Positional Sacrifice

Anish Giri continued to play well at the end of the Tata Steel tournament and came in shared third place after a nice win against his compatriot Loek van Wely. The younger Dutchman played creatively and sacrificed twice to grind down his more experienced opponent.

[Event "Tata Steel Masters"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.01.23"]
[Round "11.6"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2667"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:43:17"]
[BlackClock "0:23:42"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 {The Pirc is a rare guest on top level. Since Kramnik is
missing in Wijk, one should normally expect it from Ivanchuk here, but it is
Van Wely who gives it a try.} 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 {The Austrian attack remains
White's most aggressive choice.} Bg7 5. Bd3 e5 {Not the most common move, but
one that was recently tested at the top level.} ({Black usually} 5... O-O {for
example} 6. Nf3 Na6 (6... Nc6 {seems like a good alternative} 7. e5 dxe5 8.
fxe5 Nh5 9. Be3 Bg4 10. Be2 f6 11. exf6 exf6 12. O-O Re8 {with playable
position for Black in Karjakin,S (2777)-Jones,G (2664) Bilbao 2014}) 7. O-O c5
8. d5 Rb8 9. a4 {when the position resembles the Benoni with the white pawn
shy of getting to c4, Polgar,J (2705)-Carlsen,M (2848) Mexico City 2012}) (5...
Nc6) 6. dxe5 dxe5 7. Nf3 exf4 8. Bxf4 O-O 9. Qd2 Nc6 10. O-O-O Ng4 $146 {
Diagram [#] Loek is trying to take control of the e5 square.} ({A novelty in
comparison to} 10... Be6 11. h3 Nd7 12. Bg5 (12. Bb5 $5) 12... Bf6 13. h4 h5
14. Qf4 Bxg5 15. hxg5 $1 {with strong pressure for White in Karjakin,S (2776)
-Wang,H (2752) Beijing 2013}) 11. Nd5 {You win something, you lose another.
The d5 square is no longer protected by the knight on f6. White's central
control secures him an edge.} Nce5 {The other move seems more natural} (11...
Nge5 {but is has its drawbacks as well. In particular in the line} 12. Bg5 (12.
Qe3 $5) 12... Qd6 13. Nxe5 Nxe5 $2 {is not good due to} 14. Be7) 12. h3 {Anish
is now fighting for the e5 square. He wants it all and now obviously.} Nxf3 ({
Perhaps the pawn sacrifice is interesting after} 12... c6 13. hxg4 Nxd3+ 14.
Qxd3 cxd5 15. g5 Bg4 16. exd5 Re8) 13. gxf3 Ne5 14. Be2 Be6 15. Bg5 {White
lures the pawn to the f6 square to lock the bsihop in prison. At least for a
while. Anish have taken down one of the knights. Now} (15. Qc3 $1 {to get rid
of the second one made a lot of sense. After} Nc6 16. Qe3 {seems as a fine
regroupment as now} Ne5 17. Bg5 {is way mre effective as in the game. In
particular} f6 {is hardly a move anymore...} 18. Nxf6+) 15... f6 ({Or else}
15... Qd7 16. f4) 16. Be3 c6 {Naturally, Black does not tolerate the knight in
the center.} 17. f4 $1 {An important idea. Giri plays extremely energetically
to hold the initiative.} (17. Nc3 Qa5 {would be great for Black.}) 17... Nf7
18. f5 $1 {Diagram [#]} gxf5 {Forced as the endgame is very bad for Black} (
18... Bxd5 19. exd5 Qxd5 (19... cxd5 20. Bf3 $16) 20. Qxd5 cxd5 21. Bf3 Rfe8 (
21... Bh6 22. Bxh6 Nxh6 23. Bxd5+) 22. Bf4 {the bishops rule, not King Loek.})
19. Nf4 $1 {Diagram [#] Completeting the idea. The knight is optimally placed
on f4 and the black pawns on f5 and f6 limit the scope of the black pieces.}
Qxd2+ 20. Bxd2 ({But not} 20. Rxd2 $2 Bh6 $1) 20... Rae8 {Alas, Black is
