In September Fabiano Caruana stole the show from the world champion in Saint Louis. He not only won the tournament, but he also defeated Magnus in their personal mini-match and created history with the unthinkable start 7/7.
The new year came though and Magnus Carlsen got the chance for a revenge in Wijk aan Zee.
A game that I liked (ChessBase 13)
[Event "Tata Steel Masters"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.01.16"]
[Round "6.4"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2820"]
[BlackElo "2862"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:00:02"]
[BlackClock "0:20:17"]
1. e4 {The games between the actual number one and two in the world are always
epic battles. Fabiano Caruana is one of the most unpleasant opponents for
the current world champion and his outstanding performance at the Sinquefield
cup in September established him as Magnus Carlsen's main rival at the moment.
Quite understandably, the world champion would use every single opportunity to
prove who is the boss in his kingdom.} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 {Fabiano decided
not to continue the theoretical dispute from their last game where the
Accelarated Dragon took place} (3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 d6 7. f3
Nxd4 8. Qxd4 Bg7 9. Be3 O-O 10. Qd2 {Caruana,F (2801)-Carlsen,M (2877) Saint
Louis 2014}) 3... g6 {Surprise! The last time Carlsen played this was back in
2005. The two big C's have tested another move in their personal encounter} (
3... Nf6 4. Nc3 e5 5. O-O d6 6. d3 Be7 7. Bg5 O-O 8. Bxf6 Bxf6 {Caruana,F
(2774)-Carlsen,M (2864) Moscow 2013}) 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. h3 Nf6 7. Nc3
b6 {A slightly unusual move order. In most of the cases Black starts his
typical regrouping with the one of the following moves} (7... e5 {not fearing}
8. Nxe5 Nxe4) ({Or} 7... Nd7) 8. Be3 {One of the reasons why Black avoids the
early b7-b6 move is that White can go for the active} (8. Bf4 Nd7 9. Qd2 {Then
when Black plays} h6 {he might have trouble castling short at least for the
time being. I wonder how Carlsen would have answered this. Possibly} ({Now}
9... e5 {would be answered} 10. Bh6) 10. a3 (10. O-O {is another move}) 10...
e5 11. Be3 Qe7 {with the idea Nd7-f8-e6 as in Chadaev,N (2574)-Alekseev,E
(2691) Irkutsk 2010 Indeed, in this game Bc1-f4 did not prove dangerous at all
for Black.}) 8... e5 {Hmmm. Is this really happening?} 9. O-O {Yes, it is and
it seems as a moment have been missed here by Caruana! If in the previous line
the capture on e5 was innocuous, now with the extra moves Bc1-e3 and b7-b6
moves added it has much more venom inside} (9. Nxe5 $1 {Diagram [#] seems
strong and was tried by Macieja roughly twenty years ago} Nxe4 10. Qf3 {and now
} {Alternatively} Bxe5 (10... f5 {can be met with} 11. Bf4 ({And} 11. O-O-O {
deserves attention as well} Nxc3 12. Qxc6+ Bd7 13. Nxd7 Rc8 14. Qe6+ Qe7 15.
Qxe7+ Kxe7 16. bxc3 Kxd7 17. Kd2 {with solid extra pawn for White}) 11... Qe7
12. Nxc6 (12. dxe4 {might be even better} Bxe5 13. O-O-O) 12... Qe6 13. dxe4
Qxc6 14. Nd5 {with advantage for White in Macieja,B (2430)-Pyda,Z (2305)
Polanica Zdroj 1996}) 11. Qxe4 f6 12. f4 ({Or} 12. Bf4 O-O 13. Bxe5 Re8 14.
O-O-O Rxe5 15. Qxc6) 12... Bf5 13. Qxc6+ Bd7 14. Qd5 {also wins a pawn for
White. Did they both miss this opportunity, or there is something deep that I
do not see?}) 9... O-O 10. a3 Qe7 {Now we are back to a more conventional
position. White's chances are connected with the b2-b4 and f2-f4 advances,
while Black is trying to establish a knight on d4 after say Rf8-e8 followed by
Nf6-d7-f8-e6-d4. If the latter happens he will have indisputable advantage,
therefore White needs to hurry.} 11. Qb1 $146 {Diagram [#]} ({A novelty in
comparison to the game of my former teammate Valentin Fougerit where he placed
his queen under a tempo} 11. Qe2 $6 {and after} Nh5 12. Rfb1 Nf4 13. Qd2 Ne6 {
Black was better, Fougerit,V (2233)-Desbonnes,S (2332) France 2009}) 11... Nh5
12. b4 f5 $5 {Carlsen chooses a risky strategy and is ready to sacrifice his
queen's flank.} (12... Nf4 $5 {seems more solid when after} 13. bxc5 bxc5 14.
