Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
C O M
Nigel Short
How to avoid
12 draws
Judit Polgar
Crucial
moments Magnus
Paul Morphy
at the Opera Carlsen
(again) goes for tiebreak
Just Checking
Alina Kashlinskaya to defend world title
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GREAT NEW TITLES!
All match games are
analysed in great detail
together with portraits
of the protagonists including
key games and moments from
their careers and a history of
the World Chess Championship.
8 ‘Every chess
player is a bit
selfish, but I
am not sure
if that’s bad.’
Contents
S U B S C R I P T I O N S : p. 24 C O L O P H O N : p. 13 A7
Opera Game
M
orphy at the opera is
perhaps the best-known
game in the history of
chess. Paul Morphy, the top player
of the mid-1800s, won a delightful
blindfold miniature against two
ennobled amateurs while attending
the opera in Paris. Now Morphy’s
rise from child prodigy to his
epitaph of the ‘pride and sorrow of
chess’ will form the backdrop to a
new movie on the tragic American
genius.
‘The Opera Game’ (theopera
gamemovie.com) is due to be
released early next year with
screenplay by Ken Mask and
directed by Monty Ross, who has
worked alongside Spike Lee in hit
movies ‘She’s Gotta Have It’, ‘School
Daze’ and ‘Malcolm X’. It stars
Blaine Kern – who also starred in
the 2015 Oscar-winning movie ‘The
Big Short’ – as the adult Paul Morphy
and Ryan Grego as young Paul.
Working as chess advisor to the
project was Swedish grandmaster
Pontus Carlsson.
The period piece will not have a big
theatrical production, but instead be
made available for the small screen,
streaming services, DVD and for
download. The project is aimed at
highlighting ‘hidden figures’ from
the past to a newer generation, who
would have perhaps never heard
of their life story and impact on
history.■
8A
A9
NIC’s Café
NIC’s Café
comes out of a tap that’s a black knight cancer-stricken rival, Aleksander, was
Cheers and where you can get copies of New seeking forgiveness by confessing that
T
hose chess-mad Norwe- In Chess from behind the bar? A pub he’d cheated in the game he’d won
gians know how to do things not so much where everyone knows after finding key opening analysis in
the right way. On the eve of your name, but also your game – we’ll a notebook our chess genius had left
Magnus Carlsen defending drink to that! unguarded. But he needed more than
his crown, a new chess-themed pub, forgiveness; he wanted Graham to
‘The Good Knight’, opened in the King’s Gambit be his young daughter’s chess coach
I
heart of Oslo’s downtown night-life t’s never too late to mend the after he died, as she had a God-given
district. It has proved to be an instant past. That’s the tagline of the talent for the 64 squares, the same as
hit with hundreds of customers new CBS show ‘God Friended Graham had in his heyday.
packing in each evening. They found Me’, a lightly humorous feel- Can someone please pass a hand-
chess sets on every table, a grand- good series that centres on Miles, an kerchief now?
master serving behind the bar, and outspoken atheist whose life is turned
Magnus on the giant TV screens, as upside down when he is friended by The Daily Show
A
everyone followed the live NRK chess nother popular US TV
action from London. show that had a good pre-
The brains behind the venture World Championship
is – wait for it – Magnus’ first chess feature proved to be ‘The
trainer, GM Torbjørn Ringdal Daily Show’, once the haunt of the
Hansen, who went into partnership irrepressible Jon Stewart, but now
with friends Kristoffer Gressli and with Trevor Noah at the helm, the
Lars Petter Fosdahl. The original plan South African comedian famed for
the three founders had was to open his quick wit and often politically-
a chess centre with a café, but one of charged satire.
them had a brainwave: ‘Why not a His guest on the eve of the Carlsen-
pub?’ And why not indeed! A scene from ‘God Friended Me’ shot Caruana match was Maurice ‘Boom!’
‘We had a feeling that it would be in Washington Square Park. Ashley, whom Noah tweeted ‘... brings
popular, but it has been above expec- his Brooklyn energy – and trash-
tations,’ said Ringdal Hansen to the God on Facebook. Unwittingly, he talking – to chess.’ The barbs came
local Norwegian media at the end becomes an agent of change in the thick and fast during the very lively
of a very successful opening week. lives and destinies of others around and entertaining 5-minute segment,
‘There has been an incredible number him. and Ashley gave just as good as he got
of people who have stopped by, and We think more by accident than in the exchanges, whilst at the same
we have received lots of positive design, but halfway through the time making the case for chess being
feedback.’ London World Championship exciting for a large mainstream media
And what’s not to like about a pub Match, Episode 9 was titled ‘King’s audience.
where the barflies are experts on the Gambit’ and featured Miles and his After asking Ashley how someone
Grünfeld Defence, the Guinness gang of do-gooders trying to track becomes a grandmaster, and it being
down a reclusive Harlem chess genius, explained to him, Noah came back
described as ‘the next Bobby Fischer’, with, ‘Okay, so just like “Mortal
who disappeared under mysterious Kombat”, then?’ And, of course, it goes
circumstances 10 years ago, never to
play again after he lost a key tourna-
ment game to his rival, who is now
terminally ill.
The missing genius had the very
chessic name of ‘Graham Hastings’,
and there was lots of wonderful scenes
shot in the famous chess hustler
arena of Washington Square Park
in New York City. There was also a
At ‘The Good Knight’ the Guinness moral to the tale and a happy ending Maurice Ashley was his buoyant self as
comes out of a black knight. of sorts. It turns out that Graham’s he appeared on ‘The Daily Show’.
10 A
NIC’s Café
without saying that Noah just couldn’t Batumi Chess Olympiad and Judit with spots also going to rising young
resist ending the segment without Polgar’s Global Chess Festival. Indian stars Nihal Sarin (rapid) and
getting a jab in at Donald Trump’s Now Juga has followed up with a R. Praggnanandhaa (blitz).
expense. Ashley: ‘When you play chess second chess-themed song, ‘Isolated In the end, two recognised speed
you realize... it’s not my best idea that Pawn’, again accompanied with mavens shared the honours. Naka-
really counts, it’s yours. How am I another slick animated video. Juga mura won the rapid tournament a
gonna beat you? It’s by really studying explains on her website that, in this half point ahead of Harikrishna and
what you want and that’s how deep song, she ‘goes through the human Aronian, and then went on to tie with
strategy comes into the game.’ Noah: emotions of an isolated pawn, first Anand on 12½/18 in the blitz – but
‘So, you’re saying we need to teach in person, as if I was alone and unde-
Trump how to play chess?’ Ashley: fended in the middle of the chess-
‘That’s gonna be really hard.’ board.’ It was released just in time for
the run-up to the Carlsen-Caruana
Juga World Championship Match in
T
here’s not many that can say London, and she was invited to
that they have been inspired attend the match after her successful
LENNART OOTES
by playing against the Caro- Olympiad performance.
Kann efence but for the
chess-loving Chilean singer/song- Déjà vu
H
writer Juga di Prima, this proved to ave you ever had a sense of You’re right! That’s the flyover where
be the case when she was playing in a déjà vu after reading New the Gariahat Chess Club gathers.
tournament in Rome last December. In Chess? Lennart Ootes,
She thought her position from the the ever-travelling, forever Anand gave the very patriotic home
Exchange Variation so strong, but got snapping chess photographer had that fans a little something extra to cheer
carried away with the emotions of the feeling in Kolkata as he was covering a about, as their hero went on to win the
new event on the international circuit, two-game tiebreak match to take the
the Tata Steel India Chess Rapid and title.
Blitz tournament. ere is a neat tactical finish from
He was tasked to photograph the the blitz by Nakamura.
players on a visit to a very special
chess club, with no idea where he was Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
being sent. It wasn’t until he got there Hikaru Nakamura
and started to take out his camera, Kolkata Tata Steel Blitz
that it suddenly hit him: ‘Hold on...
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Finding strong moves doesn’t simply depend on how much IM Lakdawala has identified dozens of reasons why we see
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you will more often arrive at strong moves and substantially With compelling examples and captivating and often funny
improve your game. explanations.
Two different games ‘super greats’. Can you imagine battery on the long diagonal and this
Magnus Carlsen has just won another Lasker, Capablanca, Alek hine, looks really scary for White: 25.fxe5
Rapid World Championship – not a Botvinnik, Tal, Fischer or Kasparov ♕c6. I think that just the sight of the
Classical World Chess Championship. offering a draw in such circum- exposed white king would deter the
On his own admission he ‘chose the stances? A worthy World Champion, bravest of souls from entering this
path he felt would give the best chance yes; a future legend, never. position. However, White can justify
to retain his title’. Tellingly, he also Jim Robertson, his play with a very precise (and
said, ‘In Classical chess he (Caruana) East Kilbride, scotland hardly human) defensive sequence:
has at this point just as much right as I 26.♕f4! g5 27.♕f5 ♕h1+ 28.♔f2
do to call himself the best in the world’. ♕xh2+ 29.♔e1 ♕g3+ and now
Classical chess, in its pure form, is 30.♔f1! (30.♖f2 is met by the strong
a battle of ideas. Rapid and Blitz chess Write to us 30...♗c8! – the point of 24...♗b7 –
are crude in comparison. We only New In Chess, P.O. Box 1093 and White falls under a strong attack)
analyse them for the purpose of estab- 1810 KB Alkmaar, The Netherlands 30...♗f3! (now 30...♗c8 is met by
lishing the blunders – there is little or e-mail: editors@newinchess.com 31.♖d3! and White wins!) when
Letters may be edited or abridged
point in pursuing variations which the Black has the very strong threat of
players have no chance of seeing with ...♗f3-g4-h3+, but White has the
so little time to think. One could say cool-headed answer: 31.c4!! and
that Classical Chess is ‘thinking man’s More than meets the eye after 31...♗g4 32.♕f2 ♗h3+ 33.♔e1
chess’. In New In Chess 2018/7, Jan Timman ♖xe5+, he gets a winning position
Richard sugden analysed the brilliant game Aronian- with 34.♔d1!, when the king can
sao Paulo, Brazil Mamedyarov from the Batumi escape to c2, thanks to 31.c4. Impres-
Olympiad. In the critical moment sive stuff!
A disgrace after 23...♗xg2! These complicated variations show
I have played chess for over 60 years – that there is more than meets the eye
mostly at the patzer or slightly above
level, but I’ve seen enough contests
._._Dt.m after 24.f4. Perhaps, 24.♔xg2 was
indeed a more practical choice.
to think this World Championship _._._.jJ Davorin Kuljasevic
match between Magnus Carlsen and J_._.j._ Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Fabiano Caruana was a disgrace. In _T_.l._.
the first game Carlsen missed a good
attack that even I saw. Caruana, as the
N_._._._
Challenger, should have been a Tiger. _I_.q._. COLOPHON
A future legend? 25.♕xe8 ♖xe8 26.♘xb2 ♗h3 27.♘c4, No part of this magazine may be reproduced,
As a strategic step to retaining the Black doesn’t have full compensation’. stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any
form or by any means, recording or otherwise,
World Championship, I think Magnus This is certainly true and made without the prior permission of the publisher.
Carlsen’s decision to offer a draw in me wonder why Aronian did not
NEW IN CHESS
Game 12, while enjoying a signifi- choose this apparently more prac- P. O . B O X 1 0 9 3
1810 KB ALKMAAR
cantly better position and substantial tical solution and allowed Mame- THE NETHERLANDS
time advantage, was correct, given his dyarov to continue his attack instead.
PHONE: 00-31-(0)72-51 27 137
domination in speed chess. I would like to suggest that Aronian SUBSCRIPTIONS: nic@newinchess.com
I also think that in that moment of did not play 24.f4 because he was EDITORS: editors@newinchess.com
ADVERTISING: otten@newinchess.com
offering the draw, he excused himself concerned about his king’s safety
from ever joining the ranks of the after 24...♗b7!?. Black prepares a W W W. N E W I N C H E S S. C O M
A 13
INfOGRaPhIC
14 A
Fair & Square
Theresa May: ‘The negotiations its virtues are the virtues that pion Vishy Anand both utilised on
for our departure are now in the you will experience during these the same day the rare in-tourna-
endgame.’ (The British Prime Min- championships: the sense of strat- ment option of a half point bye and
ister speaking on Brexit at the Lord egy, concentration, respect the a rest day)
Mayor’s banquet at the Guildhall in opponent, both intellectual skills
London in mid-November) and values.’ (The French Minister of John McCrea: ‘I’m
National Education’s video address reminded of what
Jorge Valdano: ‘It to children competing in this year’s writer Rebecca
will be a game of French Youth Championships) Solnit told us back
chess without in 2016 during the
kings.’ (The pre- Hermann Presidential Elec-
game analysis of Mattison: ‘Chess is tion: “A vote is a chess move, not a
the former Real a small but inde- valentine.”’ (The lead-singer and
Madrid forward for the late pendent republic.’ founding member of the alternative
October Barcelona v Real Madrid (The early 20th rock band Cake, speaking during a
‘El clásico’ matchup, with both century Latvian get-out-the-vote campaign for the
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo master who, in 1924, won the first US midterm elections in Texas for
not playing) Latvian Championship followed by the Democrat Senate hopeful, Beto
the first unofficial Chess Olympiad O’Rourke)
Allison Pearson: ‘We need a chess in Paris, before the event became a
grandmaster to wrangle with team tournament) David Edmonds: ‘These days, in
Brussels, not the runner-up in the amateur as well as professional
1973 Towcester tiddlywinks com- Simon Singh: ‘The most recent chess, mobile phones are banned
petition.’ research, however, suggests that or have to be switched off – they
(The front page commentary by the chess in schools does not help would ruin fair competition far
Daily Telegraph opinion writer, as improve maths, which I find sur- more decisively than any cocktail
she ridicules Prime Minister Theresa prising.’ (The Bafta-winning film- of steroids pumped into a pro-
May’s chess metaphor for Brexit) maker of the BBC film ‘Fermat’s fessional cyclist.’ (Writing in the
Last Theorem’, and the author of November ‘Prospect’ magazine, on
Christopher Yoo: several popular science books) the influence of computers and AI
‘What I like about in chess)
chess is the geome- Nihal Sarin: ‘Both
try of it. I like the have simple rules Samuel Beckett:
beauty of the but become com- ‘At this point Mr.
game. I like the plicated when we Endon, without as
tactics.’ (The new 11-year-old dig deep. Both also much as
rising star of US Chess, who in Sep- are a great way to “j’aboube”, turned
tember became the youngest Cal further our mental capacity.’ his King and
State Champion in history, beating (The young Indian chess prodigy, Queen’s Rook upside down, in
GM Sam Shankland’s previous on the relationship between chess which position they remained for
record by five years) and mathematics) the rest of the game.’
(The avant-garde Irish Nobel Prize
Jean-Michel Blanquer: ‘I, like Vladimir Kramnik: ‘We are old winner in his early novel, ‘Murphy’,
you, am a great lover of chess. chaps, and it is difficult to play where the eponymous protagonist
I think it gives many benefits nine games in a row.’ plays a very unusual and pro-
in life, that’s why (...) I encour- (The ex-World Champion explain- tracted game of chess with
age chess anywhere, including ing on the Isle of Man live broad- Mr. Endon, a patient in a mental
at school, because we all know cast why he and fellow ex-Cham- hospital)
A 15
LONDON
Carlsen’s
Choice
World Champion again defends title in rapid tiebreak
I
t’s hard to argue with by winning three games on the trot, impulse to answer questions with a
success. If you win, when Magnus Carlsen could smile curt ‘no’, ‘I don’t know’ or ‘I don’t
you’ve proved yourself and speak again. Gone was the grim care’. As he walked in for the final
right. Let others say expression that had clouded his face press conference with his loose
what they want – what’s that to you? at the press conferences, as the football player’s gait, Magnus
He had barely claimed the rapid match got mired in a seemingly Carlsen was all smiles again, and
tiebreak of the World Championship endless string of draws. No longer when he sat down, he grinningly
match, ruthlessly deciding the issue did he have to give in to his first summed up his mood: ‘I am very
16 A
LONDON
The opening move for the first tiebreak game was made by Lucy Hawking, Chair of the Stephen Hawking Foundation, and daughter
of the late theoretical physicist. In the middle chief arbiter Stéphane Escafre and World Chess CEO Ilya Merenzon.
happy. I felt I had a really good day at And with another broad grin he sical games – after all, we also have
work today. Everything kind of went added, ‘As for the opinions of Garry a separate World Championship in
perfectly.’ and Vlad, I mean, they’re entitled Rapid and Blitz – whereas Carlsen
elf confidentl he co ntered the to their stupid opinions,’ eliciting is less dogmatic. Remarkably, as
criticism vented by many people, supportive laughter from the room he called Caruana his strongest
incl din redecessors as aro packed with VIPs and press repre- opponent in world title matches
and ra nik that a reat cha ion sentatives, even though many of so far, he also said that, based on
should have played on in Game 12, them had been similarly puzzled and recent results, the American had
in which, uncharacteristically, he critical of his draw o er onl ho rs the same right to call himself the
had suddenly proposed a draw in a earlier. best player in the world in clas-
osition that still o ered hi sli ht sical chess as he himself had. But
chances, and opted to once again The main issue that the World he also asked for more f lexibility
defend his title in a rapid and blitz Champion had with his critics regarding the faster time-controls.
tiebreak. ‘Based on the information concerns the role of rapid play, and ‘In general, more emphasis should
I had, I think that I made a very good possibly blitz, in a contest for the be placed on rapid and blitz play in
decision. There were some things classical World Championship. chess, because it gives you a larger
that I had missed during the game, Traditionalists would like to see margin to show that you’re better
which kind of made me underesti- that championship decided in clas- than your opponent. I think it’s not
mate my position at that point. But
I still felt that, you know, with the
mind-set that I had and everything,
With another broad grin he added,
that I made the right decision. (...)
Based on my chances today, I think
‘As for Garry and Vlad, they’re
it was correct.’ entitled to their stupid opinions.’
A 17
LONDON
18 A
LONDON
._._._._
_._.r.j.
J_._._._
_._._I_J
._._ _.i
t._._.i.
._._._K_
_._._._.
38...♔x 3 .♖x 7 ♔ 4 .♖
4 .♖x 4 4 .♖ ♖
43.♔ 3 3 44.♖ + ♔ 7 4 .♔
OLE KRIsTIaN sTRØM
._._._._
_._._.m.
_._._._
_._._._. World Champion Magnus Carlsen arrives with two of the pillars of Team
._._._.i Carlsen, his father Henrik and his second Peter Heine Nielsen.
j._._.i.
._._._K_
t._._._.
NOTES BY
4 ...♖ + It turns out that 45...a2 is
not a draw, because White just pushes
._._._._ Anish Giri
the pawns forward and keeps the _._._.m.
king on g2 h2 4 .h ♔h7 47.g4 ♔g7 _._._._ Fabiano Caruana
48.♔h2! ♔h7 49.g , and it s impor- _._._._I Magnus Carlsen
tant that after 49...♖c1 0.♖xa2 ♖c ._._._I London 2018 (tiebreak-2)
sici ian efence s es niko ariation
there is 1.♖g2!, so that the king had
to be on h2 and not on g2. j._._._. .e4 . 3 3. 4 x 4
4 .♔ 3 ♖ 47. ._._._._ 4. x 4 . 3e .
t._._._. 7. Once again back to the tabiya
._._._._ Now, with the pawn already on g4, the
of this match, which had appeared in
Games 8, 10 and 12.
_._._.m. king can simply go forward. 7... x 8.ex e7 . 4
_._._._ 4 ... .♔ ♔7 . ♖ . 4 7 . 4 8!?
_._._._I .♖ 7+ ♔ 8 3.♖x ♖ +
4.♔ ♖ + .♔
._._._._ Black resigned.
._ .t
j._._.iK jJ_ _JjJ
._._._._ Theoretically, nothing dramatic had ._.j._ _
t._._._. happened yet, since in the best-of-four _ _Ij._.
47...♔ 7 47...a2 48.♔h2 would
rapid match, Caruana had at least two
games to fight back. But as it turned out,
. I_._._
lead to the above line, and 48...♖e1, this first loss dealt a severe blow. In the _._._._.
giving up the a-pawn immediately, second game, the merican s self-confi- Ii._.iIi
won t save Black either 49.♖xa2 ♔h dence was undermined, while Carlsen, r. . _
0.♖a , and hite will eventually although he wasn’t sure about his
connect his pawns and win. position, became very calm and played Deviating from Game 12, in which he
48. 4 ♔ 7 4 .♔ 4! brilliantly. went 11... f .
A 19
LONDON
12.h4 h5 13.♗e3 a6 14.♘c3 a5 since Black will find it hard to come White wants to follow up with ♕e2
14...♗e7 can be met by 15.♘a4, which up with a move after 19.♖c1, when and 0-0-0, with a strong initiative.
explains the logic behind the ...a5-a4 19...♗g4 20.♗xg4 hxg4 21.h5 forces 19.f3 was also quite appropriate here,
idea. 21...♘h8, because once Black has when it felt as if Caruana would have
15.♕b3 a4 16.♕d1 ♗e7 17.g3 castled, there will no longer be a pin a better version of Game 12.
♕c8 So far, both players had been on the h-file. 19...♗xe2 20.♕xe2 ♕f5
playing at the speed of light, or so it
seemed from the transmission that
I was following. Maybe there was
T_D_M_.t T_._M_.t
some bluffing involved, since Black’s _J_.lJj. _J_.lJj.
position seemed highly suspect at this ._.j._S_ ._.j._S_
point. _._Ij._J _._IjD_J
J_I_._Li J_I_._.i
T_D_M_.t _.n.b.i. _.n.b.i.
_J_LlJj. Ii._Bi._ Ii._Qi._
._.j._S_ r._Qk._R _.r.k._R
_._Ij._J
19.♖c1 Not the worst of the options. 21.c5?!
J_I_._.i It doesn’t spoil much, but it certainly This operation doesn’t work well for
_.n.b.i. lets Black off the hook quite a bit. White here, with no h4-h5 ideas after
Ii._.i._ 19.♗xg4 felt principled: 19...hxg4 0-0, as in the 19. ♗xg4 lines.
r._QkB_R 20.c5, with what feels like a powerful 21.0-0 0-0 would lead to an unclear
initiative after 20...dxc5 21.h5. Black position, but I am not sure about
18.♗e2 ♗g4 18...0-0 is not good, has some issues with his knight and Black’s queenside pawn structure.
20 A
LONDON
White can stick the knight on b5 and 26.c7? White’s position was extremely by, and ust like ar akin two years
prepare the eventual c5 push. Black, in dangerous and on the verge of collapse, ago, Caruana had not really stood
his turn, will have to show some crea- but this loses by force. a chance. Magnus Carlsen had
tivity to get play on the kingside. fter 2 .♗d4, despite having a few defended his world title and could
21...0 0 22.c6?! attractive options, Black doesn’t have look back on his overall performance:
anything killing: 2 ...♖a5 2 ...♕f ‘Frankly speaking, the last couple of
T_._.tM_ 27.0-0 ♘xh4 leads to a perpetual:
28.gxh4 ♕g4 29. h2 ♕xh4
years my game hasn’t been great. And
in this sense, this match, the classical
_J_.lJj. 2 ...♗a5 27.♗c ♗xc 28.♖xc portion, was a step in the right direc-
._Ij._S_ ♖a5 29.♘e , and White is completely tion. I think I played relatively well.
_._IjD_J in the game 27.♘e ♕f 28.0-0, and (...) I feel I have things to work on,
J_._._.i despite the fact that Black has options
to sac both pieces on h4, White is
clearly, but I don’t have any regrets.
never felt great about the first clas-
_.n.b.i. holding, and, objectively, surviving. sical) game, because if I had won that
Ii._Qi._ 26...♗xc7 27.♘xc7 ♘e5 one, the match would have been very
_.r.k._R different. felt that there weren’t going
A 21
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LONDON
Favourite player
As draws became the trend, the press
conferences lost their sparkle. With
the tension mounting, the players
became less talkative and their A happy and relieved Magnus Carlsen celebrates his victory with a glass of champagne.
answers short and evasive. For days, With an explosive 3-0 in the rapid tiebreak he felt he had silenced his critics.
the main issues that kept the jour-
nalists going were a short video from
Caruana’s camp in which a computer
screen was visible with possible infor- and artwork. With a great variety of chess fans actually visit tournaments
mation about the openings he had rooms – a café, a commentary room, and matches these days, but that the
been working on, and a band-aid on a bar, a souvenir shop, a press room, London match was followed online
Carlsen’s eyebrow after he had run a VIP room and, of course, a playing by millions of enthusiasts around the
into a Norwegian journalist while hall – it was a pleasant venue, but globe.
playing football on one of the free overall the rooms were quite small. Which begged the question on
days. Was the video real or fake news? The entrance fee, although not which platforms these millions
Caruana had no wish to comment. extravagant for London standards, actually watched the games. Certainly
And did the injury over his eye bother was steep enough at 55 pounds per not on the official website, where the
Carlsen the next game? ‘No.’ game, particularly since this didn’t number of viewers rarely exceeded 3K.