losing one of the bishops} (20... Bc8 {would be even worse for him} 21. Rhg1
Kh8 22. Bb4 Re8 23. Nh5 Bf8 24. Bc3) 21. Rhg1 $5 {This is tempting, but White
had solid alternative instead that would have given him the advantage without
any risk} (21. Nh5 $5 Kh8 22. Nxg7 Kxg7 23. Rhg1+ Kh8 24. Bh5 {with the threat
Bd2-c3} Rd8 ({Or else Black loses the exchange} 24... fxe4 25. Bc3 Ne5 26. Bxe8
Rxe8 27. Rdf1) 25. exf5 Bxf5 26. Rdf1 {The two bishops will soon shatter
Black's defense.}) 21... Kh8 {Diagram [#]} 22. Rxg7 $5 {This was Anish's point
but not Loek could have defended. The amazing profilaxys} (22. Kb1 $3 {would
have kept White in control as now Bg7-h6 is no longer a defenseive resourse.
Some lines:} Bh6 ({White wins the exchange after} 22... fxe4 23. Nxe6 Rxe6 24.
Bb4 Rfe8 25. Bc4) 23. Nxe6 Rxe6 24. Bb4 Rb8 25. Bc3 Ne5 26. exf5 $16 {with
clear advantage for White.}) 22... Kxg7 23. Nh5+ Kg6 $6 {Correct was} (23...
Kh8 $1 {Now in the line} 24. Bc3 ({But Van Wely saw ghosts in the line} 24.
Nxf6 Rd8 25. Bc3 Rxd1+ 26. Bxd1 Rd8 27. exf5 {it is extremely unpleasant for a
human being to play with the constat discovered threat in the air, but the cool
} Bc8 $1 {is a defense.} ({Rather than} 27... Bxf5 $2 28. Nd5+ Kg8 29. Ne7+ {
when White wins})) 24... Ne5 25. Nxf6 Rxf6 26. Bxe5 Kg7 27. Rg1+ Kf7 28. Bh5+
Rg6 29. Rf1 {White wins a pawn but Black should survive the OCB endgame after}
Kg8 30. exf5 Rf8 31. Bxg6 hxg6 32. f6 $14) 24. Rg1+ {The king is in danger,
White wins the knight.} Ng5 25. Nf4+ Kg7 26. h4 h6 27. Bh5 (27. Bc3 $5) 27...
Bf7 28. exf5 Bxh5 29. Nxh5+ Kf7 30. hxg5 fxg5 $6 {This gives White another
trump. Better was} (30... hxg5 31. Bc3 {with the idea} Re3 32. Bxf6 (32. Rd1 $1
{instead will keep White's chances higher.}) 32... Rh3 33. Rxg5 Rxh5 34. Rxh5
Kxf6) 31. Ng3 (31. Bb4 $1 {is more subtle.} Rg8 32. Bc3) 31... Rd8 32. Rh1 {
Diagram [#] In the endgame a R and a P are usually as good as the two light
pieces, and sometimes even better. However, this is not the case in the
actual position as the rooks are lacking open files and the balck pawns on the
kingside are weaknesses rather than passers. Giri converts his advantage with
an iron hand.} Rd4 ({The pawn cannot be saved} 32... Rh8 33. Bc3 Rh7 34. Ne4)
33. Rxh6 Rfd8 34. Rh7+ {Useful in between check to worsen the position of the
king.} (34. Rh2 Rg4) 34... Kg8 35. Rh2 Rg4 36. Ne2 Rd5 37. Rf2 Kf7 38. b3 {
White stabilized the situation.} b5 (38... Kf6 39. Bc3+ Kf7 40. Kb2) 39. b4 {
Fixes the pawns in order to attack them later with pieces.} c5 40. a3 cxb4 41.
axb4 a5 $1 {Loek correctly tries to trade as many pawns as possible.} 42. Nc3
Re5 43. bxa5 b4 44. Na2 Rxa5 45. Nxb4 Rg1+ ({Perhaps Black saw that in the line
} 45... Rb5 46. c3 Kf6 47. Kc2 {he cannot capture the pawn due to the trick}
Rxf5 $2 ({But instead} 47... Rg3 $1 {would have given him great drawing
chances.}) 48. Nd5+ $1 Ke5 49. Rxf5+ Kxf5 50. Ne3+) 46. Kb2 g4 47. Nd3 Rb5+ 48.
Kc3 g3 49. Rf3 Rb7 ({More stubborn was} 49... g2 50. Rg3 Rxf5 51. Be3 Ra1 52.
Rxg2) 50. Bf4 g2 51. Rg3 Re7 $2 {A blunder.} ({The game would have continued
after} 51... Kf6 52. Be3 Rc7+ 53. Kd2) 52. Ne5+ {A very creative and
intersteing game in which Anish Giri sacrificed first a pawn and then an
exchange to prove his advantage.} (52. Ne5+ {with the rook as} Ke8 53. Rg8# {
is a nice checkmate.}) 1-0

Report.

