Carlsen Speeds Up

The world champion woke from the slow start and starting his rally. In round seven of Tata Steel he won his third consecutive win:

[Event "Tata Steel Chess - Masters"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.01.23"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2844"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:03:33"]
[BlackClock "0:10:36"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ {A fashionable Anti-Catalan reply in
Wijk.} 5. Bd2 Be7 {Diagram [#] In contrast to Mamedyarov yesterday Carlsen
drops the bishop back to e7.} 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O Nbd7 8. Qc2 Ne4 {Playing in a
Stonewall fashion.} 9. Bf4 c6 10. Nc3 g5 {[%csl Yd4][%cal Gf7f5,Gg5g4] Diagram
[#] It makes sense to chase the bishop away from the active position. Plus,
Black wants to advance on the kingside anyway.} ({The immediate} 10... f5 {
is also possible although after} 11. Rad1 b6 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Rc1 {White's
position seems preferable, Abasov,N (2492)-Kuderinov,K (2480) Baku 2013}) 11.
Be3 Nd6 $1 $146 {[%csl Rc4,Re3][%cal Rd6c4,Rd6f5,Rf5e3] Diagram [#] The world
champion uncorks strong novelty! Previously only the straightforward} (11... f5
{had been tested. One short example-} 12. Rad1 Nd6 13. b3 Nf7 {1/2-1/2 (13)
Nogueiras Santiago,J (2533)-Jobava,B (2637) Havana 2005}) 12. b3 {Eljanov
sacrifices a pawn for the initiative.} ({In case of} 12. cxd5 {Black will
recapture} exd5 {and the knight on d6 is perfectly placed for the Carlsbad
pawn structure.}) 12... Nf5 {The point of the novelty. Since the pawn on d4 is
hanging Black gets a chance to grab a gorgeous bishop.} ({Instead} 12... dxc4
13. Ne4 {will give a lot of central play for the sacrificed pawn.}) 13. g4 $5 {
[%csl Yf5][%cal Gg3g4] Diagram [#] A courageous decision!} ({As mentioned above
} 13. Bc1 g4 {wins the pawn on d4.}) ({While} 13. Qd3 g4 14. Ne1 Nxe3 15. Qxe3
Bg5 {looks very comfortable Stonewall for the second player.}) 13... Nxe3 14.
fxe3 $5 b5 {[%csl Rb5] Diagram [#] Carlsen sacrifices a pawn on his turn!} ({
Black could have also developed kingside initiative with} 14... h5 {and if} 15.
gxh5 g4 16. Ne1 Bg5) 15. e4 {But Eljanov does not take it and concentrates on
central play.} ({There was nothting wrong with} 15. cxb5 cxb5 16. Nxb5 Ba6 (
16... Qb6 17. Nc3 Ba6) 17. a4 Rc8 {when Black has enough initiative to
compensate the pawn.}) 15... b4 ({The computer advocates} 15... bxc4 {but this
seems wrong after} 16. bxc4 dxc4 17. e5 {[%csl Yc4,Yc6,Rg8][%cal Gc3e4]
Diagram [#] The white knight will jump on e4 and the pawns on the "c" file
will soon perish.}) 16. exd5 {A courageous decision! Both players have
sacrificed pawns for initiative that far. Eljanov beats Carlsen on the number
of sacrifices now.} ({Objectively better was} 16. Na4 {to which I suspect
Carlsen would have gone for} dxe4 (16... Bb7) 17. Qxe4 Nf6 {with the idea} 18.
Qxc6 (18. Qd3 {is correct to sacrifice a pawn again...}) 18... Rb8 {Black is
already much better and if} 19. h3 $2 Bb7 20. Qb5 Nxg4 $1 {[%csl Yb5][%cal
Ge7g5] Diagram [#]} 21. hxg4 Bxf3 22. Qe5 Bf6 {wins for Black.}) 16... bxc3 17.
dxc6 Nb8 18. Qe4 {[%csl Gc4,Gc6,Gd4,Ge2] Diagram [#] For the piece Eljanov has
two pawns and powerful pawn mass in the center.} ({Or} 18. Rad1 Nxc6 19. Nxg5
Bxg5 20. Bxc6 {when both} Rb8 ({and even} 20... Bd7 21. Bxa8 Be3+ 22. Kg2 Qxa8+
{lead to advantage for Black.})) 18... f5 $1 {Black has to play actively if he
wants not only to convert his advantage, but even to survive. For example:} (
18... Na6 19. Ne5 Nc7 $2 20. Nxf7 $1 {and all of a sudden Black is in trouble.
Say} Rxf7 $2 21. Rxf7 Kxf7 22. Qxh7+ Ke8 23. Qg6+ Kf8 24. Rf1+ {[%csl Rf8]
Diagram [#] and it is over.}) 19. gxf5 exf5 20. Qd5+ {Alas, White has to trade
queens.} (20. Qe3 Nxc6) 20... Qxd5 21. cxd5 Na6 {The problem with the pawn
massive is that it does not get anywhere. If the white pawn from e2 was on e5
instead, this would have been a different story. Now Black is clearly better.}
22. Rac1 ({Or} 22. Ne5 Nc7 23. Nc4 Rd8 24. e4 fxe4 25. Bxe4 Nxd5) 22... Nc7 23.
Ne5 f4 24. Nc4 Rd8 25. Rxc3 Nxd5 {Diagram [#] The most dangerous pawn is gone
and White hurries to get some material back.} 26. c7 Nxc7 $1 {The best.
Greediness is as usual punished after} (26... Rd7 27. Rcc1 Bb7 28. Ne5 Rd6 29.
Rc5 {and White is most likely better.}) 27. Bxa8 Nxa8 28. e3 Bb4 {[%csl Gb4,
Gc8] Diagram [#] Normally a rook and a pawn are at least as good as the two
light pieces in the endgame. But not if those are two bishops.} 29. Rc2 Bb7 30.
h4 {White is correctly trying to get rid of the pawns.} Be4 31. Rh2 {This
makes things easier for Carlsen. Better was} (31. Rcf2 Nb6 32. exf4 Nxc4 33.
bxc4 gxh4 {although here too, Black should have serious winning chances.})
31... Nb6 32. Ne5 {Nothing helps:} (32. Nxb6 axb6 33. exf4 g4 $1) (32. hxg5
Nxc4 33. bxc4 fxe3) (32. exf4 Bc3 $1) 32... fxe3 33. hxg5 Rxd4 34. Ng4 Nd5 {
Diagram [#] Once that Carlsen wins a game things get scary for everyone.} 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.

Almost Like Last Year

Yu Yangyi plays successfully in Qatar, this is a fact. Last year he won against the heavy-lifted V. Kramnik in the last round to take the trophy in China. This year he had to face another top player- Wesley So:

[Event "Qatar Masters Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.12.29"]
[Round "9.2"]
[White "Yu, Yangyi"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "153"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:02:09"]
[BlackClock "0:03:59"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 {The Nimtzo-Indian remains a reliable weapon for
Black.} 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 {The aggressive Romanishin line.} cxd4 6. Nxd4 O-O 7.
Bg2 d5 8. Nc2 {Diagram [#] A relativey rare line. Yu forces the swap of the
black bishop.} ({A famous tabia arises after} 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Qb3 Qa5 10. Bd2
Nc6 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. O-O Bxc3 13. bxc3 Ba6 14. Rfd1 Qc5 15. c4 {Bukavshin,I
(2655)-Jakovenko,D (2759) Chita 2015}) ({Both} 8. O-O) ({And} 8. Qb3 {are more
common too.}) 8... Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qc7 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Nb4 $1 $146 {[%csl Yb4,
Yc3][%cal Gg2a8] Diagram [#] A novelty! White gets rid of the isolated pawn.
The indifferent development does not promise anything to White:} ({Predecessor
(4):} 11. Bb2 Rd8 12. Qc1 b6 13. O-O Bb7 14. Rd1 Nd7 $11 {Cebalo,M (2520)
-Hulak,K (2543) Stari Mikanovci 2008}) 11... Nxb4 {So decided to avoid Yu's
home preparation. He could have accepted the sacrificed pawn} (11... Qxc3+ 12.
Bd2 Qf6 {Diagram [#] to which White can play in two different ways. The more
dangerous one seems to be the pawn sacrifice after} 13. Rc1 $5 ({Not} 13. Nxd5
exd5 14. Bxd5 $6 Rd8 {with pressure along the d file.}) ({But White can aslo
regain the pawn with} 13. Bxd5 exd5 14. Nxd5) 13... Nxb4 14. Bxb4 Rd8 15. Qb3 {
White's pieces are dominating, but a pawn is a pawn. Which one is better will
be revealed by the future practice.}) 12. cxb4 Rd8 13. Qb3 Nc6 14. O-O ({
The black knight can be deprived of the d4 square for a while but} 14. e3 e5
15. O-O Be6 16. Qc3 Rac8 $11 {is just equal.}) 14... Nd4 {[%csl Gd4][%cal
Gc8e6,Ge6f5,Ye6e5] Diagram [#] This is why So rejected the sacrifice. The
centralized knight seems good enough to compensate for the bishop pair.} 15.
Qb2 e5 {The more active approach was also good. The line} (15... Qc4 16. Be3
Nxe2+ 17. Kh1 {seems dangerous for the black knight on e2, but there is a way
out-} Bd7 18. Rfe1 Nc3 19. Rac1 Rac8 {with unclear play.}) 16. Be3 {White
finished the development and wants to make good use of the bishops.} Bg4 $1 {
[%csl Ye2,Rg2][%cal Yf2f3] Diagram [#] Provokes the f2-f3 advance in order to
block the fianchettoe one.} 17. Rac1 Qd7 (17... Nxe2+ $4 18. Qxe2) 18. f3 Bh3 {
Since this bishop is stronger than the one on g2 (at least for the moment)
Black could have also gone for} (18... Be6 19. Rfd1 a5 $11 {when the bishop is
eyeing the a2 pawn.}) 19. Rfd1 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Qe6 {An excellent square for the
queen.} 21. Rc7 $1 {Diagram [#] Yu squeezed a lot from his novelty. His active
rooks put a lot of pressure on Black's position and his bishop looks better
than the knight. However, Wesley So's creativity should not be underestimated.}
(21. Bxd4 Rxd4 22. Rxd4 exd4 $11) 21... b6 22. a4 Nf5 23. Rxd8+ Rxd8 24. Bf2 ({
Perhaps} 24. Bg1 {was a bit more subtle when the Black pawn is not reahcing e3
with a tempo at least.} e4 25. Rxa7 h5 {although Black is still creating
dangerous threats.}) 24... e4 {[%csl Yg2][%cal Ge4f3] Diagram [#] Black is
losing the battle for the queenside but makes good use of the absence of the
white rook to create threats of his own on the opposite wing.} 25. Qc2 (25.
Rxa7 h5 (25... e3 26. Be1 h5) 26. Qc2 e3 27. Be1 {might transpose to the game.}
) 25... e3 26. Be1 h5 27. Rxa7 {With this move order Yu could have gone for} (
27. Bc3 $1 h4 28. Qe4 Qg6 29. Qg4 $1 {anytime he trades the queens he should
be close to winning.}) 27... Nd4 28. Qe4 Qc4 {[%csl Yg2][%cal Rc4e2] Diagram
[#] So is threatening mate!} 29. Qxe3 $5 {White sacrifices a piece. The exclam
is for the desire to win, the question- for the objective value of the move.
Although as we shall see Yu did not cross the boarder line yet.} ({Objectively
the game should ended in a draw after} 29. Qd3 Qxd3 30. exd3 Rc8 31. Re7 Rc2+
32. Kf1 Nxf3 33. Rxe3 Nxh2+ 34. Kg1 g5 35. a5 bxa5 36. bxa5 g4 37. d4 Nf3+ 38.
Kf1 Nh2+ $11) 29... Nc2 30. Qe7 Nxe1+ 31. Kf2 Qd4+ $6 {In time trouble So errs.
Correct was} (31... Rd1 32. Qe8+ Kh7 33. Qe4+ Qxe4 34. fxe4 Nc2 {Diagram [#]}
35. a5 ({Or} 35. Rxf7 Nxb4 36. Rf5) 35... Nxb4 36. axb6 Rd6 37. Rxf7 Rxb6 {
Is this a win for Black is another question, but at least he had taken away
the 1-0 result from the board.}) 32. Kf1 Nc2 $2 {And this is proper mistake.
He should have forced the draw with} (32... Rf8 33. Kxe1 Qg1+ 34. Kd2 Qd4+ 35.
Kc2 Qc4+ $11) 33. Qxf7+ Kh8 34. Qxh5+ Kg8 35. Qf7+ Kh8 36. Qh5+ Kg8 37. Qf7+
Kh8 38. Kg2 Ne3+ 39. Kh3 Kh7 40. Qh5+ Kg8 {Time trouble is over, Yu has four
pawns for the knight and great winning chances.} 41. Re7 $1 {[%csl Ye3,Ge7,Yg8]
[%cal Re7e8,Re7e3,Gh5f7,Ge7e4,Ge4h4] Diagram [#] A nice move that prepares
various threats like Qh5-f7+ followed by Re7-e4 or the advance of the e pawn.}
Rf8 $1 {The only defense. Everything else loses fast, say} (41... Nc2 $2 42.
Qf7+ Kh7 43. e4 (43. Re4 Qd7+)) (41... Qxb4 $4 42. Qf7+ Kh8 43. Qxg7#) 42. a5
bxa5 43. bxa5 Nd5 44. Qe5 Qxe5 45. Rxe5 Nb4 {[%csl Ga5,Ge2,Gf3,Gg3,Gh2]
Diagram [#] Black survived to the endgame but the value of the pawns grew now.
Yu is still close to winning.} 46. Re4 (46. Rc5 $5) 46... Nd5 47. Rc4 Rf6 48.
Rc5 Rf5 (48... Ne3 49. g4) 49. Rc8+ Kf7 50. a6 Ne3 51. g4 Ra5 52. Rc7+ Kf6 53.
Rc6+ {Perhaps White simply had to push the pawn further} (53. a7 Ra2 54. Kg3 g5
55. h4 gxh4+ 56. Kxh4 Nd5 57. Rb7 Ne3 58. Kg3 {and once that the white pawns
start rolling it should be soon over.}) 53... Kf7 54. Kg3 g5 55. h4 gxh4+ 56.
Kxh4 {Diagram [#] Now the pawns come into motion.} Nd5 57. e4 Ne7 58. Rb6 Ng6+
59. Kg3 Ra3 60. g5 Ne5 61. Rf6+ Ke7 62. Kg2 Nd3 63. Rh6 {In the second
time-trouble Yu misses what seems to me is a win-} (63. f4 $1 Nc5 64. e5 Nxa6
65. g6 $1) 63... Ra5 {So gets one of the pawns back.} 64. a7 Rxg5+ 65. Kf1 Rg8
(65... Ra5 $2 {loses to the typical trick} 66. Rh8 Rxa7 67. Rh7+) 66. Ke2 Ne5
$2 {It is time for Black to go wrong. He should have held after} (66... Nc5 $1
{Diagram [#]} 67. Ke3 Ne6 68. e5 Kf7 69. f4 Rg3+ 70. Ke4 Ra3) 67. f4 Nd7 68.
Ra6 {White's pieces are optimally placed and have room for improvement. The
game is practically over.} Ra8 69. Ke3 Nc5 70. Ra1 Nb7 71. e5 Nd8 72. Ra6 Kd7 (
72... Ne6 73. f5 Nc7 74. Ra5 {followed by a king march to b7 is hopeless.}) 73.
f5 Nc6 74. e6+ Kc7 75. f6 Nb4 76. f7 Kb7 {Diagram [#]} (76... Nxa6 77. e7) 77.
Rd6 (77. Rd6 Kxa7 78. e7) 1-0