For more action and more elabo- guarantee permanent access to the But then, they had to pay 20 dollars
rate answers, we would have to wait playing room. Because of the limited for the entire match there, while there
for the tiebreak. Perhaps the most space, the spectators had to rotate and was a wide choice of free platforms.
memorable moment from the press were given time slots. The organizers On a side note, 20 dollars for the expe-
conferences was when the two final- claimed there were 270 seats, which in rience that World Chess promised
ists were asked about their favourite itself would not be too impressive for was not a lot, with Judit Polgar as
players and Carlsen revealed that his a world title match, but anyone who the main force on the commentary
favourite player was he himself, two actually counted the seats reached team and various camera angles
or three years ago. A fascinating and 200 at best. to watch the players, but unfortu-
revealing confession, but also one that But then, World Chess has never nately the official website had lots
invited someone to joke that, appar- been very good at numbers. On the of technical issues, and many of the
ently, he has begun to identify himself placards in The College, they repeated comments in the live chat box on the
with the Magnus App too much. their claim that 600 million people main page were complaints. Sadly,
worldwide play chess (the criterion the other comments in that chat box
The College and beyond seems to be that they have to play were no more inspiring. Right from
The venue of the match was The one game a year), which continues to the start, visitors had fun insulting
College, a Victorian building in a feel like an unrealistic number. And the commentators and guests on the
central part of London that had been in defence of the restricted space for live broadcast and didn’t refrain from
decorated with the World Chess spectators, World Chess CEO Ilya spewing racist and sexist language.
house style of black and white logos Merenzon explained that very few Some other visitors complained, but
A 23
LONDON
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24 A
LONDON
NOTES BY
Jan Timman White to capture on c5. He still . f h
managed to win, though. A strategic move, but a tad slow. With
. e e 13... d 14. f3 e5, lack could
Fabiano Caruana In Caruana-Nakamura, St. Louis have e uali ed. After 15. xe5 xe5
Magnus Carlsen 2015, there followed 8...b6 . d2 16. d2 lack can choose where to
London 2018 (1) h6 10.0-0 e5 11. h2, and now lack castle. The position is roughly equal.
sicilian Defence, Rossolimo Variation decided to prevent the advance of
.e c A pleasant surprise. Carlsen
is prepared to go for an open fight.
the white f-pawn with 11...g5. This
is slightly against the spirit of the
T_.dMs.t
. f c . b position, and I think that Caruana j._._Jl.
This could be expected. Caruana has would have liked to get this position .jJ_L_Jj
a thing for the Rossolimo Variation, again. _.j._._.
.
and he had played it before in a tour-
nament game against Carlsen. This
The usual move here is . d2
to prepare castling queenside. The
._._I_._
preference surprises me. I myself move usually leads to a sharp battle _.nIb._I
have often played it to avoid the with opposite castling. Caruana has IiI_.rIn
substantial theory of the Sveshnikov, always chosen to castle kingside, r._Q_.k.
and there are more players who prefer which leads to a quieter position. So
a strategic battle to a theoretical one. the text probably didn’t come as a . d
But Caruana is known for his razor- surprise for Carlsen. An utterly normal developing move,
sharp preparation. This would seem ...b . h f .f e f but 14. f3 would have been stronger,
to make the Rossolimo Variation a . f the idea being to aim for d3-d4. It
less suitable option, since it requires looks as if this would have yielded
many intuitive decisions – which is
Carlsen’s forte. Caruana repeated the
T_LdMs.t White the initiative. Black would now
have two queen moves to prepare for
Rossolimo in Games 3 and 5, before j._._JlJ castling queenside:
he went for 3.d4, allowing the Svesh- .jJ_._J_ 14... c 15.d4 cxd4 16. xd4 0-0-0
nikov, from Game 8 onwards. _.j._._. (16...f6 can be met strongly by 1 . e2,
... . c d c .d
.h f . c
._._Ir._ with a strategic plus) 1 . d5 cxd5
18. xg dxe4 1 . e1 h 20. e5,
_.nIb._I and White is better.
T_LdM_.t IiI_._In 14... e 15.d4 0-0-0 16. d2 d
A 25
LONDON
could have been met by 16.a4 ♕d6 18...♗e5 19.g4 ♖xg4+ 26.♖g2 ♖hg8 27.♖xg4 ♖xg4+
17.a5. Now castling queenside is less ‘Such moves were unthinkable 28.♔f2 ♖g3, and White will have to
attractive in view of the a-file being some 60 years ago, but now they settle for an endgame a pawn down.
opened. are standard,’ Duda observes. But After 29.♕f5 ♕xf5+ 30.exf5 ♖h3
16.♘g4 I would think that both Botvinnik Black has good winning chances.
Caruana used up oceans of time in and Smyslov, who fought their third 22.♘xf6 ♘e6 This was the idea. The
this phase of the game. 16.a4 was still World Championship match 60 years knight can now sally to d4 and f4, but
the best move, but there’s nothing ago, would certainly have considered it’s nothing to write home about.
wrong with the text. this.
16...0-0-0 It remains to be seen, however, if
19.a3, aiming for the advance of
._Mt._.t
j._._L_.
._Mt.s.t the b-pawn, would not have been
stronger. A possible continuation .jJdSn.j
j._._Jl. would be: 19...g4 20.hxg4 ♗xg4 _.j.l.j.
.jJdL_.j 21.♘f4 ♖hg8 22.b4, and now Black
._._I_I_
_.j._.j. has a choice:
_I_Ib._I
._._I_N_ – 22...♕e7 23.♘fe2 (23.b5 ♕h4
24.bxc6 ♘f6 is too dangerous for I_Iq.r._
_.nIb._I White) 23...♘f6 24.♗f4 ♗xe2! _._N_Rk.
IiIq.rI_ 25.♗xe5 ♕xe5 26.♘xe2 ♘g4 27.♕f4
_._._Rk. ♕b2!, and Black is better. But things 23.♘h5
are far from crystal clear. Caruana had only 10 minutes left for
17.♘f6 – 22...cxb4 23.axb4 ♕xb4 24.d4 ♘c5 his remaining moves here, so he goes
But this is a shot in the dark. White 25.♘fd5 cxd5 26.dxe5 dxe4 27.♕e1 for the most obvious knight move.
should have made a positional sacri- ♘b7, also with advantage for Black, With the spectacular 23.♘d7 he
fice with 17.e5!, the point becoming although White needn’t despair here could have equalized, as witness:
clear after 17...♕c7 18.♘e4 ♗xe5 yet either. – 23...♖xd7 24.♖xf7 h5 25.gxh5
19.♘xe5 ♕xe5 20.♕e2 f5 21.♗d2!. 19...f6 20.b3 ♗f7 21.♘d1 ♖xh5 26.♕g2 ♗f4 27.♖xd7 ♕xd7
White will put the bishop on the long 28.♕g4.
diagonal to exert pressure on the dark
squares. After 21...♖g8 22.♗c3 ♕c7
._Mt._.t – 23...♗f4 24.♘f6 ♗g3 25.♖f3 ♗g6
26.♕g2 of 26.♔g2, and Black hasn’t
23.♘f6 ♖g6 24.♘g4, White has suffi- j._S_L_. achieved anything.
cient compensation for the pawn. .jJd.j.j 23...♗xh5 Played with a very
17...♘d7 A sobering reply. If White _.j.l.jN concrete plan in mind.
goes for the knight swap, Black will
be in full control.
._._I_I_ The alternative was 23...♗g6, when
the computer assesses the position
18.♘h5 Caruana must have played _I_Ib._I as slightly better for Black. It seems
this with a heavy heart, because after I_Iq.r._ to me, however, that Black will find it
Black’s next move his knight will be _._N_Rk. hard to make progress; there are no
completely dominated by the black breaks.
king’s bishop. But White had very 21...♘f8 24.gxh5 ♘f4 25.♗xf4 gxf4
little choice: he must try to keep the An utterly unexpected and hard to
kingside closed. fathom pawn sacrifice. Carlsen’s play
is often compared to that of Karpov,
._Mt._.t
j._._._.
._Mt._.t but sometimes there is a world of
difference. Karpov would never .jJd._.j
j._S_Jl. have considered playing this, mainly _.j.l._I
.jJdL_.j because there are more conventional
._._Ij._
_.j._.jN ways to increase the pressure on the
_I_I_._I
._._I_._ white position.
A good move was 21...♖dg8, preparing I_Iq.r._
_.nIb._I the swap on h5. The play now assumes _._N_Rk.
IiIq.rI_ a forced character: 22.♕e2 ♕e6
_._._Rk. 23.♕f3 ♗xh5 24.gxh5 g4 25.hxg4 26.♖g2
26 A
LONDON
._Mt._ _
j._._._.
NEW IN ChEss
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_.j.l._I Centrally located, The College, a Victorian building on Southampton
._._Ij._ Road, was a pleasant venue for the match.
_I_I_._I
I_Iq._R_
_._N_Rk. 30... e8 Cutting to the chase. Once 33... g5
Black has captured on h5, the white Now Black takes full control of the
27. e2 knight will no longer have a foothold. position. The white knight will have
This boils down to a wasted tempo. 31. f3 xh5 32. f2 ♗ 7 to beat a hasty retreat.
27.♖f3 also had a downside in view of 34.♘h2
27...♕d4+ 28.♔h1 ♕a1 29.♖f1 ♖xg2
._M_._ _
30.♕xg2 ♕xa2, and Black is better.
With 27.♖g4! White could have j.l._._. ._M_._ _
maintained the balance: af ter .jJ_._.j j.l._._.
27...♖xg4+ 28.hxg4 ♖g8 29.♕g2 ♕d7 _.j._._ .jJ_._.j
30.♘f2 ♗d4 31.♔h2 Black will have
._._IjN_ _.j._.d.
to swap on f2 in order to capture the
white g-pawn. _I_I_ _I ._._Ij._
27...♖xg2 28. xg2 e6 I_I_.k._ _I_I_ _I
29.♘f2 ♖g8 30.♘g4 _._._R_. I_I_ _.n
It looks as if White has managed to _._._R_.
throw up a blockade, but Black will be 33. e2
able to crash through it. The second time in the game that 34...h5
White had the advance 33.e5!?, his Carlsen still had 18 minutes here,
._M_._ _ only hope of counterplay. After
33...♔b7 34.♘f6 ♕h4+ 35.♔e2 Black
whereas Caruana had had to fall back
on his extra time. There didn’t seem
j._._._. must choose a square for his rook: to be any doubt about Black’s victory,
.jJ_ _.j – 35...♖g3 36.♕xf4 ♕xf4 37.♖xf4 especially because the win is not very
_.j.l._I ♗xe5 38.♖f5 ♗xf6 39.♖xf6 ♖xh3 complicated.
._._IjN_ 40.♖f7+, and the rook ending is
tenable.
evastating was 34...♕e5, when
Black on the one hand threatens to
_I_I_._I – 35...♖g7! 36.♕xf4 ♕xh3 37.a4 ♖e7, penetrate with his rook on g3 and
I_I_._ _ and by winning the e-pawn, Black on the other has his queen poised
_._._Rk. will retain winning chances. to penetrate the queenside. White
A 27
LONDON
is utterly powerless against these The third moment to advance the 38...♗e5
threats. Carlsen misses this obvious e-pawn. Absolutely necessary was Carlsen still had seven minutes here,
chance and starts playing hesitantly, 37.e5!, again exploiting the fact that five of which he used for the text.
possibly made nervous by Caruana’s the black c6-pawn is unprotected. It is strange that he did not strike
time-trouble. This would leave Black with a reduced with the devastating exchange sacri-
35.♖f2 ♕g1 36.♘f1 h4 advantage, e.g. 37...♖g5 38.♔d2 ♔b7 fice 38...♖g3!, since he had prepared
An uncharacteristic move for Carlsen 39.♕xf4 ♗xe5 40.♕f7+ ♗c7 41.a4, this assault with his 36th move. The
in that he lets go of some of his grip on and White is holding on. winning line is not difficult: after
the position. Winning was 36...♕g7, 37...♔b7 39.♘xg3 hxg3 40.♖g2 ♕b1 41.d4
in order for the queen to penetrate Now Black is back in control. ♕xa2+ the white position collapses.
the queenside after all. 38.c3 The text also leaves Black with a
Weakening the queenside; but after winning position, but now he will
38.a4 ♗e5 White would also have have to work for it.
._M_._T_ been left with a hopeless defence. 39.♔c2
j.l._._.
.jJ_._._ ._._._T_ ._._._T_
_.j._._. jMl._._. jM_._._.
._._Ij.j .jJ_._._ .jJ_._._
_I_I_Q_I _.j._._. _.j.l._.
I_I_Kr._ ._._Ij.j ._._Ij.j
_._._Nd. _IiI_Q_I _IiI_Q_I
I_.k.r._ I_K_.r._
37.♔d2 _._._Nd. _._._Nd.
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28 A
LONDON
A 29
LONDON
NOTES BY
Anish Giri TsLdMl.t move, but the problem is that after
12...a6 White’s knight cannot reach
jJ_._JjJ the desired c4-square and has to go
Fabiano Caruana ._.j._._ back 13.♘c3, with a very unclear
Magnus Carlsen _N_Ij._. position, that Baadur Jobava tried
London 2018 (8)
sicilian Defence, sveshnikov Variation I_._._._ twice against his good friend Ivan
Salgado.
1.e4 c5 2.♘f3 ♘c6 3.d4 _._._._.
The Rossolimo (3.♗b5) is obviously .iI_.iIi T_Ld.tM_
incredibly testing as well, but after r.bQkB_R jJ_SlJjJ
going for it three times rather unsuc-
cessfully, it wasn’t a shocker that The modern treatment. 9.c4 is the ._.j._._
Caruana would try something else. more traditional approach, but _N_Ij._.
3...cxd4 4.♘xd4 ♘f6 5.♘c3 e5
As expected, Magnus is going for the
nowadays the c4-square is often used
for the knight here, from where it
I_._._._
well-established and highly respected eyes some critical squares, to wit b6, _._._._.
Sicilian Sveshnikov Variation (aka d6 and e5. .iIbBiIi
the Chelyabinsk Variation). 9...♗e7 10.♗e2 0-0 11.0-0 ♘d7 r._Q_Rk.
6.♘db5 d6 7.♘d5!? Thus far the natural moves leading up
to this tabiya. Now White has a wide 12...f5
choice of options and approaches. Magnus chooses his own way. It is
T_LdMl.t hard to speculate to what extent he
jJ_._JjJ T_Ld.tM_ had prepared for this, but since he
._Sj.s._ jJ_SlJjJ
was taking his time and eventually
failed to solve his opening problems,
_N_Nj._. ._.j._._ this line was clearly not one of his
._._I_._ _N_Ij._. priorities.
_._._._. I_._._._ 12...♘f6 was Gelfand’s first reaction:
IiI_.iIi _._._._.
13.♗e3 a6 14.♘a3 ♖b8 15.b4, and
r.bQkB_R .iI_BiIi
Black was probably not satisfied with
the outcome of the opening (Oparin-
r.bQ_Rk. Gelfand, Moscow 2017, ½-½, 40).
Not the main move, but not a In the second game, played a few days
complete revelation either. This line 12.♗d2 later in the same tournament, Boris
has become trendy thanks to the The point of this modest move is to deviated with a positional concept
efforts of the young theoreticians strengthen the a4-a5 advance. Now often seen in similar structures of the
Niclas Huschenbeth from Germany that the a5-pawn will be protected, Najdorf: 12...a6 13.♘a3 a5!? 14.♘c4
and the Russian Grigoriy Oparin. It White will be able to withdraw the b6 15.f4
caught the spotlight recently, when knight to a3 after ...a7-a6. We are still
Vladimir Kramnik made it a weapon
of choice against Roganovic at the
on relatively familiar ground, since
Grigoriy Oparin played this twice
T_Ld.tM_
Batumi Olympiad. against Boris Gelfand. _._SlJjJ
7...♘xd5 8.exd5 ♘b8 12.♔h1 was played in the first game .j.j._._
8...♘e7 is what Roganovic played that made me take this line seri- j._Ij._.
against Kramnik. There followed
9.c4 ♘g6 10.♕a4 ♗d7 11.♕b4! ♗f5
ously: Nakamura-Gelfand, played
all the way back in 2012. That game
I_N_.i._
12.h4 a6 13.h5 ♘f4 14.♘c3 ♗e7 continued 12...f5 13.f4 a6 14.♘a3 exf4 _._._._.
15.♗e3 ♘d3+ 16.♗xd3 ♗xd3 17.h6, 15.♗xf4 ♘e5 16.♕d2 ♗d7 17.♕b4 .iIbB_Ii
with the initiative, which eventually, ♖b8, and it was at this point that r._Q_Rk.
after some complications and a final Hikaru made a serious positional ANALYSIS DIAGRAM
blunder by his opponent, yielded mistake with 18.c4?, going on to lose
Kramnik the full point (Kramnik- a positional masterpiece (Nakamura- and here the position is very unclear
Roganovic, Batumi 2018, 1-0, 45). Gelfand, London 2012, 0-1, 58). and Black has quite some options.
9.a4 Perhaps 12.a5 is the most logical Perhaps the game move was not
30 A
LONDON
T_Ld.tM_
_J_Sl.jJ
J_.j._._
i._I_J_.
._N_J_._
_._._._.
.iIbBiIi
r._Q_Rk.
s
s
queenside, but in return gets a beau- That’s what you get when you collide with a Norwegian journalist during a football game on
tiful knight on e5 and some potential the free day. After Game 9, Magnus Carlsen was asked if the injury had bothered him. ‘No.’
for a kingside initiative. But it is too
early to wax lyrical, since Fabi was
still in book and the play is extremely
concrete. wants to push on the side where he’s on Twitter that this was the move in
16.♘b6 b8 17.f4 got a pawn majority, but it seems agnus’ file, but am probably just
Sooner or later White has to pay unnecessary. Both 18...♗f6 and 18...f4 imagining things as usual). Now 19...
attention to what Black is doing on would have been more advisable, and g5 would transpose to the game, but
the kingside, and this break will only then should Black decide whether Black has a better option: 19...♗f6
eventually be necessary. to push ...g5 or perhaps abandon the 20.♔h1 ♘xf3 21.♕xf3 ♗xb2 22.♖ae1
17...exf3 18.♗xf3 Another critical idea altogether.
position. Despite looking completely
fresh and uncharted, it had actually
18...♗g5 is a tempting try to gain even
more control of the dark squares,
.tLd.tM_
occurred in a couple of correspond- but it seems too slow: 19.c4 ♗xd2 _J_._.jJ
ence and computer games. Black’s 20.♕xd2 f4 21.c5, and hite just J .j._._
queenside is cramped, but his main crashes through on the queenside or i._I_._.
issue is the c8-bishop, which lacks
attractive squares. Tempting, there-
in the centre before Black has time to
come up with any kind of counterplay.
._I_.j._
fore, is 18...f4, preparing ...♗f5. 18...♗f6 is a decent preparatory move, _._._Q_.
when 19.c3 looks natural, and now .l.b._Ii
.tLd.tM_ 19...g5 already seems more appro- _._.rR_
priate, although after 20.g3! it will still
_J_.l.jJ
ANALYSIS DIAGRAM
not be easy to find a clear follow-up.
J .j._._ Perhaps some sophisticated manoeu- and White has tremendous compen-
i._IsJ_. vring like ...♕c7-♕g7 or ...♗d7-♗e8 is sation for the pawn, since the f4-pawn
._._._._ called for, with an unclear position, at
least in practical terms.
is likely to fall and Black has to
continuously watch out for the c4-c5
_._._B_. 18...f4!? is my favourite, and not only break. Still, with perfect play Black
.iIb._Ii because it was recommended by my may hold this one.
r._Q_Rk. wife on air during her commen- 19.c4 f4 20.♗c3!
tary with Peter Svidler: 19.c4!? (after This is important. Just as Black plays
18... 5? Structurally speaking, this 19.♖a4 the game push 19...g5 seems a ...♗f5, he gets hit with the thematic
is not such a bad move, since Black lot more attractive. I even speculated c4-c5 break.
A 31
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20...♗f5 21.c5! 23...♗d6 One of the key positions – 24...♗g6 25.♕h3! ♗f5, and this can
of the match. Here Fabiano must be met by the, by now, thematic 26.g4!.
.t.d.tM_ have forgotten that apart from ...g5-
g4, there is also the positional threat
– 24...♕e8 is objectively the toughest
defence, but obviously not enough to
_J_.l._J of ...♕e8-♕g6, connecting the rooks scare anyone away from playing ♕h5:
Jn.j._._ and securing the king all at once. 25.♕xg5+ ♕g6 26.♕xg6+ hxg6 27.♘c4
i.iIsLj. ♖bd8 28.♘xd6 ♖xd6 29.♗e5 ♖d7
._._.j._ .t.d.tM_ 30.♖xf4. Compared to the game, Black
is a couple pawns down and thus pretty
_.b._B_. _J_._._J much lost.
.i._._Ii Jn.l._._ 24...♕e8!
r._Q_Rk. i.jI_Lj.
21...♘xf3+ 22.♕xf3 dxc5
._._.j._ .t._DtM_
Black is a pawn up, but that’s really all _.b._Q_. _J_._._J
he can be happy about. In fact, when .i._._Ii Jn.l._._
you delve into the position, it becomes _._R_Rk. i.jI_Lj.
apparent that White’s advantage is
simply huge. The d5 passer is very 24.h3? Quite incredible, but this
._._.j._
strong and in the long run, with the actually gives it all away in just one _.b._Q_I
kingside pawns overextended and move. 24.♘c4 g4 25.♕f2 .i._._I_
the mighty c3-bishop unopposed, _._R_Rk.
Black’s king will be unable to find
safety. In fact, Black’s only chance to
.t.d.tM_ Now it turns out that once the queen
survive this is to either scare White _J_._._J reaches g6, Black has suddenly solved
with some ...g4/f3/g3 push or coordi- J_.l._._ all his problems. The b8-rook will find
nate his pieces by switching his queen i.jI_L_. its ideal spot on e8, so White is forced to
to g6.
._N_.jJ_ initiate a simplifying sequence.
25.♘c4 ♕g6 26.♘xd6 ♕xd6
_.b._._.
.t.d.tM_ .i._.qIi
White is too late to set up a deadly
battery along the a1-h8 diagonal,
_J_.l._J _._R_Rk. since b3, ♗b2 and ♕c3 are not going
Jn._._._ ANALYSIS DIAGRAM to happen due to ...♖e8-♖e3. Fabiano
i.jI_Lj. found nothing better than to simplify
._._.j._ is indeed a little murky, but in fact
White is winning objectively:
further, and it does seem that there is
no longer anything to play for.
_.b._Q_. – 25...f3 26.♖fe1!. It looks a bit 27.h4 gxh4 28.♕xf4 ♕xf4 29.♖xf4
.i._._Ii unclear, but Black really has no way
r._._Rk. to exploit his advanced kingside
.t._.tM_
pawns. On the contrary, Black has
23.♖ad1 weaknesses everywhere and is lost _J_._._J
A fine move, but there were some here. J_._._._
very powerful alternatives as well. – 25...g3 26.♕d2! ♕h4 (26...gxh2+ i.jI_L_.
23.g4!? is the roughest solution:
23...♗g6 24.♖ad1 ♗d6 25.♖fe1, and
27.♔h1! is the well-known idea of
hiding behind your opponent’s pawn)
._._.r.j
with the inclusion of g4 and ...♗g6, 27.h3. There is really nothing for _.b._._.
White not only took out the ...g5-g4 Black here, since 27...♗xh3 28.gxh3 .i._._I_
threat but also secured the e6-square simply doesn’t work: 28...♕xh3 _._R_.k.
for his rook. 29.♘xd6 f3 30.♕g5, mate.
23.♖ae1 is a very strong move, A pretty clean solution was 24.♕h5!, White would retain some slight
too: 23...♗f6 24.h4! h6 25.hxg5 which is quite doable. That said, pressure due to his passed d-pawn and
hxg5 26.g4!. Once again, this is the when the world is watching and the weak black king, except for Black’s
puncher. Depending on where the the pressure mounts, things can go accurate reply:
bishop will go, ♖e6 or d6 will decide. wrong: 29...h5!
A 33
LONDON
NOTES BY
29...h3 would probably also do it, but Anish Giri practice. This is quite surprising,
this elegant push, preparing ...♗g4, since this move looks just as logical
secures the much desired draw. as 12.♗d2, which Fabi played in the
30.♖e1 ♗g4 Fabiano Caruana previous game. The idea is once again
Magnus Carlsen to enable White to withdraw the
London 2018 (10)
.t._.tM_ sicilian Defence, sveshnikov Variation
knight to a3, once White goes a4-a5
and Black meets it with ...a7-a6.