To Develop or not to Develop?

Chess have changed greatly in the past twenty years. It became much more concrete, thorough. The following game from the Tata Steel tournament is one good example.

[Event "Tata Steel Masters"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.01.21"]
[Round "10.4"]
[White "Saric, Ivan"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2666"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:37:34"]
[BlackClock "1:13:44"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qf3 {Not a
very commong choice in the Taimanov. White wants to castle long as quick as
possible and to place the queen as agressive as he can on the other side where
he will attack. The normal developing moves are} (7. Bd3) (7. Be2) 7... Ne5 8.
Qg3 h5 {Anish played this already against Karjakin and described it then with
the words "the worst possible line..."} 9. f4 {Ivan does not want to discover
the opponent's preparation after} (9. f3 b5 10. O-O-O d6 11. f4 Ng4 12. e5 dxe5
({it was pointed out by some sources that} 12... Nxe3 13. Qxe3 d5 {might be
better}) 13. fxe5 Nxe3 14. Qxe3 Bd7 {Karjakin-Giri, Tashent GP 2014}) 9... h4 {
This was what the previous move was all about. Now White will have to place
the queen in a less active square.} 10. Qh3 (10. Qf2 $6 Ng4) 10... Nc4 11. Bxc4
Qxc4 {Diagram [#] Some years back Giri would have be stripped of his GM title
and possibly sent in jail (at least) for violating all the opening rules. He
had not developed any piece yet, beside the queen and advanced the pawns on
the kingside where he is about to get checkmated. Nowadays, this is
considered normal. Black has a lot of hidden trumps up his sleeve, namely the
powerful bishop pair and the fluid pawn structure. One more thing of a great
importance is that there are no pawn clashes yet and this means that the balck
king will be safe in the center. At least for a while.} 12. O-O-O b5 {No, he
does not develop yet, but watches carefully for the white maneuvers.} 13. f5 {
Ivan decided to open some files.} (13. e5 {would be met with} Bb7 {that stops
Nc3-e4 jump.}) 13... Bb7 (13... b4 {would be a bit too much and White can
start attacking the weakened dark squares after} 14. Na4 Qc7 15. Nb3) 14. Rhf1
({Black remains remarkably solid after} 14. fxe6 dxe6 15. e5 Rc8 {and he has
all the time in the world to bring his knight to g6 or f5 after Ng8-e7. It is
true that White have opened a file in this line but there is nothing to attack
there yet and his queen is somewhat misplaced.}) 14... e5 $146 {Logically
closes the center, but allows a direct play against the d5 square.} ({In case
of} 14... Rc8 {which Anish tried in round six against Radjabov White has the
strong} 15. Nf3 $1 {with the threat Nf3-e5xf7! no matter what, or if Black
retreats} ({Radjabov played} 15. fxe6 {against Giri in Wijk some rounds before}
dxe6 16. Rxf7 Kxf7 17. b3 Ba3+ 18. Kb1 Qxc3 19. Qxe6+ Kf8 20. Rf1+ Nf6 21.
Rxf6+ gxf6 22. Qxf6+ Kg8 23. Qg6+ Kf8 24. Qf6+ Kg8 25. Qg6+ Kf8 26. Qf6+ {
½-½ (26) Radjabov,T (2734)-Giri,A (2784) 2015}) 15... Qc7 16. Ng5 {and once
again Ng5xf7 is in the air. For example} e5 $2 17. Nxf7 $3 Kxf7 18. f6 $1 {
This is the moment that White cherishes and it would be soon over} Nxf6 19.
Rxd7+ Qxd7 20. Qxd7+) 15. Nb3 ({Once again} 15. Nf3 $5 {was interesting but
less convincing due to} d6 16. Ng5 b4 17. Nd5 Bxd5 {and White cannot capture
with a piece on d5, whcih means that his whole strategy is wrong.}) 15... Qc7