What happene din the additional match for the first place between Yu and Carlsen, you can check in this 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

Report.

Rock Solid Nakamura

Hikaru Nakamura usually has togh time playing the world champion but in Stavanger he managed to hold the black color with relative ease.

[Event "Norway Chess"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.06.22"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2876"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "190"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "1:03:05"]
[BlackClock "0:46:49"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 {Diagram [#] Carlsen
deviates from an earlier game of his against the same opponent} (6. Bxf6 Bxf6
7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1 c6 9. Bd3 Nd7 10. O-O dxc4 11. Bxc4 e5 {Carlsen,M (2823)
-Nakamura,H (2753) Sao Paulo/Bilbao 2011}) 6... O-O 7. e3 Ne4 {The Lasker
Defence has the reputation of a very solid opening for Black.} 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9.
Rc1 c6 10. Qc2 Nxc3 11. Qxc3 dxc4 {Diagram [#] It is Nakamura's turn to
deviate from a game that he witnessed less than an year ago.} ({Instead} 11...
Nd7 12. Be2 dxc4 13. Qxc4 e5 14. O-O exd4 15. Nxd4 {was a bit better for White
in Carlsen,M (2877)-Aronian,L (2805) Saint Louis 2014}) 12. Bxc4 b6 13. O-O {
Nakamura was also well prepared to fight the other attempt for an advantage} (
13. Ne5 Bb7 14. Be2 Rc8 15. O-O Nd7 16. Nxd7 Qxd7 17. b4 a5 {Huzman,A (2570)
-Ravia,M (2330) Israel 1996}) 13... Nd7 14. Rfd1 Bb7 {Black finishes the
development and the freeing c6-c5 advance is inevitable.} 15. h3 c5 16. d5 {Or
else the position will get completely symetrical and dry.} exd5 $146 {Diagram
[#] Surprisingly, this logical move is a novelty.} ({Previously only the
dubious} 16... e5 {have been played, but after} 17. e4 Qd6 18. Nh4 (18. Bb5 $1
{is even stronger with large advantage.}) 18... g6 19. Qg3 {White was clearly
better in Tomic,M (2231)-Ristic,M Belgrade 2007}) 17. Bxd5 Bxd5 18. Rxd5 Nf6 {
Black comfortably equalized in the opening. In perspective his position might
be even a bit better thanks to the pawn majority on the queenside. The most
likely scenario though is that all the heavy pieces disappear on the "c" file
and the players shake hands.} 19. Rd3 Rad8 20. Rcd1 Rxd3 21. Qxd3 Rc8 {Diagram
[#] One idea is to advance the queenside pawns. Another- to shift the rook to
d7 via the c7 square.} 22. a4 c4 ({The immediate} 22... Qe4 {is less good due
to} 23. Qxe4 Nxe4 24. Rd7) 23. Qc2 Qe4 24. Nd4 c3 {Black has many ways to keep
the balance. To complete equlity leads} (24... Qxc2 25. Nxc2 c3 26. b3 Kf8 $11)
25. Qb3 Qd5 (25... cxb2 26. Qxb2 Rc5 $11) 26. Qc2 Qe4 27. Qxe4 {Diagram [#]
Carlsen rejects the repetition although he realizes that he has no advantage
at all.} Nxe4 28. b3 Nd2 (28... Nc5 29. Kf1 (29. Rc1 Na6) 29... Na6 30. Nc2 Nc5
$11 {(Seirawan)}) 29. Rc1 a5 30. Rc2 {Now it is a bit more difficult for Black
to hold the balance as his "c" went too deep in the opponent's camp. Carlsen
wants to march with his king all the way to d3 and chop it.} Nb1 31. Rc1 Nd2
32. Rc2 Nb1 33. Nb5 Kf8 34. f3 Rd8 {Instead, the world champion suggested} (
34... Nd2 $1 {Diagram [#] which forces repetion of moves} 35. Nd4 ({The
problem with the move} 35. Rxc3 Rxc3 36. Nxc3 {is that the black king becomes
too active, too fast-} Ke7 37. Nd5+ $6 (37. b4 {is still a draw.}) 37... Kd6
38. Nxb6 Kc5 $17) 35... Nb1 $11) 35. Nd4 ({Both players could not calculate
properly the knight endgame after} 35. Kf2 $5 Rd2+ 36. Rxd2 cxd2 37. Ke2 Ke7 {
The impression is that Black is much worse with the vulnerable d2 pawn} 38. f4
(38. Kd1 Ke6) 38... Ke6 39. e4 f6 40. Nc7+ Kd7 41. Nd5 Kc6 42. Ne7+ Kc5 43. e5
fxe5 44. fxe5 Kd4 45. e6 Ke5 46. Nc8 Kxe6 47. Nxb6 $16 {Perhaps, this was
Carlsen's only realistic winning chance in this game.}) 35... Rc8 36. Rc1 Na3
37. Nc2 {Forced, as} (37. Kf2 c2 38. Ke2 Rc3 39. Kd2 Nb1+ 40. Ke2 Na3 $11 {is
a forced draw (Nakamura)}) 37... Nxc2 38. Rxc2 Rc5 {[%csl Yc3][%cal Gg1f2,
Gf2e2,Ge2d3,Yd3c3] Diagram [#] The maneuver Kg1-f2-e2-d3 with pawn gain is
inevitable, but Black has enough time to swap off the remaining pair of pawns
on the queenside, thus reaching theoretical draw endgame four versus three on
the same flank.} 39. Kf2 b5 $1 40. axb5 Rxb5 41. Rxc3 g6 $1 42. f4 h5 $1 {
[%csl Gf7,Gg6,Gh5] Diagram [#] The best set up of the pawns on the kingside.
Black is ready to trade them at the moment White starts advancing there.} 43.
Rc8+ (43. Kf3 Rb4 {followed by a5-a4.}) 43... Kg7 44. Ra8 Rxb3 45. Rxa5 Rb2+
46. Kf3 Rb3 47. Ra7 Rc3 48. Re7 Rb3 49. Kg3 Rb2 50. Kf3 Rb3 51. g4 hxg4+ 52.
hxg4 Rb1 53. Rd7 Rf1+ 54. Ke4 Rg1 55. g5 Ra1 56. Ke5 Ra3 57. e4 Ra5+ 58. Kd6
Ra6+ 59. Ke5 Ra5+ 60. Rd5 Ra4 61. Rc5 (61. f5 gxf5 62. exf5 $11) 61... Ra1 62.
Rc2 Rf1 63. Rc7 Re1 64. Ra7 Rg1 65. Ra4 Rf1 66. Ra6 Re1 {Diagram [#]} 67. Kd4
Rd1+ 68. Ke3 Re1+ 69. Kf3 Rf1+ 70. Kg3 Re1 71. e5 Re3+ 72. Kf2 Rb3 73. Rd6 Ra3
74. Rd8 Rc3 75. Ke2 Ra3 76. Rd3 Ra1 77. Ke3 Re1+ 78. Kd4 Rf1 79. Ke4 Ra1 80.
Rd7 Ra4+ 81. Rd4 Ra5 82. Rc4 Kf8 83. Rc8+ Kg7 84. Rc7 Kf8 85. Kd4 Ra4+ 86. Rc4
Ra5 87. Rc8+ Kg7 88. e6 {The last slim chance.} fxe6 89. Rc5 Ra7 (89... Rxc5 $4
90. Kxc5 {would really win for White, but none is buying this.}) 90. Ke5 Rf7
91. Rc4 Rf5+ 92. Kxe6 Kg8 93. Rc8+ Kg7 94. Rc7+ Kg8 95. Rc8+ Kg7 1/2-1/2

Report.