_J_._._. 1.e4 c5 2.♘f3 ♘c6 3.d4 cxd4 12...a6
J_._._._ 4.♘xd4 ♘f6 5.♘c3 e5 6.♘db5 The most logical move. In fact, ...a6,
i.jI_._J d6 7.♘d5 ♘xd5 8.exd5 ♘b8 9.a4 followed by ...a5, was the first idea
♗e7 10.♗e2 0-0 11.0-0 ♘d7
._._.rLj that came into my head as well.
12...f5 13.a5 a6 14.♘a3 felt like a
_.b._._.
.i._._I_ T_Ld.tM_ worse version of the previous game,
as you would expect b2-b4 to be
_._.r.k. jJ_SlJjJ more universal than ♗c1-d2. In
._.j._._ fact, it is not that straightforward. A
The bishop does an important job of _N_Ij._. sample line could be: 14...e4 15.♘c4
both blocking the g-file and control-
ling the key d7-square.
I_._._._ f4!? 16.♘d2 (after 16.♖a3 ♘e5,
for example, the b4-pawn will be
31.♖f6 _._._._. hanging after 17.♘xe5 dxe5, and after
Sophisticated, but not enough to pose .iI_BiIi the natural 18.♖b3 Black can initiate
real problems. r.bQ_Rk. some play on the kingside, starting
31...♖xf6 32.♗xf6 ♔f7 33.♗xh4 with, for example, 18...♗h4, hinting
♖e8 Up to here, the game has followed the at some ...f3 gxf3 ♗h3 ideas and
same course as Game 8. Commen- keeping the ...♖f6 lift as an option as
tating this live, I was sceptical about well) 16...♗f6 17.♖a3!.
._._T_._ Caruana’s approach of repeating the
_J_._M_. same opening variation, as I felt that
T_Ld.tM_
J_._._._ in modern times, with access to a
team of great seconds with powerful _J_S_.jJ
i.jI_._J computers, it shouldn’t take too long J_.j.l._
._._._Lb to solve pretty much any opening i._I_._.
_._._._. issue. What neither Magnus nor I had
.i._Jj._
.i._._I_ seen coming was that Fabiano would
r._._._.
_._.r.k. come up with a new move as early as
move 12. ._InBiIi
12.b4!? _.bQ_Rk.
The computer gets a little excited here ANALYSIS DIAGRAM
due to the prospects of winning the
c5-pawn in the bishop ending, but as
T_Ld.tM_ This rook lift, which Fabiano
any human player slightly familiar jJ_SlJjJ probably encountered in his prepa-
with opposite-coloured bishop ._.j._._ ration, eventually got into his DNA,
endgames knows, it is a dead draw. _N_Ij._. as we will see later. 17...♕e7 18.♗g4
34.♖f1+
Or 34.♖c1 ♔g6 35.♖xc5 ♖c8, with
Ii._._._ ♘e5 19.♗xc8 ♖axc8 20.♘xe4 f3
21.♖e1 fxg2, and Black has some play
an easy draw. One passer is never _._._._. here, but White, still half a pawn up,
enough, since it can easily be blocked. ._I_BiIi remains in control.
34...♔g8 35.♖f6 ♖e2 36.♖g6+ r.bQ_Rk. 12...a5 feels less good without
♔f8 37.d6 ♖d2 38.♖g5 including ...a6, but made some sense
Draw. This is a rare case of a new idea as well.
A major miss by the Challenger, actually literally being new. As far as 12...b6 is another idea, toying with
despite great preparation and impres- I could see, it hasn’t been played in the move order. The ensuing posi-
sive power play in the early middle any(!) over-the-board game and has tions are highly complex, as pretty
game. never featured in correspondence much all positions in this variation:
34 A
LONDON
T_Ld.tM_
_J_SlJjJ
J_.j._._
_._Ij._.
Ii._._._
n._._._.
._I_BiIi
r.bQ_Rk.
V
13...a5?!
L
A 35
LONDON
Black has no structural problems, but to resort to prophylactics: 20.♖e1!, knight sooner or later landing on b6.
he has the very serious issue of having and after the semi-forced sequence In the long perspective, the b7-pawn
no safe square for his rook. 20...♘c5 21.♗h5 ♕f6 22.♘b6 ♖a6 should not survive.
17.a5 f4 18.♗b6 23.♘xc8 ♖xc8 24.♗b6 ♗d8! 25.♗g4 19...♕g6
♗xb6 26.♗xc8 ♗xa5
T_Ld.tM_ T_L_.tM_
_J_Sl.jJ ._B_._M_ _J_Sl.jJ
.b.j._._ _J_._.jJ .b.j._D_
i._Ij._. T_.j.d._ i._Ij._.
._N_.j._ l.sIj._. ._N_.j._
_._._._. ._._.j._ r._._._.
._I_BiIi _._._._. ._I_BiIi
r._Q_Rk. ._I_.iIi _._Q_Rk.
r._Qr.k.
18...♕e8! ANALYSIS DIAGRAM 20.♗c7
18...♘xb6 19.♘xb6 ♖b8 20.♗g4 is a 20.♖e1 could now be met by
positional disaster. White’s knight is Black has what looks to me like full 20...♘f6!?, not to mention that, with
far superior to the bad e7-bishop. compensation for the exchange. In the queen already on g6, 20...e4
fact, it looks quite fortressy. would be possible, too, when 21.♗h5
T_L_DtM_ – 19.♗h5 is a f lashy idea, but,
as pointed out by Peter Svidler,
can be met by 21...♕f5.
20...e4
_J_Sl.jJ provoking ...g7-g6 can also have The immediate 20...b5!? had some
.b.j._._ downsides: 19...g6 20.♗e2 ♘xb6 point as well, without the natural
i._Ij._. 21.♘xb6 ♖a7 22.♗g4 ♗f5!, and inclusion of ...e4 ♔h1: 21.♘b6 ♘xb6
._N_.j._ suddenly White can no longer claim
light-square dominance, because
22.♗xb6 b4 23.♖b3. Now Black
has the rather attractive option of
_._._._. ♗xf5 can now be met by ...gxf5!, 23...♗f5, hitting the c2-pawn. And
._I_BiIi controlling the key light squares e4 ...e5-e4 is still on the cards here.
r._Q_Rk. and g4. 21.♔h1
– In fact, the strongest and the
19.♖a3?
As the attentive reader may have
most flexible reply seems to be the
immediate 19.♖e1!, taking ...e4 out
T_L_.tM_
noticed, this is often a good idea of the position and preparing to _JbSl.jJ
in this variation. Here, however, it blockade the e4-square: 19...♖f6, ._.j._D_
seems to be somewhat premature. and now any one of the bishop i._I_._.
The priority should have been to stop
Black’s play starting with ...e5-e4. In
moves ♗h5/♗g4/♗f3 would estab-
lish control over the e4-square. Black
._N_Jj._
fact, it was very much achievable, but will have to be very creative to come r._._._.
in order to find the right idea, one up with some counter arguments of ._I_BiIi
must realize how vital the ...e5-e4 his own here, because if things follow _._Q_R_K
push is. their natural course, he will soon be
19.♗c7 is the most tempting move positionally busted. 21...b5!?
to begin with. Black has two natural After 19...♕g6 20.♗d3 ♕g5 21.f3, Flashy, but in fact not as killing as it
ways of protecting the d6-pawn, both White establishes full control over may seem at first sight.
of which are possible: the e4-square and limits Black’s The deep 21...♕h6! was the strongest
– After 19...♖f6, 20.♖e1! is once again play dramatically. Black will still be move, when it turns out that Black’s
the move here, when 20...♕f8!?, kicking, especially after the rook lift ideas all gain in strength now that the
intending ...♗d8, doesn’t seem so 21...♖f6 22.♗f2 ♖h6, but it seems queen has made a small but impor-
clear either. that after 23.♗f1 White should be tant side-step: 22.♖g1!?. This is the
– After 19...♕g6 it turns out that able to withstand the kingside initi- best move, but a rather desperate one
direct attempts like ♗h5 or ♗g4 ative and, in the long run, win posi- as well (22.♖h3? contains a pretty
won’t yield anything, so White has tionally on the queenside, with the obvious threat, but after 22...♕f6 it
36 A
LONDON
_._.l.jJ
of them. Perhaps the only move worse
than this one was my first suggestion .b.j._._ T_._._M_
of 23...♗a6?. ne idea of counter- iJ_I_.d. _._._.jJ
play is to get ...♗f6-e5 and follow it
._._Jj._ . .j._T_
up with ...f3. Black can either do that
r._._._. iL_I_.d.
immediately, or start with ...♗d7 or
...b4. ._I_BiIi ._._.j._
After 23...b4, Black has many options _._Q_R_K r._._I_.
on every move, but I will give one ._I_._.i
sample line to demonstrate how a 24.g3? Returning the favour. _._.rB_K
game between two geniuses could play Fabiano wanted to clarif y the ANALYSIS DIAGRAM
out here: 24.♖b3 ♗f6 25.♖xb4 ♗c3 kingside situation after all and later
26.♖a4 ♗d7 27.♖a3 ♗b2 28.♖b3 ♗e5 regretted this move, suggesting A beautiful double def lection.
29.f3 (the only move now, since ...f3 f3 instead. It seems he trusted his 33.♕f2! ♗xf1 34.♕xf1 ♕xd5 35.a6
was a threat and 29.♖g1 ♕h6 30.f3 e3 opponent and didn’t believe he could ♖e6, and with the white passed
is a worse version) 29...e3 30.a6 get away with 24.♗xb5. pawn being so far advanced and so
A 37
LONDON
well protected, Black is not feeling Initiating a forced sequence leading 28.♕xf1! Better to give up the beau-
comfortable here. On the other hand, to a rather drawish position, although tiful d5-pawn than to get mated.
the computer evaluation is within the one in which Black is in control. 28...♕xd5 29.♖xb4 ♕e6
boundaries of acceptable for Black. 25...f3!? was more spirited, still going Black now has clearly taken the risk
Perhaps he is even holding his own, all out. In fact, White can maintain the out of the position. White’s only
objectively. White does have a weak balance here, too, but the variations are trump is the a5-pawn, but Black can
king, which may be a factor once he far more complicated: 26.♗b5 ♕g4 always trade down into a drawish
tries to regroup his major pieces. 27.♖e1 ♖f6 (this is probably Black’s major-piece endgame with ...♗d8.
24.f3 e3 25.g3 was an attempt to best attempt to deliver checkmate) In fact, when Fabi found a decent
clarify the situation on the kingside, 28.♗f1 (28.♖xe4 ♕xe4 29.♖e3 is OK, move, that was exactly what Magnus
but Black keeps the initiative even according to the computer. I wouldn’t decided to do.
after the f4-pawn goes: 25...fxg3 be sure, even about 29...♕xe3 30.♗xe3 30.♖b5 ♗d8
26.♖g1 ♕h6 27.♖xg3 ♗g5!, followed ♖xa5, but it’s all zeros. In fact, once 30...♖fc8 31.♕b1!, followed by ♕b3,
by ...♗f4. White goes h4 and ♔h2, the mating gives White just enough play of his
24.♖g1!? is actually a brilliant move: net will no longer look that dramatic own to secure equality.
and the queen can ask Black some 31.♕e1 ♗xb6
T_L_.tM_ questions, too) 28...♖h6 29.♗e3 g5
30.♖xb4 ♕h5 31.h4 ♗f5 32.♔g1.
31...d5 32.♕d2 is not a winning
attempt by Black.
_._.l.jJ 32.axb6
.b.j._._ T_._._M_
iJ_I_.d. _._.l._J T_._.tM_
._._Jj._ ._.j._.t _._._.jJ
r._._._. i._I_LjD .i.jD_._
._I_BiIi .r._J_.i _R_._._.
_._Q_.rK _._.bJi. ._._J_._
_._._Ji.
ANALYSIS DIAGRAM
._I_.i._
24...♖f6 seems very strong, but now _._QrBk. ._I_.i.i
White has a great way to defend ANALYSIS DIAGRAM _._.q.rK
himself: 25.♕d4! The e4-pawn is
important, but after 25...♗f5 there This really looks like checkmate in the The position is now pretty equal. The
suddenly is 26.g4!! ♗g6 27.♗xb5, and making, but it turns out that White can b6-pawn is annoying, but so is the
it’s actually not easy to attack White’s hold. By a miracle, as some people like f3-pawn, and eventually both sides
king with the g6-bishop in the way of to say in these cases: 32...♕g4 33.♗g2!!. should find a way to simplify this into
the ...♖f6-h6 lift. Now Black has many options, but a draw. However, we were still treated
24...b4 25.♖b3 pretty good seems 33...♖g6, which is to a couple of twists and turns.
25.gxf4 was safer, but Black is met by the desperate 34.♗xf3! ♕xf3 32...♖ab8 33.♕e3
comfortable after 25...♕xf4 26.♖b3 35.♕xf3 exf3 36.a6!! ♖xa6 37.♗d4, 33.♕d2 was possible as well, and after
♗f6 27.♖g1 ♗c3, when the c3-bishop with a draw. the next few moves both sides had
controls the b3-rook. 26.♖g1 Forcing ...f3. 26.♖e1 is bad on many options.
account of 26...♗f6!. 33...♕c4 34.♖b2 ♖b7 35.♖d1
26...f3 27.♗f1 ♗xf1 ♕e2!?
T_L_.tM_
_._.l.jJ
.b.j._._ T_._.tM_ ._._.tM_
i._I_.d. _._.l.jJ _T_._.jJ
.j._Jj._ .b.j._._ .i.j._._
_R_._.i. i._I_.d. _._._._.
._I_Bi.i .j._J_._ ._._J_._
_._Q_R_K _R_._Ji. _._.qJi.
._I_.i.i .rI_Di.i
25...♗h3 _._Q_LrK _._R_._K
38 A
LONDON
._._.tM_
_T_._.jJ
.i._._._
_._J_._.
._._J_.i
MaRIa EMELIaNOVa
_._.rJi.
.rI_.i._
_._._._K
Immediately after the match Fabiano Caruana tweeted: ‘I feel that we put this
Good to give the king some space. beautiful game back on the map in America and hope it will inspire a new
38...♖c8 generation of players. I look forward to make another bid for the title.’
38...♖fb8 39.c4! trades all the pawns.
39.♖a3 f7 40. h2
For a second, when following the
game live without the help of an 42... e5 43. g3 h6 44.h5 excited and indeed, it wasn’t clear how
engine, we thought that this would It was important to realize that 44...g5 to stop the threats of ♖aa5, ♖a4 , c4 and
complicate matters, but Fabi has is not dangerous. That being not the what not.
every thing under control. The case, White is in no danger. Neither
b6-pawn is pretty far advanced, and
with one rook being so passive, it is
is Black, until suddenly a weird move
came through.
._._._._
hard for him to make much progress. _T_._.j.
40.♖a7 was a more straightforward RiT_._.j
draw: 40...♖cb8 41.c4! dxc4 42.♖b4. ._._._._ _R_J_._I
40... e6 41.g4 ♖c6 _T_._.j. ._. J_I_
RiT_._.j _._._Jk.
._._._._ _._J ._I ._I_.i._
_T_._.jJ ._._J_I_ _._._._.
.iT_M_._ _._._Jk.
_._J_._. .rI_.i._ 45...♖d6!
._._J_Ii _._._._. Keeping a cool head, agnus finds
a clean way to bail out into a 3 vs 2
r._._J_. endgame.
.rI_.i.k 44... d4?! 46.♖a4 e5 47.♖ab4 e6 48.c4
_._._._. 44...g5 is just one of many ways to 48.c3 would eventually lead to the same
make a draw without being on the thing, I assume: 48...♖c6 49.♖d4 ♖bxb6
42.♖a6!? bad side of things: 45.hxg6 ♖xg6 50.♖bxd5 ♖xc3 51.♖a5, and White will
42.♖ab3 holds as well, but is more 46.♖b5 h5 47.♖aa5 ♖xg4 48.♔h3 win both the e4- and the f3-pawn, but he
passive: 42...h6 43.♔g3 g5. This looks ♔f6 49.♖xd5 ♖xb6 50.♖xh5 ♖g6, will struggle to prevent a rook trade in
a little scary, since the king is caged and this totally drawn. the process.
in on the kingside, but the computer 45.♖b5! 48...dxc4 49.♖xc4 ♖dxb6 50.♖xe4
doesn’t really care; still a draw. White could suddenly get very f7
A 39
LONDON
40 A
LONDON
T_.dMl.t
jJ_._Jj.
._.j._S_
_N_IjL_J
.qI_._.i
_._.b._.
Ii._.iI_
r._.kB_R
15...a6?!
Transposing to a familiar position,
but missing a superb resource.
fter 15...♗e7! Black has huge
dynamic potential on the kingside,
and there was no need to be shy:
ss
T_.d.tM_ The first moves of Game 12, another Sveshnikov. The Challenger ended up in
bJ_.lJj. trouble, but the Champion didn’t have the right mind-set to push for a win.
._.j._S_
_N_Ij._J
.qI_._.i would be met by f2-f4!, closing the 19...♘d7 20.♗d3 0 0
_._._Li. kingside.
Ii._.i._ T_._.tM_
r._.kBr. T_._M_.t _JdSlJj.
_Jd.lJj.
ANALYSIS DIAGRAM
J_.j._._
White’s king is somewhat stuck in J_.j._S_ _._IjL_J
the middle, and Black has everything _._IjL_J .qI_N_.i
that all Sicilian players would give a
pawn for.
.qI_._.i _._BbIi.
r 16.♘xa7 0-0 17.♗e ♘f4!? _. .bIi. Ii._._._
18.♗xf4 exf4 19.♘b5 e8, and with Ii._._._ r._.k._R
so many uicy files and diagonals for r._.kB_R
his pieces, and his domination of the 21.♖h2?
dark squares, Black is on top. 18...♘f8!? The idea of preparing queenside
16.♘c3 ♕c7 17.g3 ♗e7 18.f3 I was rooting for something more castling is deep, but this move is a bit
This seems a little odd, but Fabi must dynamic, as I was incited by the too original for its own good. Black
have been concerned about ...e4, slow and shaky-looking f2-f3, but finds an excellent way to meet 0-0-0
...♘e5 ideas. Magnus, familiar with the position, without going for ...b5, against which
It would probably have been best to goes for this very sound regrouping. the h - c lift would indeed be
allow ...e4 and just get on with devel- The knight on g6 was Black’s main brilliant.
oping by 18.♗e , when Black has to issue in the position, and with ...e5-e4 1.0-0 ♗g6 .♕d was more down-
choose between 18...e4, which should prevented, this is its only alternative to-earth and should have been
be met by the clever 19.♕a4+!, and route. played. The position after 22...f5
18...♘f8, followed by ...♘d7, as was fter 18...0-0 19.♗e , the problem is 3.♘g5 ♗xg5 4.♗xg5 is at the very
played in the game. But then White that White can still castle either way, least acceptable for White. Black will
would take control by castling depending on Black’s response. get some typical Najdorf play with
kingside and trading the d7-knight 19.♘e4 An original way to secure ...e4 and ...♘e5, but his g6-bishop
with ♘a4-b6. The ...♗g6 ... f5 idea the d3-square for the bishop. looks a little unhappy with all that.
A 41
LONDON
21.0-0-0 is met by 21...b5!, when 26.♗f1!? (26.fxe4 fxe4 27.♗e2, and 27...b4, as well as the more hidden
it would surely be nice to have the Black will send the knight to d3 and 27...♘b3+!.
h1-rook on c2. the rook to f3, and White is in a lot – 26.♗e2 was probably Fabiano’s
21...♖ac8 21...b5 is now counterpro- of trouble, e.g. 27...♘c5 28.♔b1 ♖f3) intention, but he may have missed a
ductive in view of 22.♖c2!. is clever, intending ♗f4 and shutting strong resource: 26...a5! 27.♕d2 (after
22.0-0-0 Fabi had left himself no down the g6-bishop, but it doesn’t 27.♕xb5, 27...♗e8! suddenly traps the
choice but to go queenside. change the fact that Black is on top: queen) 27...b4 28.♗xc5 (28.fxe5 b3!)
26...f4! 27.♗xf4 ♘c5, and with the 28...♕xc5 29.♘d3. This doesn’t help,
._T_.tM_ g6-bishop suddenly becoming a
beast, White has good reason to
since with the essential dark-squared
bishop missing, White will just lose
_JdSlJj. worry. after 29...♕d4!: 30.c5 e4!.
J_.j._._ 24...♘c5 25.f4 25...exf4! is an even lazier way to
_._IjL_J This invites some very unpleasant start a crushing attack: 26.♗xf4
.qI_N_.i shots, but White had no easy solution
here.
(26.gxf4 ♗xh4!) 26...b5!, and now
the same attack. In fact, I don’t even
_._BbIi. 25.♗xc5 would stop some immediate have to give variations, because there
Ii._._.r breakthroughs, but then Magnus aren’t any. ...♗f6 is coming and then
_.kR_._. could win even without wanting to. Black can choose whether to win by
Black’s dark-square dominance is opening the b-file with ...bxc4 or with
22...♗g6! going to count for something. a slower queenside assault with ...b4,
Black’s only active idea with ...b5 off ...a5 and ... a4.
the table, but an extremely good one.
._T_.tM_
Now it turns out that ...f5, followed by
...e4, is unstoppable and that White is _Jd.l.j. ._T_.tM_
in trouble. J_.j._L_ _Jd.l.j.
23.♖c2 23.♔b1 f5 24.♘g5 ♗xg5 _.sIjJ_J ._.j._L_
25.hxg5 e4 26.fxe4 ♘e5 is great for
.qI_.i.i j.sIjJ_J
Black as well, e.g. 27.♗e2 ♘g4!?.
23...f5 _._Bb.i. .qI_.i.i
IiR_.n._ _._Bb.i.
._T_.tM_ _.kR_._. IiR_.n._
_JdSl.j. _.kR_._.
25...a5?!
J_.j._L_ Black remains in charge, but there 26.♕d2
_._IjJ_J were already some ways to go for the 26.♕a3!? is quite deep, but might in
.qI_N_.i finishing line.
At this point, 25...b5! would have
fact be the right square for the queen:
26...♘a6 27.♔b1 e4 28.♗e2 b5. This
_._BbIi. given Black a pretty much winning looks like bad news, although White
IiR_._._ initiative: fights on with 29.♕b3!, with the idea
_.kR_._. – 26.♗xc5 dxc5 27.♕d2 e4 28.♗f1 to meet 29...b4 with 30.c5!, and after
♕d7, followed by ...♗f6, is slowly 29...♘c5 30.cxb5 ♘xb3 31.♖xc7 ♖xc7
24.♘f2 winning for Black because of his 32.b6 ♖b7 33.♗a6!, White has good
This can’t have been the plan, but dark-square domination. chances to escape.
after the natural 24.♘g5 Black’s initi- – 26.♕a3 was Carlsen’s suggestion 26...e4 27.♗e2 ♗e8 28.♔b1 ♗f6
ative would develop by itself, which at the press conference, but besides 29.♖e1?!
Fabi wasn’t keen on allowing. the simple 26...exf4!, there is also a Allows one more ...b5 shot.
After 24.♘g5, 24...♗xg5 25.hxg5 e4 prettier win: 26...♕b6!, threatening 29.♖dc1 was stronger. White’s
London 2018
tiebreak (25 min + 10 sec)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4
Magnus Carlsen IGM NOR 2835 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 6 2832 1 1 1 - 3
Fabiano Caruana IGM Usa 2832 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 6 2835 0 0 0 - 0
42 A
LONDON
main hope is something like 29... to a victory: 32.♗d4 ♗xd4 33.♕xd4 tially crucial game in his career, and
g6 (29...♗a4 30.♗xh5!) 30.♘d1 ♗xb5. And here is where esse gave having the black pieces against the
♗a4 31.b3 ♗d7 32.♘c3, followed -2 and Carlsen pretended not to care. worthiest of challengers, Magnus was
by 33.♘b5, pretending it’s a fortress, 30.♕b4 g6 not willing to change gear and start
although I am not at all sure if that’s Magnus was clearly not in a rush, and to actively pursue a win. And truth
the case. with this position could undeniably be told, if you don’t want to go for the
afford it. ...b5 break in this position, there is
31.♖d1 Magnus having counted on
._T_LtM_ 31.♘d1, this move left him completely
indeed not much to play for.
32.♘h3, sending the knight to g5, is
_Jd._.j. confused, so he decided to confuse not great, because ♘e6 can always be
._.j.l._ everyone else as well and offered a met by ...♗xe6 and ...♖fe8xe6. Also,
j.sI_J_J draw. once the knight is out of place, Carls-
31...♖a8
._I_Ji.i en’s idea of ...♕a5 gains in strength,
since the knight will not return to c3
_._.b.i.
IiRqBn._ T_._LtM_ in time to block the ...b5 break.
At the press conference, Carlsen gave
_ _.r._. _Jd._._. a surreal (for his standards) varia-
._.j.lJ_ tion to support his decision: 32.♗d4
29...a4?! Missing another attractive _.sI_J_J ♗xd4?! (32...♘d3 33.♕b6 ♕xb6
opportunity.
