Crushing the Berlin

Round nine of Tata Steel saw Magnus Carlsen firmly occupying the first place after a win against his second Michael Adams. The other big news were Wei Yi's first win in the event. And what a win that was:

[Event "Tata Steel Chess - Masters"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.01.26"]
[Round "9.3"]
[White "Wei, Yi"]
[Black "Navara, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2706"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:38:08"]
[BlackClock "0:01:40"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 {The Anti-Berlin is getting more and more
popular of lately. It seems as White has not much there as well, but at least
the queens are still on the board!} Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 O-O {Diagram [#]}
({Another plan is} 6... Qe7 7. h3 O-O 8. Nc4 Nd7 9. Qe2 b5 10. Ne3 Nb6 {
as in Caruana,F (2787)-Nakamura,H (2793) London 2015}) 7. Nc4 Nd7 8. Qe2 Re8 9.
Bd2 Bd6 10. h4 $146 {[%csl Yg6][%cal Gh4h5,Gg2g4,Gg4g5] Diagram [#]} ({So far
all the games saw} 10. g4 {One fresh example goes} Nf8 11. Ne3 Ne6 12. Nf5 a5
$1 13. h4 a4 14. Ng5 a3 {when the Dutch GM managed to create serious
counter play in Anand,V (2803)-Giri,A (2798) Bilbao 2015}) 10... c5 {Navara
wants to occupy the d4 outpost with comfort.} ({The knight can come back to}
10... Nf6 {but it will hardly stop the white pawns there.}) ({On the other hand
} 10... Nf8 {can be met with} 11. h5 {attacking and depriving the black knight
of the g6 square and this might be the critical test for Wei's novelty after}
Ne6) 11. h5 h6 {[%csl Rh6] Diagram [#] This is dubious to say at least. In now
way should have Black allowed a hook on the kingside. Both} ({the immediate}
11... Nb8) ({Or} 11... Nf8 12. h6 g6 {were better.}) 12. O-O-O {The immediate}
(12. g4 {was also good for White, for example} Nf8 13. g5 hxg5 14. Bxg5 f6 15.
Bd2 b5 16. Nxd6 cxd6 17. Rg1 {with attack.}) 12... Nb8 13. Rdg1 {Wei is not in
a hurry.} ({Once again} 13. g4 {is possible as Black is not willing to capture
the pawn} Bxg4 $2 (13... f6 14. Nh4) 14. Rdg1 Bxf3 (14... Qd7 15. Rh4 Bxf3 16.
Qxf3) 15. Qxf3 {[%csl Yf7,Rh6][%cal Rf3f7,Rd2h6] Diagram [#] This is not even
winning a pawn as the h6 and f7 spots cannot be defended simultaneously.})
13... Nc6 14. g4 f6 {Navara was obviously counting on this move to seal the
kingside. However...} ({Or else the kingside will be badly opened.} 14... Nd4
15. Nxd4 cxd4 16. g5) 15. g5 $1 {[%csl Yf6,Yg7,Rg8,Yh6][%cal Gg1g8,Gh1h8]
Diagram [#] Wei blows the barricades at once!} (15. Nh4 {will be the
traditional way to play.}) 15... fxg5 16. Nxg5 Nd4 ({In case of the immediate}
16... hxg5 17. Bxg5 {White's attack is also very strong. For example} Be7 (
17... Qd7 18. Bf6 Bf8 19. h6 $18) ({There is no need to transpose into the
game after} 17... Nd4 18. Qe3) 18. Bxe7 (18. Be3 $5) 18... Qxe7 19. h6 g5 20.
Qh5 g4 (20... Kh8 21. Rxg5) 21. Ne3 Kh8 22. Nxg4 Bxg4 23. Rxg4 Rg8 24. Rg7 Qf6
{Diagram [#] with two pawns for the piece and strong threats.}) 17. Qd1 hxg5
18. Bxg5 Be7 {It seems as the attack will soon peter out, but Wei had foreseen
the amazing} ({The other move loses quickly} 18... Qd7 19. Bf6) 19. Be3 $3 {
[%csl Yg7,Yg8][%cal Gg5e3,Rg1g8] Diagram [#] Human beings have difficulties in
seeing backward moves when attacking, but not the Chinese GM. The threat h5-h6
forces Black to go} Bf6 (19... Bd6 20. h6 $18) {But} 20. h6 {is played anyway
and it becomes obvious that the two rooks will have a great party on the open
files.} Re7 ({Black cannot hide behind the pawns as the lines prove} 20... g5
21. Bxg5 $1 {Diagram [#]} (21. Qh5 g4 22. f4) 21... Bxg5+ 22. f4 exf4 23. Qh5
Ne2+ 24. Kd1 Nxg1 25. Qg6+ Kh8 26. Qg7#) (20... g6 21. Qh5 $1 $18) 21. hxg7
Rxg7 22. Qh5 {Now that the black king is opened everything finishes in just a
few moves. The black queenside pieces never took part in the battle.} Be6 23.
Bh6 {Diagram [#] The simplest win.} ({There was a dual} 23. Qh8+ Kf7 24. Rxg7+
Bxg7 25. Nxe5+ Bxe5 26. Rh7+ Kg6 27. Rh6+ Kf7 28. Qxe5 $18) 23... Bf7 24. Bxg7
Bxh5 25. Bxf6+ Kf8 26. Bxd8 Ne2+ 27. Kb1 Nxg1 28. Bxc7 {Diagram [#]} 1-0