Fingerfehler

Norway Chess witnessed another amazing day. Round five saw three decisive games. Magnus Carlsen finally won his first game against Alexander Grischuk. However, it was the former world champion who stole the show as his win lifted him to the remarkable 4.5/5 and clear first place.

[Event "Norway Chess"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.06.21"]
[Round "5.4"]
[White "Hammer, Jon Ludvig"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2677"]
[BlackElo "2798"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "148"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:15:27"]
[BlackClock "0:09:05"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 {The last time Topalov played
like that was back in 2008.} 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 (7. Be2 Nbd7 8. g3 Bd6 9. O-O
O-O 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. Qc2 dxc4 12. Bxc4 c5 $11 {Aronian,L (2757)-Topalov,V
(2791) Nanjing 2008}) 7... hxg6 8. Bd2 Nbd7 9. Qc2 {Diagram [#]} ({Another
possibility is} 9. Qb3 Rb8 10. g3 Be7 11. Bg2 Nb6 12. cxd5 exd5 13. O-O Nc4 {
with complex game, Inarkiev,E (2664)-Artemiev,V (2671) Sochi 2015}) 9... a6 {
Both sides are making useful moves not willing to commit themselves in the
center. Black does not want to trade on c4 for the time being and White does
not want to touch his light-squared bishop yet.} 10. O-O-O Be7 11. Kb1 Qc7 12.
h3 Rd8 $146 {[%csl Rc4,Yf1] Diagram [#] The last useful move appears to be a
novelty.} ({Black finally blinked in the only predecessor} 12... dxc4 13. Bxc4
b5 14. Be2 c5 15. Bf3 Rc8 16. d5 exd5 17. Nxd5 Nxd5 18. Bxd5 {with some
pressure for White in Ehlvest,J (2594)-Lauk,U (2394) Puhajarve 2011}) 13. c5 {
Hammer closes the center. In comparison to Ehlvest-Lauk from above, the line} (
13. Bd3 dxc4 14. Bxc4 c5 {is great for Black.}) 13... e5 {Black carrries out
the standard central strike. But perhaps another way to attack the white pawn
chain was preferrable} (13... b6 $5 {[%cal Yb6c5] Diagram [#] for instance} 14.
cxb6 Qxb6 15. Bd3 (15. Na4 Qb7 16. Rc1 Rc8) 15... Rb8 16. Na4 Qb7 17. Rc1 c5 $1
{with good play for Black.}) 14. f4 $1 {Hammer reacts energetically in the
center.} exd4 {Looking back at what had happened with his position, Topalov
came to the conclusion that this move was the reason for his trouble later. He
thought he should have closed the center instead with} (14... e4 {but after}
15. Be2 Nf8 16. g4 {White definitely has the better chances.}) 15. exd4 Nh5 16.
Ne2 Nhf6 17. Nc3 Nh5 18. Ne2 Nhf6 19. Ng3 $1 {[%cal Gf4f5] Diagram [#] The
Norwegian GM corectly avoids the repetition.} Ng8 {Black wants to pus his pawn
to f5 and return with the knight to e4, but this plan is energetically
prevented.} ({Topalov did not like his position after the typical} 19... Nf8
20. Bd3 Ne6 21. Ne2 {"White has a lot of space and can easily advance his
kingside pawns." (Topalov)}) ({But} 19... b6 {was to be preffered again} 20.
cxb6 (20. Bxa6 $2 bxc5) 20... Qxb6 21. Bd3 O-O 22. f5 Bd6 {with playble
position.}) 20. Bd3 f5 21. Nxf5 $1 {[%csl Ye8,Gf4,Gg2,Gh3][%cal Rd3g6,Rg6e8,
Re1e8,Gg2g4,Gh3h4] Diagram [#] The black king is still in the middle and
Hammer is trying to get to it. However, the preliminary} (21. Rhe1 $1 {would
have been even better since in the line} Ngf6 22. Nxf5 $1 ({Not} 22. Re6 Nf8 {
and Black is in time.}) 22... gxf5 23. Bxf5 {Black's defense is more complex.})
21... gxf5 22. Bxf5 Ndf6 {Somehow surprisingly, the knight on g8 stays well
for the dense.} (22... Ngf6 23. Bg6+ Kf8 24. Rhe1 {transposes to the line
above.}) 23. Bg6+ Kf8 24. g4 {Diagram [#] For the knight White has two pawns,
plenty of open files and a lot of space. But the good thing about the extra
material is that you can always give some part of it back.} Ne4 $1 25. g5 Rh4 {
Tempting but misses an incredible resource.} ({Correct was another move,
suggested by Topalov} 25... Re8 $1 $11 {with the idea Be7-d8.}) ({Also good is
} 25... Qd7 26. h4 Qg4 {(Topalov)}) 26. Bc1 {Hammer missed the fantastic
resource} (26. Be1 $3 Rxf4 27. h4 {[%csl Rf8][%cal Ge1d2,Rf1f8] Diagram [#]
with the paradoxal idea to return with the bishop on d2. Then White wil occupy
the "f" open file with his rooks and everything will become clear.}) 26... Qd7
{Now Black is fine.} 27. Qg2 b6 ({Also good for Black was} 27... Rb8 28. f5 b6
29. cxb6 Rxb6 30. Ka1 {(Topalov)}) 28. cxb6 Bd6 29. Bxe4 dxe4 30. d5 {Diagram
[#]} ({Moving the pawns a bit further made more sense} 30. f5 Ne7 31. g6 {with
aproximate equality.}) 30... Ne7 31. dxc6 Qxc6 32. Rhe1 Qxb6 33. Qxe4 Bc5 34.
Rxd8+ Qxd8 {Diagram [#] The only one who can be better now is Black, but since
the few pawns left of the board the objective evaluation is a draw.} 35. Qc4
Qd4 36. Qxa6 g6 {Black could have also taken the pawn back at once} (36... Rxh3
{but he has to watch out for the tricks} 37. Qa8+ Kf7 38. g6+ Kf6 $1 (38...
Kxg6 $2 39. Qg2+ {wins the rook}) ({While} 38... Nxg6 $2 {is mate} 39. Qe8+ Kf6
40. Qe6#)) (36... Qd7 $11) 37. Re5 Qd6 38. Qa8+ Kg7 39. Qf3 Bd4 40. Re2 Qd7 41.
Qd3 Nc6 $6 {The last move before the time control is inaccuracy.} ({Safer is}
41... Nf5 $11) 42. Rh2 {White could have improved the position of his rook
instead with} (42. Rc2 $1 {when the lesser evil for Black would be to lose
time with} Ne7 {Topalov also revealed how tricky the position is} (42... Rxh3
$2 {loses to} 43. Qb5 Ne5 44. Qxd7+ Nxd7 45. Rc7) ({And} 42... Nb4 43. Rc7 $1 {
[%csl Yb4,Yd4] Diagram [#]} Qxc7 44. Qxd4+ Kf7 45. Qxb4 Rxh3 $16 {might be a
draw, but might not be one...})) 42... Nb4 43. Qc4 ({Black does not risk
anything after} 43. Qe4 Qf5 44. Qxf5 gxf5) 43... Rxh3 44. Rd2 Qf5+ 45. Ka1 Bc5
{[%csl Gb4,Gc5,Gf5,Gh3] Diagram [#] Now Topalov activates his remaining troops
and presses as much as he can.} 46. a3 Nd3 47. Rd1 {With idea to put the
bishop on c3 (Topalov)} Nxc1 48. Rxc1 Bf8 49. Qd4+ Kg8 50. Rc7 Qe6 51. Qc4 $1 {
Hammer defends flawlessly. The only thing he needs is to trade the last black
pawn for all his remaining pawns.} Qxc4 52. Rxc4 Kf7 53. a4 Rb3 54. a5 Rb5 ({
At first Black wanted to trade the rooks} 54... Rb4 55. Rxb4 Bxb4 {but
realized that he is hardly playing for a win after} 56. a6 Bc5 57. Ka2 Ke6 58.
Kb3 {and the only one to take care is Black. For instance} Kf5 $2 {loses the
game} (58... Kd5 $11) 59. Kc4 $1 {Diagram [#]} Be3 60. Kd5 Kxf4 61. b4 Kxg5 62.
b5 Kf4 63. Kc6 g5 64. b6 Bxb6 65. Kxb6 g4 66. a7 g3 67. a8=Q) 55. Ra4 Bg7 56.
Ra2 (56. Kb1 Rxb2+ 57. Kc1 Rb8 58. a6 Bf8 59. Kc2 $11) 56... Bd4 57. Ra4 Bxb2+
58. Ka2 Bc1 59. a6 Rb2+ 60. Ka1 Rb8 61. Rc4 Be3 {Diagram [#]} ({Hammer thought
that} 61... Ba3 {is more dangerous for him, but here too, White should hold
after} 62. Rc7+ Be7 63. a7 Ra8 64. Kb2 {as Black cannot untie his pieces
whithout the trade of his last pawn-} Ke6 65. Kb3 Bd6 66. Rg7 Kf5 67. Rf7+ Kg4
68. f5 $1 Kxg5 69. fxg6 $11) 62. Rc7+ Kg8 63. Rc6 Bd4+ 64. Ka2 Kf7 65. Rd6 Bc3
66. Rc6 Bh8 67. Ka3 Bd4 68. Ka4 Rf8 ({Topalov got excited by the line} 68...
Rb6 69. a7 Rb1 $1 {[%csl Ra4,Ra7][%cal Gb1a1,Ra1a8] Diagram [#] but then
spotted} 70. Rd6 $1 Bxa7 71. f5 $1 gxf5 72. Rf6+ $11) 69. Kb5 Kg7 70. Rc7+ Rf7
71. Rxf7+ Kxf7 {Now it is a draw but...} 72. Kc4 Ba7 73. Kd5 Ke7 (73... Bb8 74.
Kc6 $11) 74. Kc6 $4 {Diagram [#] Topalov described this as "fingerfehler"
speculating that his opponent belived he played 73...Ba7-b8 instead. Then this
move indeed is best. Instead of the unfortunate move in the game Black is
easily sharing the point with either} (74. f5 gxf5 75. Ke5 $11) ({Or even} 74.
Ke5 Bb8+ 75. Kd5 $11) 74... Ke6 0-1

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.

Rewind and Repeat

The good things in life and in chess do not only happen once. Check the game by Viswanathan Anand against Shakh Mamedyarov from round eight of the Gashimov memorial in Shamkir.