Fabi pointed out 29...♗a4! at the
JqI_Ji.i 34.♗xb6 ♘b4 35.♖cc1 a3 36.b3 ♗b2
wins an exchange, but I doubt that
press conference. Often the defender _._.b.i. this is a fortress) 33.♖xd4, and now:
sees more resources for the attacker: IiR_Bn._
30.♖cc1 b5 31.cxb5 ♕b6, and _ _R_._.
with the b-file open, the d3-square T_._LtM_
exposed and the d5-pawn weak, Draw. It seems that, since he was _Jd._._.
Black would get dangerously close happy with a draw in this poten-
._.j._J_
_.sI_J_J
JqIrJi.i
_._._.i.
IiR_Bn._
_ _._._.
ANALYSIS DIAGRAM
A 43
SHORT
DEADLOCKED potentially fatal. Tournaments are wide open for collu-
sion. Although we are no longer living in the era of
Commie cheating, as Fischer alleged with considerable
justification in Curaçao in 1962 (not quite a final, admit-
tedly, but the point remains the same), it would be naive
T
he opera critic and television presenter William in the extreme to imagine that such a thing could never
Hartston once quipped that the pain of defeat happen again, particularly with large sums of money at
exceeds the joy of victory, and that therefore stake. But there is another issue with tournaments: they
chess is a net contributor to human misery. This jocular simply do not carry the same gravitas.
condemnation of my life’s vocation, alas, contains at So match play it is then. But what should be the
least an element of truth. Perhaps Carlsen and Caruana, right length, format and tempo? While researching
who were deadlocked after twelve straight draws in this article, I was surprised to discover just how many
the classical part of the World Championship final in matches had unlimited duration and involved the first
London, take a similarly glum view of the benefits of to win a set number of games (6, 8 or 10). In eras of
risk and reward. feeble defensive technique, such scheduling uncer-
It would not be hyperbole to suggest that these mental tainty perhaps did not matter so much, but the epic
gladiators – both outstanding practitioners of our noble 34-game Capablanca-Alekhine confrontation of 1927 –
game – have unwittingly plunged chess into an existen- a financial nightmare for the organisers – ought to have
tial crisis. By the end of the match even the most patient killed the idea stone-dead. Even that most conservative
and respectful members of the restive crowd of global of sports, cricket, abandoned Timeless Tests when the
onlookers were baying for blood. In fairness, it is the Durban match of 1939 was agreed drawn so that the
administrators, who concocted the regulations, rather
than the players themselves, who are the main culprits
for this unsanguinary spectacle. The players’ objec-
‘The real question is how the
tive is to win, not to entertain the vile multitude. They World Championship can be
are extremely strong, accurate and evenly matched.
With one notable exception, nor can they be accused of
reinvigorated, preferably without
want of effort. The average number of moves played, in making a bonfire of tradition.’
London, has been rather high. In part, this is because
the Sofia rules forbid premature peace-making, but also England players, who were within touching distance
because they are both, by nature, fighting players. But of victory over South Africa after 9 days play, could
the simple fact of the matter is that chess is, particu- catch the boat home. But it took chess several further
larly at the absolute pinnacle, a drawish game, and deep decades – until 1984-5, and the first, farcical, unfin-
computer analysis is making it ever more so. The real ished Karpov-Kasparov match, played over 5 groaning
question is how the World Championship can be rein- months – for the final nail to be hammered in the coffin
vigorated, preferably without making a bonfire of tradi- of open-ended contests.
tion. But, if tinkering fails, radical measures may need When a draw simply maintains the status quo, both
to be countenanced in future. antagonists can be, to some degree, satisfied, which
The first point to consider is whether the most impor- is why the two above-mentioned matches smashed
tant title in chess should be decided by tournament all records for span. Tacitly conniving to prolong the
or by match play. The former format has its benefits, tussle, with a metaphorical nod and a wink, becomes an
particularly for the spectator, as we have seen most addictive habit. Thus, it is perhaps worth revisiting the
recently in San Luis, in 2005, and Mexico City, in 2007. idea of allowing the defending champion to retain his
There is almost invariably something of interest to title if undefeated, provided the match is long enough
watch, even if one or two of the games per round prove to give the challenger a fair chance. This means that,
to be damp squibs. The main drawback is, however, at any moment, one or the other player is leading and
44 A
STOR IES
that it is incumbent upon his opponent to unbalance Of course, there will be fundamentalists who would
the situation. And if the Challenger cannot, say, score like to see Sofia rules e tended further still. But before
8 points over 16 games, why should he deserve to win jumping on the bandwagon, ask yourself who, in their
But even without going down that contentious route, right minds, would want to see the bishops of opposite
there is plenty that can be done to enliven proceed- colour endgame of ame 11 played on pointlessly once
ings. Another profoundly unsatisfactory aspect of the Fabiano had demonstrated the correct defence?
current schedule is the super uity of rest days. While By themselves I hope these reforms ought to make
no one is proposing to demean the prestige of the enough of a difference to rescue the crown jewel of
World Championship by inserting horrors like double- chess from obloquy, without resorting to gimmicks.
rounds, it is absurd that two young men, in the peak Some people have imaginatively proposed holding the
of their physical condition, should be pampered with tie-break before the actual match. For those who enjoy
so much time for recuperation. It would be possible to eating dessert before soup and main course, it may be
add an extra four(!!) games to the current match, while
finishing on the same date, much to the delight of parsi- ‘The World Championship is
monious organisers, and yet still provide the contest-
ants with three days of rest. Quite frankly, that ought the single best advertisement
to be sufficient, although one could perhaps throw in a for chess that we have.’
pause before the tie-break, if one were feeling particu-
larly generous. fine, but for the rest of us it seems perverse and unnat-
At a mere twelve games, Carlsen-Caruana is very ural. After all, one doesn’t always get to dessert, unless
much at the short end of the spectrum when it comes one is gluttonous. More pertinent is the point made
to title fights. ulgar profiteering, and not sporting by former European Chess Union President, Silvio
considerations, has regrettably driven this decision. Danailov, who has criticised the insufferable, museum
Lasker-Schlechter, in 1910, was the briefest match, at time-control’. I have rather more sympathy with this
just ten games, and it too had a high draw percentage. opinion because quickening the tempo is practically
It may be difficult to prove, but my strong hunch is that guaranteed to produce more decisive results. Histori-
conservatism is one of the unintended consequences of cally, the long-term trend for chess has been to become
this format, because it is so much harder to bounce back ever faster. But given the fact that we already have both
after defeats. At the press conference after ame 12, the rapid and blitz world champions, it would seem unnec-
players de ected criticism and implicitly acknowledged essary to impose sweeping changes here either. That
this deficiency by both stating that they were not averse said, time-controls are permanently under review.
to a longer contest. Some measure of tightening is most definitely an
I would propose one further, important reform: that option.
the Sofia no-agreed-draw rule should be e tended to To some, these debates may seem arcane, but the
the time-control at move 40, rather than move 30, at subject is actually desperately important. The World
present. This would prevent the debacle of ame 12, Championship is the single best advertisement for chess
when Magnus let Fabiano off the hook with a lily- that we have. A good match has the power to inspire an
livered peace-offering, despite his opponent being in entire generation, not only in the country of the victor
awkward time-pressure and having a worse position to and the host nation, but all over the world. Carlsen-
boot. This genuinely shocked not only most of grand- Caruana has been one of the most eagerly anticipated
masters in the I room, but also arry asparov, in matches in recent years. It would be wrong and absurd
New York, who, in a rare break from his political proc- to claim it has been devoid of interest. But with this
lamations, took to Twitter to express his profound embarrassing draw-fest we are in danger of alienating
dismay. I don’t see why the general public, who all both sponsors and public alike.
have their engines, can see who stands better, and are
expecting some drama, should be short-changed either. Nigel Short
A 45
ALPHAZERO
AlphaZero’s
Thoughts
and what would alphaZero think about the World
Championship match that was held at a stone’s
throw from DeepMind’s headquarters in London?
MATTHEW SADLER and NATASHA REGAN, authors
of Game Changer: AlphaZero’s Groundbreaking Chess
Strategies and the Promise of AI, provide a glimpse.
T
he idea of analysing the opening had significantly disrupted Magnus Carlsen
World Championship Carlsen’s strategy with the White Fabiano Caruana
Match between Magnus pieces and made him lose confidence London 2018 (2)
Carlsen and Fabiano in 1.d4. The strange thing is that we 1.d4 ♘f6 2.♘f3 d5 3.c4 e6 4.♘c3
Caruana together with AlphaZero, never got to see the reason for this ♗e7 5.♗f4 0-0 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5
London-based DeepMind’s general- loss of confidence: both in Game 2 ♗xc5 8.♕c2 ♘c6 9.a3 ♕a5
purpose artificial intelligence system, and Game 7, Carlsen attempted to 10.♖d1 ♖d8
first occurred to us just after the make progress in sidelines rather
thrilling Candidates Tournament
held in Berlin in March 2018. Still
than testing out Caruana’s prepara-
tion in the main lines.
T_Lt._M_
in the middle of writing our book In this article, we thought it would jJ_._JjJ
about AlphaZero and thrilled by the be interesting to take a deeper look at ._S_Js._
incredible games we were seeing, we some of those intriguing moments d.lJ_._.
felt that – despite all the attention that
the match would receive from other
in the Queen’s Gambit Declined and
get AlphaZero’s thoughts on what it
._I_.b._
silicon and human commentators – considered to be best play. i.n.iN_.
AlphaZero’s perspective could still .iQ_.iIi
add something unique and valuable. Game 2 was in retrospect a crucial _._RkB_R
Part of the mystery of a match lies moment for Caruana in the match:
in the opening choices, in which after a fraught first game in which This rare choice from Caruana was
the intentions of a competitor never he had been required to muster all not AlphaZero’s main choice, which
fully become revealed. For example, his defensive mastery to counter preferred the standard main line
Caruana’s Queen’s Gambit Declined Carlsen’s stellar opening and middle- 10...♗e7. AlphaZero – like most
seemed to cast a huge shadow over game strategy, Caruana achieved the commentators – recommended 11.♘d2,
Carlsen’s White games. From the first of many comfortable draws with with a fairly positive expected score of
outside, it felt as if Caruana’s choice of Black with excellent preparation. 65-70%. Still closer to a draw than a
46 A
ALPHAZERO
win but definitely chances for hite. AlphaZero spent any time on)
Let’s take a look at some of the lines 1 .♘de ♘d 1 . c1 1 .♗g ♘ c
that AlphaZero looked at in building 1 .b c d1 – 1 ...♘e 17. d
up this assessment. ♗ d 1 . d1 ♗b 1 .♘d f
11.♘d2 dxc4 20.♗b was good for hite in
AlphaZero’s main continuation. Graf-Dobrev, Leipzig 2007 (1-0,
11...d4 is great fun, but (impressively) – 17. d1 e made AlphaZero less
AlphaZero’s 1-millisecond line is happy than the main line)
essentially the main line you find after
analysing with other engines: Black
sacrifices a piece, gets it back and ends T_Lt._M_
up a bit worse with a terrible pawn jJ_.lJjJ
structure: 12.♘b
1 .a b
b 1 .♘a ♗b
b 1 .♘d2 a 1 . b
._S_J_._
e 17.♗g ♘b 1 .♗ f g f 1 .♗e2 _._S_ _.
♗d7 20. a1 d e 21.f e b 22.0 0 ._B_Nb._
b a 2 . c f 2 .♘f f 2 .♘h ♘c i.n.i._.
2 . a e 27.c ab 2 .♘ f ♗ f .i._.iIi
2 . f g7 0.♗c d2
_. R_Rk.
.t._._._ 1 ...♘ f 1 ...♘ c 1 .♘ c e
j._._. J 17.♘d ♗e 1 .♗d h 1 .♘ e7
._S_.j._ ♘ e7 20.♗g ac 21.♗c2, with
a 62% expected score for White)
n anuar 201 , Game Changer will be
published, a 1 page book b Matthew adler
d.i._R_. 1 . d ♘ d 1 ...♗ d 17.e f and atasha egan. With unparalleled access
J_B_J_._ ♗c7 1 .g ♗d7 1 . d1 ♗e , with a to alphaZero and its team of developers, the
._.i._. 63% expected score for White – the authors investigated more than two thousand
.i.t._Ii ideas are very similar to the main previousl unpublished games and reveal the
revolutionar program’s thinking process. he
._._.k. line 17.e f ♗d7, and now a main
line that feels tactically very fraught, authors present stunning discoveries in all areas
but was more or less the only line that opening preparation, piece mobilit , initiative,
is AlphaZero’s main line, with an AlphaZero seriously considered(!): attacking techniques, long term sacri ces and
almost 60% expected score. We 1 .b c 1 . d1 ♗a 1 ... c much more.
suppose that with deep preparation of 20. d7 e 21. d2 c 22. e7
wins for hite 20.♘d ♗ d
21. d c2 22. e ♗e 2 .♗f1
‘Wouldn’t Magnus ♘c 2 . d2
2 .f e f 27.♘d
b 2 .♘e
c7 2 .e
e position and develop your own
ideas. It’s going too far to claim that
a ee ed f 2 .♗b e7 0.e , with a
expected score for White.
AlphaZero’s view on the position
represents perfection and to accept it
a e This line is an example of why without question, but it is unfailingly
analysing with AlphaZero in the interesting and challenging for the
opening is an unusually instruc- opponent.
this middlegame as Black, you might tive experience. Out of a mass of 1 .♗d was an almost e ui a-
be able to get away with this line if possibilities, it invariably takes a lent move, according to AlphaZero.
you re happy fighting for a draw. clear, coherent view on one path and Again we like this move a little
12.♘xc4 pursues it with enormous focus and more than AlphaZero’s main line,
AlphaZero’s preferred choice, though igour. t s like ha ing arpo or as it keeps more pieces on the board:
we were keener on the more aggres- ramnik on tap and asking them for 1 ...e 1 .♘c c7 1 .♘b b
si e 12.♗ c , keeping more pieces on a clear opinion about any position! 1 .♗g ♗g 17.f ♗e 1 .♘d ♗ c
the board. The resulting line is a wonderful 1 .♗ c c , when you feel that
12.♗ c ♗e7, and now: framework around which to build White should have a path to a small
A 1 .0 0 f the only mo e your own understanding of the annoying edge.
A 47
ALPHAZERO
‘AlphaZero invariably takes a clear, and ties down a black piece to the
coherent view on one path and pursues defence of the b7-pawn. If Black plays
...b6, then White gets some extra weak
it with enormous focus and vigour.’ light squares to work with.
19...♘xc3 20.♖xc3 ♗d5 21.f3 f6
22.e4 ♗a2
21.♘a4 ♘e4, Gerusel-Eisinger, Bad
T_Dt._M_
jJ_.lJjJ
Aibling 1965, was drawn in 35 moves.
15...♗d7
T_.s.lM_
._S_.s._ AlphaZero likes 15...♘d5 less, jJ_._.jJ
_._.j._. moving to a solid 71% expected score ._._Jj._
._Bn._._ for White: 16.♘xd5 exd5 17.♘d6 ♗d7 n._._._.
i._.iIb.
(the favourite move of the engines,
completing development before
._._I_._
.iQ_._Ii trying to liquidate Black’s isolated i.r._Ib.
_._Rk._R d-pawn with ...d5-d4. On 17...d4 Li._B_Ii
White plays 18.e4) 18.b4 (18.♔d2 d4 _._._.k.
This is AlphaZero’s main line: 19.e4 ♘e6 20.♗g3 ♗c6 21.f3 ♖d8
20.♘xc6 ♕xc6 21.♖xd8+ ♖xd8 22.e5 a5 23.♗c4 a4 was assessed by ... and that’s why you need engines to
22.♕b3 ♔f8 23.0-0 ♘d5 24.♗f2 a6 AlphaZero as a 54% expected score help you! We were extremely nervous
25.♖d1 ♘b6 26.♖xd8+ ♗xd8 27.♕d1 for White) 18...♗b6 19.0-0 about this move, but it seems crucial to
♗f6 28.♗a2 – wouldn’t Magnus have keeping Black’s position together.
enjoyed this as White? – 28...♘a4 23.♔f1
29.♕d2 e4 30.♗d5 ♕d7 31.♕b4+ T_.s._M_ 23.b3 b6 24.♘c4 ♖c8 and the bishop is
♔g8 32.♕xb7 ♕xb7 33.♗xb7 ♗xb2 jJ_L_JjJ impossible to catch!
34.♗c6 ♘c5 35.a4, ending with a
59% expected score for White.
.l.n._._ 23...b6 24.♘c6 e5 25.♗f2 ♗e6
Here AlphaZero’s evaluation starts to
12...♖xd1+ 13.♕xd1 ♕d8 _._J_._. drop from 68% evaluation to 62%.
14.♕xd8+ ♘xd8 15.♗e2 .i._.b._ 26.♗b5 ♗f7 27.♘xd8 ♖xd8
i._.i._. 28.♔e2 ♗d6 29.♗c4 h5 30.b4
T_Ls._M_ ._._BiIi ♗xc4+ 31.♖xc4 ♔f8 32.a4
48 A
ALPHAZERO
A 49
ISLE OF MAN
So Happy Together
In spite of the inevitable
absence of the World
Champion and his
Challenger, the Chess.
com Isle of Man
International was
immensely strong, with
six top-10 players and
a host of other stars.
seeded 10th, Radek
Wojtaszek was the
sensation of the 2018
edition, as the Polish GM
beat arkadij Naiditsch in
the armageddon game
of a blitz tiebreak,
taking home £ 38,000.
his wife, alina
Kashlinskaya, added
another £ 7,000 to their
celebration day by
winning the top women’s
prize. ADHIBAN
Radek Wojtaszek and First Lady Alina Kashlinskaya
BASKARAN (shared leave their hotel on the day of the last round.
a INa ’aMI
50 A
ISLE OF MAN
T
he Isle of Man is a really nice
place to visit, because almost
all the hotels overlook the sea.
And, oh yes, I am a ‘sea’ person! In
Douglas, the capital, where we played,
the Queen’s Promenade is perfect
both for walkers and runners, i.e. for
all kinds of chess players!
A major attraction is the gambling,
which generates quite some GNP
a INa ’aMI
A 51
ISLE OF MAN
T_LdM_St The Legend and the Promise. Vishy Anand had a tough game against 13-year-old
_.j._JlJ Raunak Sadhwani, whom he described as ‘ridiculously under-rated’.
J_Sj._J_
_J_._._.
._.jI_._ If you are going to end up worse monitors (quite comfortable, I must
_Bi._N_. anyway, it is good to have at least an say). They were checked and followed
Ii._.iIi extra pawn. during the live commentary, so as to
rNbQ_Rk. 20.♖a7 ♔d7 21.♖d1 ♖b6 22.♘a3 have an indication of the changes in
♘c8 23.f3 ♕e8 24.♖a5 ♕e6 the players’ heart rate during tense
9.♘xd4! The point! White exploits 25.♕b4 ♗h6 26.♖xb5 moments. This is how we found out
his superior development. that Mikhail Antipov managed to
9...♗d7 9...♘ge7 10.♗g5! ♘xd4
(10...f6 11.♗e3 doesn’t look inspiring
._S_._.t burn 600 calories in two hours. Who
needs running when you can just play
either) 11.cxd4 h6 should be possible, _.jM_._J chess to burn calories!!
although White is better. .t.jDjJl There weren’t many upsets in the
10.♗d5 ♘ge7 _R_._._. second round, but there were two fine
.q._._._ finishes involving queen sacrifices.
T_.dM_.t n.i._Ib. Gujrathi Vidit
_.jLsJlJ .i._._Ii Das Debashis
J_Sj._J_ _._R_.k. Douglas 2018 (2)
_J_B_._.
._.nI_._ White has regained the pawn with an
ongoing initiative... But by a miracle
D_._TlM_
_.i._._. Vishy managed to survive this and tL_S_JjJ
Ii._.iIi even went on to win! (0-1, 77) J_._Js._
rNbQ_Rk. After the game Anand praised his _Jj.n._.
11.♗g5! A nasty idea, which Vishy
young opponent, rated 2438 against
his own 2771, calling him ‘ridicu-
._IiNb._
probably underestimated. lously under-rated’. i._R_._.
11...f6 12.♘xc6 ♗xc6 13.♗xc6+ .iB_QiIi
♘xc6 14.♗h4 ♕d7 15.a4 ♖b8 600 calories in two hours _.r._.k.
16.axb5 axb5 17.♖a6 ♘e7 One major innovation at this year’s position after 20...c5
17...♘e5, followed by ...♘f7 and ...0-0, event was the heart-rate monitor.
was the lesser evil. If both players agreed, they were Black had been playing pretty
18.♕b3! ♕g4!? 19.♗g3 ♕xe4 supplied with hand-held heart-rate passively and this was his first active
52 A
move. Unfortunately for him, it was White continues the assault, not
Celeb 64 o n en erson
already too late! distracted by material gains.
21.♘g5! With all the pieces 26...♘g5 27.h6 ♖ae8 28.♗xe5
pointing to the kingside, Vidit shows
no restraint. 21...bxc4 22.♖g3
Preparing the Greek sac on h7.
._._TdM_
22...g6 Hoping to discourage it. _Js._._.
23.♘xh7 ♘xh7 24.♗xg6 ♘df6 J_.j.jIi
Black hopes to give up some material _.jIbJs.
to escape the attack...
I_I_._J_
_._._.n.
D_._TlM_ ._.q.k._
tL_._J_S r._._._R
J_._JsB_ George C. Scott
_.j.n._. 28...dxe5 28... xe5 would probably George C. Scott was regarded as
._Ji.b._ be met by 29.g7 ♕f7 30.♕xg5!,
clearing the last obstacle to the
one of t e nest a erican actors of
is generation. e a e is na e
i._._.r. advance of the h-pawn. in t o e ora le ilitar o ie
.i._QiIi perfor ances t e ra i eneral
_.r._.k. ‘Who needs uc urgi son in tanle u ric s
Dr. Strangelove an is portra al
25.♕h5!! How often do you see
such a spectacular finish!!
running when of eneral eorge . atton t at
clinc e i t e est actor a ar at
Black resigned in view of 25....♘xh5 ca t e 1 1 Oscars ( ic t picall for
26.♗xf7+ ♔h8 27. g8. A pretty ellraiser cott e ecline ).
mate! a che Man on ere o l irector
tanle u ric anage to coa out
I got to witness the next game from b ca e !! of is notoriousl if cult co star suc
close-by, since I was playing on the an o er t e top perfor ance as t e
next board. 29.♘xf5! ♘e4+ 30.♔e2 ♘xd2 o lo ing general in t e 1 ol
31.g7 ar satire. It turne out to e cott
Bharathakoti Harsha an u ric s utual lo e of c ess.
S.P. Sethuraman e t o eca e ea il in ol e in a
Douglas 2018 (2) ._._TdM_ lengt series of c ess atc es on t e
_Js._.i. set an oul settle argu ents a out
It turneJ_._.j.i
out to e cott an u ric s creati e ifferences o er o on at
T_._.dM_ utual_.jIjN_.
lo e of c ess. N ier staat t e c ess oar .
_Js._J_S
J_.j._._ I_I_._J_
eli eratel
ac ter cott.
EEN apostrop e s
eeft it speciaal al us
u ric often on an t e p otos
ta en of t eir c ess uels are seen
_.jItJiI _._._._.
gecorrigeer . an as so e of t e ost iconic s ots
I_I_._J_ ._.s _._ of oll oo legen s pla ing c ess.
A 53
ISLE OF MAN
35...♗c6!
Not so fast! 35...♘xe4 36.♘xe4 ♗xe4
37.♖xc2 ♗xc2 38.h4 should be an
easy draw, since White will continue
to play on the dark squares.
36.g4 h4!
Now the same endgame after ...♘xe4
will be winning, thanks to the fixed
pawn on h3.
37.♘e3 ♖a2 38.g5
It might have been better to play 38.e5
♘b1 39.♘ef1 ♗b5 40.♔g2, and Black
just about manages to survive...
38...♘b1 39.♘ef1 ♘c3 40.♘e3
♘b1 41.♘ef1 ♗b5 42.♔g2 ♘c3
._._._M_
MaRIa EMELIaNOVa
_._.jJ_.
._._._J_
Wang Hao may be semi-retired, but he remains unusually gifted. A wizard, who
_L_._.i.
can win an endgame that many would have probably given up for a draw. ._._Ii.j
_.s._._I
T_.n.rK_
Alexander Donchenko
Wang Hao ._._._M_ _._._N_.
Douglas 2018 (3) _._.jJ_.
43.♘e3
._._L_J_
._._._M_ _._._._J
The alternative was 43.♔f3 ♗xf1
44.♘xf1 ♖xf2+ 45.♔xf2 ♘xe4+.
_._.jJ_J ._._.i._ Knight endings are very much like
._._LsJ_ _.s._.iI pawn endings, so an extra pawn
_.r._._. ._TnIrK_ should usually guarantee victory.
43...♗e2 44.♘ef1 ♗d3
._._.i._ _._._N_.
_._._.i.