Qb3 Ne6 15. Qc4 Re8 $5 {Black seems to have good play. For example} ({Better
than the immediate} 15... Nd4 16. Bxd4 cxd4 17. Qxc6 Be6 18. Nd5 Bxd5 19. Qxd5
Rac8) 16. Na4 Nd4 17. Bxd4 cxd4 {with the idea} 18. Qxc6 Bd7 19. Qa6 Rec8 {
with obvious compensation for the pawn.}) 13. bxc5 {Caruana also chooses a
risky strategy and allows the f5-f4 advance!} ({It is generally desirable to
trade the pawns first} 13. exf5 cxb4 (13... e4 $2 {does not even create a
threat} 14. dxe4 Bxc3 15. Qb3+) 14. axb4 Bxf5 15. Ng5 Nf4 16. Nge4 {but this
position seems easier for Black to play.}) 13... f4 14. Bd2 bxc5 15. Qb3+ ({
The other way of attacking the pawn allows the set up with Rb8-b5 after} 15.
Na4 Be6 ({But not} 15... c4 16. Bb4 $1) 16. Qb2 Rab8 ({Here} 16... Rac8 {would
be too slow} 17. Qc3 g5 18. Qxc5 Qf6 19. Bc3 {and Black's positon falls apart.}
) 17. Qc3 Rb5 {and it is difficult to make progress as White, for example} (
17... c4 $5) 18. Rab1 Bf6 {and if} 19. Rxb5 $2 cxb5 20. Nxc5 $2 Rc8 {traps the
knight.}) 15... Be6 16. Qa4 {Diagram [#] The plans of both sides are clear.
Fabiano will win the weak pawns on the queenside sooner or later, Magnus will
open up the white king on the other wing. The question is who is faster.} Rac8
(16... Qd7 {looks more frightening with the idea} 17. Ng5 ({However, White can
react with} 17. Kh2 $1 {which stops the sacrifice on h3 and now Black can no
longer advance on the kingside.}) 17... f3 $1 18. Nxf3 Rxf3 $1 19. gxf3 Rf8 {
and very strong attack.}) 17. Qa5 g5 ({The tempting} 17... c4 {weakens the
diagonal and White can play} 18. Na4 $1 {which stops} g5 ({Alternatively} 18...
c5 {allows} 19. Rab1 (19. Bc3) 19... g5 20. Qa6 g4 21. Rb7 {with initiative})
19. Bb4 $1) 18. Na4 g4 19. hxg4 ({Or} 19. Qxc5 Qf6 20. hxg4 Bxg4 {which
transposes into the game}) 19... Bxg4 20. Qxc5 Qf6 {Diagram [#] The
culmination of the battle. Fabiano won a pawn but has to stop the ferocious
attack of the world champion.} 21. Nh2 $6 {And the way that he does it is not
the most precise one.} ({Better was} 21. Rfe1 Qg6 (21... Bxf3 22. gxf3 {[%cal
Gf1e2,Gg1f1]}) 22. Kf1 {with the idea Kf1-e2 saveguarding the king. Then White
can continue his play on the queenside and this seems advantageous for him!})
21... f3 $1 {Magnus takes his chance.} 22. Nxg4 Qg6 23. Qe7 $1 {The only move.