[Event "Shamkir Chess"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.04.25"]
[Round "8.4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:43:44"]
[BlackClock "0:50:22"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 {Mamedyarov has been very successful in his lat six game
in the Petrov- 5.5/6! Who dares claiming that the opening can be borning after
that?} 3. Nc3 {Surprise! Anand has played the Four Knights back in 1992-96 via
a different move order though...} Nc6 4. Bb5 Bb4 ({Ruinstein's recipe is
sharper and more forceful. Ivanchuk has used it twice against the Indian} 4...
Nd4 5. Ba4 Bc5 6. Nxe5 O-O 7. Nd3 Bb6 8. e5 Ne8 9. Nd5 d6 {with compensation
for a pawn, Anand,V (2715)-Ivanchuk,V (2700) Monte Carlo 1995}) 5. O-O O-O 6.
d3 d6 7. Ne2 Ne7 8. c3 Ba5 9. Ng3 Ng6 {Diagram [#] Funnily enough, the
position now is similar to some lines of the Ruy Lopez. Yep, the Berlin ones.}
10. d4 Bb6 11. Re1 c6 12. Bd3 Re8 13. h3 h6 14. Be3 Be6 {Both sides developed
their pieces harmoniously and naturally.} 15. Qc2 ({Also possible is the
development of the queen on the c1-h6 diagonal.} 15. Qd2 Qc7 16. Nf5 Bxf5 17.
exf5 Nf8 {And now the typical Italian sacrifice with} 18. Bxh6 $2 {does not
work because of the cool} N8h7 $1 ({not because of} 18... gxh6 19. Qxh6 Qe7 20.
dxe5 dxe5 21. Nxe5 {and White should be winning}) 19. g4 e4 20. g5 Nh5 21. Bxe4
gxh6 {with advantage for Black, Adhiban,B (2481)-L'Ami,E (2593) Dieren 2009})
15... Qc7 16. a3 $146 {[%cal Gb2b4] Diagram [#] A novelty. White wants to
expans on the queenside.} ({A predecessor saw} 16. c4 exd4 17. Nxd4 Ne5 18. Be2
Ng6 19. Rad1 $14 {1-0 (43) Nguyen,A (2496)-Markus,R (2436) Budapest 2000})
16... a5 17. c4 a4 {It is not quite clear why the inserted moves a2-a3 and
a5-a4 should favour White. More likely they should favour Mamedyarov.} 18. Red1
{Anand moves the rook away from a possible tempo on a5.} ({However, the line
after} 18. Rad1 exd4 19. Bxd4 Ba5 $6 {leads to favourable complications for
White after} 20. Bxf6 $1 Bxe1 21. Nh5) 18... exd4 {Because of the annoying
threat of c4-c5 Black should do this sooner or later. Now the pawn structure
modifies to one which is similar to some lines of the Bogoljubov defense.} 19.
Bxd4 ({Black is OK after} 19. Nxd4 Bd7 20. Ndf5 Bxe3 21. Nxe3 Nf4 $11) 19...
Ne5 20. Be2 {Diagram [#] Mamedyarov more or less solved the opening problems.
If Anand has any advantage it is symbolic.} Bc5 ({Instead, one good away to
exploit the hole on b3 was} 20... Bxd4 $5 21. Nxd4 Ned7 {followed by Nd7-c5-b3
with equality.} ({But not} 21... Nfd7 $2 22. f4)) 21. Rd2 Nfd7 22. Rad1 Red8 $6
{Up to now Mamedyarov defended flawlessly, but this move is a mistake. In a
cramped position it is always good to trade some pieces.} (22... Nxf3+ {was
mandatory when Black is still good after} 23. Bxf3 Red8 ({Not} 23... Rad8 24.
Qxa4 Nb6 25. Qa5 $1 $16)) 23. Nh4 $1 {[%csl Ye5,Ye6,Rf5][%cal Gh4f5,Gg3f5,
Rf2f4,Rf4f5] Diagram [#] Now f2-f4-f5 is a constant threat and the knights are
eager to get closer to the enmy king with Nh4(g3)-f5.} Bxd4 24. Rxd4 c5 $5 {
The only chance of a counter play.} ({Or else Black loses a pawn after} 24...
Nc5 25. Nhf5 Bxf5 26. Nxf5) 25. Rxd6 Nc6 {The d4 square is usually good
compensation in these positions, but..} 26. Nhf5 $1 {Powerplay!} Nd4 27. Qd2 ({
Worse is} 27. R6xd4 cxd4 28. Nxd4 Nc5 $11) ({Or} 27. Nxd4 Qxd6 {and White does
not have any (good) discovered attack.}) 27... Ne5 {This was the position that
Mamedyarov was heading to. The black knight seem perfect on their outposts,
the active rook on d6 will be traded and the compensation is obvious. However,
Anand had foreseen something in advance...} ({Since otherwise Black is down a
pawn for nothing} 27... Nf6 28. Rxd8+ Rxd8 29. Nxd4 cxd4 (29... Rxd4 30. Qc2
$16) 30. Qb4) 28. Rd5 $1 {[%csl Gd5] Diagram [#] Deja vu! Like yesterday, the
former world champion sacrifices the exchange for a pawn and attack and wins!}
({Instead} 28. Rxd8+ $6 Rxd8 29. Nxd4 $6 cxd4 {would be dream come true for
Mamedyarov.}) 28... Bxd5 29. cxd5 Qb6 ({The trade of a knight pair multiplies
the attacking potential of the first player.} 29... Nxf5 30. Nxf5 Qa5 31. Qe3
Qb6 32. f4 Nd7 33. Qc3 {and Black should not survive.}) 30. f4 $1 {[%cal Ge4e5,
Gd5d6] Diagram [#] Anand has a clear plan. Advance the pawns in the center as
much as possible, disconnect the flanks, checkmate.} ({The endgame is also
great for White} 30. Nxd4 cxd4 31. Qxd4 Qxd4 32. Rxd4 {but why to get here
when there is mate instead?}) 30... Ng6 ({Or} 30... Nxe2+ 31. Qxe2 c4+ 32. Kh2
Nd3 33. Qg4 {which wins a second pawn for White.}) 31. Bc4 {Anotehr deja vu!
The Indian GM used the same diagonal to grind down Michael Adams yesterday..}
Qa5 32. Qf2 b5 {Black tries his inly chance to distract the opponent.} ({
Nothing can stop the pawns} 32... Nxf5 33. Nxf5 Re8 34. e5) 33. Nxd4 ({Also
good is} 33. Ba2 Nb3 34. Nh5) 33... cxd4 34. Ba2 b4 35. Nf5 bxa3 {Alas, after}
(35... b3 36. Bb1 {the bishop will work again on the other diagonal.}) 36. bxa3
Qc3 37. e5 {Perhaps the only slip in Anand's phenomenal play.} (37. d6 {was
more subtle, with transposition into the game after} Rab8 (37... Qxa3 $2 38.
Qxd4) 38. Rd2) 37... Rab8 ({Another transposition is} 37... Qxa3 38. d6 Rab8
39. Rd2) 38. Rd2 Qxa3 ({The computer suggests} 38... d3 {as a good defense,
but it is hard to believe that White is not mating after} 39. d6 Qxa3 {Diagram
[#]} 40. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 41. Qa7+ Ke6 42. Ne3 {For example} Rb1+ (42... Rd7 $2
43. Qxb8) 43. Kh2 Qb4 (43... Rd7 44. f5+ Kxe5 45. Qxd7 {and wins.}) 44. Rf2 $1
Qb7 45. Qd4 {and the analyzes can go for another twenty moves but I will leave
that to you. My feeling says that the attack should be sufficient.} ({Even
better than} 45. f5+ Kd7 46. Qxa4+ Qc6 47. Qa2 Qc5 (47... Rb7 48. Qe6#) 48. e6+
Kxd6 49. Qxb1 Qxe3 50. Rf3 Qe5+ 51. Kh1 {which Black some chances of survival
thanks to his passed pawn.} Kc6 52. fxg6 d2 53. Qc2+ Qc5 54. Qa4+ Qb5 55. Rc3+
Kb6 56. Qd1 {White is better, but not necessarily winning.})) 39. Nxd4 {Now
everything is under control.} Qc1+ 40. Kh2 Rbc8 41. d6 a3 42. Nf5 Rf8 43. d7 {
Diagram [#] One more jewel in Anand's rich collection of masterpieces!
Mamedyarov had had enough of it. After} (43. d7 Rcd8 44. Qd4 {the only way to
stop the checkmate (e5-e6) is to sacrifice a whole rook with} Qf1 45. e6 Qxf4+
46. Qxf4 Nxf4 47. e7) 1-0

The last round of the tournament on the next day was rather peaceful with only one game being decisive. The world champion Magnus Carlsen exploited a blunder by the birthday boy Rauf Mamedov to finish the tournament clear first a full point ahead of Vishy Anand.

Magnus Grabs the Lead

Round five of the Gashimov Memorial was crucial for the leaders. Wesley So suffered his first loss to the former world champion Vishy Anand who showed his best chess so far in Azerbaijan. In the meanwhile the reigning champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway produced a real masterpiece to take the sole lead. His opponent in this game Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France also appreciated the greatness of the game and did not look too disappointed at the end of it. Instead the two players spend a lot of time analyzing the game at a press-conference full of benevolence and positivness.

[Event "Shamkir Chess"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.04.21"]
[Round "5.3"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2863"]
[BlackElo "2762"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:15:45"]
[BlackClock "0:41:19"]