T_.nI_Ki It is amazing how much pressure
._._._M_
_._._N_. Black can generate with so few pieces. _._.jJ_.
position after 29...♖xa2 34.♔h2 ♗d5 Threatening to win ._._._J_
the rook with 35...♘d1. 35.e4 _._._.i.
30.h3 Creating an unnecessary
target. This casual pawn move makes
White was probably counting on this
tactical trick to bail out.
._._Ii.j
defending quite difficult. _.sL_._I
After 30.♖c3!?, the idea is to put the
._._._M_ T_.n.rK_
rook on d4, followed by ♘e3, and
_._.jJ_. _._._N_.
White protects everything.
30...h5! 31.♖c3 ♘d5 32.♖f3 ._._._J_ Finally, Black’s superior activity nets
After 32.♖d3 h4!? was interesting, _._L_._J him a pawn.
45.♘e3 45.e5 ♘d1 46.♖f3 ♗e4 was
weakening White’s pawn structure.
32...♖c2
._._Ii._ the amusing point.
Now White will be unable to play _.s._.iI 45...♘xe4 46.♘xe4 ♗xe4+
♔f2 in view of ...h3. ._Tn.r.k And Wang Hao managed to convert
33.♖f2 ♘c3 _._._N_. the extra pawn.
54 A
ISLE OF MAN
A 55
ISLE OF MAN
EmanuEl laskEr
volume i struggle and victories
world chess champion for 27 years
56 A
ISLE OF MAN
Once again it was still possible to _._._._. Xiong had been pushing hard for a
backtrack: 8 ...♔d8 8 .♔c6 ♔c8 ._._._._ win, but Wang Hao defends coolly.
38.♘g4 ♖c8!
82.♘d7 ♔d8 is still alright.
81. d6 _._._._. Preparing ...c5 and a liquidation to a
draw.
Time to nally let go of your materi- 39.♖ 2 c5 40.♖ 6+ ♖c6
._._._._ alistic desires! 41.dxc5+ ♘xc5 42.♖xc6+ xc6
_._._ _. 89... g8 89...g3 9 .♔f 7! g2 43.♘xf6 gxf6 44.f4 d6 45.g4
._.k._._ 9 .♘g5 ! (closing the g- le) 9 ...♔h8
92.♘h4 g ♕ 93.♘g6 mate.
_.n._._. 90. e7 g3 91.♘f6+ 8 92. f8 ._._._._
._._._J_ _._._J_.
_._._.n. ._._.k.m ._.m.j.j
._._._._ _._._._. _. J_ _I
_._._._. ._._.n._ ._._.iI_
_._._N_. _._.i._.
81... f6 After this the tablebases
._._._._ ._._._ _
announce a mate in 12 (just like in the
olden days ). 8 ...♔e8 was lack s _._._.j. _._._._.
last chance: 82.♘e6! ♔f7 83.♘d4 ._._._._
♔e8 84.♘c6, when White will make _._._._. t rst glance, this endgame looked
progress, but it is only a draw. very dangerous for Black.
82.♘ce4+! The only move. nd in iew of 92...g2 93.♘d6, and 45...♘e6 46. f3 ♘g7
82... f7 83. d7 f8 84.♘d6 mate next move, Black resigned. 46...♔e7 is also su cient for a draw.
g7 85. e6 g6 86.♘de4! Good to know such endgame lessons! 47. c8 e7 48. b7
A 57
ISLE OF MAN
._T_.tM_
j._._._J
.d.j.sJ_
_._Is._.
._.nI_._
q._._InL
Ii._B_.i
_._Rk.r.
MaRIa EMELIaNOVa
32...♖c2!
A cool resource by MVL. Once again
Kazakhstani GM Rinat Jumabaev had to experience what can happen the tables have been turned and
when Alexander Grischuk switches to aggression mode. White only has one way to escape.
33.f4 Not this one, but 33.b4!, just
holding on to his material advantage.
Apparently, Black has no clear way to
._._._._ Draw. White can’t do anything with crash through.
33...♖xb2 34.♘f1 After 34.fxe5,
_B_.mJs. the extra pawn, since the black king
will just continue to lurk on f6 and let 34...dxe5 is winning.
._._.j.j the knight roam free ☺. 34...♘xe4
_._J_._I
._._.iI_ Stunning and inhuman
._._.tM_
_._.iK_. In that same round, MVL, our early
leader, managed to bounce back j._._._J
._._._._ with a win in a complicated game .d.j._J_
_._._._. against Rinat Jumabayev, a GM from _._Is._.
48...f5 48...♔e6 is also possible:
Kazakhstan.
._.nSi._
49.g5 fxg5 50.fxg5 ♘xh5 51.gxh6 Rinat Jumabayev q._._._L
♔f6 52.♔g4 ♔g6 53.h7 ♘f6+!, and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave It._B_.i
Black escapes due to this trick. Douglas 2018 (6) _._RkNr.
49.g5 ♘xh5 50.gxh6 ♔f6
51.♗xd5 ♔g6 52.h7 ♔xh7
53.♗xf7 ♘f6
._._TtM_ Now everything falls apart.
35.fxe5 dxe5 36.♘g3 exd4
j._._._J White resigned.
._._._._ .d.j.sJ_
_._._B_M _._Is._. Kramnik’s love of art
58 A
ISLE OF MAN
2018
– IM open and FIDE open
19.–26. 1. 2019 | 18th MARIENBAD OPEN
– GM and IM round robin,
18th International Chess Festivals Series FIDE open, seniors open 50+
23. 2. – 2. 3. 2019 | 19th OPEN LIBEREC
More detailed information: AVE-KONTAKT s.r.o., Strossova 239,
530 03 Pardubice, Czech Republic, Tel.: + 420 – 466 535 200,
mobile phone: + 420 - 608 203 007, e-mail: j.mazuch@avekont.cz www.czechtour.net
A 59
ISLE OF MAN
Swiss expert
The most natural 14.♕h5!? h6
15.♕g6 (15.♘xe6 will again be met As to the other favourites for final T_._T_M_
by 15...♘dxe5!) 15...hxg5 16.hxg5 victory, Hikaru Nakamura has j.j._JlJ
♘cxe5 17.fxe5 ♘xe5 18.♕h7+ ♔f7 proven himself to be very well suited .dJ_._J_
19.♗e2 ♔e8 20.♕xg7 ♗d6 21.♘h5 for the Swiss format, as we have _.nSnL_.
was dangerous for both sides.
14...♘dxe5! 15.♘xf8 ♘xd3+
seen several times in, for instance,
Gibraltar. Here, however, there was a
._.i._._
16.♕xd3 ♔xf8 17.0-0 g6 18.♖d1 guy who blocked his way to another _._._._.
tournament victory. Ii.b.iIi
T_L_.m._ r.q.r.k.
Arkadij Naiditsch
_._.l._J Hikaru Nakamura 17...♖ad8?! So far it’s all still theory.
.dS_._J_ Douglas 2018 (8) But 17...♖e7! was better, bringing the
jJ_J_J_. Ruy Lopez, smyslov Variation other rook to e8, with good chances
1.e4 e5 2.♘f3 ♘c6 3.♗b5 g6 to equalize. 18.h3! The first new
._.j.i.i 4.d4 exd4 5.c3 ♘ge7 move, and quite a strong novelty! I
i.iQ_.n. 5...dxc3 6.♘xc3 is too dangerous wonder what Naka had missed in his
.i._._I_ due to White’s lead in development prep. Maybe he hadn’t expected to
r.bR_.k. and the weak dark squares in Black’s reach this position at all. 18...♘f6
camp. 19.♘b3 The greedy approach.
18...b4 After 18...♗a6! White is the 6.cxd4 d5 7.exd5 ♘xd5 8.0-0 19.♕c4! was very strong, and it is
player who has to think about equal- ♗g7 9.♗xc6+ bxc6 10.♗g5 hard to give Black good advice:
izing. 19.axb4 ♗a6 20.♕f3 axb4 ♕d6 11.♖e1+ ♗e6 12.♘bd2 19...♘d5 20.b3, and White is clearly
21.♔h2 And Grischuk managed to 0-0 13.♘e4 ♕b4 14.♕c1 ♖fe8 better. 19...♖d5 20.♘xc6 ♖xe1+
convert (1-0, 42). 15.♗d2 ♕b6 16.♘c5 ♗f5 17.♘e5 21.♗xe1 ♗f8
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60 A
ISLE OF MAN
._._._._
V
j.j._.mJ
L
._I_.jJ_
_.bS_. .
R
As Arkadij Naiditsch thinks about his next move, 46.♕c6, which will force his ._._._._
opponent’s resignation, Hikaru Nakamura has no doubts about what is coming.
_._._I_
Ii._Q_ _
_._R_.k.
._._.lM_ ._ _._M_
35...♖e5 I guess both players were
j.j._J_J j.j._J_J in time-trouble; otherwise it would
.d _. J_ ._I_. J_ be hard to explain why both players
_._T_L_. _._._._T missed 35...♘f4, which was winning
._.i._._ ._._._._ for Blac ! 36.♖d7+ (36.♕e7+ ♔h6
_ _._._I _._.n._L 37.♕f8+ ♔h5 is nothing) 36...♕xd7
37.cxd7 ♘xe2+ 38.♔f2 ♖d5 39.♔xe2
Ii._.iI_ Ii._.iI_ a6! (39...♖xd7 40.♗xa7 was the line
r.q.b.k. r.q.b.k. Naka had seen and rejected), and
Black should win this endgame. In
At least the black pieces look more 28.f3!? Naiditsch has let go of his the post-game interview, Naiditsch
alive here. greediness and focuses on control- mentioned that he had seen this far
22.♘e5 ♗e6 23.♘c4 ♕b7 24.♘e3!? ling the kingside and eventually in his horror after having played 35.
An interesting manoeuvre to safe- triumphing on the a1-h8 diagonal. ♗c5.
guard the g2 spot. 28...♗xg2 28...♗e6 was the more 36.♕f2 ♖g5 37.♖d4
24...♖h5 25.♘c5 ♗xc5 26.dxc5 stubborn defence 29.♗c3 ♘d5
30.♘xd5 ♖xd5, and White still has to
._._._._
._._._M_ prove his superiority.
29.♘xg2 ♕h3 j.j._.mJ
j j._J_J ._I_.jJ_
._._L J_ ._._._M_ _.bS_. .
_.i._._T j.j._J_J ._.r._._
._._._._ ._I_. J_ _._._I_
_._.n._I _._._._T Ii._.q _
Ii._.iI_ ._._._._ _._._.k.
r.q.b.k. _._._I_ Now it’s over.
26...♗xh3 nowing that he might Ii._._ _ 37...♕e6 38.♖e4 ♕xc6 39.♕d4
lose if he didn’t try something, Naka r.q.b.k. a5 40.a3 h5 41.♔h2 ♔h7 42.♕c4
decides to go for a speculative piece ♕b7 43.♖e7+ ♔h8 44.♗d4 ♖f5
sacri ce. 30.♗c3 Too soft. Best was 30.♕f4! 45.♖d7 ♕b8 46.♕c6
27.c6! A useful inclusion. 27...♕c8 ♕h1+ 31.♔f2, winning 31...♖f5 Black resigned.
A 61
ISLE OF MAN
Preview of a promise
Earlier this year, Vincent Keymer
became known to the world due to
his demolition of the entire field in
the Grenke Open, a win that earned
him a spot in the Grenke Classic next
year. I am very excited to see how
the young German, now 13 years
old, will fight against the best. One
preview could be the following game
he played in the Isle of Man.
Vincent Keymer
MaRIa EMELIaNOVa
Boris Gelfand
Douglas 2018 (8)
._T_._M_ Another landmark in the young career of Vincent Keymer. With a nice
j._._J_J finish the 13-year-old German defeated Boris Gelfand.
._._.sJ_
d.n.l._.
.j._I_._ 39...♗xd8 40.♖xd8+ ♔g7 41.♗d4 Brutal attack
_._.bIiI ♔h6 42.g4! Before we turn to the winners, let’s
.iQr._K_ look at one of the games from the
_._._._. ._.r._._ final round. We started off with
beautiful games and let’s end with
position after 34.♗e3
j._._J_J one. This would be my penance
So far things had been going decently ._._DsJm for including Erwin l’Ami’s fiasco
for Gelfand in this game. _._._._. against Kramnik. This was the
34...♕c7 The first error. The
counter-intuitive 34...♕b6! would
.n.bI_I_ Dutchman’s game against Simon
Williams.
have preserved the balance. _._._I_I
35.♕d3! Tactically protecting g3. .i._.k._ Erwin l’Ami
35...♕c6 35...♗xg3 loses to 36.♘a6 _._._._. Simon Williams
♕e5 37.♗d4. A cute tactic. Douglas 2018 (9)
36.♔f2 ♗c7 37.♘a6 ♖d8 37...♗a5 Black is unable to defend against the
was fine. 38.♘xb4! ♕e6 dark-square demolition.
42...♘d7 43.♘d5 f5 44.♖h8 fxe4 T_D_M_.t
._.t._M_ 45.f4! ♘f8 46.g5+ ♔h5 47.♘f6+ j._.j._.
j.l._J_J
♔h4 48.♘xh7 e3+ 49.♗xe3 ._Sj.j._
._._DsJ_ _J_Nl._J
._._.s.r ._._I_.b
_._._._. j._._._N
.n._I_._ _._._.iL
._._D_J_ IiI_.iB_
_._QbIiI _._._.i.
.i.r.k._ r._Q_Rk.
._._.i.m
_._._._. _._.b._I
position after 16...♗xh3
62 A
ISLE OF MAN
NOTES BY
something inside him, and the rest is Opening up the king even further. Alina Kashlinskaya
history... 28...♔xd7 29.♖xd5+ ♔c6
17.♘c7+! 30.♖d6+ ♔b5 31.c4+!
tarting off with the simple theme of Alina Kashlinskaya
Samuel Sevian
overloading.
17...♕xc7 18.♗xh3 ♗xb2 19.♖b1
T_._._.t Douglas 2018 (9)
♗e5 20.♖xb5 ♘d4 j._._._. Mo ern Defen e a er a h ste
._.r._._ This game was played on my birthday.
T_._M_.t _M_._._J I knew that statistically the results of
paperback 320 pages €27.95 available at your local (chess)bookseller or at newinchess.com a A publication
A 63
ISLE OF MAN
64 A
ISLE OF MAN
21.♘xe4
21.f3 ♗c6 22.b5 was also possible.
And 21.b5 wins as well.
21...fxe4 22.b5 ♖ec8
r 22...♖ac8 23.♗xf7 ♕xf7 24.d7
♘xd7 25.♖xd7 ♕xb3 26.axb3, with a
completely winning endgame.
23.f3
T_T_.sM_
jJ_D_SlJ
._.i._J_
_Ii.j._.
._B_J_I_
_Q_.bI_I
MaRIa EMELIaNOVa
I_._._._
_._R_Rk.
Deploying my last piece. Black is In the last round Alina Kashlinskaya beat Sam Sevian with creative and vigorous play.
completely lost. In the Just Checking questionnaire in this issue, she calls it the best game she ever played.
23... 8 24.♗xf7 exf3 25.♖xf3
e4 26.♖f2 ♕d8 27.♕d5 ♕ 4
28. g2 6
I was happy that I had managed he had a pretty decent tiebreak expe-
T_T_.s. to give myself a birthday present,
although when the game finished,
rience against Magnus Carlsen in the
2015 Grenke Classic. Even though he
jJ_._Bl. I didn’t know that the real gift would lost that match in the end, he did put
._.i._Jj come later that evening, with my up a good ght and gave the World
_IiQ_._. husband winning the tournament! Champion a run for his money.
._._J_Id The winner
In the rst tiebreak game my hunch
about Naiditsch’s chances seemed to
_._.b._I If you didn’t really follow the event be con rmed...
I_._.r _ and skipped the first pages of this
_._R_._. article, you must be wondering by Radoslaw Wojtaszek
now who actually won the event. Arkadij Naiditsch
29.c6 bxc6 30.bxc6 ♘ 7 31.d7 Radek Wojtaszek started the tourna- Douglas 2018 (tiebreak-1)
♖f8 32.c7 ♘f6 33.♕e6 ♘xd7 ment with a draw, but then tremen-
34.♖xd7 ♖ac8 35.♕xg6 ♗e5 dously picked up pace with four
wins (and one bye in between!),
.tD_T_._
_._._S J
._T_.t. eventually finishing on 5 with a
final-round draw against Arkadij ._._.jJ_
j.iR_B_. Naiditsch. Little did he know that _J_Nj._.
._._._Qj his rivalry with Naiditsch, who is
J_J_I_._
_._.l._. playing for Azerbaijan these days,
i._. .i.
._._J_Id was just starting! After MVL had
lost a bend-or-break game against .i._.i _
_._.b._I Grischuk, a blitz tiebreak between _._R_R_.
I_._.r _ Wojtaszek and Naiditsch was to position after 35.♕xe3
_._._._. decide the winner. In the commen-
tary room, I was asked for my pick Things had gone horribly wrong for
36.♕x 6 ♕x 6 37.♗x 6 and I chose Naiditsch (please forgive Wojtaszek.
Black resigned. me, Radek), citing as my reasons that 35... 5
A 65
ISLE OF MAN
.n._._._ T_._MlSt
_._._S_. _JdL_JjJ
._._D_Jm J_.jJ_._
_J_._._J _._._._.
J_J_._._ ._.qIb._
Smyslov on the Couch i.q._.i. _.n._N_.
by Genna Sosonko
.i._T_K_ IiI_.iIi
mus alibero iunt volenissinis vel-
_._R_R_. r._._Rk.
lis dolupta nobis et es sam de conse-
Sosonko portrays the seventh World quam, nos a atqui tem id unt ventis
Champion, with whom he spent At the high price ofautem
a rook,volectemodia
Black has When I saw
cuscilit this move, I realized that
accus
considerable �me over the board, managed to turn theaped tables again,
maio queandnobistthe tiebreak
eiustis wouldn’t end so quickly.
sequos
White has to be careful to neutralize 9...♗c6
alique vel iuntibus voloreped quaepel
during tournaments and while mee�ng
Black’s initiative. entium diatem faciurInsum caseverum
of 9...e5
ad 10.♘xe5 dxe5, there
at each other’s homes. Smyslov the 42.♖f2 ♕e4+ ma 43.♔g1 ♖e3 roriam
is 11.♘d5!, an important inter-
vidunt latquae nossiminvel
man was far more balanced than 44.♕d2 ♘g5 No longer
eos eost easy!
pores mezzo
illabo. Non before taking on e5. I only saw
comnihilles
most of his contemporaries, capable 45.♕d6 ♘h3+ essi 46.♔h2
quibus♘xf2estibus, 11.♗xe5,
odipsam missing
sume 11...♗c5! 12.♕d5
of a relaxed and yet principled 47.♕f8+ ♔g5 48.♕d8+ molorume ♔g4volo
Whyde volorum
♕b6 13.♗xg7 eariore ♘e7, and the rook
approach to life. Unlike most top not 48...♔h6 ? It is always a good idea to lives to fight
ssunte porrorit enihil ipitatem hillam another day.
repeat once and thenaut decide what to nobis
odissintis 10.♖ad1 ♖d8
do! doluptatem adit11.♘d5!
players he was able to reach a very 49.♖d4 It would besam, nice to bring the final
modit labo. Itamus inustibusdae
high standard in his chosen hobby piece into
quis est ullupta ereperumet action
vellia sit with 11.♖fe1, but
- in his case, classical singing - even
while playing chess at the very top.
.n.q._._ qui commolestem alitit voluptaquam,
se num quuntem verae perum
would clash with the other prin-
ciple of losing
fuga.momentum(!): 11...e5!
_._._._. Namus et laborumque12.♘d5 ♗xd5 13.exd5 f6, and the
derum ratur?
Sosonko devotes a fascina�ng
._._._J_ Tessequatem faceritia worstnon is over for Black.
pligen-
chapter (‘Match fixing in Zurich’) to _J_._._J impora conet et ulparch 11...exd5 12.exd5 ♗b5 13.♖fe1+
ictatibus,
♘e7ut de debi-
the accusa�ons that David Bronstein J_JrD_M_ odis aliam, sitas et, sent,
i._.t.i.
tae. Ur aut alitate mporibe riatias pel-
brought against Smyslov in 2001. He
.i._.s.k ._.tMl.t
labo repellab id minvelici ut alignate
quo cus quam, autem eos explauta
places the polemic that followed in
_._._._. nosam ent a nos re, consequi _Jd.sJjJ optio-
the context of the Soviet Chess School.
Were Bronstein’s accusa�ons jus�fied?
ris et fugianderi vel idebita J_.j._._
tiatumet
49...♔f3 49...♖e2!occaerf erspernam ent _L_I_._.
was Black’s last eatatur aut
chance: 50.♖xe4+omni ♘xe4+ iumque voluptatem._.q.b._
51.♔g1 dis estotaq
paperback | 200 pages | €19.95 ♖e1+, with an immediate draw.
_._._N_.
uibusap idebitatqui te simus dolup-
50.♖xe4 ♖xe4 tatur? 51.♕f6+ Xerio♔e2
totatet eume volestia
sit, omnisqu untiam, quiIiI_.iIi
available at your local (chess)bookseller
or at www.newinchess.com 52.♔g2 ♘d3 53.♕f3+ dolestibus
Black resigned. voluptatio quisinctur? Quiant,_._Rr.k. id ut
66 A
2A A R T I K E L N A A M ( VA R )
ISLE OF MAN
T_._T_M_
_._D_JlJ
Lj.j.sJ_
jNsIj._.
I_N_I_._
_._.b.iI
.i._.i _
r._ _Rk.
M
16...♗xb5 16...♘xa4!? would have
With a lot of money and prestige at stake, the blitz play-off between made things more exciting.
Radek Wojtaszek and Arkadij Naiditsch was a nervous affair. 17.axb5 ♖ab8 18.♗xc5 dxc5
The Polish GM prevailed in the Armageddon game, taking home £ 38,000. 19.♕a4 h5 20.h4!
No counterplay on the dark squares.
20...♗h6 21.♖ad1 g5 22.hxg5
♗xg5
14.♘g5! White and therefore would have to
Energetic play by White.
14...h6 15.♘e4 f5 16.♘xd6+
win.
.t._T_M_
♖xd6 17.♗xd6 ♕xd6 18.c4 ♗d7 Radoslaw Wojtaszek _._D_J_.
19.c5 ♕f6 20.♕b4 Arkadij Naiditsch .j._.s._
Douglas 2018 (tiebreak- )
ing s n ian Defence, ianc etto Variation
jIjIj.lJ
._._Ml.t 1.d4 ♘f6 2.c4 g6 3.♘f3 ♗g7 4.g3
_N_I_._
_J_Ls.j. 0-0 5.♗g2 d6 6.0-0 ♘bd7 7.♘c3 _._._.i.
J_._.d.j e5 8.e4 ♖e8 9.♗e3 c6 10.h3 a5 .i._.i _
_.iI_J_. This was the exact same line that _._R_Rk.
.q._._._ had netted Naiditsch two pawns in
the first tiebreak game, but Radek 23.♕b3! Radek easily neutralizes
_._._._. had had enough of this nonsense by Black’s imaginary threats.
Ii._.iIi now . 23...♔g7 24.f4 exf4 25.gxf4 ♗h6
_._Rr.k. 26.e5 ♘g4 27.♕h3 ♖h8
T_LdT_M_
A nd a lt houg h R adek a l most
managed to survive, the game finally _J_S_JlJ .t._._.t
reached its correct result (1-0, 77). ._Jj.sJ_ _._D_Jm.
j._.j._. .j._._.l
And so an Armageddon game was to
._IiI_._ jIjIi._J
decide on the winner of IoM!, which
according to the rules meant, ‘5 _.n.bNiI ._N_.iS_
minutes for White and 4 minutes for Ii._.i _ _._._._
Black, plus an increment of 2 seconds r._ _Rk. .i._._ _
a move starting from move 61, and _._R_Rk.
Black having draw odds’. The toss 11.d5! Just killing Black’s idea,
of a coin determined that Wojtaszek which is ...exd4. 28.f5 nd it was done so e ciently!
could choose his colour. He chose 11...♘c5 12.♘d2 28...♔f8 29.e6 ♕d8 30.f6
A 67
ISLE OF MAN
Black resigned.
TsLdMl.t T_._.m.t
In his winner’s speech, Radek jJ_._JjJ j._LlJjJ
Wojtaszek said how much he had ._._Js._ ._SnJs._
enjoyed being in the Isle of Man, _.j._._. _.d._._.
adding that he thought his wife Alina
would agree. He had a special word of
._Ji._._ ._.j.b._
thanks for Vishy Anand ‘from whom _._._Ni. _._._.i.
