London Chess Classic R 7

Hikaru Nakamura felt that there were a lot of problems in the Najdorf. And decided to try the line from the opposite side of the board against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.

This was the game of the day at the London Chess Classic's round seven:

Here is the report.

London Chess Classic Round 6

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

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

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

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

London Chess Classic Round 4

Deja vu in London. Once more Hikaru Nakamura was the only trouble maker and winner in round four. His victim- the former world champion Veselin Topalov:

London Chess Classic R 3

Just one decisive game today in London. Hikaru Nakamura proved once again to be extremely unpleasant opponent to Vishy Anand:

USA Championships

The USA championships finished yesterday in Saint Louis. There was no need of tie-breaks in both the events. In the men's part Fabiano Caruana proved superior to the field, scoring 8.5/11, a clear point ahead of his closest rivals Wesley So and Hikaru Nakamura.
One of the important games of the event was played in round three:

[Event "U.S. Championship 2016"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.16"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2795"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "184"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:06:48"]
[BlackClock "0:07:21"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. e3 e6 5. d4 d5 6. a3 a6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. b4
Bd6 9. Bb2 O-O 10. cxd5 exd5 {[%csl Yd5] Diagram [#] A typical picture for the
Semi-Tarrasch. The isolated pawn on d5 might be both strenght and weakness.}
11. Be2 Be6 12. O-O Qe7 {Intending both Ra8-c8 and Rf8-d8. And something more.}
({Another way to play it is the immediate} 12... Rc8 {which gives an
additional option of Bd6-b8 followed by battery on the h2-b8 diagonal. This
however also leaves more options to White.} 13. Rc1 Qe7 14. Qd3 (14. Na4 {
is the other idea.}) 14... Rfd8 15. Rfd1 b5 {Le,Q (2703)-Pelletier,Y (2587)
Belfort 2012}) 13. Rc1 {Intending Nc3-a4-c5. But now Black reveals the other
ideabehind his Qd8-e7 maneuver.} a5 {[%csl Ya3][%cal Ga1c1] Diagram [#] The
pawn on a3 was left loose and Caruana makes use of it.} (13... Rfd8 14. Na4 Ne4
15. Nd4 Nxd4 16. Qxd4 $14 {led to a typical slightly better position for White
in Guimard,C (2410)-Agdamus,J (2200) Santos Lugares 1977}) 14. Nb5 $146 {
So sacrifices a pawn for initiative. A predecessor saw} (14. b5 Ne5 (14... Nb8
$5 {is another route to d7.}) 15. Qa4 Ned7 {and White had problems with his
queenside, Lee,F-Sergeant,E Scarborough 1909}) 14... axb4 (14... Bb8 15. bxa5
Nxa5 16. Nbd4 {is good for White.}) 15. Nxd6 Qxd6 16. axb4 Qxb4 17. Bxf6 gxf6
18. Rb1 Qe7 19. Rb5 {[%csl Yb7,Yd5,Yf6,Yf7,Yh7] Diagram [#] As a result White
managed to destroy all the black pawns and he may try to profit from this in
two ways- attack the weaken kingside or patiently try to harvest all the crop.
The problem with the latter is that if he even wins both "b" and "d" pawns
(for free) he will have to trade some pieces and there is a very good chance
that Black reaches an endgame four versus three on the same flank which is an
easy draw. In fact, the presence of double "f" pawns makes the draw easier!}
Rfd8 20. Nd4 {Nothing gives:} (20. Qb1 d4 21. Rxb7 Qa3 22. Nxd4 Nxd4 23. exd4
Rxd4 $11) 20... Kg7 21. Re1 {In the light of the above-mentioned I have the
feeling that White should have tried to play for more with} (21. Bd3 Nxd4 22.
exd4 {although I do not really see a way for White to capture both "b" and "d"
pawns for free.}) 21... Nxd4 22. Qxd4 Bf5 $1 {[%csl Gg7][%cal Gf5g6,Rb7b5,
Rb5b4,Rb4b3,Rb3b2,Rb2b1] Diagram [#] Now Caruana practically takes away the
loss as a possible result from the board. The only one who can play for the
win in the endgame is black.} 23. Rxd5 Rxd5 24. Qxd5 Be4 25. Qd1 Qb4 26. Rf1
Ra2 27. Qd7 {There are still problems for White in the line:} (27. Bf3 b5 28.
Bxe4 Qxe4 29. Qb3 Qa4 30. Qd5 Ra1 $15) 27... Bg6 {The position of the black
king is secured and the "b" pawn is quite fearsome thanks to the support of
all the black pieces.} 28. Bf3 b5 29. h4 $1 {[%csl Yg7][%cal Gh4h5] Diagram [#]
So tries to open the king again to saveguard a draw.} (29. Bc6 Rb2 {followed
by Rb2-b1 seems bad for White.}) 29... Rd2 (29... Qxh4 30. Qxb5 $11) 30. Qh3 h5
31. Qg3 ({Black still pushing after} 31. g4 hxg4 32. Bxg4 Qc5 (32... Be4) (
32... Kh6)) 31... Qd6 {In the coming time trouble Caruana decided to
completely secure himself. In the line} (31... Qc5 32. Ra1 b4 33. Qb8 b3 $4 34.
Ra8 {Black gets under mating attack all of a sudden.}) 32. Qxd6 Rxd6 33. Rd1
Rb6 {Black's active pieces are his main advantage.} (33... Rxd1+ 34. Bxd1 {
is a draw.}) 34. e4 {Since the bishop cannot be blocked, it made sense to
bring the white one out first with} (34. Bd5 $5 b4 35. Bb3 Rc6 36. Rd4 Rc1+ 37.
Kh2 Rb1 38. Bd5 ({Not} 38. Rxb4 Bc2) 38... Rb2 ({And not} 38... b3 $2 39. Rb4
b2 40. Ba2) 39. Kg3 Bf5 $11) 34... b4 35. Rd2 f5 36. exf5 Bxf5 37. Bxh5 b3 38.
Rb2 Bc2 {[%csl Yb2][%cal Rb6a6,Ra6a2,Ra2b2] Diagram [#] The white rook is
trapped and Black intends Rb6-a6-a2 trapping it.} 39. Bf3 (39. Kf1 $2 {loses to
} Ra6) (39. Be2 Rb4 {will win the pawn easier.}) 39... Rb5 $1 {A clever way to
win the "h" pawn.} (39... Ra6 40. Bd5 {gves nothing to Black here.}) 40. Be2
Rb4 41. Bf3 Rxh4 42. Bd5 Rb4 {Caruana won the pawn back and managed to keep
the rook on b2 locked, but the reduced material allows a chance to So to
defend.} 43. Kf1 f5 44. Ke2 Kf6 45. f4 $1 {[%csl Yf5][%cal Gg2g4] Diagram [#]
Stops the black king and fixes the pawn on f5 in order to swap it off.} Ke7 (
45... Rxf4 46. Bxb3 $11) 46. Bg8 Kf8 47. Bd5 Kg7 48. Ke3 (48. g3 {is also
possible.}) 48... Kg6 49. Bf3 Kf6 50. Bd5 {So is patient and this is good. The
hasty} (50. g4 $6 {leads to trouble after} fxg4 51. Bxg4 Re4+ 52. Kf3 $2 Ra4 $1
$19) 50... Kg6 51. Bf3 Rc4 52. g4 {Diagram [#] Now it is good. Although White
can also hold after} (52. Bd5 Rc3+ 53. Kd4 Rd3+ 54. Ke5) 52... Rc3+ 53. Kf2 Bd3
54. Bd1 Bc4 55. Ke1 Rg3 (55... fxg4 56. Bxg4 Rg3 57. Bd1 {would be similar to
the game.}) 56. Kf2 Rh3 57. Ke1 Be6 58. Re2 (58. gxf5+ Kxf5 59. Kd2 {should be
OK too.}) 58... Bc4 59. Rb2 Kf6 60. Kd2 Rd3+ 61. Kc1 Rc3+ 62. Kd2 Rg3 63. gxf5
Kxf5 64. Kc1 Kxf4 65. Rh2 Ke3 66. Kb2 {Now that the king made it to the "b"
pawn the draw is unavoidable.} Kd4 67. Rh4+ Kc5 68. Ka3 Bd5 69. Rh5 Kd4 70.
Rxd5+ {Diagram [#] Stirring the game into theoretical draw. The white king is
where it is needed-in the correct corner.} Kxd5 71. Bxb3+ Kd4 72. Kb2 Rg2+ 73.
Ka1 Kc3 74. Ba2 Rg7 75. Bb1 Rb7 76. Ba2 Kc2 77. Bd5 {The only danger for the
defender in this endgame is to keep his bishop too close to the enemy king.} (
77. Bc4 $4 Rb1+ 78. Ka2 Rb4 {[%csl Rc2,Yc4,Rd3][%cal Rc4d3] Diagram [#] loses
only because the white bishop cannot give a check to the black king.}) 77...
Re7 (77... Rb1+ 78. Ka2 Rb5 79. Be4+ $11 {is the crucial difference in
comparison to the previous line.}) 78. Bg8 Re1+ 79. Ka2 Rh1 80. Bd5 Rh4 81.
Bb3+ Kc3 82. Be6 Rf4 83. Bg8 Rf2+ 84. Kb1 Rb2+ 85. Ka1 Kc2 86. Bh7+ Kc1 87. Bg8
Rb1+ 88. Ka2 Rb8 89. Bf7 Rb2+ 90. Ka1 Rb7 91. Bd5 Ra7+ 92. Ba2 Kc2 {Diagram [#]
} 1/2-1/2

Report.