16. Bg5 $5 {Nice regroupment. Not only the pawn on h4 is in danger, but the
bishop is ready to swap off the black knight and secure the d5 point for the
knight.} Rc8 17. Rf2 $5 {Protects c2 pawn and prepares Nc3-d5. White looks
better now, he managed to turn the threats of a tactical blitzkrieg into
strategical concessions in the black camp.} ({However, I have the feeling that
he should have stuck to the initial plan of opening the game and checkmating
the king after} 17. f6 $5) 17... Be7 $1 {In a difficult situation Giri is
amazingly resourceful.} 18. Bxe7 Kxe7 $3 {Diagram [#] Anish defends greatly.
As he does not intend to castle into the attack ever, it makes little sense to
capture with the knight as it will be very badly placed afterwards} (18... Nxe7
19. Rfd2 Bc6 20. a3 {and Black has nothing better than} Ng8 {to which} 21. g4
$1 {with the idea} Nf6 22. Qe3 {and g4-g5 gives large edge to White.}) 19. Rfd2
Nf6 {Now the knight is optimally placed for both attack and defense.} 20. a3
Rh6 $1 {One more important move in Black's plan. Black is out of danger.} 21.
Qe3 ({Black's position is solid after} 21. g4 hxg3 22. Qxg3 Kf8 23. Rg1 Rh7 {
but this was superior version of what White had later in the game.}) 21... Kf8
22. Kb1 Kg8 {Funny it might seem but Giri castled at last.} 23. Rg1 {Ivan
prepares the second wave of the attack.} ({It was tempting to regroup the
knight as well after} 23. Nc1 Bc6 24. Nd3 {but} a5 $1 {comes just in time.})
23... Ng4 24. Qf3 Qb6 25. Re1 Nf6 {And Anish is actively opposing it.} 26. g4
hxg3 27. Qxg3 ({In the race for the d5 square Black seems faster} 27. hxg3 a5
28. g4 b4 29. Na4 Qc6 30. Nac5 a4 {with complications which tend to favour the
second player.}) 27... d6 28. Rg2 Rh7 {Diagram [#] Anish survived the attack
and can start thinking of activity himself. The risky strategy succeeded!} 29.
Qg5 $6 {The beginning of a wrong idea.} (29. Qd3 {was better.}) 29... Kf8 30.
Qd2 $6 Rxc3 $1 {Typical and strong. This is not even an exchange sacrifice!}
31. Qxc3 Nxe4 32. Qd3 $2 {This makes things worse.} (32. Qb4 $1 {was mandatory
when in the line} Nc3+ 33. bxc3 Bxg2 {White can win a central pawn back} 34.
Rxe5 Rxh2 35. Re2 {with chances of survival, say} Rh1+ 36. Kb2 Bd5 37. Qf4 {
The threat Qf4-g5 is annoying, to say at least.}) 32... Nc3+ 33. Qxc3 Bxg2 34.
Qc8+ Ke7 35. Qg8 {Diagram [#]} Qf2 $1 {A cold shower. The attack is over
before it began.} ({Ivan was obviously hoping for something like} 35... Rxh2
36. Qxg7 Bh3 37. Rxe5+ dxe5 38. Qxe5+ Kf8 39. Qxh2 Bxf5 {when White is
definitely not worse.}) 36. Rd1 (36. Rxe5+ dxe5 37. Qxh7 Kf6 {is hopeless for
White who cannot co-ordinate his pieces.}) 36... Be4 $1 {One more subtle move.}
37. Rd2 ({Ivan probably missed that in the line} 37. Qxh7 {Black is not forced
to capture on c2 with the queen, but can play} Bxc2+ $1 ({Rather than} 37...
Qxc2+ 38. Ka2 Qxd1 39. Qh4+ {that wns a piece for White.}) 38. Kc1 Bxf5 {and
wins.}) 37... Qg1+ 38. Ka2 Bxf5 {Giri stabilized the situation and went on to
convert the extra pawns.} 39. Qb8 Rh6 40. Rd5 Bd7 41. Qb7 Qg4 42. Na5 {Diagram
[#] The last chace for some tricks but...} Kf6 $1 {This brave king won the
game.} (42... Rxh2 43. Qc7 Rxc2 $1 44. Qxc2 Qe6 45. Qb3 Qxd5 $1 46. Qxd5 Be6 {
wins as well, but why to complicate things?!}) 43. b3 (43. Rxd6+ Be6+ 44. Nb3
Rxh2 {is equally hopeless.}) 43... Rxh2 44. Rxd6+ Be6 45. Kb2 Qf4 46. Nc6 Rh1
47. Qe7+ Kf5 {An excellent game by Anish who risked greatly but achieved an
important win!} 0-1

Report by Peter Doggers here.