I learnt a lot and who is one of the Ii._IiBi Ii._IiBi
reasons why I am here!’ He modestly rNbQk._R rN_Q_Rk.
concluded that he was hoping to be
back next year to defend his title. I had expected this, since my 13.b4!
opponent had played it twice before. 13.♘e4?! is way too timid: 13...♘xe4
Let’s end this article with the best In our previous encounters I had 14.♗xe4 e5 15.♗d2 f5, and White’s
game Radek Wojtaszek played in Isle faced the more classical systems with pieces are being pushed back.
of Man, a crucial win against Mickey 4...♗e7 and 4...♗b4+. 13.♕b3 was the only serious try:
Adams in Round 8. 6.0-0 ♘c6 7.♘e5 ♗d7 8.♘xc4!? 13...♗xd6 14.♖c1, with a similar plan
A somewhat forgotten line, but as in the game, but with the difference
I remembered having some problems that after 14...♕b4! 15.♕xb4 ♗xb4
NOTES BY
when analysing this from Black’s 16.♗xc6 ♖c8 Black is doing fine, and
point of view, so I thought it might be now it obviously doesn’t matter that
Radek Wojtaszek
interesting to try it as White. he didn’t manage to castle.
8...cxd4 9.♗f4 13...♕xb4 14.a3 ♕c5
Radoslaw Wojtaszek
Michael Adams
Douglas 2018 (8) T_.dMl.t T_._.m.t
Catalan Opening accepted jJ_L_JjJ j._LlJjJ
With two rounds to go I was in the ._S_Js._ ._SnJs._
leading pack with six other players _._._._. _.d._._.
and with a score of 5½ out of 7. This
probably being my last game as
._Nj.b._ ._.j.b._
White, I thought it would be oppor- _._._.i. i._._.i.
tune to put some ‘real’ pressure on Ii._IiBi ._._IiBi
my opponent not so simple given that rN_Q_Rk. rN_Q_Rk.
my opponent, Mickey Adams, is both
a solid and an all-around player. And 9...♗e7 15.♕b3!?
with six out of our seven previous 9...♘d5 is the only move if Black The actual novelty. White has sacri-
games having ended in a draw, wants to castle, but White gets nice ficed a pawn to keep this strong
68 A
ISLE OF MAN
that none of the friends that I usually In the key encounter with Mickey Adams, Radek Wojtaszek could use an
work with were available, so I decided opening idea that he had asked his wife to check when just before Isle of Man
to ask my wife to check this line for he had been playing in the European Club Cup in Greece.
me. She was there with me and didn’t
play, so I disrupted her holidays, but
in the end we agreed it had been
worth it . Black exchanges queens and limits 16.♕b4! ♕xb4 17.axb4
The move that had been played before the damage, but even after 21.♕xb8
was 15.♘d2, and my opponent faced
it in 2008: 15...e5 16.♘2e4 ♘xe4
♖xb8 22.♖ab1 ♖c8 23.♖b7 felt that
this looked promising.
T_._.m.t
17.♘xe4 ♕b6 18.♖b1 ♕c7, and The move I had expected most was j._LlJjJ
White didn’t have enough counter- 15...♕b6!?. t avoids the ♖c1 threat ._.nJs._
play in Gelfand-Adams, Yerevan with tempo. Now White has several s._._._.
2008. interesting possibilities, but I would
like to mention the tricky 16.♕a2!?,
.i.j.b._
_._._.i.
T_._.m.t ._._IiBi
j._LlJjJ T_._.m.t
j._LlJjJ rN_._Rk.
._SnJs._
_.d._._. .dSnJs._ 17...e5 fter 17...♘b3, 18.♖a3! is
._.j.b._ _._._._. probably what my opponent had
A 69
ISLE OF MAN
New from
RUSSELL ENTERPRISES
S
I wasaererum
not to
trying to be
give myesedis
exeribus
practical chances.
precisepeliberum
alique
opponent ma too
quasperat pores comnimaximet aut
in order
num many
volest
1
Douglas 2018
ma_._._.i.
16 Gujrathi Vidit IND 2711 6
vidunt latquae roriam nossiminvel
eos._._Ii._
17 Vladislav Artemiev RUs 2706 6
eost pores illabo. Non comnihilles 18 Zoltan Almasi hUN 2702 6
_N_R_.k.
essi quibus estibus, odipsam sume 19 Peter Leko hUN 2690 6
molorume volo de volorum eariore 20 David Howell ENG 2689 6
25.♗c6!
ssunte porroritAgain, I thought
enihil ipitatem that I
hillam 21 SP Sethuraman IND 2673 6
should exchange
aut odissintis onedoluptatem
nobis of my oppo-adit
22 Vladislav Kovalev BLR 2664 6
nent’s
moditbishops to simplify
labo. Itamus things. sam,
inustibusdae 23 Hrant Melkumyan aRM 2660 6
25...♖c8 26.♖xd4!
quis est ullupta ereperumet♗c5 vellia
After sit
24 Emil Sutovsky IsR 2633 6
Sicilian Defense 26...♗xc6
qui commolestem27.♖xb4 alit ♗e4 White is
voluptaquam, 25 Mircea-Emilian Parligras ROU 2623 6
The Chelyabinsk Variation lucky to have 28.♘d2
se num quuntem verae perum ♖c1+ 29.♘f1!.fuga. 26 Surya Shekhar Ganguly IND 2622 6
Its Past, Present and Future 27.♗xd7 ♘xd7
Namus et laborumque derum ratur? 28.♖e4+
27 Daniel Fridman GER 2600 6
Second Edition ♔f8 29.♘d2 g6
Tessequatem 30.♔g2
faceritia non ♖d8pligen-
28 Alina Kashlinskaya RUs 2447 6
by Gennadi Timoshcenko 31.♖c4
impora ♗e7 conet32.♘e4
et ulparch ictatibus,
29 Levon Aronian aRM 2780 5½
With a foreword by Garry Kasparov odis aliam, sitas et, sent, ut de debi-
30 Wesley So Usa 2776 5½
GM Timoshchenko insisted that his book ._.t.m._
tae. Ur aut alitate mporibe riatias pel-
labo repellab id minvelici ut alignate
31 Michael Adams ENG 2712 5½
should not be called ‘The Sveshnikov
quo_._SlJ_J
cus quam, autem eos explauta
32 Pavel Eljanov UKR 2703 5½
Sicilian’, because he considers himself
the founder of this highly popular line. R_._._J_
nosam ent a nos re, consequi optio-
33
34
Tamir Nabaty
Erwin l’Ami
IsR
NED
2692
2639
5½
5½
A monumental opening manual: ris_._._._.
et fugianderi vel idebita tiatumet
35 Alexei Shirov EsP 2636 5½
extraordinary analy�cal depth,
with historical and biographical
._R_N_._
occaerf erspernam ent eatatur aut
omni iumque voluptatem dis estotaq
36 Alexander Donchenko GER 2610 5½
perspec�ves. Regardless of what _._._.i.
uibusap idebitatqui te simus dolup-
37 Rasmus Svane GER 2595 5½
name you give it, Sicilian Defense: ._._IiK_
tatur? Xerio totatet eume volestia
38 Bogdan Daniel Deac ROU 2594 5½
39 Niclas Huschenbeth GER 2589 5½
sit,_._._._.
The Chelyabinsk Variation will provide
omnisqu untiam, qui dolestibus
you with a powerful weapon. 40 Robert Hess Usa 2574 5½
voluptatio quisinctur? Quiant, id ut
“Timoshchenko’s book is both 41 Sarin Nihal IND 2572 5½
Now the rest isatempor
doluptatiam, simple.alitas deni derio
very interes�ng and necessary. It 32...h5 33.♖c7 ♘e5 34.♖aa7 42 Alexandra Kosteniuk RUs 2551 5½
dolor recto que solupiet qui te sen-
contains a huge amount of novel�es ♖e8 43 Abhimanyu Puranik IND 2547 5½
ditem35.f4
recum♘g4 harum 36.♘c3
solorepe♘h6 volorer
at various levels of importance.”
37.e4 ♗d6 38.♖c6 44 Krikor Sevag Mekhitarian BRa 2546 5½
Garry Kasparov
spienderibus duntinc♖d8 illest39.♘d5
eic te mag-
♔g7 40.♔f3 ♘g4 41.♖b7 ♔f8 45 Semen Lomasov RUs 2540 5½
nim veria dellab ipiet aut omnima-
42.♖a6 ♗c5 43.♖c7 ♗d4 46 Prasanna V Vishnu IND 2504 5½
iostis ratemque et laut endigenditio
44.♖a4 47 Gupta Prithu IND 2458 5½
440 pages | €34.95 eicipient♗g1 aborios45.♖b4
reserfero Andditasi
Blackaut
resigned. 48 Anthony Bellaiche fRa 2453 5½
quam quae ped mo maiore nobit re,
My critical win, allowing me to 49 CRG Krishna IND 2445 5½
available at your local (chess)bookseller qui del erionemque cusam laborepudi
or at www.newinchess.com fight for first
acepror place in the last round
ehendunt. 50 Boris Gelfand IsR 2701 5
165 players, 9 rounds
andPudicipit
a tiebreak,fugitatus
as it turnedenisout.■
porionse
2A70 A A R T I K E L N A A M ( VA R )
Change the Game
www.QualityChessAcademy.com
Crete, 8-14 May 2019
Your Coaches
GMs RB Ramesh & Jacob Aagaard
Fianchetto ._S_J_._
_._._._.
._.iN_I_
Fortissimo i._._._.
.iI_Ni.i
r.bQkB_R
Why not gain some space while advancing a This move was condemned, and
Alekhine was accused of under-esti-
pawn for a fianchetto? mating his opponent, but he had some
sensible arguments: ‘ 7.♗e3 does not give
White any advantage, while 7.c3 e5 yields
T_.dM_.l
H
ere is a straightforward Black good play, so White forcefully tries
example of this column’s j.jL_J_. to maintain control of e4. In my opinion,
pattern: .j.j._._ the text-move got too harsh a judgement
_._Is.j. in the press. After correct play by the
opponent White still obtains a compli-
Oscar Panno ._I_I_._ cated game with mutual chances.’ 7...b6
Vladimir Savon _Qn._.b. Kasparov gives 7...♘f6 8.♘xf6+ ♗xf6
Petropolis Interzonal 1973 Ii._Bi._ 9.♗e3 h5! – the typical way to profit
r._.k._. from White’s early expansion – 10.gxh5
T_.dMl.t Panno has failed to put any real pressure
♕d5 ‘and Black seizes the initiative’.
Thus 9.♗g2 seems more appropriate.
jJjL_JjJ on Black; Savon continued to gradu- 8.♗g2 ♗b7 9.c3 ♘f6 10.♘2g3 This
._.j._._ ally improve his position: 18.0-0-0 a6 square suits the knight. 10...0-0 11.g5
_._I_._. 19.♖h1 ♗g7 20.♘d1 ♕f6 21.♘e3 ♘xe4 12.♘xe4 and Alekhine had
a5 22.a3 a4 The immediate 22...♔f8,
._I_IbS_ followed by ...♖e8, was the proper way to
his complicated position with mutual
chances, in which he managed to make
_.n._._. activate the a8-rook. Still, Savon later won use of the advanced g-pawn: 12...♔h8
Ii._.i.i when Panno lost on time on move 36. 13.♕h5 ♕e8 14.♘f6!
r._QkB_R
position after 11.♗xf4
From this old example we see that this
space-grabbing fianchetto is certainly
T_._Dt.m
11...g5!? The 1971 USSR champion not an entirely new idea, but it seems that jLj.lJjJ
is not satisfied with a regular fianchetto its pros are more and more appreciated .jS_Jn._
and puts speed and space above the these days – less general conviction, more _._._.iQ
weakening of his kingside. Obviously, in
this way he is winning the fight for the
concrete judgement. For instance, as
Jeroen Bosch showed in his SOS column
._.i._._
dark squares – a future knight on e5 will in New In Chess 2018/6, Alexey ‘g2-g4’ i.i._._.
not be bothered by f2-f4 – but will his Shirov has lately been toying with Botvin- .i._.iBi
king find a safe harbour? 12.♗g3 ♗g7 nik’s g2-g3 fianchetto approach against r.b.k._R
13.h4 A standard reaction to expose the the French Rubinstein, advancing his
black kingside after the bold sortie of the g-pawn straight to g4 instead. Bosch also Certainly not decisive, but later Euwe
g-pawn. 13...h6 14.♗e2 14.hxg5 hxg5 reminded us of this game: lost his cool when he wrongly tried to
15.♖xh8+ ♗xh8 16.♗h3 was a sugges- simplify the position by exchanging
tion by Bikhovsky, when after 16...♘e5 Alexander Alekhine the queens: 14...♗xf6 15.gxf6 gxf6
17.♕h5 White has a slight pull. Black Max Euwe 16.♕h4 ♕d8 17.♗f4 e5 18.♗g3 f5
can improve with 16...♗xc3+ 17.bxc3 World Championship match 1935 (7) 19.dxe5 ♖g8 20.♗f3 ♕d3 21.♗e2
♕f6!, though. 14...♘e5 15.hxg5 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.♘c3 ♗b4 4.♘e2 ♕e4? 22.♕xe4 fxe4 23.♗h4 and
hxg5 16.♖xh8+ ♗xh8 17.♕b3 b6 dxe4 5.a3 ♗e7 6.♘xe4 ♘c6 7.g4!? Alekhine eventually won (1-0, 40).
72 A
Chess PatteRn ReCognItIon
Alekhine’s 7.g4 hardly got any followers, ... and e hine had his com icated
yet his idea inspired others. Besides
Shirov’s 5.g4!? versus the Rubinstein, osition ith m t a chances in
Jonny Hector has tried to improve on
Alekhine, popularizing 6.g4!?. OK, the
hich he managed to ma e se of the
usual suspects, you may say, but not my ad anced g- a n.
cup of tea. Then let’s turn to an opening
concept which is gaining ground, also central advance d6-d5. 10.♘c2 c6 the centre so prematurely. In trying to
amongst grandmasters with a more 11.d4 ♕c7 12.♗d3 ♘g6 13.♘e3 restrict one enemy bishop, he opens up
solid style. ♖e8 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.♘d2 ♘f4 the diagonal for the other one. Worth
considering was 9.♗e2 or 9.♘b5.’ 9...g5!
Grzegorz Nasuta
Radoslaw Wojtaszek T_L_T_M_ Only an exclamation mark by olu, no
further comments. 9...g6 may seem a
Poland 2018 jJd._Jl. legitimate alternative to execute the fian-
1.e4 e5 2.♘f3 ♘c6 3.♗c4 ♘f6 4.d3 ._J_.s.j chetto, but indeed this unnecessarily
h6 5.0-0 d6 6.c3 _._.j.j. modest. Apart from the firmer control of
I_._Is._ square e5, the ever looming possibility of
T_LdMl.t _.iBn._.
chasing the f3-knight is a common asset –
which may sometimes prompt Black to
jJj._Jj. .i.n.iIi launch the g-pawn in the earliest of stages
._Sj.s.j r.bQr.k. after ♘g1-f3: 1.♘f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.b4 and
_._.j._. here, where even Alekhine restricted
._B_I_._ The knight has reached its destination,
claiming a small spatial advantage. Black
himself to 3...g6, Navara’s 3...g5!? has been
winning supporters these days. 10.♗e2
_.iI_N_. is just fine. White is very solid. In the ♗g7 11.0-0 0-0 11...g4!?. 12.♖c1
Ii._.iIi end, the stronger player won (34, 0-1). ♘e5 13.g3 Nezhmetdinov tries to carry
rNbQ_Rk. ere ...g7-g5 almost seemed more like through f2-f4 anyway. A poor plan, says
a solid space gainer, in the presence of olugaevsky, who recommends 13.b4.
6...g5 I don’t know about you, but I a solid pawn centre. Similarly, in the 13...c6 14.♘d4 ♖ac8 15.♘c2 cxd5
grew up with 6...g6 as the usual move following fragment, albeit in a completely 16.cxd5 ♕e7 17.♘e3
here, when h7-h6 prepared the fian- di erent setting, the short comments of
chetto by preventing ♘f3-g5. An overly
humble approach now? y initial
Polugaevsky are instructive.
._T_.tM_
doubts about this g7-g5 in the iuoco Rashid Nezhmetdinov jL_.dJl.
iano were confirmed when I witnessed Lev Polugaevsky .j.jJ_.j
my team mate Roeland ruijssers Kislovodsk 1972 _._Is.j.
1.d4 ♘f6 2.c4 e6 3.♘f3 b6 4.♘c3
being defeated horribly by Tiviakov in
2016: 1.e4 e5 2.♘f3 ♘c6 3.♗c4 ♘f6 4.d3 ♗b7 5.♗g5 h6 6.♗xf6 ♕xf6 7.a3
._._I_._
h6 5.0-0 g5 6.d4 (of course the classical d6 8.e4 ♘d7 i.n.n.i.
counterstroke in the centre) 6...exd4 .i._Bi.i
7.♘xd4 d6 8.♘xc6 bxc6 9.♘c3 ♗g7 10.f4
T_._Ml.t _.rQ_Rk.
gxf4 11.♗xf4 ♕e7 12.e5 dxe5 13.♗xe5
0-0 14.♕d4 ♖d8 15.♕f4 ♘d5 16.♘xd5 jLjS_Jj. 17...f5! Black is bringing his other
cxd5 17.♗xg7 ♔xg7 18.♗d3 ♗e6 19. .j.jJd.j bishop to life. Nezhmetdinov proceeded
♖f3 ♖h8 20.♕d4+ 1-0. Brr. et by now _._._._. with his plan 18.f4 but the opening of
I have seen many grandmasters, and
not only those who are known to like an
._IiI_._ the position suited Black’s bishop pair.
olu did not let go o his advantage and
experiment, putting their faith in Black’s i.n._N_. won the game.
fianchetto fortissimo in the iuoco .i._.iIi
iano. In this game, Wojtaszek followed r._QkB_R A small selection, of course. ou will able
up with a typical plan. 7.♖e1 ♗g7 8.a4 to find many more examples. Anyway,
0-0 9.♘a3 ♘e7!? Intending ♘e7-g6 9.d5 Criticized by olugaevsky in Grand- I guess that from now on you will certainly
(yes the g6-square is available!)-f4, as master Performance: ‘White should not think one pawn step further when looking
well as c7-c6, possibly threatening the have determined the pawn formation in for ways to develop your bishop.
A 73
SHENZHEN
MVL Master of
I G
Ia
G
The 2018 Shenzhen Masters striking a Chinese pose in traditional attire: Nikita Vitiugov,
Radek Wojtaszek, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Anish Giri, Ding Liren and Yu Yangyi.
74 A
SHENZHEN
Nikita Vitiugov
Radoslaw Wojtaszek
shenzhen 201 7
._.m._._
j._.tJj.
.j._.s.j
_._._.i.
R_._._._
I
t has been another great For me it’s always a pleasure to visit
year for Chinese chess, China. The culture shock is fasci- _I_.b._I
the absolute highlight nating and the events are always very I_._.i._
being the wins of both well organized. When I joined Anish _._._.k.
the men’s and the women’s team at Giri to attend the second edition of position after 0.g
the Olympiad in Batumi. Further the Shenzhen Masters, I visited the
good news was the successful title People’s Republic for the fifth time. White is slightly better, since the
defence of Ju Wenjun at the Women’s The formula of the Shenzhen bishop outweighs the knight, but
World Championship in Khanty- Masters was the same as last year: obviously the game is well within
Mansiysk. And in the past months, two Chinese top players, Ding Liren drawing margins.
working on an impressive unbeaten
streak, Ding Liren broke through to
the absolute top, crossing the 2800
‘With any passing day the organizers
barrier. were getting more and more excited.’
A 75
SHENZHEN
76 A
SHENZHEN
Watched by school kids, Ding Liren and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave embark on the
T_Ld.tM_ game that would end the Chinese number one’s unbeaten streak of 100 games.
_Jj._J_.
._Sj.s.j
j.l.j.j. T_Ld.tM_ T_Ld.tM_
._B_I_.b lJj._J_. lJj._J_S
_.iI_N_. ._Sj.s.j ._Sj._.j
Ii._.iIi j._.j.j. j._.j.j.
rN_Qr.k. ._B_I_._ ._B_I_._
10.♗g3 10.♘xg5 hxg5 11.♗xg5
n.iI_Nb. n.iI_.b.
won’t work well for White because Ii._.iIi Ii.n.iIi
of the opening of the h file 11...♔g7 r._Qr.k. r._Qr.k.
12. f3 ♖h8 13.♘d2 ♔g6! 14.h4
(14. g3 ♘h5) 14...♗g4! 15.♗xf6 11...♘h7!? 12...g4 Still aiming for ...h5, but
d7, and Black wins. A thematic move, simply preparing now I am able to meet ...h5 with h4
10...♗a7 for ...h5 and ...h4 or ...g4, trying to without fearing ...♗g4.
A prophylactic move against d4. exploit the odd position of the bishop 13.♘b5 ♗b6 14.♗b3!
10...g4 would run into 11.♗h4, on g3 to attack White’s king with The other point of 12.♘d2 I can now
and the eternal pin will prove very tempo. harass the dark-squared bishop.
dangerous, as witness the following After 11...♗g4 12.h3 ♗h5 13.♘c2 14...a4
recent game, in which Black doesn’t ♗g6 14.♗h2, I feel that hite was An important inclusion. 14...h5
have the tactics that he has after happy to have achieved h3 and ♗h2 15.h4 would leave White with a
the knight sacrifice on g5 11...gxf3 after having been strongly invited better version, since ...a4 is no longer
12. xf3 ♔g7 13.♘d2 ♖h8 14.♗d5 to. That game continued 14...♘h5 possible.
♘b8 15.d4 exd4 16.♘b3 c6 17.e5! dxe5 15.d4 ♘f6 16.dxe5 ♘xe4 17.♘e3, and
18.♘xc5 cxd5 1 . g3+ ♗g4 20.♖xe5
c8 21.♗xf6+ ♔xf6 22.♖xd5 ♘c6
White already had a serious advan-
tage in Giri-Eljanov, Stavanger 2016.
T_Ld.tM_
23.♖e1 ♖e8 24.♖d6+ ♔g5 25.♘e4+ 12.♘d2 _Jj._J_S
♖xe4 26.♖xe4 f5 27.h4+ 1 0, 12.d4 h5 13.h3 didn’t appeal to me. .lSj._.j
Areshchenko-Balogh, Hungary 2018. I wanted to limit Black’s play on _N_.j._.
11.♘a3
We are still following in the footsteps
the kingside instead, even though
the position is playable after both
J_._I_J_
of Anish iri, who first played this 13... f6 14.♘b5 ♗b6 15.♗e2 and _BiI_.b.
line against Pavel Eljanov. Now Liren 13...h4 14.♗h2 g4 15.hxg4 ♗xg4 Ii.n.iIi
comes up with an interesting novelty. 16.♘b5 ♗b6 17.♗e2. r._Qr.k.
A 77
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SHENZHEN
15.♗c2 15.♗xa4? h5 16.h4 gxh3 A very important move that leaves 18.♘c4, but there is definitely no need
would be simply winning for Black, White with a large advantage to allow counterplay with ...f5.
who has too many threats on the (20.♘xb6?? ♖h8 21.♕e2 ♖xh4, with a 18...♖a5 19.c4
kingside now that 17.♕xh5 ♖xa4 is decisive attack) 20...h2+ 21.♔h1 ♘h3
no longer an option.
15...h5 15...♘a5 would be the only
22.♖f1! ♘xf2+ 23.♖xf2 ♗xf2 24.♖f1
♖h8 25.♕f3 ♖xh4 26.gxh4 ♗xh4
._Ld.tM_
way to prevent ♘c4, but now I can 27.♕h5 ♗g5 28.♖f2, and the attack _Jj._J_S
take the pawn with 16.♗xa4 (16.d4 is continues: 28...♗e6 29.♖xh2 ♗f7 .lS_._._
also a serious option) 16...c6 17.♘a3 30.♕h7+ ♔f8 31.♕h8+ ♔e7 32.♕g7 tN_.i._J
♕g5 18.b4 h5!, even though Black
has some active counterplay. White is
♕g8 33.♕xg8 ♖xg8 34.♘xc7, and
White regains the pawn with a risk-
J_I_J_Ji
significantly better after the accurate free advantage. _._._.b.
19.bxa5 ♗xa5 20.♘ac4! ♗xc3 21.♖c1 17...♕g5 18.♕xg5+ ♘xg5 is what IiBn.iI_
♗xd2 22.♘xd2 h4 23.♗b3 hxg3 I had expected, but I thought I would r._Qr.k.
24.fxg3, when Black has restored retain a serious advantage after
material equality but has many weak- 19.♘c4 hxg2 20.♘xb6 ♘f3+ 21.♔xg2 19...e3! 19...f5 20.exf6 e3 21.fxe3
nesses. ♘xe1+ 22.♖xe1 cxb6 23.♘xd6, but ♘xf6 22.♘e4 would be hopeless.
16.h4 this might not be all that clear after 20.fxe3 ♘b4
23...♗e6. The last few moves were the best
T_Ld.tM_ 19.♗h4! was probably the best way to
go, when 19...♘e6 20.♘c4 ♗c5 21.g3
practical chance, as my pieces are a
little stuck. I came up with what I felt
_Jj._J_S would be clearly better for White. was the most natural solution.