Anand back in Business

After a bad performance in Gibraltar the former world champion Vishy Anand is in his element in Zurich. First he did well at the blitz event, sharing the second place and defeating the sole winner Hikaru Nakamura. Yesterday was even better for him after a convincing start of the rapid part of the event. First there was a blitz-krieg against Aronian:

[Event "Zürich Chess Challenge 2016"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.02.13"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:28:15"]
[BlackClock "0:23:36"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. Nc3 {[%csl Gc3,Gc6,Gf3,Gf6] Diagram [#] One
more way to avoid the Berlin- just get into the Four Knights.} Bd6 {A fighting
move. Aronian avoids the heavily explored lines after} (4... Bb4) ({Or} 4...
Nd4 {which both have somewhat drawish reputation.}) 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 Re8 {
One of Black's plans is to transfer the knight to g6 and go for regroupment
with c7-c6 and Bd6-c7. The immediate} (6... Ne7 {however allows the highly
entertaining} 7. Nxe5 Bxe5 8. d4 d6 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Be3 {with advantage for
White in Michiels,B (2462) -Stefanova,A (2527) Antwerp 2009}) 7. a3 h6 8. Bc4
Bc5 9. Be3 Bxe3 (9... d6 {looks more solid.}) 10. fxe3 {[%csl Yf7,Rg8][%cal
Gf1f7,Gc4f7,Gf3h4,Gh4f5,Rd1f3,Rd1e1,Re1g3] Diagram [#] Now that the "f" file
has been opened White's plan is crystal-clear- Nf3-h4-f5 followed by either
Qd1-f3 or sometimes Qd1-e1-g3 and mate on the kingside.} d6 11. Nh4 ({Also
good is} 11. Qe1 Ne7 12. Nh4 c6 13. Qg3 {with kingside attack in Bicho,
N-Santos,A Aveiro 2003}) 11... Be6 $146 {This is Black's best bet but his
position remains highly suspicious after Anand's reply.} ({The only
predecessor saw:} 11... Na5 $2 {When instead of White could have won with the
beautiful} 12. Bxf7+ $3 {Diagram [#]} Kxf7 13. Qh5+ Kg8 (13... Kf8 14. Rxf6+
Qxf6 (14... gxf6 15. Qxh6+ Kf7 16. Qh7+ Kf8 (16... Ke6 17. Nd5 Nc6 18. Nf5 {
and Black is helpless.}) 17. Ng6#) 15. Rf1) 14. Rxf6 $1 gxf6 (14... Qxf6 15.
Qxe8+) 15. Qg6+ Kf8 16. Qh7 Re6 17. Nf5 Ke8 18. Nd5 $18 {[%csl Ya5,Ya8,Rc7,Yc8,
Yd8,Ye6,Re8][%cal Rd5c7] Diagram [#] and Black cannot parry the threat Nd5xc7+!
}) 12. Nf5 $1 {The knight on f5 is more important than any double pawns on the
"c" file. There will be no endgame!} Bxc4 ({Or} 12... Bxf5 13. Rxf5 {when
White proceeds with his kingside attack and the attempt to bring fresh
defenders with} Ne7 {fails to} 14. Rxf6 $1 gxf6 15. Qh5 Rf8 16. Qxh6 $18) 13.
dxc4 Kh7 14. Qf3 {Diagram [#] The outcome of the opening battle is a failiure
for Aronian. On the top of that he blunders.} Nb8 $2 ({Black is usually trying
to bring a pawn on f6 in these positions. However} 14... Ng8 {will be strongly
met with} 15. c5 $1 ({It is too early for} 15. Nxg7 Kxg7 16. Qxf7+ Kh8) 15...
dxc5 16. Rad1 {with clear edge for White after} Qg5 17. Rd7 Qg6 18. Rxc7 {
[%csl Gc7,Gf1,Gf3,Gf5] Diagram [#]} ({Or} 18. Nd5)) 15. Nxh6 $1 {[%csl Yh7]
Diagram [#] A deadly blow! It is highly unusual to see a top GM losing that
quickly, albeit in a rapid game.} Kxh6 ({Or} 15... gxh6 16. Qxf6 Qxf6 17. Rxf6
{with certain loss in the endgame.}) 16. Qh3+ Kg6 ({Since} 16... Nh5 {loses to
both} 17. g4 ({And} 17. Rxf7 {is very convincing too.}) 17... g6 18. gxh5) 17.
Rf3 Nh5 18. Rf5 $1 {Diagram [#] The final touch.} Nf6 (18... Rh8 19. Qg4+ Kh6
20. Rxh5#) 19. Qh4 {Aronian resigned just a move before the mate.} 1-0

Then came a devilish trick against Giri:

[Event "Zurich Chess Challenge 2016"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.02.13"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2798"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:02:42"]
[BlackClock "0:06:21"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 O-O 8. Re1 h6
({A fresh game saw} 8... Ba7 9. Na3 h6 10. Nc2 Re8 11. Be3 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6
13. Bxa7 Rxa7 14. d4 exd4 15. Nfxd4 Nxd4 16. Qxd4 Ra8 {with approximate
equality, So,W (2773)-Mamedyarov,S (2747) Wijk aan Zee 2016}) 9. h3 Be6 10.
Bxe6 fxe6 {[%csl Rf2][%cal Gd8e8,Ge8g6,Rf6h5,Rh5f4,Rf8f2,Rc5f2] Diagram [#]
Funnily, Anand is trying to achieve similar position to the one he had against
Aronian the round before with reversed colours!} 11. Be3 Bxe3 $146 {The
simplest and strongest move.} ({The predecessor saw Black getting into some
trouble after:} 11... Ba7 12. Bxa7 Rxa7 13. d4 (13. b4 $5) 13... exd4 14. cxd4
e5 15. Nc3 $14 {[%csl Gd4,Ge4] Diagram [#] Duexmann,M (1060)-Fraenzel,M (1495)
Solingen 2005}) 12. Rxe3 Qd7 (12... Nh5 {is premature due to the standard trick
} 13. Nxe5 $1) ({But} 12... Qe8 {is perfectly playable.}) 13. Nbd2 ({Normally
White will be happy to advance in the center, but} 13. d4 {allows} exd4 14.
cxd4 d5 15. e5 Ne4 $11) 13... Qf7 14. g3 (14. b4 $5 {Diagram [#] to exapand on
the queenside makes sense as well.}) 14... Nd7 15. Kg2 a5 $1 {[%csl Gb4][%cal
Ga5b4] Diagram [#] Anand can be happy with the opening, he equalized
comfortably.} 16. Qc2 Nc5 17. Rf1 Qd7 18. b3 Ne7 (18... Rf7 {is more obvious,
but Anand's move is more concrete.}) 19. Nc4 b5 {[%csl Rb3] Diagram [#] The
point behind Black's play. He gets counterplay against the b3 pawn.} 20. axb5
Qxb5 21. Rb1 Nc6 22. Ncd2 Rab8 23. d4 {Giri is trying to reduce the pressure
against the b3 pawn.} Nd7 (23... exd4 24. Nxd4 Qb7 25. Nxc6 Qxc6 26. b4 {
is somewhat better for White instead.}) 24. dxe5 Ndxe5 25. Nd4 {Safer was} (25.
Nxe5 Qxe5 26. f4 Qc5 27. Qd3 Qb5 28. Qxb5 Rxb5 {Diagram [#] with approximate
equality.}) 25... Nxd4 26. cxd4 Nc6 27. Qc3 Qb6 {Now the weaknesses are
leveling themselves. The black pawns on c7 and a5 do not look too good, but
neither do d4 and b3 in White's camp.} 28. Nf3 Nb4 29. Qc4 Rbe8 30. Rc1 Rf7 31.
Nd2 $6 {A serious inaccuracy. Correct was:} (31. Ne1 $1 {when} Ref8 32. Qxe6 {
may lead to a sweet draw after} d5 $1 33. exd5 (33. Qxb6 $2 Rxf2+ {is bad for
White.}) 33... Qxe6 34. dxe6 Rxf2+ 35. Kg1 Rf1+ 36. Kh2 R8f2+ 37. Ng2 Rxc1 38.
e7 {Diagram [#]} Rf8 39. exf8=Q+ Kxf8 $11) 31... Ref8 32. f4 $2 {One
inaccuracy leads to a serious mistake.} ({This time} 32. Qxe6 $2 {was bad for
White as the knight on d2 is hanging} d5 $1 33. exd5 Qxe6 34. dxe6 Rxf2+) ({
However} 32. Rf1 $1 {was correct when the game would have remained
approximately even.}) 32... e5 $1 {[%csl Yd4,Re3,Yf4,Rg2] Diagram [#] Anand
immediately spots a tactical possibility and nets a pawn.} 33. Nf3 (33. f5 exd4
) (33. fxe5 d5 $1) 33... exf4 34. gxf4 d5 $1 {[%csl Yc4,Ye4,Rg2] Diagram [#]
And sacrifices is back for activity. The real problem for Giri is not the pawn,
but the horrendous situation of his king.} 35. exd5 Qd6 36. Ne5 Rxf4 37. Kg1 {
The pawn on c7 is taboo due to the knight fork} (37. Qxc7 Qxc7 38. Rxc7 Nxd5
$19 {[%csl Yc7,Ye3] Diagram [#]}) 37... Kh7 (37... Nxd5 38. Rg3 {is less clear.
}) 38. Rg3 R8f5 39. Rg4 {Once more the c7 pawn is invincible:} (39. Qxc7 Rf1+
40. Kh2 R5f2+ 41. Rg2 Qf6 $19 {[%csl Rh2] Diagram [#]}) 39... Qf6 {Anand
energetically conducts the attack.} 40. Rxf4 Rxf4 41. Rf1 Qg5+ 42. Kh2 Re4 43.
Nf3 ({Slightly more resilent is} 43. Rg1 {but this should also lose say after}
Qf4+ 44. Kh1 Qf5 45. Kh2 Re3 46. Qf1 Qxf1 47. Rxf1 Rxb3 $19) 43... Qf4+ {
Diagram [#]} 44. Kg2 Re3 45. Qc1 Re2+ 46. Kh1 Qg3 0-1

Report.