White gets checkmated after} (23. Ne3 $2 Nf4 24. g3 {The alternatives are no
better} (24. Rfe1 Nxg2 25. Nf1 Nf4+ 26. Ng3 Qg4 $1) (24. Rfb1 Ne2+ 25. Kf1 Qh5
26. gxf3 Nd4 $19) 24... Ne2+ 25. Kh2 Qh5#) 23... fxg2 $1 ({White is OK after}
23... Qxg4 24. Qg5 Qxg5 25. Bxg5) 24. Rfb1 Qxg4 25. Qg5 $1 {Once more an only
move as otherwise the black queen will mate.} Qe2 26. Qe3 ({A small
demonstration of Black's attacking potential is the line} 26. Be3 Nf4 27. Bxf4
Rxf4 28. Qg3 Qh5 {and wins.}) 26... Qg4 27. Qg5 ({White cannot avoid repetition
} 27. Nc5 $4 Nf4 $1) 27... Qxg5 $1 {But Black can!} 28. Bxg5 Nf4 29. Bxf4 $2 {
It seems as White's trouble should be left behind with the queen swap, but
Carlsen finds strong attacking resources in the endgame too.} ({The most
resilent defense was} 29. Kh2 h6 30. Bh4 h5 31. Rg1 Bf6 32. Bg3 Kf7 {although
Black is calling the shots here as well.}) 29... exf4 30. Kxg2 {There is no
other way. After} (30. Ra2 $2 f3 {Black threatens to shift a rook on the h
file.}) (30. c3 $2 {is bad due} f3 31. d4 Rf4 32. Kh2 Rxe4) 30... f3+ 31. Kf1 (
{According to the computer the most resilent defense is} 31. Kh3 {but I doubt
that Caruana would have saved the game after} Bxa1 32. Rxa1) (31. Kg3 {is
worse in comparison to Kg2-h3 due to} Bxa1 32. Rxa1 Rc7 $1) 31... Rf4 $3 {
Diagram [#] A grand champion's move! Instead of trading the bishop for the
useless rook, Magnus creates decisve attack in the endgame.} (31... Bxa1 32.
Rxa1 h5 33. Ke1 {was what Fabiano was hoping for with serious chances for
survival.}) 32. c3 ({Or} 32. Ke1 Rd8 33. Ra2 Rh4 34. Kd2 ({Checkmate is
inevitable after} 34. Rb7 Bh6 $1) 34... Rxe4 {and Black wins}) 32... Rd8 33. d4
Bh6 (33... Rxe4 {should also do.}) 34. Ke1 Rxe4+ 35. Kd1 c5 $1 {It's over.
Black wins material and the game.} 36. Kc2 cxd4 37. Kd3 Re2 38. c4 Rxf2 39. Rd1
Re2 {A nice game by the world champion who risked but did not stop attacking
until the very end!} 0-1
Report.
The new year came though and Magnus Carlsen got the chance for a revenge in Wijk aan Zee.
[Event "Tata Steel Masters"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.01.16"]
[Round "6.4"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2820"]
[BlackElo "2862"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:00:02"]
[BlackClock "0:20:17"]
1. e4 {The games between the actual number one and two in the world are always
epic battles. Fabiano Caruana is one of the most unpleasant opponents for
the current world champion and his outstanding performance at the Sinquefield
cup in September established him as Magnus Carlsen's main rival at the moment.
Quite understandably, the world champion would use every single opportunity to
prove who is the boss in his kingdom.} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 {Fabiano decided
not to continue the theoretical dispute from their last game where the
Accelarated Dragon took place} (3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 d6 7. f3
Nxd4 8. Qxd4 Bg7 9. Be3 O-O 10. Qd2 {Caruana,F (2801)-Carlsen,M (2877) Saint
Louis 2014}) 3... g6 {Surprise! The last time Carlsen played this was back in
2005. The two big C's have tested another move in their personal encounter} (
3... Nf6 4. Nc3 e5 5. O-O d6 6. d3 Be7 7. Bg5 O-O 8. Bxf6 Bxf6 {Caruana,F
(2774)-Carlsen,M (2864) Moscow 2013}) 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. h3 Nf6 7. Nc3
b6 {A slightly unusual move order. In most of the cases Black starts his
typical regrouping with the one of the following moves} (7... e5 {not fearing}
8. Nxe5 Nxe4) ({Or} 7... Nd7) 8. Be3 {One of the reasons why Black avoids the
early b7-b6 move is that White can go for the active} (8. Bf4 Nd7 9. Qd2 {Then
when Black plays} h6 {he might have trouble castling short at least for the
time being. I wonder how Carlsen would have answered this. Possibly} ({Now}
9... e5 {would be answered} 10. Bh6) 10. a3 (10. O-O {is another move}) 10...