Report.

Karjakin with an Important Win

Round nine of the Russian Super Final saw Sergey Karjakin scoring an important win in the battle for the medals.

[Event "Russian Championship Superfinal"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.08.18"]
[Round "9.4"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:29:02"]
[BlackClock "0:37:58"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 {The forced
nature of the Arkhangelsk line makes it preferrable option at top level.} 7. c3
d6 8. a4 Rb8 9. d4 Bb6 10. axb5 axb5 11. Na3 O-O 12. Nxb5 Bg4 13. d5 ({Giri
opted instead for slight and lasting advantage after} 13. Bc2 exd4 14. cxd4 d5
15. e5 Ne4 16. Ra3 f6 17. exf6 Qxf6 18. Nc3 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Nxc3 20. bxc3 Qxf3
21. Qxf3 Rxf3 22. Kg2 {Giri,A (2773)-Nakamura,H (2802) Stavanger 2015}) 13...
Ne7 14. Bc2 Qd7 {[%cal Rd7h3] Diagram [#] "I got a little bit upset that he
played like that as I believe that Black equalizes after that" Karjakin.} 15.
c4 Ng6 16. h3 {This practically forces Black to sacrifice a piece.} ({Worse is
} 16. Qd3 Nh5) 16... Bxh3 (16... Bh5 17. Qd3 {proveides no compensation
whatsoever for the pawn.}) 17. gxh3 Qxh3 18. Ng5 Qg3+ 19. Kh1 Qh4+ 20. Kg2 Nf4+
{[%csl Gf4] Diagram [#] Better than} (20... h6 21. Nh3 Nxe4 22. Qe2 f5 23. Ra3
{with advantage for White as proven in the game Karjakin,S (2672)-Radjabov,T
(2729) Cap d'Agde 2006}) 21. Bxf4 exf4 22. Nf3 Qg4+ 23. Kh1 {For the piece
Black will get soon a second pawn and will enjoy attacking possibilities.} Rfe8
24. Ra3 {A very important move in White's set-up without which he would be
simply worse.} Nxe4 25. Bxe4 Rxe4 26. Rc3 {Diagram [#]} Ba5 {A somewhat
misterious bishop move.} ({Perhaps Black should just go into an endgame with}
26... Qh5+ 27. Nh2 Qxd1 28. Rxd1 Bxf2 {where his pawns might become quite
dangerous as well.}) (26... Rbe8 $5 {deserves serious attention too. Karjakin
considered the position as approximately equal.}) 27. Rc1 $146 {Diagram [#]} ({
The only predecessor saw:} 27. Rc2 Rbe8 ({But Karkjakin was afraid of the
cunning} 27... Be1 $5 {which separates the white heavy pieces and might be
quite annoying. Obviously, the bishop is untouchable} 28. Rxe1 $4 (28. Nxe1 $4
Qxd1) 28... Rxe1+ 29. Qxe1 Qxf3+ 30. Kg1 Qg4+ 31. Kf1 Qh3+ 32. Kg1 f3 $19) 28.
Nh2 Qh3 29. Qf3 Qh6 30. b4 {with advantage for White in Lopez Martinez,J (2550)
-Bellia,F (2405) San Sebastian 2008}) 27... Rbe8 28. Nh2 Qh4 29. Nd4 $1 {[%csl
Gd4][%cal Gh2f3,Gd4f3] Diagram [#] After this move it becomes evident that
Black misses his bishop on the a7-g1 diagonal. The knights cement White's