Nakamura on the Ropes

Only eight players remain at the World Cup. The first match games were played yesterday and the rating (and not only) favorite of the event Hikaru Nakamura suffered painful defeat with the black pieces against Pavel Eljanov. The Ukrainian GM has the tournament of his life so far:

[Event "FIDE World Chess Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.09.23"]
[Round "37.2"]
[White "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2814"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:07:59"]
[BlackClock "0:05:58"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4
Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bg5 Bd5 11. Qc2 Be4 12. Qc1 {Diagram [#] "A rare, sideline
of the Catalan" Eljanov.} (12. Qd1 {is much more popular. Giri-Leko was played
in this theme in Baku a couple of rounds earlier.}) 12... h6 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14.
Rd1 a5 15. Nbd2 Bh7 $146 {[%csl Gf6,Gh7] Diagram [#]} ({In the recent
predecessor Black chose} 15... Bxf3 {and Eljanov considered this move the
critical line.} 16. Bxf3 c6 {but after} 17. Nc4 Nd7 18. Qd2 Be7 19. h4 $1 {
Diagram [#] White had slight but long lasting advantage without any
counterplay for his opponent, Sasikiran,K (2682)-Svetushkin,D (2592) Moscow
2015}) 16. Nb3 c6 17. Qc3 {White puts pressure on the a5 pawn thus obstructing
Black's development.} Be7 ({White wins a pawn in case of} 17... Nd7 $6 18. Ne5
$1 {Diagram [#]} Qc7 ({Or alternatively will have large positional advantage
after} 18... Bxe5 19. dxe5 Qc7 20. Rd6 $16) 19. Nxd7 Qxd7 20. Nxa5) ({Or} 17...
Na6 $6 18. Nxa5) 18. Nc5 Qc7 19. Ne5 {Now the d7 square is locked for the
black knight, but a6 is still available. This is where Nakamura goes.} Na6 {
[%cal Ga6b4] Diagram [#] Black wants to put the knight on b4 after which he
will be completely fine. Obviously Nakamura was not afraid of what came next.}
({If Black was afraid of the move in the game he might have chosen the
preperatory} 19... Ra7 {To which White has two interesting plans to pressurize}
20. Bf3 $5 ({Or he may simply push the pawns forward} 20. f4 Na6 21. e4) 20...
Na6 21. Bh5 {In both cases White is somewhat better.}) ({The computer
suggestion} 19... Rd8 {leads to stable advantage for White after} 20. Rac1 Bxc5
21. dxc5 $14 ({Or} 21. Qxc5 $14)) 20. Nxb7 $5 {The only way to create troubles
for Black.} Qxb7 21. Bxc6 Qc7 $6 {Diagram [#] But this is a mistake. The
general rule says that a rook and two pawns are usually better in the endgame
when facing the two light pieces. It is so as the rook becomes significantly
more active as the game opens and has more room to maneuver.} ({I believe
Nakamura should have opted for} 21... Qa7 $1 22. Bxa8 Qxa8 {and after} 23. Qxa5
Rb8 {True, White has three pawns and a rook now (practically an extra exchange)
but the black pieces control the board after say} 24. Qd2 Be4 {Diagram [#] and
the white queenside passers do not go anywhere.}) ({Or} 21... Qc8 $1 {which
would lead to the same.}) 22. Bxa8 Qxc3 ({Or else White will take control of
the open file} 22... Rxa8 23. Rac1 $16) 23. bxc3 Rxa8 24. Nc6 $1 {[%csl Ye7]
Diagram [#] A good practical decision. Eljanov deprives his opponent of the
bishop pair. The les pieces there are on the board, the more dangerous the
passers become.} Bd8 25. Nxd8 Rxd8 26. f3 {"Now I have a clear plan to put my
king on f2 and then slowly push the pawns. It is very unpleasant position for
Black" Eljanov.} Rc8 27. Ra3 $1 {[%cal Ga3a2,Gd1d2,Ga2b2,Rb1b8,Rb8b1] Diagram
[#] At a glance this move seems illogical, but its idea is not only to defend
the c3 pawn. White also wants to occupy the b file and for this reason both
white rooks stand better on the second rank, away from the black bishop. This
is better than} (27. Rac1 Bg6 28. e4 Kf8 {when the white pawns cannot go fast
forward-} (28... Rb8 29. Rb1) 29. c4 Ke7 30. c5 f5 $1) 27... Bg6 {Please, note
that the black rook cannot occupy easily the b file} (27... Rb8 28. e4 Rb2 29.
Raa1 $1 Rb3 30. Rdb1 Rxc3 31. Rb6 Nc7 $4 32. Rb8+ Ne8 33. Rxe8# {Diagram [#]})
28. Kf2 Rb8 29. Rd2 f6 {"After this move, strangely enough he offered a draw"
Eljanov, "I am technically winning."} 30. Raa2 $1 {Now we can clearly see the
idea behind Ra1-a3. White wins the only open file.} Rb3 (30... Rc8 31. Rab2)
31. Rab2 Rxc3 32. Rb5 {[%csl Ra5][%cal Gb5a5] Diagram [#] "I thought it is
already over for Black, but he put some pressure on me" Eljanov.} Bc2 33. Rxa5
Nc7 34. Ra7 f5 35. a5 Kh7 36. Rb7 Rc4 37. Rb6 Ba4 38. a6 Bc6 39. a7 Bd5 40. Ra2
{"I am forced to sacrifice the pawn on d4 as the one on a7 is the most
important." Eljanov} Rxd4 41. Rc2 Na8 42. Ra6 Rd1 43. h4 $1 {[%cal Gh4h5,Ga6d6,
Gd6d7,Rc2c8,Rd7h7,Rc8h8] Diagram [#] "I have a clear plan to play h4-h5 and
then to penetrate with the rooks along the seventh rank and attack the black
king" Eljanov.} h5 {But now the g5 square is weakened and the white king can
march there.} 44. Ke3 Rg1 45. Kf4 Rg2 46. Rd6 Rg1 47. Rc8 Ra1 48. Kg5 {[%csl
Gg5,Yh7] White wins two pawns by force and the game.} ({Eljanov demostrated
the alternative winning plan after} 48. Rxd5 exd5 (48... Nb6 49. a8=Q) 49. Rxa8
g6 50. Ke5 Ra5 51. e3 Kg7 52. Kd6 Kh7 53. Kc6 {[%csl Yd5][%cal Rc6b6,Yc6d5,
Ge3e8] Diagram [#] and the threat Kc6-b6 forces the black rook to abandon the
d pawn. After this White simply advances the e pawn into queen.}) 48... Rxa7
49. Rdd8 g6 50. Rh8+ Kg7 51. Rcg8+ Kf7 52. Rxg6 Ra6 53. Rh7+ Kf8 54. Kxh5 Nb6
55. Kg5 Nc4 56. h5 Nd6 57. Rf6+ Kg8 58. Rd7 {Diagram [#]} 1-0

Nakamura will fight for survival today. Report.

On a High Note

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

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

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

Report.

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.

Nakamura Wins in Round Four

the only decisive game in round four at the LCC was the one between the American GM Hikaru Nakamura and the local Michael Adams.

[Event "6th London Chess Classic"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.13"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]