Revenge

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.

[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.

Carlsen back in Business

The fifth round of Tata Steel tournament saw one of the main clashes in the event. The world champion Magnus Carlsen managed to outplay the former world's second rated player Levon Aronian in a game which was not quite typical for this level.

[Event "Tata Steel Masters"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.01.15"]
[Round "5.6"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2862"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "0:54:10"]
[BlackClock "0:50:55"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 {The Ragozin line should not have been
a surprise for either of the players as they have already tested it twice in
Stavanger last year.} 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 {In both their previous
games Carlsen chose} (7. Bh4 {when the blitz saw} g5 ({While in the classical
game the Norwegian uncorked a very interesting novelty after} 7... Nbd7 8. e3
g5 9. Bg3 Ne4 10. Nd2 Nxg3 11. fxg3 $5 $146 {Carlsen,M (2881)-Aronian,L (2815)
Stavanger 2014}) 8. Bg3 Ne4 9. Nd2 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Bxc3 11. Rc1 Bb2 12. Rxc7 Na6
13. Rc2 Bxd4 {with compensation for the sacrificed pawn, Carlsen,M (2881)
-Aronian,L (2815) Flor & Fjaere 2014}) 7... Qxf6 8. Qa4+ Nc6 9. e3 O-O 10. Be2
Be6 11. O-O a6 12. Rfc1 Bd6 13. Qd1 {Diagram [#] A typical Carlsbad pawn
structure had arosen where the plans of both sides are crystal clear. White
will conduct the minority attack on the queenside and Black should try and
checkmate on the opposite wing.} Ne7 14. a3 ({White can start maneuvering with
the knight at once with} 14. Na4 b6 15. b4 g5 16. Nb2 Ng6 17. Nd3 {but if you
have noticed Black already has some play on the kingside, which proved enough
to hold the balance after} a5 18. b5 Rfe8 19. Rc3 h5 {in the game Roiz,M (2668)
-Tomashevsky,E (2710) Saratov 2011}) 14... Rfd8 15. b4 Nc8 $146 {The novelty.
Black often likes to transfer the knight on c4 in the Carlsbad. By doing this,
he blocks the half open c file thus protecting the c pawn itself. If White
ttrades on c4, then Black will have a good defended passeron that square.} ({
Black can also proceed with the kingside play instead} 15... Bf5 16. Na4 a5 17.
b5 g5 {as Tomashevsky did in the game above, Pogorelov,R (2459)-Garcia Vicente,
N (2214) Balaguer 2008}) 16. Na4 b6 $6 {Levon stopped on the half-way. He
probably disliked the position after} (16... b5 17. Nc5 Nb6 18. a4 ({In case of
} 18. Nb7 Rdb8 19. Nxd6 cxd6 {the doubled pawn on d6 will cover the vital e5
and c5 points.}) 18... Nxa4 19. Nxa4 bxa4 20. Rxa4 Rab8 21. Ne1 Bxb4 22. Nd3 {
Indeed, there is a strategical risk that Black loses the c pawn and the game
and it is yet hard to asses if this will happen in the next 10-20 moves. But
then, what was the move 15...Nc8 for?!}) 17. Nb2 $1 Ne7 18. Nd3 {White is some
tempoes ahead in comarison to Roiz-Tomashevsky and as Carlsen explained in the
press conferense Black's attempts to create counter play will create too many
weaknesses in his camp. he white knight is optimally placed on d3 both
threatening to occupy the e5 square and supporting the b pawn advance.} Ng6 19.
a4 {With the threat of a4-a5 that will also fix a weakness on c7 but will as
well make the a6 pawn a target. Levon chooses the lesser evil.} a5 20. b5 {But