e5 11. Be3 Qe7 {with the idea Nd7-f8-e6 as in Chadaev,N (2574)-Alekseev,E
(2691) Irkutsk 2010 Indeed, in this game Bc1-f4 did not prove dangerous at all
for Black.}) 8... e5 {Hmmm. Is this really happening?} 9. O-O {Yes, it is and
it seems as a moment have been missed here by Caruana! If in the previous line
the capture on e5 was innocuous, now with the extra moves Bc1-e3 and b7-b6
moves added it has much more venom inside} (9. Nxe5 $1 {Diagram [#] seems
strong and was tried by Macieja roughly twenty years ago} Nxe4 10. Qf3 {and now
} {Alternatively} Bxe5 (10... f5 {can be met with} 11. Bf4 ({And} 11. O-O-O {
deserves attention as well} Nxc3 12. Qxc6+ Bd7 13. Nxd7 Rc8 14. Qe6+ Qe7 15.
Qxe7+ Kxe7 16. bxc3 Kxd7 17. Kd2 {with solid extra pawn for White}) 11... Qe7
12. Nxc6 (12. dxe4 {might be even better} Bxe5 13. O-O-O) 12... Qe6 13. dxe4
Qxc6 14. Nd5 {with advantage for White in Macieja,B (2430)-Pyda,Z (2305)
Polanica Zdroj 1996}) 11. Qxe4 f6 12. f4 ({Or} 12. Bf4 O-O 13. Bxe5 Re8 14.
O-O-O Rxe5 15. Qxc6) 12... Bf5 13. Qxc6+ Bd7 14. Qd5 {also wins a pawn for
White. Did they both miss this opportunity, or there is something deep that I
do not see?}) 9... O-O 10. a3 Qe7 {Now we are back to a more conventional
position. White's chances are connected with the b2-b4 and f2-f4 advances,
while Black is trying to establish a knight on d4 after say Rf8-e8 followed by
Nf6-d7-f8-e6-d4. If the latter happens he will have indisputable advantage,
therefore White needs to hurry.} 11. Qb1 $146 {Diagram [#]} ({A novelty in
comparison to the game of my former teammate Valentin Fougerit where he placed
his queen under a tempo} 11. Qe2 $6 {and after} Nh5 12. Rfb1 Nf4 13. Qd2 Ne6 {
Black was better, Fougerit,V (2233)-Desbonnes,S (2332) France 2009}) 11... Nh5
12. b4 f5 $5 {Carlsen chooses a risky strategy and is ready to sacrifice his
queen's flank.} (12... Nf4 $5 {seems more solid when after} 13. bxc5 bxc5 14.
Qb3 Ne6 15. Qc4 Re8 $5 {Black seems to have good play. For example} ({Better
than the immediate} 15... Nd4 16. Bxd4 cxd4 17. Qxc6 Be6 18. Nd5 Bxd5 19. Qxd5
Rac8) 16. Na4 Nd4 17. Bxd4 cxd4 {with the idea} 18. Qxc6 Bd7 19. Qa6 Rec8 {
with obvious compensation for the pawn.}) 13. bxc5 {Caruana also chooses a
risky strategy and allows the f5-f4 advance!} ({It is generally desirable to
trade the pawns first} 13. exf5 cxb4 (13... e4 $2 {does not even create a
threat} 14. dxe4 Bxc3 15. Qb3+) 14. axb4 Bxf5 15. Ng5 Nf4 16. Nge4 {but this
position seems easier for Black to play.}) 13... f4 14. Bd2 bxc5 15. Qb3+ ({
The other way of attacking the pawn allows the set up with Rb8-b5 after} 15.
Na4 Be6 ({But not} 15... c4 16. Bb4 $1) 16. Qb2 Rab8 ({Here} 16... Rac8 {would
be too slow} 17. Qc3 g5 18. Qxc5 Qf6 19. Bc3 {and Black's positon falls apart.}
) 17. Qc3 Rb5 {and it is difficult to make progress as White, for example} (
17... c4 $5) 18. Rab1 Bf6 {and if} 19. Rxb5 $2 cxb5 20. Nxc5 $2 Rc8 {traps the
knight.}) 15... Be6 16. Qa4 {Diagram [#] The plans of both sides are clear.