1. d4 {After the fascinating Evans gambit Hikaru switches to the semi-closed
openings. Which does not mean that he is up for a lenghty maneuvering battle...
} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Qc2 {Diagram [#] The words with which
Hikaru described his game in the opening are fun to listen "Well, I do not
know, it was interesting, I kind of just played something..."} ({The usual
continuation is} 5. Nc3 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Ne4 {and this was played by
Nakamura himself with the black pieces recently} 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. Rc1 c6 10. Bd3
Nxc3 11. Rxc3 dxc4 12. Rxc4 Nd7 13. O-O e5 {Aronian,L (2801)-Nakamura,H (2786)
Antalya 2013}) 5... h6 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. e3 c5 $6 $146 {Adams felt tempted to
use the absence of the white knight on c3 and strike in the center at once. t
will turn out that this attempt is premature and that the American GM had done
his homework well.} ({Instead} 7... O-O {would have transposed into the usual
QGD} 8. Nc3 b6 {and also} (8... c5) ({or} 8... c6 {are normal continuations})
9. O-O-O $5 Bb7 10. cxd5 exd5 {with interesting play.}) 8. cxd5 cxd4 9. Bb5+ {
The forced play is favourable for the first player who is slightly better
developed.} Bd7 10. dxe6 $1 {Diagram [#] A nice temporary piece sacrifice,
which was part of Nakamura's preparation.} (10. Bxd7+ Qxd7 11. dxe6 Qxe6 12.
O-O Nc6 13. exd4 O-O $1 {is nothing for White.}) 10... Qa5+ ({The bishop on b5
is defended tactically} 10... Bxb5 11. exf7+ Kd7 {or else White regains the
piece at once} (11... Ke7 12. Qc5+) (11... Kf8 12. Qc5+) (11... Kxf7 12. Qb3+
$16) 12. Qf5+ Kc6 13. a4 Ba6 14. b4 {and White will regain the material and
will have strong attack fro free} dxe3 15. b5+ Kb6 16. Ra3 exf2+ 17. Kxf2 $18)
11. Nbd2 Qxb5 ({Hikaru revealed at the press-conference that he mainly checked
the line} 11... Bxb5 12. Qc8+ Qd8 (12... Bd8 13. exf7+ Kxf7 14. Qxb7+ Bc7 15.
Nxd4 $1 {[%csl Ra8,Rb5][%cal Rb7a8,Rb7b5] loses heavily material for Black.}) (
{Nigel Short was very excited to play in "immortal style"} 12... Ke7 13. Qxh8 (
13. Qxb7+ Kxe6 {is unclear, to say at least...}) 13... Nd7 14. Qxa8 Nc5 15. Qc8
Nd3+ 16. Kf1 Nf4+ 17. Nc4 {"And that's the end of the excitement" Short.}) 13.
Qxb7 O-O 14. Qxb5 $1 $16 {The key move pointed out by Hikaru. Indeed, the rook
is poisoned} (14. Qxa8 $2 dxe3 15. fxe3 Qd3 16. exf7+ Kh8 17. Kf2 Qe2+ 18. Kg3
Bc6 19. Qxa7 Be5+ 20. Kh3 Bd7+ 21. g4 Rxf7 {with decisive attack for Black} 22.
Nxe5 Bxg4+ 23. Nxg4 Rxa7 $19)) 12. exd7+ Nxd7 13. Qe4+ Kf8 14. Nxd4 Qxb2 15.
Rb1 Qxa2 16. Qxb7 {Diagram [#] All these moves were more or less forced. Now a
curious situation arises where it becomes evident that Black will sooner or
later lose his a pawn and there will be an endgame four versus three on the
kingside. Will this be a win for White or a draw will depend on the
remaining pieces and the pawn structure. For example, very good for White
will be a pure knight endgame which a theoretical win. Very good for Black
will be a single rook endgame which is usually a draw. A critical moment had
arisen and Mickey has to make tough choice.} Rd8 (16... Rb8 $1 {suggested by
Hikaru was better. After} 17. Qxd7 Rxb1+ 18. Nxb1 Qxb1+ 19. Ke2 Qb2+ ({Black
cannot win the rook due to a cunning checkmate} 19... Qxh1 $4 20. Qc8+ Ke7 21.
Nf5# {[%csl Gc8,Re7,Gf5]}) 20. Kf3 g6 21. Qxa7 Bxd4 22. Qxd4 {[%csl Gb2,Rd4,
Rh1,Gh8] Diagram [#] Black will achieve one of the good combinations of pieces
when the game should be objectively a draw} Qb7+ 23. Kg3 Kg8 24. Ra1 Kh7 25.
Ra7 Qb8+ {"should be a draw"- Nakamura, Short.}) 17. Qb4+ ({Initially Nakamura
wanted to play} 17. Nc6 {but then he thought he is losing after} Nc5 $1 18. Qb4
Kg8 19. O-O Na6 {"I completely missed this move" Hikaru} 20. Qg4 h5 {A closer
look at the position reveals that it is a draw} 21. Qh3 Rxd2 22. Qc8+ Kh7 23.
Qf5+ Kg8 ({as Black cannot avoid the repetition with} 23... Kh6 $4 24. Rb5 $1
$18) 24. Qc8+ $11) 17... Kg8 18. O-O {Now logically the endgame in question
appears on the board after the sequence} a5 19. Qc3 Qd5 20. Qc7 Nf8 21. Rb5 Qd7
22. Qxd7 Rxd7 23. N2f3 Bxd4 24. Nxd4 {This weakens the pawn structure but the
knight is a trouble-maker and should be traded.} Ne6 ({The pawn can never be
saved} 24... Ra7 25. Ra1 a4 26. Rb4 a3 27. Rb3 a2 28. Rb2) 25. Nxe6 fxe6 26.
Rxa5 Kf7 27. g4 $1 {[%csl Re6][%cal Gh2h4,Gh4h5,Gg1g2,Gg2g3,Gf1b1,Gb1b5,Gb5e5,
Ga5a6,Ga6e6,Ge5e6,Yf2f4,Yg4g5] Diagram [#] White's plan is to advance the h
pawn to h5, bring the king to g3, eventually attack the e6 pawn with both
rooks (on a6 and e5 for example) and then push f2-f4 and g4-g5. Nakamura
thought that he has decent winning chances with both the rooks on the board
and cosidered the position a draw with a single pair of rooks.} Rc8 {[%cal
Gg1g2,Gg2g3,Gh2h4,Gh4h5,Gf2f4] It should be noted though that Vishy Anand's
classical knowledge and excellent memory gave us a good example to study and
understand the arising endgame. He mentioned the game Karpov-Hort, Waddinxween
1979 where the world champion then managed to win a similar endgame with only
one pair of rooks!} ({From the comment above, Nakamura suggested the idea}
27... Rhd8 28. h4 ({and he thought he needs to keep the two rooks alive with
the passive} 28. Raa1) 28... Rd1 29. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 30. Kg2 {[%cal Gh4h5,Gf2f4,
Gg2f3,Gf3e4]}) 28. Rb1 Rc2 ({Or else White improves the position as above}
28... Rdc7 29. Kg2 Rd7 30. h4 Rdc7 31. h5 Rd7 32. Kg3 Rdc7 33. Rbb5 Rd7 34. f4
{[%csl Ye6][%cal Gb5e5,Ga5a6,Gg4g5]}) 29. Ra8 Rc4 30. h3 h5 {A blunder.
Passive defense was more stubborn.} 31. gxh5 Rh4 32. Rh8 Kf6 ({Alas, the pawn
is untouchable} 32... Rxh3 $2 33. Kg2 Rh4 34. f4 $18 {[%csl Yh4] "The rook is
inboxed" Nakamura.} Rd5 35. Rb7+ Kf6 36. Rf8#) 33. Kh2 $1 {[%cal Rg1g8]
Diagram [#] The g file decides the battle.} Rd5 34. Rf8+ Ke7 35. Rf3 Rf5 ({
Black loses a second pawn after} 35... Rhxh5 36. Rb7+ Rd7 37. Rxd7+ Kxd7 38.
Rf7+) 36. Rxf5 exf5 37. Rg1 Kf6 38. Rg6+ Kf7 39. Rg5 Kf6 (39... f4 40. Rf5+ Ke6
41. Rxf4) 40. f4 {Diagram [#] The rook is lost, Adams resigned. A very nice
example of a nice opening preparation which lasted till the endgame!} 1-0

Complete report.

A Tribute to Captain Evans

Round three of London Chess Classic saw only peaceful games at the end. And while two of the games were solid Berlin defenses the third one was a different affair:

[Event "6th London Chess Classic"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C52"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 {Diagram [#] Wow! The Evans Gambit at the
highest possible level! Hikaru supoprts his reputation of a trouble-maker.
Some years back he tried the King's Gambit, now it is the turn of the Evans
one. "It is an English opening", Hikaru explained later, "and much better
than the King's gambit." Since the opening is named after the Welsh sea
Captain William Davies Evans the hosts felt quite enthusiastic about it and
Nijel Short even joked that Nakamura had already deserved his next year's
invitation with this choice.} Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 {On the other hand, Hikaru's
opening choice should not be a complete surprive if we recall the player who
revived the gamebit. Garry Kasparov that is, yes! The following crushing game
was played roughly 25 years ago, and the victim is... Anand} (5... Be7 6. d4
Na5 7. Be2 $5 exd4 8. Qxd4 $1 $146 Nf6 $6 (8... d6 $5 9. Qxg7 Bf6 10. Qg3 Qe7)
9. e5 Nc6 10. Qh4 Nd5 11. Qg3 g6 (11... O-O $6 12. Bh6 g6 13. h4 $5 $40) 12.
O-O Nb6 (12... d6 13. Rd1 $44) 13. c4 d6 14. Rd1 Nd7 15. Bh6 $1 {and Garry
went on to win in mere 25 moves, Kasparov,G (2805)-Anand,V (2715) Riga 1995.
We should not forget that Nakamura worked with Kasparov some years back. Vishy
on his turn menntioned at the press conference that he had looked at the Evans
recently.}) 6. d4 d6 7. Qb3 Qd7 8. dxe5 Bb6 9. a4 {Diagram [#] "This got me
slightly off-line" Vishy. Indeed, this is quite a rare move and the majority
of the games continued instead} (9. Nbd2 {One recent example saw} dxe5 10. Ba3
Na5 11. Qb4 c5 12. Qb2 Nxc4 13. Nxc4 Qe6 14. Nfxe5 Nf6 15. Qb5+ Nd7 16. Rd1 a6
17. Qb3 Bc7 18. Nd6+ Bxd6 19. Qxe6+ fxe6 20. Nxd7 Bxd7 21. Rxd6 {with pressure
for White in Najer,E (2664)-Melkumyan,H (2649) Germany 2012 rue, Black has
plenty of scope for improvement upon this game.}) 9... Na5 {The ight-squared
bishop is a beast and should be traded at once!} 10. Qa2 Nxc4 11. Qxc4 Ne7 ({
Please note that the pawn is untouchable} 11... dxe5 12. a5 {and this is one
of the ideas behind the a2-a4 push.}) 12. exd6 ({If} 12. O-O {then} d5 {is
possible and the players agreed there is no problem at all for Black.}) 12...
cxd6 13. O-O $146 ({There is a predecessor:} 13. a5 Bc7 (13... Bc5 $5 {can
transpose to the game}) 14. O-O O-O 15. Rd1 Nc6 16. Be3 Re8 17. Qd5 {with some
pressure for White in Spiegel,W (2363)-Koegeler,A (2242) ICCF email 2010})
13... O-O {Vishy decided to make the sensible and solid moves first and not to
risk unnecessarily.} ({Black cannot easily clarify the situation in the center
as he risks to get stuck with the king in the middle} 13... d5 14. exd5 Qxd5
15. Qe2 Be6 16. Rd1 Qa5 17. Ba3 $1 $40) 14. Qd3 Ng6 ({There was a second route
for the knight} 14... Nc6 {and from here the knight will stop all the a4-a5
ideas. Black is comfortable after} 15. Na3 {(Nakamura)} Ne5 16. Nxe5 dxe5 17.
Qxd7 Bxd7 18. Nc4 Bc7 19. Ba3 Rfc8 {The players briefly discussed this
position and I tend to agree with Anand who was optimistic about the black
chances. He owes the bishop pair an dthe better pawn structure and it is
Nakamura who needs to prove equality.}) 15. a5 Bc5 16. Be3 {Diagram [#] White
wants to attack the d6 pawn and needs the bishops off the board.} Re8 {Vishy
plays in a very classical way and prepares the d6-d5 advance.} (16... Qe7 {
[%cal Gf7f5,Gc8d7]} 17. Nbd2 Ne5 {looks OK for Black as well.}) 17. Nbd2 Bxe3
18. Qxe3 d5 19. Rfe1 dxe4 20. Nxe4 {The weak isolated pawn disappeared but
White has the initiative. He threatens now Ne4-f6!} Qe7 ({There is a second
defensive way} 20... Re7 21. Qd4 Qxd4 22. Nxd4 Be6 {when Black solves the
problem of the bishop development.}) 21. Nd6 Qxe3 22. fxe3 Rd8 {The white
pawns are a mess but since Black did not finish the development there are
various problems along the open d and half-open b files.} ({Hikaru thought that
} 22... Re6 {is the easier eqaulizer} 23. Rad1 Ne5 24. Nb5 Nxf3+ 25. gxf3 Rg6+
26. Kf2 Bh3 $11) 23. Red1 Rb8 24. Rd4 ({In case of} 24. c4 {Anand intended} b6
25. a6 Ne7 $1 {with the idea Ne7-c6. The knight defends the a7 pawn and
further intends Nc6-a5 to win the a6 one.} 26. Ne5 f6) 24... Be6 {The bishop
is out and it is time for White to take care of the balance.} 25. c4 b6 26.
axb6 axb6 27. Ra7 h6 28. h3 Ra8 29. Rb7 Rdb8 30. Rc7 {Nakamura keeps the
active rook on the board.} Ra5 $1 31. Kh2 Rc5 32. Ra7 Kf8 33. g4 {Diagram [#]}
Ra5 {Vishy forces the draw.} ({He could have tried to play a bit further with}
33... Ne7 $5 {Indeed, he is not risking at all thanks to his better pawn
structure. At least until Hikaru starts shooting tactics} 34. Rf4 {"I would
have played for tricks" Nakamura} Nc8 35. Nd4 {Looks very scary for Black, but
he has at least two good replies} ({Instead} 35. Nxc8 {forces a draw} Rbxc8 36.
Rb7 Rxc4 37. Rxb6 $11) 35... Bxc4 $1 {(Anand)} (35... Nxd6 $2 36. Nxe6+ Kg8 37.
Nxc5) (35... Nxa7 36. Nxe6+ Ke7 37. Nxc5 Kxd6 $11) 36. Nxc4 Nxa7 37. Ne6+ Kg8
38. Nxc5 bxc5 {and Black wins a pawn.}) 34. Rc7 {Nakamura cannot avoid the
repetition.} (34. Rxa5 bxa5 $15) 34... Rc5 35. Ra7 (35. Rxc5 bxc5 36. Rd3 Rd8
$15) 35... Ra5 36. Rc7 1/2-1/2

Complete report.

Giri and Kramnik in the Lead

Two games proved decisive yesterday in London. Vladimir Kramnik won quickly to Hikaru Nakamura and Anish Giri managed to grind down Michael Adams's stubborn defense at the end.