1. Nf3 {Magnus Carlsen managed to get his opponent away from his beloved
Gruenfeld early in the opening.} Nf6 2. g3 b5 3. Bg2 ({The two players spent a
lot of time analyzing some interesting possibilities after} 3. c3 e6 4. Qb3 {
an idea typical for the Sokolsky opening with colors reversed} a6 5. a4 Bb7 6.
axb5 Bd5 {an old trick, said Carlsen} 7. Qc2 (7. c4 $2 Bxc4 $1 {this is the
point} 8. Qxc4 axb5 $17) 7... axb5 8. Rxa8 Bxa8 9. Qb3 Bxf3 10. exf3 c6 {with
about equal position.}) 3... Bb7 4. Na3 {Diagram [#] A fresh position arose on
move number four!} a6 ({The immediate} 4... b4 {was also possible when after}
5. Nc4 a5 6. d3 {[%cal Ge2e4] "I liked my knight on c4" (Carlsen)}) 5. c4 b4 {
"I decided to play b5-b4 as in the QID the knight is not very well placed on
c2"(Vachier-Lagrave), "Yeah, but then you have to waste a lot of moves"
(Carlsen)} (5... e5 {was teh othe rmove that the two players analyzed. They
had a lot of fun in the arising original lines with Carlsen appologizing at
the end that they are wasting the time of the journalists.} 6. O-O e4 7. Nd4 (
7. Nh4 d5 8. cxd5 Qxd5 9. d3 g5 {Diagram [#]} 10. Nf3 $5) 7... d5 8. d3 (8.
cxb5) 8... c5 9. Nf5 g6 10. Ne3 d4 11. Nd5 Nxd5 12. Bxe4 Bg7 {with equality.})
6. Nc2 e6 ({It is somewhat surpring but this has already been seen before in a
total of 26 games. Here is a recent one} 6... c5 7. O-O e6 8. d4 cxd4 9. Ncxd4
$14 {Efimenko,Z (2648)-Moiseenko,A (2707) Dubai 2014}) 7. d4 a5 {The players
agreed that White is somewhat better after} (7... Be7 8. a3 bxa3 9. b3 $14) 8.
O-O Be7 9. d5 Na6 10. Nfd4 Nc5 11. Re1 $146 {[%cal Ge2e4] Diagram [#] Only
this is a novelty. White prepares e2-e4.} ({Another recent game saw} 11. dxe6
fxe6 12. Bxb7 Nxb7 13. Bf4 O-O 14. Nb5 Ne8 15. e4 {with slight edge for White,
Neiksans,A (2559)-Kulaots,K (2563) Wroclaw 2014}) 11... O-O {Carlsen was
surprised that his opponent allowed the move e2-e4 that easily and suggested
instead} (11... Nfe4 12. f3 (12. Nb3 Nxb3 13. axb3 Nc5 14. e4 e5) 12... Nd6 13.
e4 O-O (13... Nxc4) 14. b3 e5 {with a better version to what had happened in
the game later.}) 12. e4 e5 ({Maybe} 12... d6 13. dxe6 Nfxe4 {but this is what
I was unhappy about (Vachier)} 14. Qg4 Nf6 15. Qe2 $16) 13. Nf5 d6 14. Bg5 $1 {
[%csl Yg5][%cal Rf6d5] Diagram [#] A wonderful positional sacrifice of a pawn.}
({The immediate} 14. f4 {is also possible but less appealing to the world
champion} Nfd7 15. Nxe7+ Qxe7 16. f5 c6 {"too many loose ends, should be OK
for Black" (Carlsen)}) 14... Nxd5 {Vachier decided to bite the bullet. "So
Magnus, you were considering this move?" asked the jounalist and WGM Elmira
Mirzoeva. "I am capable of missing it, but not today..."(Carlsen)} (14... Bc8
15. Nce3 h6 16. Bh4 {looks terrible for Black (Carlsen)}) 15. Bh6 $1 {The
point of White's sacrifice. In return for the pawn he will ruin the black
castle and cement the knight on the wonderful outpost on f5. He will also
dominate on the light squares.} gxh6 16. Qg4+ (16. cxd5 Kh8 17. Qh5 {also
looks fun for White.}) 16... Bg5 17. cxd5 Kh8 18. h4 $1 {[%csl Yg5][%cal Gg2h3,
Yg4f3,Gh3g4,Gg4h5,Gc2e3] Diagram [#] The beginning of a nice regroupment on
the light squares that clearifies the situation.} Bf6 19. Nce3 Bc8 20. Qf3 Bg7
21. Bh3 $1 Rg8 22. Bg4 Qf6 23. Bh5 {With the bishop coming out all the white
pieces stand nicely. Now he can think of including the rooks into the battle.}
Bxf5 24. Nxf5 c6 {"If you do not play this then you will lose at some moment
because of the rook coming on f3" (Carlsen). "Even rook on the g file and
g3-g4 I thought. And g4-g5 at some moment" (Vachier).} 25. dxc6 Rac8 26. Qd1
Rxc6 (26... Nxe4 {does not work due to} 27. Bg4 $1) 27. Qd5 Rgc8 28. Rad1 Bf8
29. Qxf7 (29. Bxf7 Na4 {did not appeal to the Norwegian although this also
looks close to winning for White.}) 29... Qxf7 30. Bxf7 {White won the pawn
back and kept the dominant position of his pieces. He owes everything- the
bread, the butter and the knife.} Na4 31. Re2 Rc1 32. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 33. Kg2 Nc5
34. b3 {[%csl Gb3] Diagram [#] "I was very happy to play this move and to stop
any counterplay" (Carlsen). "I am playing a bishop and a king down" (Vachier).}
Rc3 35. Kh3 Nd7 36. Be6 Nc5 37. Bd5 Nd7 38. Ne3 Nf6 39. Be6 Rc5 40. Nc4 Kg7 ({
Vachier was always looking for counter-play but it never worked. Here for
instance} 40... a4 {fails to} 41. bxa4 d5 42. Ne3 (42. Nxe5 {should do as well}
)) 41. f3 $1 {Even in such a great position the world champion does not lose
focus! He rejected his original plan} (41. Kg2 {after seeing the tactical
continuation} Nxe4 $1 42. Rxe4 Kf6 43. Bg8 d5 {Diagram [#] which would have
complicated matters.}) 41... Ne8 42. Rd2 Nc7 43. Bg4 {It is over, Black's
position falls appart.} a4 (43... Nb5 44. Nxa5 {drops a pawn.}) 44. Nxd6 Bxd6
45. Rxd6 a3 46. Bd7 ({Vachier Lagrave suggested an alternative win after} 46.
Rd7+ Kf8 47. Rxh7 Rc2 48. f4 exf4 49. gxf4 Nb5 50. e5 Rxa2 51. e6) 46... Rc2 {
The last chance for Black is connected with the sacrifice of the knight.} 47.
Bc6 Rxa2 48. Rd7+ Kf6 49. Rxc7 Rc2 50. Rxh7 Kg6 (50... Rxc6 51. Rxh6+) 51. Rc7
{Now White is waiting for the pawn to come on a2 to play Rc7-a7.} Kf6 52. h5 $1
{Finishes the game in style with checkmate.} Rc1 53. Rh7 a2 54. Bd5 {[%csl Rf6]
[%cal Gh7f7] Diagram [#] Vachier resigned due to the checkmate.} (54. Bd5 a1=Q
55. Rf7+ Kg5 56. Rf5# {What a game by the world champion!}) 1-0

Report.

The Clash of the Top Seed

Round three of the Gashimov Memorial saw the long-awaited clash of the world's top players. The Stonewall suited Carlsen well again after his memorable win against Vishy Anand in Baden-Baden earlier this year. Caruana's time trouble prevented him from splitting the point, which would not been that difficult otherwise.

[Event "Shamkir Chess"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.04.19"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2802"]
[BlackElo "2863"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:43:20"]
[BlackClock "1:02:50"]

{This was the third encounter between the former number two and the world
champion after the incredible Sinquefield tournament this summer. After the
memorable string of seven wins plenty of people hurried to claim that Fabiano
Caruana is the main threat for the world champion. Magnus Carlsen is obviously
well stimulated by these statements and wants to prove that there is no
rivalry at the moment.} 1. d4 {In the last two games Caruana chose 1.e4 but
did not get much out of the opening.} f5 {The Dutch is a recent addition to
Carlsen's repertoire which show his real intentions. No slow, boring positions
but real battle.} 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. c4 c6 {Carlsen also used the
Stonewall to defeat his great predecessor in February.} 5. Nf3 (5. Nh3 {
remains a viable option for White.} d6 6. O-O Be7 7. b3 e5 {Zhou,J (2625)-Wang,
Y (2702) Xinghua 2012}) 5... d5 6. O-O Bd6 7. b3 Qe7 {Diagram [#] To stop
Bc1-a3 with favourable trade of the dark-squared bishops.} 8. Bb2 {Caruana
decided to play solid.} (8. Ne5 {was Anand's choice and after} O-O 9. Nd2 a5 {
[%csl Yb4][%cal Ga5a4]} 10. Bb2 Nbd7 11. Qc2 a4 12. Ndf3 Ne4 {Anand came up
with a novelty} 13. e3 {which however did not yield White much, Anand,V (2797)
-Carlsen,M (2865) Baden-Baden 2015}) ({Another solid plan is the bishop trade
after} 8. a4 O-O 9. Ba3 Bxa3 10. Nxa3 b6 11. Qc1 Bb7 12. Nc2 a5 $11 {Vachier
Lagrave,M (2745)-Radjabov,T (2713) Beijing 2013}) 8... b6 9. Ne5 Bb7 10. Nd2
O-O 11. Rc1 a5 {The same move as in the game with Anand.} 12. e3 Na6 13. Nb1 ({
Also possible is} 13. Qe2 a4 14. bxa4 Bxe5 15. dxe5 Nd7 16. a5 Nac5 17. Bc3 {
when instead of} bxa5 {Possible improvements would be} (17... Ba6 $1) ({Or}
17... Na4 $5) 18. Nb3 Nxb3 19. axb3 $14 {So,W (2656)-Reinderman,D (2573) Wijk
aan Zee 2010}) 13... Bxe5 14. dxe5 Ne4 15. Qe2 {Diagram [#]} a4 $146 {
Carlsen's novelty. It is funny how similar his ideas are so far in comparison
to the game with Anand.} ({Previously only} 15... Nc7 {has been seen} 16. f3
Ng5 {but this does not look active enough and White is somewhat better after}
17. Nc3 ({Instead of} 17. h4 Nf7 18. e4 fxe4 19. fxe4 dxc4 20. Qxc4 c5 21. Rfd1
{with a draw, Komarov,D (2575)-Gleizerov,E (2540) Leeuwarden 1995})) 16. Nc3
axb3 17. axb3 Qb4 $132 {Black generated enough counter play on the queenside.}
18. Nxe4 {This more or less should have forced a draw. the next moves are very
logical and push the game towards the logical outcome.} dxe4 (18... fxe4 {
would weaken the c8-h3 diagonal and will be favourable for White after} 19. Bh3
Nc5 20. Bd4 $14) 19. Qc2 Nc5 20. Bc3 Qxb3 21. Qxb3 Nxb3 22. Rb1 Nc5 23. Rxb6
Na4 {[%csl Yb6,Yc3] Diagram [#] The bishop pair is taken off the board and
Black has a strong knight versus a relatively passive bishop. This however
should not be for very long and White has an active rook as compensation. One
problem for Caruana was that he was getting low on time.} 24. Rxb7 Nxc3 25. Re7
Rfe8 26. Rxe8+ {An easier draw would have been} (26. Rc7 Rec8 27. Re7 Re8 28.
Rc7 {as if the other rook attacks} Rac8 {it will no longer has an open file}
29. Ra7 $11) 26... Rxe8 27. Ra1 (27. f3 {"was an immediate draw. I was very
surprised the way that the things have happened". (Carlsen)}) 27... Rd8 28. Bf1
c5 {[%csl Gc3,Yf1] Diagram [#] "I thought that the position was a draw no
matter what I play and then I somehow drifted. The next idea was a disaster"
(Caruana)} 29. Ra3 (29. Ra5 {should draw indeed in the line that both the
players showed at the press conference} Rd1 ({Caruana was more concerned about
} 29... Rd2 {but Carlsen did not think he has anything after} 30. Rxc5 Nd1 31.
Rc8+ Kf7 32. Rc7+ Kf8 33. Rc8+ Ke7 34. Rc7+ Kd8 35. Rxg7 Nxf2 36. c5 Ng4 37.
Bb5 $11) 30. Rxc5 Nb1 31. Rc6 (31. Rc8+ Kf7 32. Kg2 Nd2 33. Rd8 {was also
equal.}) 31... Nd2 32. Rd6 Rxf1+ 33. Kg2 Rd1 34. c5 Rc1 35. Rxd2 Rxc5 $11 {"I
could not see anything better" (Carlsen)}) 29... Nb1 30. Ra1 Nd2 {Now White is
in trouble and the lack of time does not contribute to solving his problems.}
31. Be2 ({Or else White loses a pawn after} 31. Kg2 Nf3 32. Ra5 Rc8) 31... Nf3+
32. Bxf3 (32. Kg2 Nxe5) 32... exf3 {The endgame is difficult for White and the
world champion plays very neatly.} 33. h3 h5 $1 {[%csl Yg1][%cal Rh5g4,Rf5g4]
Diagram [#] It is important to keep the white king in a box.} 34. g4 (34. Ra5
Rd1+ 35. Kh2 Rf1 36. Rxc5 Rxf2+ 37. Kh1 (37. Kg1 Rg2+) 37... Rf1+ 38. Kh2 Rc1 {
and the f pawn promotes.}) 34... fxg4 35. hxg4 h4 $1 {Now the king is trapped
forever.} 36. Kh2 ({There is no way out} 36. g5 Kh7 37. Kh2 Kg6 38. Kh3 Kh5 $1)
36... Rd2 37. Kh3 g5 38. e4 Rd4 {Carlsen avoids the rampant rook idea possible
after} (38... Rxf2 $4 39. Ra8+ Kg7 40. Ra7+ Kg6 {Diagram [#]} 41. Rg7+ $1 Kh6
42. Rh7+ Kxh7 {and stalemate.}) 39. Ra8+ Kf7 40. Ra3 ({The players also
discussed the line after} 40. Ra7+ {but cme to the conclusion that Black is
winning anyway.}) 40... Rxc4 41. Rxf3+ Ke7 42. Re3 Rd4 {The rest is a matter
of technique for the world champion.} 43. f3 c4 44. Ra3 Rd3 45. Ra7+ Kd8 46.
Kg2 c3 47. Ra4 c2 48. Rc4 Rd2+ 49. Kh3 Kd7 50. Rc5 Rf2 51. f4 (51. Rc3 Rxf3+)
51... Rf3+ 52. Kh2 Rxf4 {Diagram [#] A somewhat misterious win by the world
champion.} 0-1

Report.