now the c7 pawn is a permanent pain. This position is very unpleasant for
Black. The bishop pair is not particulary strong, on the contrary-in the semi
closed positions it is much better to have knights. The pawn on c7 clues the
bishop on the d6 square, thus turning the d5 pawn into a weakness.} Re8 21. Rc3
Bf5 22. Rac1 Rad8 {Diagram [#] Magnus suggested the more subtle} (22... Re7 23.
Nd2 Rae8 {which would have saved Black some tempi.}) 23. Nd2 {Magnus wants to
play g2-g3 to kill all the black play on the kingside and bring the bishop on
f3. However, the immediate} (23. g3 {has a tactical flaw} Bg4 {and if} 24. Nd2
$2 Bxe2 25. Qxe2 Qxd4 $1 {wins a pawn for the second player (Carlsen).}) 23...
Rd7 ({The opposite colored bishops will not bring Black any relief. After}
23... Bxd3 24. Bxd3 Nf8 {or else While will chop this knight off the board.}
25. g3 {Whihte will mount pressure by bringing the bishop on the long diagonal,
the rook on c6 and the knight eventually on c3.}) 24. g3 (24. Bg4 {was already
interesting.}) 24... Nf8 25. Bg4 $1 {The trades are favorable for White who
will get an easier access to the d5 pawn.} Nh7 26. Bxf5 Qxf5 27. Qf3 Qg5 ({In
the endgame after} 27... Qxf3 28. Nxf3 {White can put the rook on c6, one of
the knights on c3 and the other on f4. Any time Black swaps off the bishop,
the c7 pawn will be lost.}) 28. h4 Qe7 29. Rc6 {Magnus calmly improves his
position.} ({The capture is no good yet} 29. Qxd5 Ba3) 29... Nf6 30. Nf4 $6 {
Levon tries to bail out with tactics but as often happens this makes things
even worse. Still, it is very hard to suggest something constructive for Black.
} g6 {Diagram [#]} 31. h5 $1 ({As Carlsen pointed out at the press conference,
the pawn is not yet yummie} 31. Nxd5 $6 Nxd5 32. Qxd5 Ba3 33. Rxg6+ Kh7 34.
Rxh6+ $6 ({Better is} 34. Rxc7 Rxd5 35. Rxe7 Bxe7 36. Rxb6 {with absolutely
crazy position.}) 34... Kxh6 35. Rc6+ Rd6 $17) 31... Kg7 ({In case of} 31... g5
32. Nxd5 $1 {things work well for White!} Nxd5 33. Qxd5 {The main line runs}
Ba3 ({Or} 33... Bxg3 34. Qf3 ({There is no need to allow any tactics} 34. Qf5
Bxf2+ 35. Qxf2 Qxe3 36. Qxe3 Rxe3 {although White should be better here as
well.}) 34... Bd6 35. Nc4 {with strategically won position for White.}) 34. Qf5
Bxc1 35. Rxh6 $1 {and White checkmates (Carlsen)} Qd8 (35... Ba3 36. Qh7+ Kf8
37. Qh8#) (35... Qb4 36. Qxg5+ Kf8 37. Rh8#) (35... f6 36. Qg6+ Qg7 37. Qxe8+)
36. Qh7+ Kf8 37. Qh8+ Ke7 38. Qe5+ Kf8 39. Rh8#) (31... Bxf4 {does not help
neither due to} 32. Qxf4 Nxh5 33. Qxh6 {[%cal Gd2f3,Gf3e5] with Nd2-f3-e5 to
follow (Carlsen)}) 32. hxg6 fxg6 33. Nxd5 Nxd5 34. Qxd5 Bxg3 ({Once more
tactics helps strategy in the line} 34... Ba3 35. Qxd7 $1 Qxd7 36. Rxc7 {
(Carlsen)}) 35. Qg2 Bd6 36. Nc4 {Diagram [#] The knight got an access to the
c4 square. Next, Magnus will trade it for the bishop and one of the pawns on
c7 or b6 will fall and with it the Black position.} Rf8 {This makes things
easier for White.} 37. Ne5 $1 Bxe5 38. Qxg6+ Kh8 39. Qxh6+ Kg8 40. dxe5 Qxe5
41. Rg6+ Kf7 42. Rc4 Qa1+ 43. Kg2 Rh8 44. Rf4+ Ke8 45. Re6+ Re7 46. Rxe7+ Kxe7
47. Re4+ {Diagram [#] Some of Aronian's decisions in this game are hard to
explain but Carlsen's play to prove him wrong was perfect.} ({Levon resigned
due to the lines} 47. Re4+ Kd8 (47... Kd7 48. Rd4+ Qxd4 49. Qc6+) 48. Rd4+ Qxd4
49. Qg5+) 1-0

Aronian keep struggling with himself. Full report.