.lSj._._ 17.d4 21.a3
_N_.j._J Not the only move, but the thematic 21.♗e4? f5 22.exf6 ♘xf6 would allow
J_._I_Ji one. Wit h a l l W hite’s pieces
converging on the centre, it would be
Black unnecessary counterplay.
21...♘d3
_.iI_.b. really surprising if this move didn’t 21...♘xc2 22.♕xc2, and the differ-
IiBn.iI_ work. ence in coordination is too great.
r._Qr.k.
16...d5?
T_Ld.tM_ ._Ld.tM_
Black’s first serious mistake in the _Jj._J_S _Jj._J_S
game, but arguably already a fatal .lS_._._ .l._._._
one. He should have been extra _N_Jj._J tN_.i._J
careful before opening the centre
with his kingside so exposed.
J_.iI_Ji J_I_._Ji
Instead, 16...gxh3 was mandatory, _.i._.b. i._Si.b.
and after 17.♕xh5 I didn’t really IiBn.iI_ .iBn._I_
expect 17...♔g7!, which gives Black r._Qr.k. r._Qr.k.
some counterplay by trying to repel
the queen: 18.♘c4 ♘g5 19.♗h4 f6 17...dxe4 22.b4 Here, 22.♖e2! was a very cool
20.g3!. 17...f5 was Liren’s original intention, move that would have won on the
but among other things he forgot the spot: 22...♗f5 (22...♘xb2 23.♕b1)
T_Ld.t._ clear-cut line 18.exd5 ♕xd5 (18...f4
19.dxc6 fxg3 20.fxg3 exd4 21.♘c4!
23.b4, and this is absolutely hopeless
for Black. But there is nothing wrong
_Jj._.m. dxc3+ 22.♘xb6 would win easily) with what I played.
.lSj.j._ 19.♗d3!, when he is unable to parry 22...axb3
_N_.j.sQ both 20.♗xe5 and 20.♗c4. 22...♖xb5 23.cxb5 ♘xe1 24.♕xe1
J_N_I_.b 17...exd4 might have been the lesser
evil, but Black’s position is shattered
would offer very little resistance.
Once again the ♘h7 is completely
_.iI_.iJ after 18.exd5 ♕xd5 19.♘xc7 ♗xc7 out of play and Black has too many
IiB_.i._ 20.♗xc7 ♗f5 21.♗xf5 ♕xf5 22.♘c4. weaknesses.
r._.r.k. 18.dxe5 23.♘xb3 ♘xe1 24.♕xe1 ♖a6
ANALYSIS DIAGRAM The engine also suggests the fancy 25.c5 ♗a7
A 79
SHENZHEN
I sacrificed an exchange to get to this ♖g8 33.♖f1 ♖a6 34.♕f7 ♕d5 35.♕xc7 36...♕e4 37.♖d1
position, feeling that my pieces were too would leave Black too exposed.
31...♔g7 32.♗e6 I pinned my
active and too well coordinated to not
have a direct win. hopes on this move, since Black won’t
._T_._._
26.♕b1 f5 be able to escape the forks. The ♘d4 _Jj._.m.
controls almost the entire board! ._._.s._
._Ld.tM_ _._._._J
lJj._._S ._L_.t._ ._._DbJi
T_._._._ tJj._.m. i._.i._.
_Ni.iJ_J ._._Bs._ ._._._I_
._._._Ji _.d._._J _._R_Qk.
iN_.i.b. ._.n.bJi 37...c5 Black errs already.
._B_._I_ i._.i._. 37...♘d5 was my first concern, but
rQ_._.k. ._._._I_ it fails to the simple 38.♕b5 ♘xf4
rQ_._.k. 39.exf4!, and Black will either get
27.exf6 Inaccurate, as I did indeed mated or lose too many pawns.
have a killer blow here. 32...♖a4! The only hope. 37...♖e8! was the best move to stay in
27.♘xa7 ♖xa7 28.♘d4 would win the 32...♖a6 33.♗xc8 ♖xc8 34.♕xb7 ♖ca8 the game. After 38.♕b5 b6 39.♖d4
f5-pawn and basically the game, since 35.♕xa8 ♕xd4 36.exd4 ♖xa8 was ♕e6 40.a4, White is still domi-
the h7-knight is still totally hemmed in. another defensive attempt, but after nating, and there is no forced win
27...♘xf6 28.♘xa7 ♖xa7 29.♘d4 the technically accurate 37.a4! White because Black has kind of consoli-
In hindsight it was clearly a mistake to has an easy technical win in sight. dated the protection of his king for
activate Black’s knight, although I felt 32...♕c3 33.♗xc8 ♖xc8 34.♘b5 shows the moment.
his king was much more exposed now. that Black can’t escape all the forks! 38.♖d6 Simple but effective. Here
And although this is true, the line to Black had one last chance.
prove it was beyond my reach.
29...♕e7
._L_.t._
_Jj._.m. ._T_._._
._._Bs._ _J_._.m.
._L_.tM_ ._.r.s._
tJj.d._. _.d._._J
T_.n.bJi _.j._._J
._._.s._ ._._DbJi
_.i._._J i._.i._.
._._._I_ i._.i._.
._.n._Ji ._._._I_
i._.i.b. rQ_._.k.
_._._Qk.
._B_._I_ 33.♕d3! I had to find this move
rQ_._.k. when playing ♗b3+. 38...♕e7?
33.♗xc8?? ♖xd4 would drastically 38...♖f8 39.♕a1 g3! was that last
30.♗f4 30.♕b3+ ♔h8 31.♖f1 was my turn the tables. chance. I failed to find a forced win
original intention, but I couldn’t quite 33...♖a6 33...♕a5? 34.♗xc8 ♖xc8 after this, although I had expected it
make it work after 31...♕xc5 32.♕d3 35.♖f1 would leave Black with no to exist, considering the pin on the
♖xa3 33.♕g6 ♕e7!, and while I knew defence on the kingside. knight. In any case, I would have
there must be a win, I couldn’t quite 34.♗xc8 ♖xc8 35.♕xa6 ♕xd4 gone 40.♗xg3 (40.♗g5? ♕f5 41.e4
find it. But the exquisite 34.♘e6!! ♕xe6 36.♕f1 The dust has settled and I ♕f2+ 42.♔h1 c4!, and now I even
(34...♗xe6 35.♗e5 ♕g7 36.♖xf6! ♕xg6 have regained the material I invested. saw that 43.♖d2? would lose to the
37.♖xf8+ ♔h7 38.♖h8 mate) 35.♖xf6 I am still better because Black’s king is brilliant shot 43...c3! 44.♖xf2 gxf2
♕xe3+ 36.♖f2 would have left Black weakened, but I don’t have a decisive 45.♗e3 c2! 46.♗xf2 ♖d8, and Black
defenceless. attack anymore. Still, in practical queens) 40...♕xe3+ 41.♗f2 ♕f4
30...♕xc5 31.♗b3+ 31.♕b3+ terms, Black’s position is so difficult to 42.♗xc5 ♖f7, and White is indeed a
was simpler, but I had forgotten that defend that my advantage is still quite pawn up, but is still facing a fight.
31...♔h8 (31...♕d5 32.♕d3!) 32.♗h6 decisive. 39.♕a1
80 A
SHENZHEN
._._._._
_J_._._.
._.sM_._
_.r._._J
._._._Jd
i._.i._.
._._._I_
Anish Giri and Erwin l’Ami raise their glasses to Ding Liren at the celebration _._._Qk.
that was organized to honour the Chinese GM’s remarkable achievement.
The situation has clarified and Black
can’t create any counterplay and will
lose any endgame. Still, Liren managed
._T_._._ play on my king. This shouldn’t have to ask me a few more questions.
46...b6! 47.♖c6 g3 48.♕f3 ♕ 2+
_J_.d.m. been scary at all, but I forgot one
detail that would have spared me a lot 49.♔f1 ♕ 1+ 50.♔e2 ♕b1
._.r.s._ of extra calculation. 51.♕x 5 Controlling both d5 and
_.j._._J 42.♕f1+ ♔e7 43.♖ 7+ ♔e6 b5. 51.♕xg3?? ♕b5+. 51...♕a2+
._._.bJi 44.♗c7 Remarkably enough, after 52.♔f3 ♔d7 53.♖xb6 ♕f2+
i._.i._. having thought for 15 more minutes
and reassuring myself that my calcu-
54.♔g4 ♕e2+ 55.♔ 4 ♕xg2
._._._I_
._._.k.
lations were up to scratch (and they
were), I simply didn’t realize that
._._._._
after 44.♕f7+ ♔xe5 45.♖xh5+, I _._M_._.
39...♔f7 simply pick up the queen and get an .r.s._._
39...♖ f8 40.♕e5 was t he line easily won endgame. _._._._Q
I calculated, because after 40...♕xe5
._._._.k
41.♗xe5 ♔g6 42.e4 the pin is fatal.
Af ter 39...♖d8 40.♖ xf6! ♕xf6
._T_._._ i._.i.j.
41.♕xf6+ ♔xf6 42.♗g5+ wins. _Jb._._R ._._._D_
39...♖c6 40.♖xc6 bxc6 41.♗g5 would ._._M_._ _._._._.
lead to an easily won pawn ending. _.j._._J
Here I spent all of my remaining
time, because I couldn’t find a clear
._._S_Jd I had missed this resource, after which
there is a clear way to win, but it’s
cut win in the most obvious line. i._.i._. possibly the only one. Fortunately, it is
40.♗e5 ._._._I_ not that difficult to spot.
I remember seriously considering _._._Qk. 56.♕ 7+ 56.♕g4+? ♔c7 57.♖xd6?
40.♖b6!, but in hindsight it’s hard to ♕h2+! would have been a nasty shock.
understand what I was afraid of, since 44...♖xc7 56...♔c8 57.♕g8+ ♔d7 58.♖xd6+
the threat of ♗g5 turns out to be The following lines are rather pretty: Black resigned.
lethal. After 40...♘d5, 41.♗g5! might 44...♖f8 45.♕xf8 ♕e1+ 46.♕f1 The last time I received so many
have been the key move I had missed. ♕xe3+ 47.♔h1! ♘f2+ 48.♔h2 g3+ messages congratulating me after
40...♘e4 41.♖ 6 ♕x 4 49.♗xg3 ♘g4+ 50.♔h3 and there is winning a game was after my game
Black has no choice, but at the same no perpetual check. against Morozevich in Biel in 2009!
time he is kind of creating counter- 44...♘f6 45.♕c4+ ♔f5 46.e4+! and
A 81
SHENZHEN
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82 A
SHENZHEN
NOTES BY
Black is unable to stop White from and faster, it is often hard to be a step
transferring his rook to g6, which
Anish Giri ahead, in which case it is perhaps
makes the endgame dead lost. better to be a step behind.
64...♖e3 65. f2 ♖e4 66. f3 Anish Giri
♖f4 6 . g3 ♖ 4 6 .♖a6 Radoslaw Wojtaszek
6 .♖g6 shenzhen 2018 (10) T_ _M_.t
ata an penin epte jJ_._JjJ
oing into the final round, my score ._ _J ._
._._._._ was nine draws out of nine games, but _. ._._.
_._._._M as I have seen worse, this was not a
._J_._._
._._._R_ big issue. bigger issue was finding
a way to get something going (pretty _._._ i.
_._._Ij. much on demand) against a player as Ii. Ii i
.t._._I_ well prepared as Wojtaszek. r. R_.k.
_._._.k. . f3 5 2.g3
._._._._ tarting o as a ti, the game uickly ... 3
_._._._. transposed back into a Catalan.
2... f6 3. g2 5 4. 6 5. 4
Black has to create some weaknesses
in White’s pawn structure in order to
e6 6. 4 x 4 compensate for the c8-bishop, which
And White won the g-pawn and, One of the many advantages of this is often really the main culprit in
soon after, the game (1-0, 74). system against the Catalan is that these Catalan endgames.
Black can play it against the Réti, . x 3
For Yu Yangyi, the theme of the tour- where White will have to either go for ow White has all sorts of di erent
nament was the world top-10. At the this tabiya, or concede the centre. set-ups and ideas, but what I played
start of the event he was ranked just can be considered the modern main
1 rating point shy of the world elite,
and it was the above endgame versus
T_ M .t line. In fact, I faced it myself relatively
recently against Levon Aronian at the
Ding Liren that eventually prevented jJ_._JjJ European Team Championship in
him from entering it. Yangyi did ._ _J ._ 2017.
leave a great impression, though. _.j._._. . 3 e 2. 4
e was fighting in e ery game and
taking risks – sometimes excessively
._Ji._._ ore direct is 12. fd4 d7 13. g5,
which perhaps explains why this used
so – and going into the last round, _._._ i. to be White’s way-to-go in this varia-
he was just half a point behind the Ii._Ii i tion around 10 years ago.
leaders. r _Rk. 2... 3. 2 ♖f 4. f 4
That last round did not disappoint. lack would e entually go ... e8,
Because of the relatively low number . x 5 connect his rooks before trading
of decisive games, MVL and Ding Both my opponent and I myself them, and solve his problems, so
Liren were leading the pack on just have quite some experience in this White really has to put some pressure
+1. alf a point behind were iri, u variation of the Catalan, with both on Black’s position sooner or later.
Yangyi and Nikita Vitiugov. Ding did colours. Wojtaszek has recently been
not get anywhere with White against
Vitiugov, and a draw was quickly
testing people here with 7. a4 and
7. e5, with ery decent results, for
T_.t._M_
agreed. instance winning an important game jJ_ JjJ
against Mickey Adams and eventu- ._ _J ._
Another interrupted streak ally winning the Isle of Man tourna- _._._._.
For Anish Giri the tournament had
taken a somewhat curious course.
ment (see the winner’s notes to this
game in the Isle of Man report in this
._I ._._
Having fully incorporated the spirit issue). _ _._.i.
of the event, he started by drawing ... x .♖x x 5 . 2 I ._Ii i
his first nine games. Fans worldwide The old-fashioned way of treating r._R_.k.
were holding their breath: would he this endgame.
fill their hearts with another clean 9. fd2 is a more fashionable trend, 4...♖a
sweep? It was not to be! but with chess engines getting faster A very rare move in this position, and
A 83
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_N_._.i.
my well-prepared opponent might
have had in mind: 21.♘e4 ♖xa2!
._.tM_._
Ib._Ii.i (the rook endgame after 21...♖xe2 j._._J_J
r._._.k. 22.♘xf6+ gxf6 23.c5 ♖b2 24.c6 ♖b8 ._J_Jl._
looks rather desperate, since Black’s _.i._.j.
18.♗xf6!? I was aware that 18.♘a5
is the most testing move, but I also
king must not leave the h7-pawn
unattended: 25.♔g2, followed by
._R_._._
trusted my opponent’s homework and ♔h3-g4-h5-h6, etc., as in the Soviet _N_._.i.
decided to go for a position in which it children’s books) 22.♘xf6+ gxf6 I_._Ii.i
is much harder to force matters. 23.c5 ♖b2 24.c6 ♖b8 _._._.k.
A 85
SHENZHEN
86 A
SHENZHEN
Shenzhen 2018 cat. XXI the dominant knight on d6, but I felt
1 2 3 4 5 6 TPR trading pawns could bring Black
1 Maxime Vachier-Lagrave IG a ** ½½ ½1 ½½ ½½ ½½ 5½ 2799 closer to a potentially desperate
2 Anish Giri IG NED ½½ ** ½½ ½½ ½½ ½1 5½ 2799 escape.
3 Ding Liren IG N ½0 ½½ ** ½1 ½½ 1½ 5½ 2792 27...♔e7
4 Yu Yangyi IG N ½½ ½½ ½0 ** 1½ ½½ 5 2766 After 27...♗f , hite keeps the
5 Nikita Vitiugov IG U ½½ ½½ ½½ 0½ ** ½1 5 2777 c5-pawn intact with 2 .♖b +!.
6 Radoslaw Wojtaszek IG O ½½ ½0 0½ ½½ ½0 ** 3½ 2659 2 .e3!
A 87
SHENZHEN
out after extensive analysis, defensive important, Black’s pieces are still
._._._._ resources often prevail, even in the dominated.
j.t.mJl. ugliest of times. 34...♗c3 35.♖xc6 ♗b4
._J_J_._ 30...a5? It was tougher to stop ♖c8 and lose
_.i._._J Black should have played 30...f5!
31.♖b8 ♗f6 32.a5 e5! 33.a6 (33.♘d6
more tempi with 35...♔d7 36.♖d6+
♔e7, but the position looks so lost
.rN_._J_ ♔e6 34.♘e8 ♖e7, and the computer that I guess my opponent no longer
_._.i.iI once again manages to find harmony believed in miracles.
I_._.iK_ in the ugliest of positions. The 3500- 36.♖c8
_._._._. rated player will eventually escape
here, too) 33...♔e6 34.♖b7 ♗d8. Just
29.hxg4? in time to hold the stuff together. ._R_._._
My original intention was not to White can keep exerting pressure t._.mJ_.
trade the pawns and send the rook to
pick up the kingside with ♖b8-♖g8-
here with ideas like e4 or f4, but it
further simplifies the position, and
._._J_._
g5, but when I noticed the idea of judging by the computer evalua- j.i._._.
a4!, I decided to clarify the situation tion, Black will most likely escape IlN_._J_
on the kingside, because I saw the eventually. _._.i.i.
g4-pawn hanging in some of the vari- 31.♖b3! ._._.iK_
ations I had calculated.
In fact, the computer points out
Key. Allowing ...♗c3-b4 would be a
terrible idea. Now the bishop is nicely _._._._.
that it is more relevant to keep the dominated and Black immediately
weak h5-pawn alive and go a4 first, regrets his last move. Black resigned. An early resignation,
correctly claiming that there is a big 31...♖a7? but Black is indeed lost.
difference. Extremely passive. Black can’t There was one pretty line left behind
So, 29.a4!. The importance of keeping save his pawns this way; it would the curtains: 36...♔d7!? 37.♘b6+ ♔e7
the h5-pawn on the board is relevant have been better to do something 38.c6 ♔d6!?, forcing White to find
in the following line: 29...f5 30.♖b8 desperate: 31...♔d7 32.♘xa5 ♗f8, the beautiful 39.♘a8!, and with 40.c7
♗f6 31.a5 e5 32.♘d6 ♔e6 33.a6 with some chances to survive, but a definite threat, it is really time to
♗e7 (33...e4! keeps the struggle already a pawn down and on the resign. Truly a model game, and one
going) 34.♘e8! gxh3+ 35.♔xh3 ♖d7 verge of losing. that reminded me of earlier victo-
36.♘g7+! ♔f6 37.♘xh5+. ries against Peter Leko and Veselin
But even if you didn’t see this exact Topalov, in similar fashion.
line, it was still possible to figure that ._._._._ ■■■
it was better to avoid the pawn trade t._.mJl.
and eliminate an extra weakness in
Black’s position.
._J_J_._ That meant that Anish moved up to
shared 1st place, with the encounter
29...hxg4 30.a4! j.i._._. between Yu Yang yi and MVL
I_N_._J_ deciding who would take the title.
_R_.i.i. Playing aggressively, the Chinese GM
._._._._ ._._.iK_ got chances but MVL kept a cool head
j.t.mJl. _._._._. and held the draw. And so, due to the
._J_J_._ better tiebreak, first place went to the
Frenchman, who edged out Giri and
_.i._._. 32.♖b6! Ding Liren.
IrN_._J_ Provoking the king to go to d7 first is I would love to tell you about the
_._.i.i. a good idea, since ♘b6+ will become closing ceremony and the activi-
._._.iK_ a threat later on. The engine points ties organized on the following day,
_._._._. out that ♔f1-e2 was extremely strong
as well. Black can’t regroup to attack
but due to some nasty stomach bug
I spent the last few days mostly in my
the c5-pawn, even given these two hotel room. Rumour has it, though,
A very strong and unpleasant idea tempi. that there are some excellent karaoke
to face. Allowing a5-a6 looks lost on 32...♔d7 33.♖b8 ♔e7 34.♖c8 singers among the participants of the
general grounds, but as it often turns Finally the pawn falls and, what is 2018 Shenzhen Masters! ■
88 A
TACTICS
TaCTICs
MAXIMize
your Tactics
with Maxim Notkin
A 89
Judit Polgar
Crucial moments
If all chess contests took a logical course, free of technical and
psychological mistakes, devoid of doubt and hesitation, there
would be far less interest for our favourite game. But in chess, as
in life, as JUDIT POLGAR shows, there are these moments, and
they can have far-reaching consequences.
T
hese so-called crucial in 2002, which he won, and in the 2004 opponent the possibility to recover.
moments can turn fairy world title match against Vladimir However, the really crucial moment
tales into tragedies and Kramnik in Brissago. The first part of occurred in Game 12, with just two
vice versa, because they the match was evenly balanced, but the games to go.
radically change a previous tendency Hungarian took the lead with a bril-
and lead to a result opposite to what was liant win with Black in Game 8. This Vladimir Kramnik
expected earlier on. In extreme cases, must have come as a strong psycholog- Peter Leko
such moments can transcend the ical shock to Kramnik, who had been Brissago 2004 (WC match-12)
restricted sphere of a game or match and following his home analysis for a long
have a strong impact on the later careers
of the players involved.
time, only to find out over the board
that it was flawed.
.m._._T_
These crucial moments add spice to In the subsequent games, the j.l._J_.
the game of chess and have ensured its defending champion seemed to be ._._._.j
persistent popularity over the centu- trying, but he was failing to find his _J_I_._D
ries. For this column, I have selected a
few illustrative examples that marked
rhythm again, and this should have
inspired the Challenger to try and
._JnQj._
crucial moments in World Champion- increase his advantage. But Leko _._._._.
ship matches and the World Champion- seemed to be happy with his +1 score, Ii._.i._
ship cycle. and in Games 9 and 11 he made two _K_.r._.
In the beginning of the third Millen- short draws with White. position after 34.♘d4
nium, Peter Leko had some of his best Such a match strategy is always
years ever. He was in fantastic form at dangerous, because you risk losing Kramnik’s efforts to shake up the posi-
the Dortmund Candidates’ tournament your good form and are offering your tion had cost him two pawns. After
playing the strongest move 34...♕g6!
Leko offered a draw − a consistent
‘Such moments can transcend the continuation of his overall policy since
g he had taken the lead. And Kramnik
accepted.
g But in this final position, Black actually
has excellent winning chances. The
careers of the players involved.’ only way for White to avoid a joyless
90 A
J I P
ending is . f . b allows the A wise decision sate them for the last game’s lack of
tactical blow ... e . g e arado ically, a fightless draw can some- thrill. s a result of his rela ed day off,
. c f g , winning ... c . times be a highly inspired psychological Carlsen won the rapid tiebreak convinc-
decision. I believe that the World Cham- ingly, giving himself a very beautiful
.mT_._._ pionship match against Sergey Karjakin
in New York two years ago, presented
birthday present
Magnus Carlsen
._._._._
I had the distinct feeling that Leko would Sergey Karjakin _._._._.
be punished for his lack of resoluteness, New York 2016 (WC match-12) ._._._._
and the final two games proved me right. _._._._.
It is hard to say whether Leko collapsed
after realizing what a golden oppor-
._._._._ ._._._._
tunity he had missed, or if Kramnik _J_.l._J .m _._.
regained confidence after receiving such J_J_ jJ_ ._._._ _
a present. _._J_._. _._._T_.
In any case, what happened is that in
the next game, Game 13, he pressed the
I_.i. I_ position after . g
A 91
JudIt Polgar
♖b6? 90...♖b1!. 91.♖g4 ♖a6+ 106.♖g2 ♗d3 ♖b3+ 111.♔a2 In case of 111.♔a4
92.♖a4 ♖b6 93.♖g4 ♖b7 94.♖h4 ♖b6 White cannot transfer his rook to
♖b1 95.♖h2
._._._._ the f-file.
111...♖b6 112.♔a1 ♖g6
_._._._.
._._._._ ._._._._
_._._._. _._._._. ._._._._
._._._._ ._._._._ _._._._.
_._._._. k.mL_._. ._._._T_
._._._._ ._._._R_ _._._._.
k.mL_._. _T_._._. ._._._._
._._._.r _.mL_._.
_T_._._. 107.♖h2?? ._._.r._
95...♖b6? The winning set-up is
The crucial moment of the game and
essentially of the whole match. Instead k._._._.
reached with 95...♗f1!, but I got it only of executing this move, Dominguez
on move 107! should have stopped the clock, written White resigned. He could still have
96.♖h4 ♗f1 I apparently started to the move down and indicated to the tried the amusing 113.♖g2, but after
remember some vague contours, but arbiter that it leads to three-fold repeti- 113...♖e6, mate could not be avoided
still did not have a clear picture. tion. He had been staring at his score- anyway.