One Mistake

The only decisive game in round two of the Shamkir Tournament was the one between the world champion and the Azerbaijani's highest rated representative. Mamedyarov committed just one mistake in the opening but this proved one too many:

[Event "Shamkir Chess"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.04.18"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2863"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:39:35"]
[BlackClock "0:25:47"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 g6 {Mamedyarov chose the solid, but someone
passive Schlechter line of the Slav defense. The arising positions transform
into Gruenfeld set-ups.} 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be2 {This move is considered more
precise than} (6. Bd3 O-O 7. O-O {which allows} Bg4) 6... O-O 7. O-O b6 ({Four
years ago Vugar Gashimov won a nice game against the world champion's second
after} 7... Nbd7 8. h3 b6 9. b3 Bb7 10. Bb2 c5 11. Qc2 Rc8 12. Rad1 dxc4 13.
Bxc4 Bxf3 14. gxf3 cxd4 15. Rxd4 Ne8 16. Rd2 Nd6 {Nielsen,P (2681)-Gashimov,V
(2760) Khanty-Mansiysk 2011}) ({The guru of the Schlechter line Gata Kamsky
prefers to play} 7... a6 {This should mean something.}) 8. a4 {The idea is
either to expand on the queenside or to weaken the b5 point. Also interesting
is} (8. b4 Ne4 9. Bb2 ({Please note that the capture on e4 leads only to
equality after} 9. Nxe4 dxe4 10. Nd2 e5 $11) 9... Nxc3 10. Bxc3 Bb7 $14 {Anton
Guijarro,D (2607)-Li,C (2711) Germany 2015}) 8... a5 {Mamedyarov had some
doubts about this move.} (8... Ba6) (8... Bf5 {were tested as well previously.}
) 9. cxd5 {Diagram [#]} cxd5 $146 {Mamedyarov tries to improve upon a game by
Anand that saw:} (9... Nxd5 10. e4 Nb4 11. Be3 Bg4 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 $14 {
with long-lasting edge for White, Anand,V (2800)-Wang,Y (2732) Nanjing 2010})
10. b3 Ne4 $2 {Both players didn't like this move. It is quite common in the
Gruenfeld but here is just bad as Black cannot free himself in the center.} ({
Instead both} 10... Nc6 11. Ba3 Nb4) ({Or} 10... Ba6 {and only after} 11. Nb5
Ne4 {are playable for Black.}) 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Nd2 Bb7 {Mamedyarov is forced
to get into passive defense.} ({The point is that the usual freeing move} 12...
e5 {(see the note to move eight) can be refuted in two ways. Either with the
preliminary} 13. Ba3 $1 ({Or after the immediate} 13. d5 $1 Qxd5 14. Ba3 Rd8
15. Nxe4 $16) 13... Re8 14. Nxe4 exd4 15. Nd6 $16 {In both cases with large
advantage for White.}) 13. Ba3 f5 14. Rc1 {A clever move. Carlsen does not
want to put a piece yet on c4.} Kh8 {In case that Black continues he
development with} (14... Nd7 {White has} 15. Bb5 Nf6 16. Nc4 {with a bind. One
line goes} Nd5 17. Ne5 Rc8 18. Rxc8 Qxc8 19. Bd7 Qa8 20. Be6+ Kh8 21. Nf7+ Kg8
{Quite strangely White does not win material after the many discovered attacks,
but this does not change the evaluation of the position as clearly better for
White} 22. Nd8+ Kh8 23. Nxb7 Qxb7 24. Qc2 $16) 15. Nc4 Nd7 16. d5 $1 {[%csl
Rd5] Diagram [#]} Rc8 17. d6 {Carlsen: "Once I get the pawn to d6 then the
position is, I think, very unpleasant for Black. He cannot get serious
counterplay against the king and I break through on the queenside quickly.
Mamedyarov agreed with the world champion: "It was very easy to play for White.
"} e6 ({Black loses material after} 17... exd6 18. Nxd6 (18. Qxd6 {is also
great for him.}) 18... Rxc1 19. Qxc1 Bd5 20. Rd1 Bxb3 21. Nb7 $16) 18. b4 $1 {
Strong play by Carlsen. One weakness is not enough to win the game and he
opens the road for his pieces while the black ones are busy with the d6 passer.
} axb4 19. Bxb4 Bd5 20. a5 bxa5 21. Bxa5 Qe8 22. Qa4 Bc6 23. Qb4 Rb8 24. Nb6 {
The white pieces are easily improving themselves. Now the best blockader is
challenged.} Ne5 ({For good or for bad Black had to try} 24... Nxb6 25. Bxb6
Qd7 {It is doubtful that Black can say himself after say} 26. Ba6 {White
controls the open c file and will soon break in, but this was Mamedyarov's
best chance.}) 25. Qc5 Ba8 {This loses on the spot. Once that the blockade is
gone White wins with direct attack along the seventh rank.} ({Some extra
control of the seventh rank was needed, although I suspect that both the
players had already considered Black's position hopeless after} 25... Rf7 26.
Bc3 Nd7 27. Nxd7 Bxd7 28. Bxg7+ Kxg7 29. Qe5+) 26. Bc3 {[%csl Ye5,Yh8][%cal
Ra7h7,Ra1h8] Diagram [#] Domination.} Nd7 27. Bxg7+ Kxg7 28. Nxd7 Qxd7 29. Qe5+
{Black resigned due to the checkmate (or queen loss) after} (29. Qe5+ Kh6 (
29... Kg8 30. Rc7) 30. Rc7 Qd8 31. Qg7+ Kg5 32. h4+ Kxh4 33. Qh6# {Magnus
Carlsen needed only one mistake from his opponent to punish him harshly.}) 1-0

Report.

Keeping the Promise

Magnus Carlsen stroke back after the painful loss in the third round of the Grenke Chess Classics. In the fourth the Norwegian faced his old rival Vishy Anand. With risky and aggressive play Carlsen put serious pressure on his opponent with the black pieces until he finally blundered. Thus, the World Champion kept his hidden promise of further wins after the third round.

[Event "GRENKE Chess Classic 2015"]
[Site "Baden-Baden"]
[Date "2015.02.06"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A90"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2865"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

1. d4 {The game betweent the world champion of now and his predecessor is
always a great show.} f5 {This was not quite a shock as Magnus had played like
that previously. His former coach S. Agdestein is a great aficionado of the
Dutch as well.} 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. c4 c6 {But that is a surprise! The
Stonewall have never been seen in Magnus' games before.} 5. Nf3 {It was
generally considered that the best position for this knight is on h3. After} (
5. Nh3 {White intends to develop his knights in Petrosian's favourite way- the
one from h3 goes to f4 and d3, the one from b1- to d2 and f3. Then they both
have excellent view of the e5 spot. Petrosian claimed that this set up paid
his flat in Moscow... Leaving the nice sense of humour of the ninth world
champion aside I can only add that Black had found interesting ways to fight
against this set up, for example} d6 6. O-O Be7 7. b3 e5 {Zhou,J (2625)-Wang,Y
(2702) Xinghua 2012}) 5... d5 6. O-O Bd6 7. b3 Qe7 {To stop Bc1-a3 with
favourable trade of the dark-squared bishops.} 8. Ne5 {Vishy takes control of
the strong outpost at once.} ({Another move is} 8. Bb2 {Then a game of Salo
Flohr saw the idea that Vishy performed in the game} O-O 9. Qc2 Bd7 10. Ne5 Na6
11. Nxd7 $1 {It seems weird to trade the excellent knight for the bad bishop
but the latter is an important defender of the light squares. After} Qxd7 12.
Nd2 g5 13. Nf3 Qg7 14. Qc1 g4 15. Ne5 Nb8 16. Ba3 Bxa3 17. Qxa3 {White is
ready to break the barricades on the light squares, Flohr,S-Goldberg,G Moscow
1949}) ({White can insist on swapping the bishops off with} 8. a4 O-O 9. Ba3
Bxa3 10. Nxa3 {Although now his knight is somewhat displaced (too far away
from the e5 square that is!)} b6 11. Qc1 Bb7 12. Nc2 a5 $11 {1/2-1/2 (43)
Vachier Lagrave,M (2745)-Radjabov,T (2713) Beijing 2013}) 8... O-O 9. Nd2 a5 {
[%csl Yb4][%cal Ga5a4] Diagram [#] Black grabs space on both flanks. This move
is usually an active defense, although the little pawn might have deeper
thoughts.} 10. Bb2 Nbd7 11. Qc2 a4 12. Ndf3 Ne4 13. e3 $146 {Diagram [#] A
solid move, which is also a novelty.} ({Previously only} 13. bxa4 {had been
seen. Looks ugly, but White wants to exert pressure along the b file} Bxe5 14.
dxe5 (14. Nxe5 $5 Nxe5 15. dxe5 {might be better}) 14... Nb6 $1 15. cxd5 exd5
16. Rab1 Nc4 {Black had an excellent position in Goganov,A (2550)-Sandipan,C
(2590) Moscow 2013}) 13... a3 ({A solid reply for Black is mentioned by Magnus
} 13... Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Bd7 {with an OK position for the second player.}) 14. Bc3
Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Bd7 {Black finishes the development. Magnus disliked} (15... Bxe5
16. dxe5 b5 (16... b6 {might be better}) 17. cxb5 cxb5 {because of the strong}
18. Rfc1 Ba6 (18... Nxc3 19. Qxc3 Bd7 {is a risk-free edge for White.}) 19. Be1
Rfc8 20. Qd3 {and Black cannot play b5-b4} b4 21. Rxc8+ {(Carlsen)}) 16. Nxd7 {
Flohr's idea from above. The bishop could become dangerous after Bd7-e8-h5.}
Qxd7 17. c5 Bc7 {Magnus confidently levelled the game.} 18. b4 {White's plan
is clear. Ra1-b1, b4-b5, open the queenside, penetrate on the seventh...} ({Or
} 18. Be1 e5 19. f3 Ng5 {with approximate equality.}) 18... h5 {In terurn
Black shows activity on the other wing.} 19. Be1 {[%csl Ge1,Gg2][%cal Rf2f3,
Re3e4] Diagram [#] Vishy plays for the win but this allows the freeing central
advance! In case of} (19. f3 {Black will need to trade the kngiht for the
bishop} Nxc3 20. Qxc3 h4 21. f4 g5 {"This should be sufficient counterplay."
(Carlsen) The presence of the light-squared bishops should be an indicator of
a likely draw.}) 19... e5 $1 {The threat is e5xd4 followed by f5-f4.} 20. dxe5
Bxe5 21. Rd1 {Now the knight on e4 is hanging.} Qe6 (21... h4 22. Bxe4 fxe4 23.
Qxe4) 22. f3 {The knight is unbearable and White also wants to open up the
game for the bishops.} Nf6 23. Bh3 g6 24. e4 $1 dxe4 25. fxe4 {All of this was
pretty logical and forced. Magnus had to make a decision- to play calm and
solid moves or to go for a risky line. He chose the latter!} Bb2 $5 {[%csl Ya2,
Ga3,Rg8][%cal Ye6a2,Ga3a2,Ga2a1] Diagram [#]} ({Black is doing fine after}
25... Ng4 26. exf5 Rxf5 27. Rxf5 gxf5) ({Naturally,} 25... Nxe4 $4 {is not
great} 26. Qxe4) 26. exf5 Qxa2 {"I might have overestimated my position" said
Magnus at the press conference. Indeed, the position of his king is scary, but
if he manages to trade the queens, his pawn will get promoted. The analyzes
showed that with correct play by both sides the game should have ended in a
draw.} 27. Bf2 ({Carlsen saw that the lines with the pawn capture are always
good for him} 27. Kh1 Rad8 28. fxg6 $4 (28. Rxd8 Rxd8 29. fxg6 $2 Qd5+ 30. Bg2
Qd3) 28... Rxd1 29. Qxd1 Qd5+ {In both cases he trades the queens and promotes
a new one!}) 27... g5 28. Rfe1 $1 {Correctly centralizing his troops. Anand
needs to attack the enemy king to survive.} Qf7 29. Re6 {Now White threatens
to shift the bishop from h3 to c4. Magnus has to force matters.} (29. Bf1 $2 {
does not work yet due to} Nd5 {[%csl Yf5] and the f5 pawn falls.}) 29... Ng4 {
Opens further the king, but as Carlsen said at the press conference he could
not find anything decisive for White after thorough calculation.} (29... Rad8
$5 {was another interesting idea, but the world champion obviously does not
want to move the rook away from the a file. After} 30. Rxd8 Rxd8 31. Bf1 Nd5
32. Rg6+ Kf8 33. Bc4 Nxb4 $5 34. Qb3 Nd5 {the game remains unclear.}) 30. Bxg4
hxg4 31. Rg6+ Kh7 {[%csl Rh7][%cal Ga3a2] Diagram [#] The culmination of the
battle.} 32. Rd7 $4 {Anand blunders. Correct was} (32. Re6 {For example} Qxf5 {
leads to another perpetual} (32... Bf6 33. Rxf6 $1 {This leaves to perpetual} (
33. Qa2 $5 {(Carlsen)}) 33... Qxf6 34. Rd7+ Rf7 (34... Kg8 35. Bd4 a2 {is bad
due to} 36. Qc4+ Kh8 37. Bxf6+ Rxf6 38. Rd1 a1=Q 39. Rxa1 Rxa1+ 40. Kg2 {where
White should win.}) 35. Bd4 Qxd4+ 36. Rxd4 a2 37. Rd1 a1=Q 38. Rxa1 Rxa1+ 39.
Kg2 Re1 $11) (32... Rae8 $2 33. Rdd6) 33. Rd7+ Kg8 34. Rg6+ Kh8 35. Rh6+ ({The
spectacular} 35. Qxb2+ axb2 36. Bd4+ {fails to} Rf6 {as mentioned by Carlsen.})
) 32... Qxd7 33. f6 Qd1+ $1 {The neatest road to the win. The black king
easily escapes the checks and the little a pawn loudly presents itself to the
world!} 34. Qxd1 Kxg6 35. Qd3+ Kh6 36. h4 gxh3 {Carlsen is back into the
contest for the tournament win.} 0-1

