idea} (17... Bxh2+ $6
{would be too early as the queen is trapped after} 18. Kxh2 Qxf2 19. Nf1 $1
Qxe2 $2 20. Ng3 Qb5 (20... Qf2 21. Rf1 $18) 21. Rc5 {and White wins.}) (17...
h5 {is also interesting for Black.}) 18. b5 Bxh2+ $1 19. Kxh2 Qxf2 20. Bd3 ({
Now} 20. Nf1 {does not work due to} Qxe2 21. Ng3 Qxb5) 20... cxb5 21. Bxb5 Nf5
{with strong attack for the piece.}) 16... Qg7 {Vishy regroups as} (16... g4
17. Nd2 Bxh2+ 18. Kxh2 Qxf2 19. Nf1 {is no longer appealing for Black.}) ({
Another possibility is} 16... h5 {but then} 17. Na4 Rae8 (17... Ng6 18. Nc5)
18. Nc5 Bc8 19. Ne5 {looks a bit better for White.}) ({Perhaps the immediate}
16... Rae8 $5 {is most accurate. First Black will secure the queenside} 17. Na4
Ng6 18. Nc5 Bc8 {and only then Black will decide which pawn he wants to
advance first.}) 17. Na4 Rae8 18. Nc5 Bc8 19. g3 ({In case of} 19. a4 {Black
gets counterplay with} f5 20. b5 axb5 21. axb5 f4 {but this was preferrable to
what happened in the game.}) 19... Nf5 {Not a bad move, but the
straightforward attack looks even better} (19... f5 20. Bf1 f4 21. exf4 gxf4
22. Bg2 h5 {and Black looks faster.}) 20. Bd3 Qf6 {With the threat Nf5xf3,
thus the next move for White.} 21. Rf1 h5 22. Rac1 h4 {Vishy played logically
and strong and his attack is growing fast. He now intends to open up the h
file and checkmate with his heavy pieces.} 23. Qd2 ({Perhaps White should have
defended with} 23. Ne1 {in order to recaptureon g3 with the f pawn} hxg3 24.
fxg3) 23... Nh6 $2 {[%csl Yg5] Diagram [#] So far Black had played logically
and strong and achieved extremely promising position. Now Anand chose a
tempting but tactically wrong idea. After the consistent} (23... hxg3 24. hxg3
Kg7 {Black has tremendous attack. For example} 25. Kg2 Rh8 26. Rh1 {[%csl Ye3,
Yf2,Rg2,Yg3] Diagram [#]} Nxe3+ $3 27. fxe3 Bh3+ $1 28. Rxh3 (28. Kf2 g4) 28...
Rxh3 29. Kxh3 Qxf3 {and mate along the h file.}) 24. e4 $1 {Very strong! Now
tables are turned into White's favor. Once that this pawn jumps to e5 Black
can no longer attack the kingside.} Bxc5 {One mistake often lead to another.
This makes things easier for White.} ({Anand probably missed} 24... Qxf3 25.
Qxg5+ Kh7 26. e5+ Bf5 (26... f5 27. exf6+ Bf5 28. Qg7#) 27. Bxf5+ Nxf5 {and
now the only but sufficient move for White} (27... Qxf5 28. Qxf5+ Nxf5 29. exd6
Nxd6 30. Nd7 $1) 28. Rc3 $1 {and if} Nxd4 29. Qxh4+ Kg7 30. Qxd4 Bxc5 31. bxc5
{with extra material for Aronian.}) ({The most resilent continuation is} 24...
Be7 {to defend the pawn although here too White should be better after} 25. Ne5
(25. e5 Qxf3) 25... dxe4 26. Nxe4 Qg7 27. Nc5) 25. e5 $1 Qg7 {Now it is over.}
({White is clearly better after} 25... Bxb4 26. axb4 Qg7 27. Nxg5 Bf5 {but
this was the most stubborn continuation.}) 26. bxc5 f6 27. exf6 Rxf6 28. Nxg5 {
Diagram [#] There is nothing left from Black's attack and he is a pawn down.
The rest is easy for Aronian.} Bf5 29. Rce1 Rff8 30. Rxe8 Rxe8 31. Nf3 Bxd3 32.
Qxd3 Re4 33. Re1 hxg3 34. hxg3 {A painful defeat for Vishy Anand who played
consistently and strong until he blundered badly in a very promising position.}
1-0

Report.