97.♖g4 ♖b5 98.♖g3+ ♗d3 99.♖g4 sheet for about 20 moves, obviously in After this dramatic endgame I started
♖b1 100.♖g2 ♖b3+ 101.♔a4 ♖b5 search of a saving repetition, but was the play-off with a clear psychological
102.♖g4 ♖f5 When I realized that we not absolutely sure about this moment. advantage and won after a fierce fight.
had had this same position 20 moves A faulty draw claim would result into
ago, I started to become nervous. a time-increment for me, with the Conclusion
103.♔a3 ♖f1 104.♖g2 ♖b1 increased possibility that I would find ■ Identifying a crucial moment and
I finally placed the first jigsaw piece the correct continuation. If he had understanding what it actually means
correctly. known that I had already recalled my is a big challenge even for the strongest
105.♖h2 ♗f5? But the second one old endgame theory, he might have players.
creates a symmetrical position. Imme- taken the risk, though... ■ No matter whether you are aware of
diately after moving I remembered the 107...♗f1! the crucial moment before or after it
correct move in a flash! But it could Yes!! occurs, the best you can do is to maintain
have been too late... 108.♖f2 ♗c4 109.♖f3+ ♗d3 110.♖f2 the correct psychological attitude.■
Chess Informant
Presents instructive
chess manual
by
GM Dragan Barlov
PAWNS,
TIME AND SPACE
IN MODERN CHESS
Hardback | 260 pages | 29.99$
Available at your local bookseller
or at www.sahovski.com
92 A
Solutions
f ag 89
ac c
A 93
Hans Ree
The joy of
miraculous After many years of absence
HANS REE recently ventured
escapes
to enter a serious tournament
once again and enjoyed the
experience. Happy memories
from half a century ago were
awoken from their slumber.
H
a l f way t h roug h t he that, blinded by caution, I missed good happy?” That’s the way chess is: you
Sinquefield Cup tourna- chances or even agreed to a draw in a are happy only rarely; the rest is grief.’
ment last August, Levon superior position. It wasn’t like that Even though Ljubo has occasion-
Aronian mentioned a when I started to play. During the early ally been lamenting that chess has
Russian saying purporting that those years, you don’t see real dangers. Later become exhausted and creativity has
who will not take a risk, will not drink you do, but then you also tend to see been undermined by the influence of
champagne. In the last round, imaginary ones. computers, I had always considered
Aronian took a tremendous risk This doesn’t apply to everyone. him a joyful player. I don’t know when
against Alexander Grischuk with a Aronian quoted Bent Larsen: ‘By and where he made that sad comment,
speculative rook sacrifice. Fortune taking risks you will win games and nor whether it is representative of his
favoured the brave. He won the game you will lose games, but you will general feeling.
and shared first place in the tourna- remember the games you won.’ Surely I must confess that, through the
ment with Carlsen and Caruana. this was true... for Larsen. years, I have written much more
Asked what his favourite brand of Emanuel Lasker wrote about ‘the about the grief of chess than about
champagne was, he answered, after passion that whips the blood when its joys. One reason is that it is easier
some deliberation, that he liked Krug. great stakes can be gained by resolute to write about failure and grief than
A great endorsement from a winner, and self-confident daring’, something about happiness. Happiness is a
and I think the company should he thought his rival Siegbert Tarrasch fleeting moment, often not noticed
reward him with at least his weight in was lacking. I have no doubt that while it happens, that can turn into
champagne. I had never heard of that taking risks, the exhilarating feeling of a happy memory, whereas grief will
brand, but now I’ll have it in mind for going all-in, contributes to the happi- continue to gnaw at you for quite some
New Year’s Eve. ness that chess can provide. time. Writing about joy and happi-
Around the same time I read a story ness is inevitably tinged by Friedrich
by the great Isaac Babel (entitled My Fleeting happiness Nietzsche’s insight that all happiness
first fee), about an innkeeper from I was a bit surprised to see a rather sad wants eternal duration and will not
Odessa who was blinded by caution. remark by Ljubomir Ljubojevic in the get it.
Blinded by caution is an expres- Fair & Square section of the previous The novel Ada by my hero Vladimir
sion that I had not come across very issue of New In Chess: ‘I have won Nabokov is ostensibly about happi-
often, but I could relate to it, because it many games that have not made me ness, but on closer inspection the
seemed an apt comment on the ways of happy and when I lose, I am also not happiness turns out to be based on
a timid chess player. Many is the time happy. My friends ask “so when are you moral indifference and cruelty. The
94 A
HANS REE
happy and charming Van Veen, the been at a leisurely rate of play. Gentle Ree-Glauser, Groningen European
novel’s protagonist, is a monster, said reader, I can assure you that defending Junior Championship 1964/65. When
Nabokov himself. this endgame on an increment of I looked at that game recently, I found
Max Euwe was once asked on Dutch 30 seconds per move is no laughing that while my last seconds were
television what he felt when he was matter. ticking away, the computer evalua-
cheered by a big Amsterdam crowd Defending when the attacker moves tion, if it had existed at that time, had
after becoming World Champion in his pieces vertically, from the bottom dropped to -3 to my disadvantage,
1935. He said that his thought had to the top, seems relatively easy, since but I still won. Or Ree-Uhlmann,
been: ‘Now I am supposed to feel very the position might resemble a diagram Amsterdam 1970, in which in retro-
happy.’ in a manual. But what if the attacker spect it had dropped to -11, with prac-
espite the fleeting nature of happi- moves his forces horizontally, trying to tically no time left. You can’t have it
ness and all my past moaning about force the defending ing to the a-file or all, and this ended only in a draw.
the pain that chess can cause, in retro- h-file hile playing, remembered an I have won some decent games in
spect my memories of happiness stand old report describing how a defender my time, and of some of them I am
out. Not so much about wins after risk- shifted his chair 90 degrees in order proud. Yet these two time-scrambles
taking, as it was for the valiant warrior to be able to look at the board from with their lucky outcome stand out
Bent Larsen, but about escapes from a different perspective – not top to in my memory. It is a far cry from the
almost desperate situations – to have
been in the belly of the beast and stepped
out unharmed is truly exhilarating.
appi ess is a ee i mome of e
Moving your chair
After a long abstention I took part in a o o ice hile i happe s ha ca
real tournament again last August: the
Hogeschool Zeeland tournament in turn into a happy memory, whereas grief
Vlissingen. My result was as mediocre,
to put it mildly, as I had expected it
ill co i ue o a a you
to be, but I still liked it; not only the
daily walks along the seaside boule-
vard, but also the play, which was only bottom but left to right. But for me, heroic risk-taking by Aronian and
mildly stressful because of my low living on increments, this was impos- Larsen that I mentioned earlier. There
expectations. sible, of course. was nothing voluntary about the
I lost one game, against the Indian hen had finally sa ed the dra , predicaments in which I found myself;
grandmaster Sandipan Chanda. He I saw that it was past midnight and that they just happened to me.
was staying in the same hotel as I was, we were the only players left in the hall, We can’t all be great heroes, but
and every day at dinner, to my great with a few arbiters who had meticu- when I played over these two games
pleasure, I saw him reading the fine lously kept score. I was told that the recently, with the computer as my
biography of Max Euwe by Alexander endgame had occurred earlier in the annotator, I smiled at their absurdity,
Münninghoff. He said he enjoyed it tournament and that the defender had and although they took place half a
because it was not only a portrait of a lost. I felt heroic. century ago, I still felt happy.
man, but also of an era. About a month later, at the Cham- Not to compare myself to the demi-
I had one game in Vlissingen that pions Showdown in St. Louis, the same gods, but I am in good company. I still
made me especially happy, although endgame was successfully defended in remember Viktor Kortchnoi at the
its quality was pretty awful. As Black, a blitz game against Maxime Vachier- 1966 Olympiad in Havana embracing
I obtained a clear advantage early in Lagrave by Sam Shankland, who was a pillar in the tournament room and
the game, but after several blunders playing on increments of 5 seconds bursting out laughing after surviving
I was lost. At some point, the comput- per move. I was deeply impressed. an extreme time-scramble against
er’s evaluation goes up to +7.40 for my Compared with that, I had had plenty the Bulgarian Georgi Tringov, who,
opponent. of time, but to me it still felt like severe after missing several forced mates,
Never give up. Plodding on, time-trouble. could still have been a queen up. Later
I managed to reach an endgame in I often saw Viktor after he had won
which I had to defend with a rook Viktor embraces a pillar a super-tournament or a Candidates
against rook + bishop. I had done this I remembered other occasions in which match, but I have never seen him so
successfully once before, but that had I did well in extreme time-trouble, e.g. jubilant as then.
A 95
The Blitz Whisperer
Maxim Dlugy
time
bacon another, especially in blitz.
MAXIM DLUGY looks at the art of
‘closing’ ‘totally won’ games, positions
that would be resignable in classical
chess, but often require added effort
and concentration when you have very
little time on the clock.
O
ne of the most impor-
tant traits of a good blitz
player is the ability to
close the deal and win a
winning position. In essence, this Maxim Dlugy 4.d5, is the most aggressive reaction.
may sound simple, but it is not. Far Lordillidan (Richard Rapport) 3...♘c6 A playable alternative, which
from it. Of late, I have been hooked Chess.com Live Chess 2018 I have extensively analysed. Now the
on the TV series Suits, in which the Queen’s Pawn Opening battle lines are drawn and we are in
main protagonist, attorney Harvey 1.d4 d5 2.♗f4 c5 for a series of forced moves that will
Spector, hails himself as the best It can be fully expected that, no matter decide who comes out of the opening
closer in the city, with a near to 100% what opening system appears on the ahead.
hit-to-miss ratio. As a result, I have board, Richard Rapport is ready to 4.exd5 ♕xd5 5.♘c3 ♕xd4 6.♘d5
started my own search for the best spice it up with the most eccentric type e5 7.♘c7+ ♔d8 8.♘xa8 exf4
closer in blitz. My top candidates are of response. Objectively speaking, 9.♘f3 ♕xd1+ 10.♖xd1+ ♗d7
Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura there is of course nothing wrong with
and Sergey Karjakin, and I closely
follow their exploits to see who wins
this active reply, as long as Black knows
what he is doing.
N_.m.lSt
out in my book for not letting their jJ_L_JjJ
opponents off the hook in winning
TsLdMlSt ._S_._._
positions.
jJ_.jJjJ _.j._._.
While this process is on-going,
and I will no doubt return to it in a ._._._._ ._._.j._
later article, this time I would like to _.jJ_._. _._._N_.
offer some of my own recent games
._.i.b._ IiI_.iIi
to showcase some of the important
_._._._. _._RkB_R
elements for becoming a good ‘closer’.
To begin with let’s take a look at this IiI_IiIi Out of four games in the database,
three-minute game played on chess. rN_QkBnR Black has won two and drawn two
com between myself and ever-crea- from this position, so strong players
tive Hungarian grandmaster Richard 3.e4!? This active move, offering would probably not spend too much
Rapport, who goes under the handle Black to transpose to an Albin Counter time analysing this continuation.
of Lordillidan. Gambit a tempo down after 3...dxe4 At one point while preparing my
96 A
THE BLITZ WHISPERER
N_M_.lSt
jJ_L_JjJ
._S_._._
_Bj._._.
._._.j._
_._._N_.
C
IiI_.iIi
W
_._R_Rk. On Chess.com Richard Rapport uses the handle Lordillidan. Fans of Warcraft video games
and admirers of the Hungarian’s love for dynamic and dangerous chess understand why.
12...♘ 8? Although this move
seems to improve the position of
Black’s knight, which would have g d d d d , with As you can see, in a winning position
been captured if Black had played the a probably winning rook and pawn we must concentrate on not losing
nat ral g to ne trali e hite s ending. the advantage by calculating effec-
knight on f3, I knew there had to be 15.♘e5 ♘ 6 tive tactical lines that will punish our
something very wrong with this move, opponents for their transgressions.
since it was not on the engine’s radar
when I was doing my analysis. When
N_M_.l.t Genghis_K (Federico Perez)
something like this happens, you need jJ_._JjJ Maxim Dlugy
to concentrate your tactical abilities ._._.s.s Chess.com Live Chess 2018
to nd a winning shot fter the est _.j.n._.
option, g , I wo ld ha e had to
show my preparation.
._._.j._ ._._._M_
13.♗xd7+ ♘xd7 _._._._. _._._J_J
IiI_.iIi J_._._._
N_M_.lSt _._Rr.k. _._.j.i.
jJ_S_JjJ 16.♘d7! This crushing move, with
._._.t._
._._._._ the simple threat of f , took me _._._._
_.j._._. less than a second, since I had been I_._R_._
._._.j._ e pecting h and was thinking _._._._.
about my response. Black cannot
_._._N_. capture due to mate on e8, and it is
position after 0. e2
IiI_.iIi hard to come up with a move for him. Another important aspect of being
_._R_Rk. 16...♘ 4 17. 3 Simple and a good closer is knowledge of basic
decisive. 17...♘e3 18.♘xf6 endgames. In this game against
14.♖fe1 The most natural move, Black resigned. Genghis_K, or rather the rgentinean
although the engine corrects me with
the cr shing d d e
e e e c d ‘No matter what opening system appears
f , and hite wins
14...♘df6 The more natural response e ad c ad a ead
gf
force me to nd
g
g
f wo ld
g
ce e ecce c e
h a f f e of response.’
A 97
THE BLITZ WHISPERER
98 A
2A A R T I K E L N A A M ( VA R )
THE BLITZ WHISPERER
_. . _. _.kR_._R
i _._ i Daniel’s blitz strength is that he always T_T_._._
r._ k R plays fast and active chess. This gets _._R_.jM
The bishop on g6 looks slightly out
him good results against slower and
more passive opponents. Since I rely
._._. J_
of touch with the demands of the mostly on my intuition, I try not to _ _._._.
position, so White should have a mull for too long over natural deci- _._. ._
comfortable advantage. sions, even when they look a little scary. _ _._ _.
6...e5 7. ge2 c6 8. d2 e7 18. xa4 b5 19. xb5 ♖fb8 20.♖d5 Ki _._ i
9.0 0 0 d5
_._._._.
Tt._._M_
T_. M_.t _. . Jj. Here I stopped to take stock and
jJ_ JjJ ._._._J_ thought for 22 seconds, the longest
._J_. _ _ _R ._. think in the game. I was choosing
_._Jj._. ._._._._ between bringing the rook or the
._.i _._ _ _. _.
bishop back to defend my c-pawn.
30.♖d2 h3
_. . _. i _._ i
i _ i _.k._._R T_T_._._
_.kR_ _R _._._.jM
Generally, playing a rook to a central
Daniel decides to open up his bishop, square while protecting a three-pawn ._._. J_
probably aware of the dangers involved lead should be good enough for a _ _._._.
in the advance of my g- and h-pawns
on the kingside. Regrettably for Black,
decisive advantage. In fact, the engine
gives White a 3.5 pawn advantage here.
_._. ._
the weakness of his d-pawn will be 20... f6 21.♖hd1 ♔h7 22.a4 e7 _ _._ _
quite telling. 23. f4 ♖c8 24.♔b1 c6 25.♖d7 Ki r._.i
10.exd5 cxd5 11.dxe5 xe5 c5 _._._._.
A 99
THE BLITZ WHISPERER
100 A
THE BLITZ WHISPERER
_J_S_J_J . ._ iIb
L
J_J_L_Jl _._._Rk.
_._J_._. GM Andrey Esipenko is Russia’s highest-rated
29.♗b7
.i.i._._ This move happens to be good enough
16-year-old player, with a FIDE blitz rating of 2634.
i.nBi._I for a winning position, although
._Q_.iIb 29.♗c7 would also have been strong. on, try to tip him over with an active
_.r._Rk. 29...♖a5 30.♖a6? move.
issing 30.♗c7 is not normal, but 32...♗e6 33.♗c6 Black resigned.
20...f5 I am not impressed by this what to do after... As you can see, Black’s loss in this
advance either, since Black won’t be in 30...♖b5 game resulted from underestimating
time to do something useful with the White’s simple plan of the minority
f-pawn and therefore simply bares his
king without a reason.
._.dTlM_ attack. Once it broke through, closing
out the game with two exact moves was
Black should have gone 20...♘b6, _B_L_._J sufficient.
planning to occupy the c4-square with R_._._J_
the knight or to go 20...♗f8 to check _T_J_J_. To summarize, this is what will turn
the advance of White’s queenside
pawns. 21.♘e2
._.iS_._ you into a strong blitz player:
A 101
sadler on Books
Fascinating portrait
of a restless genius
Before he delves into middlegames and
openings, MATTHEW SADLER shares his
A
few weeks ago, the New In
Chess editor asked me
whether I had enough enthusiasm for the first part of a 3-volume
books to review. I hinted
that it might be nice to receive a couple biography of second World Champion
of books that weren’t about openings,
such as... a biography of a famous player
Emanuel Lasker. ‘a treasure trove of
perhaps... I felt a little like a small child
going to see Father Christmas and
information with a huge number of photos.’
hoping to receive the present of which it
had been dreaming for months! Our
editor may not have a long white beard 1916. This treasure trove of informa- tournament play with a victory in the
or a fleet of reindeers, but he did suggest tion is supplemented by a huge number 7th Congress of the BCA, outdistancing
sending me Emanuel Lasker – Volume of photos and rounded off with a classy Mason by 1½ points, as well as in the
I – Struggle and Victories – World Chess hardback cover. Quintangular Match against Black-
Champion for 27 Years edited by burne, Mason, Gunsberg and Bird. By
Richard Forster, Michael Negele and Juggling options 1894 he was World Champion! Apart
Raj Tischbierek (Exzelsior Verlag). It’s appropriate for this book to appear from his elder brother Berthold (who
That’s the one! at the same time as the World Cham- also became a strong player) he would
This is the first volume of a planned pionship match, as Magnus Carlsen’s have had little coaching while books
three-volume series covering all aspects play is often compared to that of would not have been of an advanced
of the great World Champion’s life: Emanuel Lasker. Neither is seen as standard. Lasker said himself that
chess (including problem compositions an openings specialist, while both are ‘Anyhow, I have learned very little from
and endgame studies), mathematics adept – in the words of Ray Keene – ‘in books. Intelligent trial and error – that
and his attempts to secure an academic juggling options to avoid any kind of was my method, and it remained that
post, and his private life. The book is clear equality’. way. I have also made many blunders
divided into a series of articles from I have had a wonderful time reading and mistakes with this method, but
many different contributors. We have a this book and it amazed me how little my possibly innate instinct for chess
detailed description of Lasker’s family I knew about Lasker. One of the things carried me forward. And so it happened
tree, a fascinating chapter by Tony that still mystifies me is how Lasker that I did not totally go to the dogs and
Gillam on Lasker’s (sometimes less than could have become so strong (the same at that kept a passable sense of humour.’
convivial) stays in the United Kingdom, applies for Capablanca for that matter).
a thorough summary of Lasker’s math- Lasker learnt the rules of chess in 1880 Vacillating between chess and
ematical achievements (including at the age of 12, but, in his own words, math
formulas!) and last but not least, two only started to understand something Another facet of Lasker’s character
chapters examining Lasker’s chess about chess two years later when for that surprised me greatly is his contin-
prowess: one by Raj Tischbierek focusing roughly a year he did not attend school. uous vacillation between chess and
on Lasker’s battle against Tarrasch, the And yet by 1890, Lasker travelled to mathematics. Even at the pinnacle
other by Mihail Marin looking through London to challenge the leading British of his career, Lasker was attempting
the highlights of Lasker’s play up to players, by 1892 he surpassed them in to complete his academic qualifi-
102 A
sa LE B s
A 103
saDLER ON BOOKs
attacks involved simple captures. a typical kind of blind spot which her an assumption: it makes no sense to
Take this example: opponent shared. capture with the queen because the
14.♔xf2 ♕b6+ 15.♘bd4 ♘xd4 rook will be hanging in the corner.
Mikhail Tal But this is in fact the refutation of the
Geza Fuster
Portoroz Interzonal 1958
T_._.tM_ sacrifice. Let’s return to the position
after 15...♘xd4.
jJ_.sJjJ 16.♕xd4 ♕xb5 17.♖xe7 ♕xb2+
T_._Mt._ .d._._._ 18.♕d2 ♕xa1 19.♖e1
jJd.l.jL _B_J_._L And the queen is trapped in the
._J_B_.j ._.s.b._ corner. Both players were talented
enough to find clever resources
_._.i._. _.i._N_I but glossed over the most impor-
._._._Ii Ii._.kI_ tant tactical point. 16.♕xd4 may
_._._.i. r._Qr._. feel unlikely, but it eliminates the
IiI_Q_._ Here White thought for 4 minutes and
...♘e7-g6 option for Black. It is a wise
step to calculate at least a half-move
_.kR_R_. found a clever way to hang on to the beyond the last capture in a tactical
position after 19...♖f8 extra piece. However after: variation – that is to confirm that you
16.cxd4 ♘g6 17.♗c7 ♕xc7 18.g4 cannot only take material, but you
I remember staring at this position ♘f4 19.gxh5 ♘xh3+ 20.♔g2 ♘f4+ can do it safely!
for a couple of minutes, thinking 21.♔f1 ♘xh5 All in all, an unexpected treat! Four
of 20.g5 or some such idea before stars!
I suddenly exclaimed ‘Idiot!’ and
played the obvious...
T_._.tM_ ■■■
20.♖xf8+ What could be simpler jJd._JjJ Simon Williams has been busy
than a capture? As Benjamin says, ._._._._ recent ly w it h t wo DVD’s for
however, you don’t always think of the _B_J_._S ChessBase: one on the Exchange
simple moves!
20...♗xf8 21.♕f3 ♕e7 22.♕b3
._.i._._ Slav: Simple but Powerful: Exchange
on d5 in the Slav and the Queen’s
♖b8 23.♗d7+ ♕xd7 24.♖xd7 _._._N_. Gambit, and one on the Queen’s
♔xd7 25.♕f7+ ♗e7 26.e6+ ♔d8 Ii._._._ Gambit Declined 5.♗f4: A Dynamic
27.♕xg7 1-0. r._QrK_. Weapon against the Queen’s Gambit
Declined – 5.♗f4.
Now let’s see a nice example of the Black had reasonable compensation for Williams is not always the most
first point: the piece, and in fact later achieved a concise of presenters, but he is unfail-
winning position. ingly enthusiastic and strongly
Noah Flaum That would imply that the sacrifice focused on giving the viewer the
Sophie Morris-Suzuki was a bit of a speculation but playable. minimum number of lines to be able
Philadelphia 2017 However, there was a giant hole in the to play an opening properly rather
calculation. Both players fell victim to than providing reams of long vari-
T_.d.tM_ ations. As you might expect, this
approach works better for some
jJ_.sJjJ
._S_._._ ‘The best way to openings than for others. I felt that
the analysis in the DVD on the QGD
_B_J_._L describe this book was erring on the light side, particu-
._._.b._ is a relaxed chat larly in intricate variations such as
the old main line (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6
_Ni._N_I with a grandmaster, 3.♘c3 ♘f6 4.♘f3 ♗e7 5.♗f4 0-0 6.e3
Ii._.lI_ discussing the c5 7.dxc5 ♗xc5 8.♕c2 ♘c6 9.a3 ♕a5
r._Qr.k. 10.0-0-0). I felt that I had been enter-
position after 13... ♗xf2+ possible pitfalls that tained, but possibly learnt too little!
104 A
saDLER ON BOOKs
lines – the normal solid main lines as When Berliner’s book came out in or well-known... actually there were a
well as something spicy. This time, the 1999 I scoffed a little at all these ridic- couple of openings where I muttered
idea that caught my eye was: ulous opening ideas. Fifteen years’ ‘Ah... for heaven’s sake, Ivan!’, as
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 work with engines later, nothing I suddenly saw some nice knowledge of
4.♘c3 ♘f6 5.f3 seems stupid anymore! mine on the page! Without giving too
In any case, Simon Williams does a much away, I can give an example of the
TsLdMl.t pretty good job in this DVD of making
me enthusiastic for the Exchange Slav,
type of explanation I liked so much in
the book. In Chapter 2, Salgado Lopez
jJ_.jJjJ which is not something I’d ever think discusses the Blumenfeld Gambit:
._._.s._ I’d say! 3 stars for the QGD and 4 stars 1.d4 ♘f6 2.c4 e6 3.♘f3 c5 4.d5 b5 5.dxe6
_._J_._. for the Exchange Slav. (Salgado Lopez also spends a little time
._.i._._ ■■■ on alternatives to accepting the gambit,
such as 5.♗g5 5.♗f4 and 5.e4 – a
_. ._I_. The last book I review this month is a gambit from White in response!) 5...
Ii._I_Ii delightful 160-page effort from Ivan fxe6 6.cxb5
r.bQkB R Salgado Lopez called Gambit Killer
Alina Kashlinskaya
AR
IA
EM
E LIA
NOVA
CURRENT ELO: 2470
DAT E O F B I R T H : October 28, 1993
P L AC E O F B I RT H : Moscow, Russia
P L AC E O F R E S I D E N C E : Warsaw, Poland
106 A
‘There is something about
nearly every opening
one can think of.’
British Chess Magazine
1 29