Fabiano will win the weak pawns on the queenside sooner or later, Magnus will
open up the white king on the other wing. The question is who is faster.} Rac8
(16... Qd7 {looks more frightening with the idea} 17. Ng5 ({However, White can
react with} 17. Kh2 $1 {which stops the sacrifice on h3 and now Black can no
longer advance on the kingside.}) 17... f3 $1 18. Nxf3 Rxf3 $1 19. gxf3 Rf8 {
and very strong attack.}) 17. Qa5 g5 ({The tempting} 17... c4 {weakens the
diagonal and White can play} 18. Na4 $1 {which stops} g5 ({Alternatively} 18...
c5 {allows} 19. Rab1 (19. Bc3) 19... g5 20. Qa6 g4 21. Rb7 {with initiative})
19. Bb4 $1) 18. Na4 g4 19. hxg4 ({Or} 19. Qxc5 Qf6 20. hxg4 Bxg4 {which
transposes into the game}) 19... Bxg4 20. Qxc5 Qf6 {Diagram [#] The
culmination of the battle. Fabiano won a pawn but has to stop the ferocious
attack of the world champion.} 21. Nh2 $6 {And the way that he does it is not
the most precise one.} ({Better was} 21. Rfe1 Qg6 (21... Bxf3 22. gxf3 {[%cal
Gf1e2,Gg1f1]}) 22. Kf1 {with the idea Kf1-e2 saveguarding the king. Then White
can continue his play on the queenside and this seems advantageous for him!})
21... f3 $1 {Magnus takes his chance.} 22. Nxg4 Qg6 23. Qe7 $1 {The only move.
White gets checkmated after} (23. Ne3 $2 Nf4 24. g3 {The alternatives are no
better} (24. Rfe1 Nxg2 25. Nf1 Nf4+ 26. Ng3 Qg4 $1) (24. Rfb1 Ne2+ 25. Kf1 Qh5
26. gxf3 Nd4 $19) 24... Ne2+ 25. Kh2 Qh5#) 23... fxg2 $1 ({White is OK after}
23... Qxg4 24. Qg5 Qxg5 25. Bxg5) 24. Rfb1 Qxg4 25. Qg5 $1 {Once more an only
move as otherwise the black queen will mate.} Qe2 26. Qe3 ({A small
demonstration of Black's attacking potential is the line} 26. Be3 Nf4 27. Bxf4
Rxf4 28. Qg3 Qh5 {and wins.}) 26... Qg4 27. Qg5 ({White cannot avoid repetition
} 27. Nc5 $4 Nf4 $1) 27... Qxg5 $1 {But Black can!} 28. Bxg5 Nf4 29. Bxf4 $2 {
It seems as White's trouble should be left behind with the queen swap, but
Carlsen finds strong attacking resources in the endgame too.} ({The most
resilent defense was} 29. Kh2 h6 30. Bh4 h5 31. Rg1 Bf6 32. Bg3 Kf7 {although
Black is calling the shots here as well.}) 29... exf4 30. Kxg2 {There is no
other way. After} (30. Ra2 $2 f3 {Black threatens to shift a rook on the h
file.}) (30. c3 $2 {is bad due} f3 31. d4 Rf4 32. Kh2 Rxe4) 30... f3+ 31. Kf1 (
{According to the computer the most resilent defense is} 31. Kh3 {but I doubt
that Caruana would have saved the game after} Bxa1 32. Rxa1) (31. Kg3 {is
worse in comparison to Kg2-h3 due to} Bxa1 32. Rxa1 Rc7 $1) 31... Rf4 $3 {
Diagram [#] A grand champion's move! Instead of trading the bishop for the
useless rook, Magnus creates decisve attack in the endgame.} (31... Bxa1 32.
Rxa1 h5 33. Ke1 {was what Fabiano was hoping for with serious chances for
survival.}) 32. c3 ({Or} 32. Ke1 Rd8 33. Ra2 Rh4 34. Kd2 ({Checkmate is
inevitable after} 34. Rb7 Bh6 $1) 34... Rxe4 {and Black wins}) 32... Rd8 33. d4
Bh6 (33... Rxe4 {should also do.}) 34. Ke1 Rxe4+ 35. Kd1 c5 $1 {It's over.
Black wins material and the game.} 36. Kc2 cxd4 37. Kd3 Re2 38. c4 Rxf2 39. Rd1
Re2 {A nice game by the world champion who risked but did not stop attacking
until the very end!} 0-1
Report.
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