position and provide time to consolidate the position.} h5 ({There is no
counterattack after} 29... Re1 $2 30. Qa4 Qxf2 31. Qxe8+ $1 {[%csl Yf2][%cal
Rf1f2] Diagram [#] (Karjakin)}) ({But maybe Svidler should have sent the
bishop back to where it belonged} 29... Bb6 30. Ndf3 Qe7 31. b4 Re2 $16) 30.
Qd3 {Better than} (30. Qa4 Bb6 {when the trick} 31. Ne6 $2 {does not work due
to} Rb8 32. Qc2 f3 $1 33. Ng5 Qxg5 {with mate threat which prevents White from
snatching the rook (Karjakin).}) 30... Qf6 {Svidler could have brought the
bishop back again} (30... Bb6 {to which White intended to continue with} 31.
Ndf3 (31. Ne6 $2 f3 $1) 31... Qe7 32. b4 {with advantage. For example} Re2 33.
Rc2 Rxc2 34. Qxc2 Qe2 35. Qf5 Bxf2 (35... g6 36. Qxf4 Re4 37. Qf6 $16) 36. Ng5
Bg3 37. Qxf7+ Kh8 38. Ngf3 $1 $16 ({A funny line is} 38. Nhf3 Qxf1+ 39. Ng1
Qxg1+ (39... Qd1 $4 40. Qxe8#) (39... Qe1 40. Qxh5+ Kg8 41. Qf7+) 40. Kxg1 {
[%csl Yg1] Diagram [#]} Re1+ 41. Kg2 Re2+ $11 {with study-like perpetual.}))
31. Nc6 Bb6 32. b4 f3 {The last attempt for counter-play which White
mercilessly refutes.} 33. Qxf3 Rf4 34. Qc3 ({But not} 34. Qxh5 $2 Rh4 {when
the threat Qf6-f4 will force White to part with his queen.}) 34... Qxc3 35.
Rxc3 Bxf2 36. Rf3 $1 {[%csl Rf4][%cal Gc4c5,Gb4b5] Diagram [#] Trades one of
the active rooks and the remaining one is neither capable of creating of its
own, nor good enough to stop the white passers.} (36. c5 {was also playable
though} Re2 37. cxd6 cxd6 38. Rf3 Rxf3 39. Nxf3 $16 {(Karjakin)}) 36... Rxf3
37. Nxf3 Re2 38. Ng5 $1 {The white horses made good job today.} f6 ({The
knight cannot be trapped after} 38... Bh4 39. Nxf7 Re8 40. Rf4 Bf6 41. Nh6+ {
(Karjakin)}) 39. Ne6 h4 ({Or} 39... g5 40. Nxc7 g4 41. Ne8 g3 42. Nxf6+ Kf7 43.
Nxh5 {and White is just in time (Karjakin).}) 40. Nxc7 Bg3 {Black last chance
was} (40... h3 {when if White is not careful things might end in perpetual.
Svidler however saw the following study} 41. Rxf2 $1 ({For example} 41. b5 {is
only a draw after} Bg3 42. b6 Rh2+ 43. Kg1 Rg2+ 44. Kh1 Rh2+ $11) 41... Rxf2
42. b5 Rb2 43. c5 $1 {[%cal Gd5d6,Gb5b6,Gb6b7,Gd6d7,Gd7d8,Gb7b8] Diagram [#]}
dxc5 44. d6 Rd2 45. Nd5 $1 Kf7 46. b6 Rxd5 47. b7 Rd1+ 48. Kh2 Rb1 49. d7 $18)
41. Ne6 Rc2 ({Now on} 41... h3 {the simplest is} 42. Nf4 Rh2+ 43. Kg1 g5 44.
Nxh3 Rxh3 45. Kg2 g4 46. Rxf6 {Diagram [#] and Black is completely stuck.}) 42.
b5 {Sergey Karjakin will play tomorrow decisive game with the white pieces
against the tournament leader Evgeny Tomashevsky.} (42. b5 Kf7 43. b6 Rb2 44.
b7 $18) 1-0

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.