Report.

The Black Cat Naiditsch

Arkadij Naiditsch turns into a very serious trouble to the reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen. At least for the last two games. However, while at the last Olympiad Arkadij won from a suspect (to say at least) position yesterday he managed to convincingly outplay his rival at the the Grenke Classics.

[Event "GRENKE Chess Classic 2015"]
[Site "Baden-Baden"]
[Date "2015.02.04"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2706"]
[BlackElo "2865"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

{A couple of years ago Arkadij revealed that his favourite player ever was
Magnus Carlsen. "I do not see how to beat him", added he with a smile. The
last two games between these two proved that things have changed. At least for
the second statement.} 1. e4 g6 {Carlsen did not use the Pirc since 2012 and
with a good reason as his results are not great here. It seems as he was ready
to risk more than usual in this game.} 2. d4 Bg7 ({The exotic} 2... Nf6 3. e5
Nh5 4. Be2 {did not anywhere in Adams,M (2728)-Carlsen,M (2826)
Khanty-Mansiysk 2010}) 3. Nc3 d6 4. Be3 a6 5. a4 Nf6 6. h3 O-O 7. g4 ({A
quiter plan is} 7. Nf3 e5 8. dxe5 dxe5 9. Qxd8 Rxd8 10. Bc4 Nc6 11. O-O {
although this did not provide anything significant to White, Jakovenko,D (2729)
-Kempinski,R (2610) Plovdiv 2012}) 7... e5 ({The great Pirc specialist Zurab
Azmaiparashvili prefers the move} 7... c5 {here and this might be the better
choice.}) 8. d5 c6 9. Nge2 $146 {A logical novelty. White wants to bring the
knight on g3 as quick as possible to kill any counterplay related with the
f7-f5 advance.} ({Previously only} 9. Bg2 Qa5 10. Nge2 cxd5 11. exd5 Nbd7 {was
seen in Nikolova,A (2341)-Tonel,G (2036) Rijeka 2014}) 9... cxd5 10. exd5 Bxg4
{Diagram [#] An unexpected move to say at least... "I was of course quite
shocked when he played this but maybe it is not such a bad practical chnce as
I was already threatening Ne2-g3". (Naiditsch)} ({After} 10... Nbd7 11. Ng3 {
[%csl Ge4][%cal Gg4g5,Gg3e4] "followed by g4-g5 and Ng3-e4 White has clear
positional advantage. Of course, one should be desperate to sacrifice on g4".
(Naiditsch)}) 11. hxg4 Nxg4 12. Qd2 {Not the best move according to the winner.
} ({Arkadij spend a lot of time calculating the following line} 12. Bd2 Qb6 13.
Ne4 f5 14. N2c3 h5 15. a5 Qa7 16. Bh3 (16. Qe2 {might be more subtle with the
idea} fxe4 17. Nxe4 Qd4 18. f3 Nf6 19. Bc3 Qxd5 20. Rd1 Qc6 21. Rxd6 Qc7 22.
Qc4+ Qxc4 23. Bxc4+ Kh8 24. Bd3 {where White is completely dominating.}) 16...
fxe4 17. Nxe4 Qd4 (17... Nxf2 $4 18. Be6+ Kh7 19. Rxh5+ gxh5 20. Qxh5+ Bh6 21.
Qxh6#) 18. Qe2 {"White's advantage is massive as he is checkmating" (Naiditsch)
.}) 12... Nd7 13. Ne4 {White is slowing dow the opponent's pawns in the center.
} (13. O-O-O {is also possible but for understandable reasons White does not
feel like doing it anytime soon.}) 13... f5 14. Bg5 Qb6 15. Bh3 Ndf6 16. Nxf6+
Nxf6 17. Nc3 {With the idea to castle long.} ({Naiditsch considered less
promising the continuation} 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. c3 Rac8) (17. O-O-O {at once is
not clear after} Ne4 18. Be3 Nxd2 19. Bxb6 Nc4 20. Be3 b5 {whe the black pawns
look scary.}) ({I have the feeling though that the white king is best placed
on the kingside} 17. Bg2 $5 Qxb2 18. O-O Rac8 19. Rfc1 Rc7 20. Rab1 Qa3 21. Qa5
{should be better for White.}) 17... Qxb2 18. Rb1 Qa3 19. Rxb7 ({Objectively
better was} 19. Rb3 Qc5 20. O-O {with slight advantage for White.}) 19... Rf7 {
Magnus was afraid of the line} (19... Rab8 20. Rxg7+ $5 ({Instead} 20. Rxb8
Rxb8 21. Bg2 Rc8 {should be still little better for White.}) 20... Kxg7 21.
Bxf5 gxf5 22. Bxf6+ Kxf6 {Diagram [#] which looks indeed horrifying for a
human being. The poor king lacks any defence and is attacked by both teh queen
and the rook. Still, the cold-blooded machine finds no more than a draw after
both} 23. Rxh7 ({Or} 23. Qh6+ Ke7 24. Qe6+ Kd8 25. Rxh7 Qxc3+ 26. Kf1 Qc4+ 27.
Kg2 Qg4+ 28. Kh2 Qf4+ $11) 23... f4 24. Qd3 Qc1+ 25. Ke2 Rf7 26. Rxf7+ Kxf7 27.
Qf5+ Kg8 28. Qg6+) 20. Rb3 Qc5 21. Qe3 $1 {The king will be safe without the
queens on the board.} Qc7 22. Qb6 e4 23. Qc6 $5 {Naiditsch lures the rook on
c8.} Rc8 {The only move as after} (23... Qxc6 24. dxc6 Rc8 25. Bxf6 Bxf6 26.
Nd5 Rxc6 {White has the nice trick} 27. Bxf5 $1 gxf5 28. Rg1+ Kf8 (28... Rg7
29. Nxf6+) 29. Rb8+ Bd8 30. Rxd8#) 24. O-O {Arkadij calculated that he wins
the pawn back. The trick} (24. Bxf6 Bxf6 25. Nxe4 $4 {fails to} Qa5+) 24...
Qxc6 25. dxc6 Rxc6 {"Endgame should be close to winning for White" (Naiditsch)}
26. Rfb1 h6 27. Bxf6 $1 {White is happy to have the rook on f7. Another
tempting continuation was} (27. Rb8+ Kh7 28. Bxf6 Bxf6 29. Nd5 {with the idea}
Rxc2 $4 ({But Black can defend after} 29... Be5) 30. Nxf6+ Rxf6 31. R1b7+ Rf7
32. Rxf7#) 27... Bxf6 {Diagram [#]} 28. Nxe4 $1 {[%csl Yf7,Yg8][%cal Gh3e6]
The point behind White's previous play! White regains the pawn and destroys
the black pawn chain.} Be5 (28... fxe4 {is hopeless after} 29. Be6 Kg7 30. Bxf7
Kxf7 31. Rb6 {as White wins both d6 and a6 pawns.}) 29. Nd2 Rxc2 30. Nf3 Ra2
31. Bg2 {A slip for which Arkadij was furous about. He could have won with} (
31. Nxe5 $1 dxe5 32. Rb4 $1 ({Rather than the sugegsted by many commentators}
32. Rb6 {which he also calculated but felt correctly should be a clear win
after} Rxa4 33. Rxg6+ Kh7 34. Rbb6 Rh4 35. Kg2 Rh5 $1 {White has only one gold
pawn left and is anything but sure of winning} 36. Rbf6 Rxf6 37. Rxf6 Kg7 38.
Rxf5 (38. Rxa6 {gives some practical chances but hardly a win.}) 38... Rxf5 39.
Bxf5 Kf6 {followed by Kf6-g5-f4 (Naiditsch)}) 32... a5 33. Rc4 {Next the
bishop comes to f1, White slowly improves and takes the a pawn and the game
home.}) 31... Bf6 32. Nh2 Kg7 {Now the game starts again. White is still
better but has to maneuver a lot to prove that.} 33. Bd5 Re7 34. Rb4 Rd2 35.
Bc4 a5 36. Rb7 Rd4 37. Rxe7+ Bxe7 38. Bb5 h5 39. Nf3 Rf4 40. Kg2 h4 ({Perhaps}
40... Bf6 41. Rd1 Rg4+ 42. Kf1 Rf4 43. Rd3 g5 {was a better defense.}) 41. Rd1
{Intending to swap off the rooks after Rd1-d4.} Rg4+ 42. Kf1 h3 43. Rd3 $1 {
[%csl Gf1,Yf3][%cal Gf1g1,Gg1h1,Yh2f1,Yf1e3,Ye3c4,Ye3d5,Yf3h2] A nice
regroupment. The white king goes to the h file to deal with the Black's
complex of a dangerous passer and rook behind it. The knight is set free for
greater deeds.} Bf6 44. Nh2 Rh4 45. Kg1 Bd4 46. Rf3 Kf6 47. Nf1 Be5 $6 ({A
much more resilent defense is} 47... Ke5 48. Nd2 d5 {trying to keep the knight
blocked. For example} ({Not} 48... g5 $2 49. Bd7) 49. Rg3 Kf6 50. Nf3 $2 Bxf2+
$1 51. Kxf2 h2 52. Nxh2 (52. Nxh4 h1=Q 53. Rxg6+ Kf7 54. Rh6 Qh2+ $11) 52...
Rxh2+ 53. Ke3 Rh4 {with a draw. Naturally, White can improve his play in this
line, but he will still have to work very hard to win (if this is even
possible).}) 48. Ne3 Kg5 49. Kh1 Kf6 $6 {The last chance for teh World
Champion was the line} (49... Rf4 50. Rxf4 (50. Rg3+ Kh4 51. Rxg6 Rxf2 52. Rh6+
Kg3 53. Nf1+ Kg4 $11) 50... Kxf4 51. Nc4 Bc3 52. Nxd6 Kf3 53. Be8 Bb4 {when it
is not yer certain if this is a win for White.}) 50. Nc4 g5 51. Nxa5 g4 52. Rd3
f4 53. Nc4 Rh7 54. Nxe5 $1 {[%cal Ra4a5,Ra5a6,Ra6a7,Ra7a8,Rb5c6,Rd3a3] Diagram
[#] Without the bishop on the board Black cannot stop the white passer. The
game is essentially over although some accuracy is still needed.} dxe5 55. a5
Rc7 56. Ra3 $1 {The last subtle move. Rook behind the pawnpromotes it
authomatically. It also kills the black counter-chances related with his
strong pawns. Worse is} (56. Rd1 Rc5 57. Rb1 g3 58. fxg3 fxg3 59. a6 Rc2 60.
Ra1 Rh2+ 61. Kg1 Rg2+ 62. Kf1 Rf2+ 63. Ke1 $4 (63. Kg1 $11) 63... e4 $1 {
(Gustafsson) when it is Black who wins!} 64. Bc6 e3 65. a7 g2) 56... Rc1+ 57.
Kh2 Rc2 58. a6 Rxf2+ 59. Kh1 g3 60. a7 Rd2 61. Ra1 {Arkadij Naiditsch won his
second game in a row against the World Champion Magnus Carlsen and can be
proud with the game that he had played!} 1-0