Carlsen back in Business

The fifth round of Tata Steel tournament saw one of the main clashes in the event. The world champion Magnus Carlsen managed to outplay the former world's second rated player Levon Aronian in a game which was not quite typical for this level.

[Event "Tata Steel Masters"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.01.15"]
[Round "5.6"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2862"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:54:10"]
[BlackClock "0:50:55"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 {The Ragozin line should not have been
a surprise for either of the players as they have already tested it twice in
Stavanger last year.} 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 {In both their previous
games Carlsen chose} (7. Bh4 {when the blitz saw} g5 ({While in the classical
game the Norwegian uncorked a very interesting novelty after} 7... Nbd7 8. e3
g5 9. Bg3 Ne4 10. Nd2 Nxg3 11. fxg3 $5 $146 {Carlsen,M (2881)-Aronian,L (2815)
Stavanger 2014}) 8. Bg3 Ne4 9. Nd2 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Bxc3 11. Rc1 Bb2 12. Rxc7 Na6
13. Rc2 Bxd4 {with compensation for the sacrificed pawn, Carlsen,M (2881)
-Aronian,L (2815) Flor & Fjaere 2014}) 7... Qxf6 8. Qa4+ Nc6 9. e3 O-O 10. Be2
Be6 11. O-O a6 12. Rfc1 Bd6 13. Qd1 {Diagram [#] A typical Carlsbad pawn
structure had arosen where the plans of both sides are crystal clear. White
will conduct the minority attack on the queenside and Black should try and
checkmate on the opposite wing.} Ne7 14. a3 ({White can start maneuvering with
the knight at once with} 14. Na4 b6 15. b4 g5 16. Nb2 Ng6 17. Nd3 {but if you
have noticed Black already has some play on the kingside, which proved enough
to hold the balance after} a5 18. b5 Rfe8 19. Rc3 h5 {in the game Roiz,M (2668)
-Tomashevsky,E (2710) Saratov 2011}) 14... Rfd8 15. b4 Nc8 $146 {The novelty.
Black often likes to transfer the knight on c4 in the Carlsbad. By doing this,
he blocks the half open c file thus protecting the c pawn itself. If White
ttrades on c4, then Black will have a good defended passeron that square.} ({
Black can also proceed with the kingside play instead} 15... Bf5 16. Na4 a5 17.
b5 g5 {as Tomashevsky did in the game above, Pogorelov,R (2459)-Garcia Vicente,
N (2214) Balaguer 2008}) 16. Na4 b6 $6 {Levon stopped on the half-way. He
probably disliked the position after} (16... b5 17. Nc5 Nb6 18. a4 ({In case of
} 18. Nb7 Rdb8 19. Nxd6 cxd6 {the doubled pawn on d6 will cover the vital e5
and c5 points.}) 18... Nxa4 19. Nxa4 bxa4 20. Rxa4 Rab8 21. Ne1 Bxb4 22. Nd3 {
Indeed, there is a strategical risk that Black loses the c pawn and the game
and it is yet hard to asses if this will happen in the next 10-20 moves. But
then, what was the move 15...Nc8 for?!}) 17. Nb2 $1 Ne7 18. Nd3 {White is some
tempoes ahead in comarison to Roiz-Tomashevsky and as Carlsen explained in the
press conferense Black's attempts to create counter play will create too many
weaknesses in his camp. he white knight is optimally placed on d3 both
threatening to occupy the e5 square and supporting the b pawn advance.} Ng6 19.
a4 {With the threat of a4-a5 that will also fix a weakness on c7 but will as
well make the a6 pawn a target. Levon chooses the lesser evil.} a5 20. b5 {But
now the c7 pawn is a permanent pain. This position is very unpleasant for