[Event "6th London Chess Classic"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2768"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Bb4+ 5. Nd2 (5. Bd2 {is the more
conventional choice but Anish prepared something interesting for the game.})
5... O-O 6. Ngf3 dxc4 7. Qc2 {[%csl Yh7][%cal Gc2h7] Diagram [#] A tricky
opening line.} ({Caruana had tested the castling twice. His game with Gelfand
saw} 7. O-O b5 8. a4 c6 9. b3 c3 10. Nb1 Bb7 11. Qc2 bxa4 12. Rxa4 c5 13. Nxc3
a5 {with approximately equal chances, Caruana,F (2697)-Gelfand,B (2739)
Amsterdam 2010}) 7... c5 {Anish thought that Mickey was not too familiar with
the line. According to my Megabase, this is the third main move.} ({The main
move is} 7... Nc6 {One recent game saw} 8. Qxc4 Qd5 9. O-O Bxd2 10. Qxd5 exd5
11. Bxd2 Re8 12. e3 Bf5 13. Rfc1 Be4 {and Black held the ballance in Belov,V
(2625)-Tomashevsky,E (2708) Irkutsk 2010}) ({The idea of White's early queen
sortie is revealed in the line} 7... b5 8. a4 $1 c6 (8... bxa4 9. O-O {is very
nice for White who enjoys clear play against the black weak pawns.}) 9. axb5
cxb5 $2 ({Black can avaoid the immediate disater but his position will not be
enviable after} 9... Qd5 10. b6 Ba6 11. bxa7 Bxd2+ 12. Bxd2 Rxa7 13. O-O $16 {
Roiz,M (2579)-Gaprindashvili,V (2415) Warsaw 2005}) 10. Ng5 $1 $18 {White win
at least the exchange as} Nd5 11. Qxh7# {does not look great for the second
player...Giri revealed that a lot of Grandmasters had felt for this idea only
to realize in the process the Nf3-g5! resource.}) 8. dxc5 c3 {It is useful to
break the opponent's pawn chain whenever possible.} 9. bxc3 Bxc5 10. O-O Qc7 ({
More natural seems to be the development of the knight} 10... Nc6 {This was
played three times by Sergey Tiviakov. Giri mentioned the idea} 11. Ng5 ({
Rather than} 11. Ne4 Be7 12. Rd1 Qa5 13. Nd4 Nxd4 14. cxd4 Bd7 15. Nxf6+ Bxf6
16. Bxb7 Rab8 17. Be4 Ba4 18. Qd2 Qd8 19. Ba3 Re8 20. Bc2 Bxc2 21. Qxc2 Bxd4 {
1/2 (21) Riazantsev,A (2621)-Tiviakov,S (2663) Sochi 2007}) 11... h6 12. Nde4
Nxe4 13. Nxe4 Be7 14. Rd1 Qc7 {although the impression is that Black should be
able to gradually equalize. If he did not already.}) 11. Ne4 $146 {[%cal Gg2a8,
Gf4b8] A logical novelty. White clears the road for his pieces.} ({The only
previous game saw the interesting pawn sacrifice} 11. Nc4 $5 {which Tiviakov
decided not to accept} Nbd7 (11... Bxf2+ 12. Rxf2 Qxc4 13. Ba3 Re8 14. Ng5 {
would lead to sharp, lively play instead.}) 12. Qb3 e5 13. a4 Rb8 14. Bg5 Re8
15. a5 Bf8 16. Na3 a6 17. Nc4 b5 18. axb6 Nxb6 19. Nxb6 Rxb6 $11 {Kaidanov,G
(2540)-Tiviakov,S (2520) Torcy 1991}) 11... Nxe4 12. Qxe4 Nd7 13. Bf4 $14 {
White's lead in the development gives him the advantage.} Bd6 14. Bxd6 Qxd6 15.
Rfd1 Qc7 (15... Qc5 {can be answered} 16. Rab1 {when the pawn on c3 is
untouchable} (16. Qb4 {is not bad either.}) 16... Qxc3 17. Rbc1 Qa5 18. Rxc8
Raxc8 19. Rxd7 $16) 16. Qb4 {[%csl Yb7,Rc8][%cal Gg2b7,Gb1b8] Black's main
problem is his bishop on c8. If it can come out and jump on c6, everything
will be fine. But since the white bishop dominates on the long diagonal and
the half-open b file is in White's hands this is not easy to achieve. That is
what Catalan is all about!} Nf6 (16... Nc5 17. Nd4 Bd7 18. Nb3 Nxb3 19. axb3
Bc6 20. Qc5 {is aline given by Giri where he believed he wins a pawn. If go a
bit deeper} Qb6 21. Qxb6 axb6 22. Rxa8 Rxa8 23. Bxc6 bxc6 24. Rd6 Rc8 25. f4 {
we see that the rook endgame is very unpleasant for Black. The active rook
makes the big difference. Still, from a hinsight this was probably Black's
best chance.}) 17. Nd4 {Opens the g2 monster and threatens Nd4-b5-d6.} a6 18.
Nb3 a5 $6 {An important moment. Adams lures teh queen on c5 in order to win a
tempo for the b7-b6 move and free the bishop. That appears a bit slow though.}
({Giri was afraid of the typical pawn sacrifice} 18... Nd5 $5 19. Bxd5 exd5 20.
Rxd5 Be6 21. Rc5 Qe7 (21... Qd7 $5) 22. Nd4 Bh3 {For the pawn Black has some
play on the light squares and a good bishop. Still, White should be better.})
19. Qc5 Qb8 ({Black loses a pawn in the endgame} 19... Qxc5 20. Nxc5 Rb8 21.
Rab1 b6 22. Rd6 b5 23. a4 b4 24. cxb4 axb4 25. Rd4 $18) 20. Rab1 {Mounts the
pressure along the b file. Mickey will have to sacrifice a pawn to free his
position sooner or later. However Anish missed some counterplay by his
opponent.} (20. Rd6 $5 {not to allow b7-b6 was also good, for example} Nd7 21.
Qa3 Ne5 22. Nd2 Qc7 23. Rb1 {and White dominates.}) 20... b6 21. Qd6 Nd5 $1 {
Or else Black is completely paralized} (21... Qxd6 22. Rxd6 Ra6 (22... Rb8 23.
Nxa5) 23. Nd4 e5 24. Nb5 $16) 22. Qxb8 Rxb8 23. Bxd5 exd5 24. Nxa5 {Captures
the more important pawn.} (24. Rxd5 Be6 25. Rd2 Rfc8 26. Rc1 b5 27. Nxa5 b4 28.
c4 Ra8 29. Nb3 Rxc4 30. Rxc4 Bxc4 {gives excellent drawing chances to Black.})
24... Bf5 $1 {Initially missed by White when he played Ra1-b1.} 25. Nc6 Bxb1
26. Nxb8 Bxa2 27. Nd7 Re8 28. Nxb6 Rxe2 {[%csl Ga2,Ge2] Diagram [#] Mickey can
be happy with his defense so far. He managed to trade a lot of pawns and
activate his pieces. Anish tries his best chance} 29. c4 $1 ({The rook endgame
after} 29. Nxd5 Bxd5 30. Rxd5 g6 {should be a draw with precise defense. The
most dangerous passer on the queenside in these situations is the b one.})
29... Kf8 30. Rxd5 $1 {Giri admitted at the press conference that the position
should be objectively a draw "Of course" and started producing devilish tricks.
} ({Black holds after} 30. cxd5 Ke7 (30... Rb2 31. d6 Ke8 32. d7+ Kd8 33. Rd6
Rc2 {followed by Ba2-e6 and Rc2-c7 is equal as well.}) 31. d6+ Kd8 32. Rc1 Be6
33. d7 (33. Ra1 Ba2 $1) 33... Bxd7 34. Rd1 Re7 $11) 30... Bb1 {The move in the
game intended to meet the natural} (30... Re6 {with the nice regrouping} 31.
Rb5 $1 Rc6 32. Nd5 {threatens back-rank mate.} Rc8 33. Rb4 g6 ({One more trcik
is seen after} 33... Bxc4 $2 34. Nb6) (33... Rxc4 34. Rb8+ Rc8 35. Rxc8#) 34.
Ne3 {the pawn is well defended and more importantly- the black bishop is out
of the game for very long time, if not for ever.}) 31. Rd8+ $1 {An important
in-between check. Anish did not want to allow the bishop a chance to seize the
long diagonal} (31. Kf1 Rb2 32. c5 Be4 {when Black will have plenty of
counterplay.}) 31... Ke7 32. Rd1 Bc2 $6 ({Now} 32... Be4 33. Kf1 Rb2 34. Nc8+ {
looks awkward for Black. In the arising time trouble Adams did not dare to go
for this line and this was probably a mistake. After} (34. Re1 Rxb6 35. Rxe4+
Kd6 {is very close to a draw}) 34... Kf6 35. Rc1 Ra2 36. c5 Bc6 {[%cal Gf6e6,
Ge6d5] Black should be able to hold.}) 33. Nc8+ {One more nasty in-between
check.} Kf6 ({White's idea is revealed in the line} 33... Ke8 34. Rd4 Re1+ 35.
Kg2 Be4+ $2 36. Rxe4+ Rxe4 37. Nd6+ $18) 34. Rd6+ Kg5 ({The central sqaure is
not advisible due to the tricky knight again} 34... Ke5 $2 35. Kf1 Re4 36. f4+
Kf5 37. Rd2 {with the dual threat of a knight fork and the bishop.}) 35. Kf1
Re8 36. Rd5+ (36. Nb6 $5) 36... Kf6 37. Nd6 Ra8 38. Ke2 {Giri made a lot of
progress. He centralized his pieces and the king and deprived the black pieces
from their best squares. It is somewhat unusual to see the bishop dominated by
the knight in such an empty board.} Ra1 {Diagram [#] A blunder in the time
trouble.} ({Both the king moves were preferable} 38... Ke6 39. Nb5 Ke7) ({Or}
38... Ke7 39. Ke3 {In either case though it is not certain if Black could
survive.}) 39. Ne8+ $1 {White wins a second pawn and the game.} Kg6 (39... Ke7
40. Nxg7) 40. Rd6+ f6 41. Rd7 Kh6 42. Nxg7 Ra2 43. Ke3 Ra5 ({Anish also
mentioned the last chance for Black} 43... Ra3+ 44. Kf4 Rc3 {but here too
White wins after} 45. Rc7 Bd3 46. Ne6 Rxc4+ (46... Bxc4 47. Nf8) 47. Rxc4 Bxc4
48. Kf5 $18) 44. Re7 Rc5 45. Kd4 Re5 46. Rxe5 fxe5+ 47. Kc3 {A fine win by
Giri who used the little details to turn the small advantage into a win!} 1-0

Kramnik and Giri share the lead after two rounds. Full report.

Caruana Scores First Win

Fabiano Caruana scored his first win today at the Tashkent Grand Prix. His opponent Boris Gelfand blundered badly in a position which was seemingly equal:

[Event "Tashkent FIDE GP"]
[Site "Tashkent UZB"]
[Date "2014.10.28"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Caruana, F."]
[Black "Gelfand, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E35"]
[WhiteElo "2844"]
[BlackElo "2748"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2014.10.20"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 {
Caruana explained at the press conference that he could not remember the
theory after the principled 7.Bh4 move and decided to play it simple. A quick
look in the Megabase reveals that 7.Bxf6 is played more often.} Qxf6 8. e3 ({
As teh bishop is going to capture on c3 anyway White decided to skip the a2-a3
move. One important example of this approach is the following game} 8. a3 Bxc3+
9. Qxc3 O-O 10. e3 Bf5 11. Nf3 Nd7 12. Be2 Rfc8 13. O-O c5 $132 {Radjabov,T
(2793)-Grischuk,A (2764) London 2013}) 8... O-O 9. a3 Bf5 {The trade of the
light-squared bishop is very good for Black.} 10. Bd3 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Bxd3 {
Simple play.} ({Both the players saw that in the line} 11... Qg6 $2 12. Bxf5 $1
Qxg2 13. f3 Qxh1 14. O-O-O {the black queen will be trapped. For instance} g6
15. Qf2 gxf5 16. Ne2 Qxd1+ 17. Kxd1 {and White is winning as the black king is
too exposed.}) ({Caruana also mentioned the interesting} 11... Bg6 {move with
good play for Black.}) 12. Qxd3 $11 {The outcome of the opening is cheerful
for the second player. Gelfand managed to trade three light pieces and has
plenty of space for the remaining ones.} c5 $146 {[%csl Yc3,Gc5][%cal Gc7c5]
Diagram [#] A logical novelty. Boris plays on the flank where he is stronger.}
({Also good is the immediate} 12... Nd7 13. Nf3 c5 $11) ({Previously Black
preferred not to advance the pawns on the queenside} 12... Qg5 13. g3 Qg4 14.
Ne2 Nd7 {Jaracz,P (2502)-Jakubowski,K (2532) Czechia 2013}) 13. Ne2 {The
knight looks more flexible on e2 and might attack the d5 pawn in the future
from f4.} ({In case of} 13. dxc5 Rc8 14. Ne2 Rxc5 {both sides will have weak
pawns and the black knight can occupy the excellent outposts on e4 and c4.} 15.
Nd4 Nd7 {[%cal Gd7e5,Ge5c4] followed by Nd7-e5-c4.}) 13... Nd7 14. O-O Qc6 {A
flexible move. Gelfand keeps all his options on the c file.} ({If} 14... c4 15.
Qc2 b5 16. a4 {and White has some pressure on the queen's wing.}) 15. a4 Rfc8 (
{Fabiano also mentioned the move} 15... c4 {in the press conference. Since
Black had traded three sets of light pieces this is indeed a very good idea.
The attack with e3-e4 is not going to be that effective for the first player
and Black can hope to advance on the queen's flank.}) 16. Rfb1 Rc7 {Both the
sides maneuver and do all the useful moves.} 17. a5 Rac8 18. h3 Nf6 19. Ng3 Qe6
$6 {This leads to some trouble for Black.} ({It was easier not to allow the
knight to f5 with the simple} 19... g6 $11) 20. dxc5 {"Now from completely
unclear the positions becomes slightly pressing for me." Caruana} Ne4 ({At the
press conference the players briefly discussed the line} 20... Qe7 21. Qd4 ({
However} 21. a6 bxa6 22. Rxa6 Qxc5 23. Rb3 {gives White a pull in this line.})
21... Rxc5 22. Nf5 Qe6 23. g4 $5 {This was Fabiano's intention, but then Boris
can react with the sharp} Rc4 $5 24. Qxa7 Nxg4 25. hxg4 Rxg4+ 26. Ng3 h5 {with
plenty of joy and an attack. The least he can do here I suppose is perpetual.})
21. Nxe4 dxe4 22. Qd6 Qf5 23. Ra4 Rxc5 $1 {Simple and strong.} ({Black has
still some problems in case of} 23... Rd7 24. g4 Rxd6 25. gxf5 Rxc5 26. Rxb7
Rxf5 27. Rxe4 {although Black should survive after} Ra6 28. Re8+ Kh7 29. Ree7 (
29. e4 $5 {to spoil Black's regrouping seems interesting.}) 29... Raf6 30. f4
Rxa5 (30... a6) 31. Rxa7 Raf5 32. Kg2 g5 $1) 24. Rxb7 {The critical moment of
the game. Gelfand needed to chose how to force the draw. He made the wrong
choice.} Rxa5 $2 {A blunder.} ({Correct was} 24... Rxc3 25. Qf4 Qxf4 26. exf4 {
which was called "unpleasant" by Gelfand, but with active play he can force a
draw} Rc1+ ({They both saw} 26... R3c7 27. Rxc7 Rxc7 28. Rxe4 Rc5 29. Re5 $1
$16 {although this should also be holdable for Black.}) 27. Kh2 R8c2 $1 {
Activity above all! The two rooks on the second rank guarantee the half point.}
28. Rxe4 (28. Kg3 Rf1 29. Rxa7 Rfxf2) 28... Rxf2 29. Re8+ Kh7 30. Rxf7 Rcc2 $11
{[%csl Gc2,Gf2]}) 25. Rxa5 Qxa5 {[%csl Gb7,Rc8,Gd6,Yg8][%cal Gb7h7] Diagram [#]
} 26. Rxf7 $1 {This was missed by Gelfand who looked very frustrated after the
game.} Qxc3 (26... Kxf7 27. Qd7+ Kg6 28. Qxc8 {leaves Black no chances as his
king is exposed and the c pawn runs fast.}) 27. Rxa7 Kh8 ({One more nice line
was given by the two players} 27... Rf8 28. Ra8 $1 {[%csl Re4][%cal Rd6d5,
Rd5a8,Rd5e4] and Black cannot win the pawn back} Qe1+ ({Or else Black loses
another pawn} 28... Rxa8 29. Qd5+ Kf8 30. Qxa8+ Kf7 31. Qxe4) 29. Kh2 Qxf2 30.
Rxf8+ Qxf8 31. Qxf8+ Kxf8 32. Kg3 g5 33. Kg4 {as the pawn endgame is easily
won for White.}) 28. Rf7 {An extra pawn and active pieces leave no chances to
Black.} Re8 29. g4 $1 {With the threat Rf7-f8 to win the e4 pawn.} ({Caruana
avoids the line} 29. Rf8+ Rxf8 30. Qxf8+ Kh7 31. Qf5+ Kh8 32. Qxe4 Qe1+ 33. Kh2
Qxf2 {where Black will survive.}) 29... Kh7 30. Qd7 Rb8 31. Qf5+ Kg8 32. Ra7
Qb2 ({The pawn cannot be saved.} 32... Qc4 33. Rxg7+) 33. Qxe4 Rf8 34. Qd5+ Kh7
35. Rf7 {Not the kind of play we are expecting from the world's number two but
Caruana took his chance and brought the point back home.} 1-0

Sergey Karjakin moved back to 50 % after defeating Anish Giri. Nothing changes on the top- Andreikin and Nakamura remain joint leaders.

Andreikin Joins the Nakamura in the Lead

Today's round in Tashkent was very interesting. Two games were decisive and I chose to annotate the sharper one for you.

[Event "Tashkent FIDE GP"]
[Site "Tashkent UZB"]
[Date "2014.10.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Andreikin, D."]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2722"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2014.10.20"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 c5 4. Nc3 {Diagram [#] The choice of the opening
was quite a shock for me. It is not often that we see this position in a top
grandmaster game. I would not be surprised to see it in the game of FM Stuart
Fancy of Papua New Guinnea whom I coached at the last two Olympiads. Or in a
game of my former teammate FM Bonno Pel. They both love to start their games
with 1.Nb1-c3} cxd4 {There are plenty of continuations for both the sides that
might leave to different openings.} ({For instance} 4... d5 5. e4 dxe4 6. Nxe4
Nbd7 {will lead to the Rubinstein French and have been tested already.}) 5.
Qxd4 ({Now White could have chosen a Sicilian approach with} 5. Nxd4 Be7 6. e4
d6 {with a Scheveningen type of postion in Koneru,H (2600)-Hou,Y (2591)
Antakya 2010}) 5... Nc6 6. Qh4 Bb4 ({Another Sicilian position appeared after:
} 6... h6 7. e4 Rg8 8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. O-O-O a6 {in Gurgenidze,B (2461)-Kapengut,
A (2455) Moscow 1981}) ({Most of the people prefer the solid} 6... Be7 {I also
have the feeling that this was more in the spirit of the solid Karjakin.}) 7.
e4 Bxc3+ $146 {This is what the bishop came for on b4.} ({The only predecessor
saw} 7... d6 8. Bd3 e5 9. O-O Bxc3 10. bxc3 $14 {Ornstein,A (2440)-Schneider,L
(2425) Uppsala 1985}) 8. bxc3 h6 9. Bd3 ({The endgame is good for Black} 9.
Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Qxf6 gxf6 $11) 9... d6 {Black's plan is to build dark-squared
blockade.} 10. Rd1 {Andreikin brings the rook into the action and prepares
various disovered attacks.} Rg8 $1 {A very sensible choice by Karjakin. I
suspect that the memories of his last game were too fresh to allow the
following play:} (10... O-O 11. Bxh6 $5 {Diagram [#] Two days ago Sergey lost
thanks to the same sacrifice to Jobava (with reversed colors!)} gxh6 12. e5 {
with the idea} (12. Qxh6 {also interesting is} Ng4 (12... e5 13. Ng5) 13. Qh5
Nce5) 12... dxe5 13. Qxh6 $1 {This is much better than} (13. Bh7+ Nxh7 14. Rxd8
Rxd8 15. Qxh6 e4) 13... Qe7 14. Ng5 e4 (14... -- {The threat is} 15. Bh7+ Kh8
16. Be4+ Kg8 17. Rd3 $1 {and checkmate.}) 15. Bxe4 Ne5 16. Bh7+ Kh8 17. f3 $18
{this deprives the black knights of the g4 square and the attack is
unstoppable.}) 11. Be3 e5 {The outcome of the opening is an approximately
levelled game. White owes the bishop pair, but Black had developed his pieces
in accordance to Capablanca's principle- on the different color of the bishop
that he owes.} ({In fact, Karjakin could have equalized completely with the
move:} 11... g5 $5 12. Qxh6 ({The queen has no retreat square} 12. Qg3 $4 g4
13. Nd2 Nh5 $19 {[%csl Rg3][%cal Rh5g3]}) ({It is doubtful that the rook and
the pawns are better than the light pieces in the line} 12. Nxg5 hxg5 13. Bxg5
Rxg5 14. Qxg5 Bd7) 12... Rg6 13. Qh8+ Rg8 $11) 12. Bb5 Qc7 {Probably the first
inaccuracy in the game. Black could have played more aggressively with} (12...
Qa5 13. Bxc6+ bxc6 14. O-O (14. Rxd6 $2 {is bad to} Qxc3+ 15. Rd2 Ba6 $1) 14...
Ba6 ({Not} 14... Qxc3 15. Rxd6 $16) 15. Rfe1 Rd8 {Black is solid in the center
and Andreikin has to prove that his queen is doing something on the king's
side.}) 13. Nd2 Be6 14. f3 {To bring the queen in the game after Qh4-f2.} Qa5 (
{One more way to equalize is} 14... O-O-O $5 15. O-O ({The pawn is untouchable
} 15. Bxc6 Qxc6 16. Bxa7 $2 b6) 15... d5 $1 $11) 15. c4 {Diagram [#]} Ke7 $6 {
[%csl Ye7][%cal Rc4c5] It is true that sometimes Black can leave the king in
the center in the Sicilian, but probably this is not the case here. White will
be always threatening to open the king with c4-c5.} ({White has ample
compensation for the pawn in case of} 15... Qxa2 16. O-O Qxc2 17. c5 dxc5 18.
Rc1 Qa2 19. Ra1 Qb2 20. Rfb1 Qc3 21. Qf2) ({But} 15... a6 16. Bxc6+ bxc6 {was
to be preferred.}) (15... Rc8 {was also OK.}) 16. O-O g5 $2 {This is too much.
Now Dmitry will have a chance to attack both flanks. He will do it flawlessly!}
17. Qf2 Rgd8 {The c4-c5 breaks are already in the air:} (17... Nh5 18. Nb3 Qc7
19. c5 $1 $16) ({Or even worse for Black} 17... a6 18. Nb3 Qc7 19. Bb6 Qc8 20.
Bxc6 Qxc6 21. Na5 Qc8 22. c5 $1 $18) 18. h4 $1 {All of a sudden, the strike is
coming from the other side. But this is something taht the bishops enjoy-play
on two flanks.} Nh7 19. hxg5 hxg5 20. g4 $1 {[%cal Gg1g2,Gf1h1,Rh1h8,Rh8h1]
Consistent play on the flank. Andreikin prepares the next maneuver.} (20. a4 $5
{with the idea c4-c5 was also very good.}) 20... f6 21. Kg2 Nf8 {If the knight
could fly Black would have sealed the file with Nf8-g6-h4. Alas, he is one
tempo down.} 22. Rh1 Bf7 ({No human being will think about the pawn on a2 in
this situation} 22... Qxa2 23. c5 d5 24. exd5 Bxd5 25. c4 Be6 26. Ra1 Qc2 27.
Ba4 Qg6 28. Ne4 {with total control for White.}) ({After} 22... Ng6 {the
follow up might be} 23. Rh7+ Bf7 24. Nb3 Qxa2 25. Qd2 {with too many threats.
The main ones are Qd2-c3 and Rd1-a1 to trap the queen and the instant blowing
of the house with Be3xg5.}) 23. Nf1 $1 {[%csl Rf5] The bishop had covered the
king, but released the f5 square. This is where the knight is heading for!} Bg6
24. Bd2 {[%csl Rd5,Rf5]} Qb6 25. Ne3 {Or maybe for the d5 square?} Kf7 {
Diagram [#]} 26. Qe1 $1 {[%csl Ge1][%cal Ge1a5,Ge1h1,Gh1h8] Diagram [#]Grand
play! The queen is moving away from the trade, supports the bishop on d2 and
is ready to attack on both flanks.} Ne6 27. Nf5 Qc7 ({The utility of the white
queen becomes obvious in the line} 27... Ncd4 28. Nxd4 Nxd4 29. Ba5 $1 Nxc2 30.
Qd2 Ne3+ 31. Kg3 Qc5 32. Rde1 b6 (32... Nxc4 33. Bxc4+ Qxc4 34. Bxd8 Rxd8 35.
Rc1 Qe6 36. Rc7+ Rd7 37. Qa5 $18) 33. Bb4 Nxc4 34. Bxc5 Nxd2 35. Bb4 Nxe4+ 36.
fxe4 {White is close to winning but I suspect this was Sergey's best bet.}) 28.
c5 $1 {The beginning of the end. Black's position quickly detoriates on the
open diagonals.} dxc5 29. Bc4 b5 ({One of the threats for White is to trade on
e6 and bring the queen on c4-} 29... Rh8 30. Bxe6+ Kxe6 31. Qe2 Rxh1 32. Qc4+
Kd7 33. Qd5+ Kc8 34. Qe6+ Kb8 35. Rxh1 $18) 30. Bd5 {This move only
demonstrates how helpless Black is.} ({White could have won more forcefully
with} 30. Bxe6+ Kxe6 31. Rh6 Rg8 32. Ba5 $1 Qxa5 (32... Nxa5 33. Rd6+ Kf7 34.
Qd2 Rad8 35. Qd5+ {and mate in three.}) 33. Rd6+ Kf7 34. Qh1 $3 {with the
unstoppable Rh6-h7! or Rh6xg6!} Qb6 35. Rxg6 Rxg6 36. Qh7+ Kf8 37. Qxg6 {and
mate.}) 30... Rac8 31. Rh6 Ncd4 {Diagram [#]} 32. Ba5 $1 {[%csl Yc7,Yd8]
Beautiful finish!} Nxc2 ({Andreikin would not be interested in the exchange in
case of} 32... Qd7 {but in the king} 33. Qh1 Rf8 34. Rxg6 Kxg6 35. Qh5#) 33.
Qh1 Qxa5 34. Rh7+ {The moral of the game- if you have the advantage of the
bishop pair, try to attack on the color of the bishop that the opponent does
not have!} ({It is mate in three.} 34. Rh7+ Bxh7 35. Qxh7+ Kf8 36. Qe7+ Kg8 37.
Qg7#) 1-0

