Where to Castle?

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

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

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

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Danger in the Reti

Some quiet openings are not as innocent as they seem. True, there are no quick checkmates against the uncastled king (in most of the cases) but a long-term strategical danger often watches for the good opportunity. Check Sanan Sjugirov's effort against D. Jakovenko from round seven of Qatar Masters Open and you know what I mean:

[Event "Qatar Masters Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.12.27"]
[Round "7.7"]
[White "Sjugirov, Sanan"]
[Black "Jakovenko, Dmitry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2646"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:28:19"]
[BlackClock "0:31:11"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Bg4 {The Reti opening is again popular nowadays and the system
with Bg4 remains a very reliable weapon for the second player. Especially of
he/she uses the Slav defense against 1.d4.} 3. Bg2 c6 4. O-O e6 5. h3 {Diagram
[#]} ({More common is the continuation} 5. d3 Bd6 6. c4 Ne7 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Nc3
O-O 9. h3 Bh5 10. e4 {as played very recently in Carlsen,M (2850)-Adams,M
(2744) London 2015}) (5. d4 {is also an option.}) 5... Bh5 6. d3 Nd7 7. e4 Bd6
8. exd5 {[%cal Gc2c4] Diagram [#] Quite a venomous plan as we shall see soon.}
cxd5 (8... exd5 {will be met with} 9. c4 {anyway. After} Ne7 10. Nc3 dxc4 11.
dxc4 {White got very nice position in Khairullin,I (2657)-Pashikian,A (2603)
Legnica 2013}) 9. c4 Ne7 {Looks better than} (9... Ngf6 {when after} 10. Nc3 {
White has the additional threat g3-g4-g5 to win the d5 pawn.}) 10. Nc3 O-O 11.
cxd5 exd5 {Perhaps Black should have traded a pair of knights} (11... Nxd5 12.
Nxd5 exd5 {although White has pressure with} 13. Qb3 $1 ({Rather than the
preliminary} 13. g4 Bg6 14. Qb3 Nc5 $1) 13... Nb6 14. a4 a5 15. Be3) 12. g4
$146 {[%csl Rd5,Yh5] Diagram [#] A very unpleasant novelty to meet. The d5
pawn becomes vulnerable.} ({All five predecessors saw} 12. Re1 {which gave a
chance to Black to defend after} Rc8 13. d4 h6 14. Qb3 Nb6 15. Ne5 Nc6 {
as in the blitz game Kramnik,V (2769)-Adams,M (2745) London 2014}) 12... Bg6
13. Nh4 Nb6 {P. Svidler explained in his live commentary that Black's main
plan is to try and sacrifice the ill d5 pawn for counterplay on the dark
squares. Besides this defense Jakovenko had two other interesting options:} (
13... d4 {which is generally not desirable as it prolongs the diagonal of the
light squared bishop. Play may continue} 14. Nb5 Bc5 {When White has various
ways of developing the initiative. There is an interesting pawn sacrifice:} 15.
b4 ({As well as solid mounting of pressure} 15. Qb3 a6 16. Na3 Ra7 17. Bf4) ({
And classical approach-} 15. f4) 15... Bxb4 16. Rb1 a5 17. Bf4 {In all cases
White seems favourite.}) ({Probably Blac needed to drag the d4 pawn closer to
his camp with} 13... Nc5 $5 14. d4 Ne6 15. f4 Nc6 16. Nxg6 (16. f5 $2 Qxh4)
16... hxg6 17. Be3 Nc7 {this still looks better for White but Black can try to
counter-attack on d4 later.}) 14. Bg5 {with the obvious intention to grab the
pawn after some trades. This move causes confusion in Jakovenko's camp.} (14.
a4 {at once was also good.}) 14... Qd7 ({White is better after} 14... h6 15.
Nxg6 fxg6 16. Be3 Bf4 17. Bd4) 15. a4 $1 {[%csl Yd7][%cal Rb6d7,Ra4a5] Diagram
[#] Now that the queen is no longer protecting the knight on b6 and is taking
the d7 square of it this is specifically painful.} Rae8 ({The bad black knight
is concern in the line} 15... a5 16. Be3 Qd8 17. Qb3 (17. Nb5 $5) 17... Bb4 18.
Na2 $16) 16. a5 Na8 {Awkward to say at least.} 17. Nxg6 ({Svidler revealed
that Black's idea to sacrifice a pawn would have worked well after} 17. Bxe7
Bxe7 (17... Qxe7 {is actually simpler and better} 18. Nxg6 hxg6 19. Nxd5 Qe5 {
with counterplay along the dark squares.}) 18. Nxg6 hxg6 19. Nxd5 Nc7 {[%csl
Rd6,Re5,Rf4,Rg3,Rh2] Diagram [#] and Black will prepare battery on the b8-h2
diagonal.}) 17... Nxg6 (17... hxg6 {was more stubborn.}) 18. Qa4 $1 {[%csl Ya8,
Rd5,Gf4] Diagram [#] A powerful move. White is not in a hurry to capture the
"d" pawn and offers the queen exchange instead. If these two disappear there
will be no counterplay along the dark squares and the drawbacks in Black's
position will be exposed. The "d" pawn will go west, and yes-the knight on a8
would not be the jewel in the crown. The queen controls the "f4" square and
thus kills any counter chances by Black.} Qe6 (18... Qxa4 19. Rxa4 {is
practically lost for Black.}) 19. Bd2 {Another cool move that moves the bishop
away from the vulnerable g5 square, but which prepares Ra1-e1 as well as the
advance of the "f" pawn.} ({No need to allow any counterplay after} 19. Nxd5 f5
) 19... Qe5 ({If} 19... Nc7 20. Rae1 Qc8 {White would finally take the pawn}
21. Nxd5) 20. f4 Bc5+ 21. Kh1 Qb8 22. Nxd5 $18 {Diagram [#] Sjugirov won the
pawn and kept all the positional advantages.} Bd6 23. Qd4 Rd8 24. Bc3 f6 {
After some preparation White opens the game.} 25. g5 Ne7 26. gxf6 Nf5 (26...
gxf6 {is hopeless-} 27. Nxf6+ Kg7 (27... Kf7 28. Bd5+ Nxd5 29. Qxd5+) 28. Nd7+)
27. Qc4 Rf7 (27... Ng3+ 28. Kh2 Nxf1+ 29. Rxf1 $18) 28. fxg7 Rc8 29. Nf6+ {
Diagram [#]} Kxg7 30. Nd7+ Kg8 31. Nxb8 Rxc4 32. dxc4 Ng3+ (32... Bxb8 33. Bd5)
33. Kg1 Ne2+ 34. Kh2 Nxf4 35. Kh1 {Sanan Sjugirov joins Magnus Carlsen in the
lead!} 1-0

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