Black. The bishop pair is not particulary strong, on the contrary-in the semi
closed positions it is much better to have knights. The pawn on c7 clues the
bishop on the d6 square, thus turning the d5 pawn into a weakness.} Re8 21. Rc3
Bf5 22. Rac1 Rad8 {Diagram [#] Magnus suggested the more subtle} (22... Re7 23.
Nd2 Rae8 {which would have saved Black some tempi.}) 23. Nd2 {Magnus wants to
play g2-g3 to kill all the black play on the kingside and bring the bishop on
f3. However, the immediate} (23. g3 {has a tactical flaw} Bg4 {and if} 24. Nd2
$2 Bxe2 25. Qxe2 Qxd4 $1 {wins a pawn for the second player (Carlsen).}) 23...
Rd7 ({The opposite colored bishops will not bring Black any relief. After}
23... Bxd3 24. Bxd3 Nf8 {or else While will chop this knight off the board.}
25. g3 {Whihte will mount pressure by bringing the bishop on the long diagonal,
the rook on c6 and the knight eventually on c3.}) 24. g3 (24. Bg4 {was already
interesting.}) 24... Nf8 25. Bg4 $1 {The trades are favorable for White who
will get an easier access to the d5 pawn.} Nh7 26. Bxf5 Qxf5 27. Qf3 Qg5 ({In
the endgame after} 27... Qxf3 28. Nxf3 {White can put the rook on c6, one of
the knights on c3 and the other on f4. Any time Black swaps off the bishop,
the c7 pawn will be lost.}) 28. h4 Qe7 29. Rc6 {Magnus calmly improves his
position.} ({The capture is no good yet} 29. Qxd5 Ba3) 29... Nf6 30. Nf4 $6 {
Levon tries to bail out with tactics but as often happens this makes things
even worse. Still, it is very hard to suggest something constructive for Black.
} g6 {Diagram [#]} 31. h5 $1 ({As Carlsen pointed out at the press conference,
the pawn is not yet yummie} 31. Nxd5 $6 Nxd5 32. Qxd5 Ba3 33. Rxg6+ Kh7 34.
Rxh6+ $6 ({Better is} 34. Rxc7 Rxd5 35. Rxe7 Bxe7 36. Rxb6 {with absolutely
crazy position.}) 34... Kxh6 35. Rc6+ Rd6 $17) 31... Kg7 ({In case of} 31... g5
32. Nxd5 $1 {things work well for White!} Nxd5 33. Qxd5 {The main line runs}
Ba3 ({Or} 33... Bxg3 34. Qf3 ({There is no need to allow any tactics} 34. Qf5
Bxf2+ 35. Qxf2 Qxe3 36. Qxe3 Rxe3 {although White should be better here as
well.}) 34... Bd6 35. Nc4 {with strategically won position for White.}) 34. Qf5
Bxc1 35. Rxh6 $1 {and White checkmates (Carlsen)} Qd8 (35... Ba3 36. Qh7+ Kf8
37. Qh8#) (35... Qb4 36. Qxg5+ Kf8 37. Rh8#) (35... f6 36. Qg6+ Qg7 37. Qxe8+)
36. Qh7+ Kf8 37. Qh8+ Ke7 38. Qe5+ Kf8 39. Rh8#) (31... Bxf4 {does not help
neither due to} 32. Qxf4 Nxh5 33. Qxh6 {[%cal Gd2f3,Gf3e5] with Nd2-f3-e5 to
follow (Carlsen)}) 32. hxg6 fxg6 33. Nxd5 Nxd5 34. Qxd5 Bxg3 ({Once more
tactics helps strategy in the line} 34... Ba3 35. Qxd7 $1 Qxd7 36. Rxc7 {
(Carlsen)}) 35. Qg2 Bd6 36. Nc4 {Diagram [#] The knight got an access to the
c4 square. Next, Magnus will trade it for the bishop and one of the pawns on
c7 or b6 will fall and with it the Black position.} Rf8 {This makes things
easier for White.} 37. Ne5 $1 Bxe5 38. Qxg6+ Kh8 39. Qxh6+ Kg8 40. dxe5 Qxe5
41. Rg6+ Kf7 42. Rc4 Qa1+ 43. Kg2 Rh8 44. Rf4+ Ke8 45. Re6+ Re7 46. Rxe7+ Kxe7
47. Re4+ {Diagram [#] Some of Aronian's decisions in this game are hard to
explain but Carlsen's play to prove him wrong was perfect.} ({Levon resigned
due to the lines} 47. Re4+ Kd8 (47... Kd7 48. Rd4+ Qxd4 49. Qc6+) 48. Rd4+ Qxd4
49. Qg5+) 1-0

Aronian keep struggling with himself. Full report.