Andreikin is now joint leader with Nakamura.

Exciting Draw in Round Four

All the games ended peacefully in round four of the Tashkent Grand Prix which does not necessarily mean that there was no show for the spectators.

[Event "Tashkent FIDE GP"]
[Site "Tashkent UZB"]
[Date "2014.10.24"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Mamedyarov, S."]
[Black "Nakamura, Hi"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2764"]
[BlackElo "2764"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2014.10.20"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 {Invention of Tigran Petrosian. He used this move
to avoid Botvinnik's plan with Ng1-e2, followed by f2-f3 and e3-e4 with strong
central play. The sixth world champion used this plan to defeat Paul Keres in
1952. After 3...Be7 Black usually expects 4.Nf3} 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 {However
White can also vary his play.} c6 6. e3 Bf5 {If White does not like the b1-d3
diagonal, Black will gladly occupy it.} 7. g4 {The most dangerous plan.} ({The
swap of the light-squared bishops is clearly favorable for Black as he has
most of his pawns on light squares.} 7. Bd3 Bxd3 8. Qxd3 $11) 7... Be6 {This
position was tested three times in the Botvinnik-Petrosian match. White tried
both 8.h2-h3 and 8.Bf1-h3. Mamedyarov chooses a third option} 8. h4 ({After} 8.
h3 $5 {White's plan is to play Bd3, Qc2, Nge2, 0-0-0.}) 8... Nd7 9. h5 Nh6 10.
Be2 Nb6 11. Nh3 g5 12. hxg6 hxg6 13. Be5 $5 $146 {[%csl Rf4][%cal Gh3f4,Ge5h8]
Diagram [#] A very sharp and unexpected move.} ({It is funny that Nakamura
used this line himself to defeat Levon Aronian three years ago. In this game
he made a novelty} 13. Bg3 $146 Qd7 ({which none else dared to repeat that far
as after} 13... Nxg4 $3 14. Bxg4 Qd7 {Black is actually better (suggested by
Romain Edouard).}) 14. Nf4 O-O-O 15. Nxe6 {Nakamura,H (2753)-Aronian,L (2807)
Sao Paulo/Bilbao 2011}) (13. f3 Bh4+ {[%cal Gg6g5,Gf7f5] followed by ...g5 and
...f5 is usually played.}) 13... f6 {Forced.} ({Bad is} 13... Rh7 14. Nf4 Nd7
15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. Bg3 $16) 14. Nf4 $1 {The point behind Mamedyarov's previous
move.} fxe5 15. Nxg6 Rg8 $6 {Taken by surprise Nakamura decided to sacrifice a
pawn.} (15... Rh7 {will be the critical test for the whole line.}) 16. Nxe7
Qxe7 17. Rxh6 e4 ({Black needs to close the center.} 17... exd4 $6 18. Qxd4 $16
{will add positional advantage to the extra pawn.}) 18. a4 {[%csl Ya7,Yb6,Yb7,
Re8] Diagram [#] Shakhriyar got tempted by a queenside attack.} ({The critical
point of the battle. White missed the nice regrouping} 18. Kd2 $1 O-O-O 19. Qg1
$1 {The queen is coming quickly in the game} Rg7 20. Qg3 Rdg8 21. Qe5 $16 {
[%csl Ge5,Gh6] with powerful centralization and clear edge for White.}) 18...
Nd7 {The knight is moving to a better square.} 19. Qb3 ({Black is also
gradually equalizing in case of} 19. a5 Nf6 ({Not} 19... O-O-O $2 20. a6 b6 21.
Qa4 $16) 20. a6 b6 21. Qa4 Bd7 22. O-O-O O-O-O ({It is too early to regain the
pawn} 22... Nxg4 $2 23. Bxg4 Rxg4 24. Rh8+) 23. Rg1 Rg5 {and after some
further preparation the pawn on g4 will disappear.}) 19... Nf6 20. Rc1 $5 {The
best practical chance.} Bxg4 {Once again Hikaru is very precise.} (20... O-O-O
$6 21. a5 Nxg4 22. Bxg4 Rxg4 23. Ne2 $5 ({or} 23. a6 b6 24. Qa4 Qe8 25. Ne2 {
will be definitely more pleasant for White to play.})) 21. Rxf6 $1 {[%csl Ya7,
Yb7] Diagram [#] This is what the previous play was all about.} Qxf6 22. Qxb7
Rd8 23. Qxa7 {For the exchange White has two pawns and some initiative. The
problem is that his king is not perfectly safe neither.} Rf8 24. Nd1 Bxe2 25.
Kxe2 Qd6 {Nakamura takes measures against the white pawns.} 26. Rc5 Rb8 27. Qa5
Kd7 28. Qc3 Ra8 29. a5 Rfb8 30. b4 Rb5 {Now that the pawns are stopped it is
time for some trades.} 31. Rxb5 cxb5 32. Qc5 {Diagram [#]} Rc8 $1 {Once that
the black pieces get freedom it is only White who needs to be careful.} ({
There is no need to allow another defended passer.} 32... Qxc5 $6 33. dxc5) 33.
Qxb5+ Ke6 34. a6 $1 {Mamedyarov forces a draw.} (34. Qb7 $2 {is playing with
fire} Rc2+ 35. Kf1 Qh2 36. Qa6+ Ke7 37. Ke1 Qc7 {with the idea Rc2-c1 and
Qc7-c3 leads to powerful attack for Black.}) 34... Ra8 (34... Rc2+ 35. Ke1 Qh2
36. Qe8+ {will force perpetual check.}) ({As will} 34... Ra8 35. a7 Rxa7 36.
Qe8+ $11) 1/2-1/2

Complete report.