Report by Kostya Kavutskiy.

Carlsen Takes Early Lean in Baden-Baden

The world champion Magnus Carlsen took an early lead at the Grenke Super tournament after defeating Michael Adams in a typical, positional style. Mickey was Magnus'second at the recent WC match in Sochi, which did not prevent the Norwegian from surprising him in the opening. The novelty promised Carlsen slight, but durable positional advantage:

[Event "GRENKE Chess Classic 2015"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.02.03"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2865"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:37:54"]
[BlackClock "0:28:40"]

1. c4 e5 {The reversed Sicilian that is.} 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 {The
reversed Rossolimo line.} 5. Nd5 (5. Bg2 {is considered the main line but the
move in the game scoes better for White, at least by percentage.}) 5... Bc5 6.
Bg2 d6 7. O-O O-O 8. d3 ({Adams has experience in this line. A couple years
ago he drew comfortably against the current number three in the world after} 8.
e3 a6 9. d3 Ba7 10. Nxf6+ Qxf6 11. Bd2 Qg6 {Grischuk,A (2785)-Adams,M (2752)
Warsaw 2013}) 8... Nxd5 9. cxd5 Nd4 {Mickey trades the second knight, thus
freeing his position a bit.} (9... Ne7 {is the other option.}) 10. Nxd4 exd4 {
The idea is to create counter play against the backward pawn on e2.} ({The
other capture is also possible} 10... Bxd4 11. e3 Bb6 {Next both the sides are
trying to grab space on the kingside with f2-f4-f5 for White and f7-f5-f4 for
Black!} 12. Kh1 Bd7 13. Bd2 Qe8 14. a4 a5 15. f4 f5 16. Re1 Qf7 {and
approximate equality in Grachev,B (2705)-Mchedlishvili,M (2626) Tashkent 2012})
11. Bd2 {Magnus wants to expand on the queenside, but Black is alert.} a5 12.
e4 {Naturally, the World Champion does not want to wait and see the black
heavy pieces piled towards his pawn.} dxe3 13. fxe3 Qg5 14. Rf4 $146 {A
novelty, technically speaking. All of this has been seen previously with White
continuing} (14. d4 {first and only after} Bb6 15. Rf4 {After} Bd7 16. Qc2 a4
17. Raf1 Qe7 {Black seemed very stable in Kiselev,V (2505)-Garakov,M (2412)
Lugansk 2007}) 14... Bd7 ({Perhaps it made sense for Black to avoid the game
continuation with} 14... a4 $5 15. Qc2 Bd7 {which would most likely transpose
into the previously played game after} 16. d4 Bb6) 15. a4 $1 {Diagram [#] In
fact this is the actual novelty in comparison to the game Kiselev-Garakov from
above. Magnus' idea is to fix the pawn on a5 and attack the queenside later
with b2-b4.} Rae8 ({Looking into the future it made sense for Adams to keep
the queenside rook where it was to anticipate White's play there} 15... Rfe8 $5
) 16. d4 Bb6 17. Qb3 $1 ({The immediate} 17. b4 {does not give much after} Ra8
(17... axb4 18. a5) 18. Qb3 Qe7 19. bxa5 (19. Qc4 $2 axb4 20. Qxb4 Ba5 $15)
19... Bxa5 20. Bxa5 Rxa5 {as White does not have time to win the pawn} 21. Qxb7
Qxe3+) 17... Qd8 18. Qc4 {[%cal Gd1b3,Gb3c4,Rb2b4] The point behind Carlsen's
maneuver. The queen is optimally placed and actively supports the queenside
attack.} Re7 ({The queen is not as good a defender as the rook} 18... Qa8 19.
b4 axb4 20. a5 Bxa5 21. Bxb4 b6 22. Qxc7 {is advantageous for White.}) 19. b4
axb4 ({White also has a pull after} 19... Qa8 20. Qc3 axb4 21. Qxb4 $14) 20. a5
Ba7 21. Qxb4 $14 {[%csl Ga5,Gd5][%cal Ga5b6,Gd5c6] The opening strategy of the
World Champion succeeded. The advanced pawns on a5 and d5 squeeze the black
forces and White has annoying pressure on the queenside. Mickey tries to free
himself at once.} c5 $1 (21... Bc8 22. Rc1 {looks grim for Black.}) 22. dxc6
Bxc6 23. Qb3 Bxg2 24. Kxg2 Qd7 {[%csl Ya5,Yb7,Yd6,Ye3,Gf1,Gf4][%cal Gd2a5,
Gd2e3,Ga1f1,Gf1f7,Gb1b7] The situation had changed. The doubled d pawn is gone
and the black b and d pawns were separated, thus they became clear targets. On
the other hand, the white bishop is seemingly not the greatest piece ever, but
so is his counterpart. White keeps pressure thanks to the fact that his
heavy pieces are more active and exert pressure. They are actively assisted by
the "poor" bishop that effectively shuts both the a and e semi-open files for
Black.} (24... d5 $4 {is positionally sound but tactically wrong} 25. Bb4) 25.
Raf1 Rc8 26. Rf5 {This prevents d6-d5 and prepares rook transfer along the
fifth rank.} h6 {Adams did not feel the danger. Correct was} (26... g6 27. Rb5
(27. Rf6 d5) 27... h5 {which would have stopped White's activity on the
kingside. The pawn weaknesses on b7 and d6 are very close to each other and
can be defended relatively easily.}) 27. R1f2 Bb8 28. Bb4 Qc6+ 29. R2f3 {The
queen swap will lead to a draw after} (29. Qd5 Qxd5+ 30. Rxd5 Rxe3 31. Bxd6 Rd8
32. Bf4 Rxd5 33. Bxe3 Rxa5 34. Rb2 b5 35. Kf3 $11) 29... Rcc7 30. Be1 Qe8 {It
was not too late to go for} (30... g6 $1 31. Rd5 h5 $11) 31. g4 $1 {Diagram [#]
Now the bishop can be actively used on the h4-d8 diagonal. Magnus also intends
to further advance the pawns on the kingside and open the game there. Thus, he
will create one more weakness- the black king and thanks to the extra space he
can be much more effective in maneuvering on both sides of the board.} Re4 32.
h3 Rce7 33. Bf2 R4e6 $2 {A blunder. However, White was making progress after
both} (33... Rc7 34. Rb5 Ree7 35. Rb6 Red7 36. Qd5 $16) ({Perhaps,} 33... Ba7 {
was the lesser evil} 34. Rb5 Qc8 35. Qd5 $14 {Although White is better here as
well.}) 34. Rb5 Bc7 {The pawn cannot be saved} (34... Qc8 35. a6) (34... Qc6 $4
35. d5) 35. Rxb7 Qa8 {Adams decided that this is the lesser evil in comparison
to the absolute pin after} (35... Bxa5 36. Rb8 Bd8 37. Bh4 Rd7 38. Qb5 {[%csl
Rd7][%cal Rb5d7]} f6 39. Qd5) 36. Rb5 $16 {Diagram [#] The long grinding was
effective as usual with Magnus. He won a pawn and now starts converting it.}
Re8 37. Qd5 Qxd5 38. Rxd5 Rb8 39. Bg3 g6 40. h4 Ra8 41. Be1 Re4 42. g5 h5 {A
strange decision. The defender should trade pawns as a rule} (42... hxg5 43.
hxg5) 43. Rb5 Ra7 44. Kf1 Re8 45. Ke2 Rea8 46. Rf6 Ra6 (46... Bxa5 47. Rxa5
Rxa5 48. Bxa5 Rxa5 49. Rxd6 {leads to the same.}) 47. Bb4 {Magnus correctly
evaluated the rook endgame as won.} Bxa5 48. Rxa5 Rxa5 49. Bxa5 Rxa5 50. Rxd6
Kf8 51. Rf6 Ra3 52. Kf3 Ke7 53. Ke4 Ra5 ({Or} 53... Ke8 54. Rf4 ({Worse is} 54.
d5 Ra4+ 55. Ke5 Rxh4) 54... Ke7 55. d5 Kd6 56. Rf6+ $1 Ke7 57. Rb6 Ra4+ 58. Ke5
Rxh4 59. d6+ Kd7 60. Rb7+ Ke8 61. Re7+ Kf8 62. Kf6 $18) 54. Rf4 $1 {[%cal
Gd4d5,Ge4e5] Diagram [#] The rook defends the fourth rank and enables the
further reinforcement of the position with d4-d5 and Ke4-e5. The game is
decided.} Rb5 55. d5 Rb3 56. Kd4 Ra3 57. e4 Rb3 58. Ke5 Rd3 59. Rf1 $1 Rh3 60.
Ra1 Rxh4 61. d6+ Kd7 62. Ra7+ Ke8 63. Ra8+ Kd7 64. Rf8 {A nice positional win
for the World Champion who takes the sole lead.} 1-0

Report.