Norway Chess and Shjarjah Masters 2023: Highlights with analyses by Giri, Erigaisi, Cheparinov, Oparin, Nguyen and others, videos by Rogozenco, "Special" on Hikaru Nakamura, opening videos by Sokolov, King and Ris, 11 repertoire articles and much more.
Hikaru Nakamura was born in Hirakata, Japan, in 1987, and moved with his family to the US shortly afterwards, where he learned the rules of chess as a seven-yearold. In 1997, at the age of 10, he became the youngest US National Champion ever, IM in 2001; and finally GM in 2003 (at 15, younger than even Fischer acheived). Still conspicuous for provocative openings (such as 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5?!), he was already capable of extraordinary attacking feats at this early stage of his career, such as in his 2007 "Immortal" which our author Michal Krasenkow annoates in CBM #215 and below!
In 2008 Nakamura broke the barrier of 2700 and subsequently established himself among the absolute world elite. In 2011 he won the tournament in Wijk aan Zee with 9/13 ahead of the then World Champion Anand and the world number one Carlsen. In the same year, the American started a collaboration with Garry Kasparov, which gave him another visible performance boost. In 2015 he reached his absolute Elo high of 2814, and in 2016 his 7.5/11 at the top board contributed significantly to the Americans' first Olympic victory since 1976.
During the Corona pandemic, Nakamura shifted his activities to the internet, where he was extremely successful, not as an outstanding blitz and rapid chess player as one might expect, but as a streamer: his YouTube channel 'GMHikaru' alone currently has over two million subscribers. In 2022, the now only 'semi-professional' qualified for the Candidates Tournament via the FIDE Grand Prix, where he finished third in a tie. This year Nakamura has already won two top tournaments, the American Cup and Norway Chess. These successes catapulted the 35-year-old to second place behind Magnus Carlsen in the current world rankings (August 2023).
For CBM 215, we invited our authors (Lubomir Ftacnik, Imre Hera, Viktor Moskalenko, Igor Stohl, Renato Quintiliano and many more) to comment on their favourite game of 'H-Bomb' - 19 encounters in total from 2007 to 2023. We wish you explosive entertainment!
Michal Krasenkow - Hikaru Nakamura (Barcelona Casino Barcelona (2), 19.10.2007)
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.0–0 0–0 6.b3 a5 7.Nc3 c6 8.d4 Nbd7 9.Qc2 b6 10.e4 Ba6 11.Nd2?!
Hardly an ambitious move in this Catalan-like setup.
11.e5 was played in some later games, with initiative for White after 11...Ne8 12.Ne2 (12.h4 dxc4 0–1 (41) Dvirnyy,D (2530)-Cruz,C (2553) Tromsoe 2014 13.Ng5!? g6 14.Rd1) 12...Nc7 13.Rd1 , e.g. 13...Rc8 14.Nf4 Bb7 15.h4 h6 16.Nh2 c5 0–1 (69) Harutyunian,T (2552)-Eljanov,P (2683) Abu Dhabi 2021 17.Ng4
11...c5! Black immediately starts active counterplay.
12.exd5 12.dxc5 d4 13.Nb5 Bxc5 14.e5 Nxe5 15.Bxa8 Qxa8 and Black is slightly better. (L.Ftacnik)
12...cxd4 13.Nb5 exd5 14.Nxd4 Rc8 15.Re1 b5!
White's c4 pawn will now fall but he can hope for compensation due to his active pieces.
16.Bb2 16.Qf5 bxc4 17.bxc4 1–0 (23) Truskavetsky,A (2284)-Grabinsky,V (2258)/Alushta 2002 (34) 17...Bc5! and Black is better.
16...Re8 16...bxc4 17.bxc4 Bxc4 (17...Nb6?! 18.Nf5) 18.Nf5
17.Qd1 This retreat looks ugly but it is not too bad.
17...bxc4 18.bxc4 Qb6! 18...dxc4? 19.Nc6; 18...Bxc4 19.Nxc4 Rxc4 20.Nf5 Bc5 21.Qd2 h6 22.Rxe8+ Qxe8 23.Re1 Qb8 24.Bxd5! Bb4 25.Qe2 Nxd5 26.Qxc4 Bxe1 27.Bxg7
19.Rb1 dxc4! 20.Nc6?
But this tactical trick is refuted in a brilliant way. – Better is 20.Bc3 Qc5 21.Qf3! Bf8 (21...Ne5 22.Rxe5 Qxe5 23.Nf5 Qe6 24.Bh3 Qd5 25.Qf4!) 22.Nf5 with an active position for the missing pawn.
20...Rxc6! 20...Bb4 21.Rxe8+ Nxe8 (21...Rxe8 22.Bc3=) 22.Nxb4 axb4 23.Nxc4! Bxc4 24.Qxd7=
21.Bxf6 Of course, 21.Rxe7 Rxe7 22.Bxf6 (22.Ba3 c3! 23.Rxb6 cxd2 24.Qxd2 Rxb6 25.Bxe7 Rb1+–+) 22...Nxf6 23.Rxb6 Rxb6–+ was not my intention.
21...Qxf2+!!
I saw and expected this spectacular blow but was sure it led to a draw. What really surprised me was the agitation with which my opponent made this move :-).
22.Kxf2 Bc5+ 23.Kf3 23.Kf1 c3+! 24.Re2 c2–+; 23.Bd4 didn't change much: 23...Bxd4+ 24.Kf3 Rf6+ 25.Kg4 Ne5+! with a killing attack, e.g. 26.Rxe5
a) 26.Kg5 Bc8–+;
b) 26.Kh4 Bc8 27.Qh5 (27.Bh3 Rh6+ 28.Kg5 Rxh3–+) 27...Rf4+! 28.Kg5 (28.gxf4 Bf2+ 29.Kg5 f6#) 28...Rf2! 29.Kh4 Rxg2–+;
26...Bc8+ 27.Rf5 (27.Kh4 Rxe5–+) 27...Bxf5+ 28.Kh4 Rh6+ 29.Kg5 Bc8–+
23...Rxf6+ 24.Kg4
24…Ne5+! I only expected the perpetual on g6 and h6, overlooking this idea.
25.Kg5 Desperation. In case of 25.Rxe5 Black's light-squared bishop joins his attack with a decisive effect: 25...Bc8+! 26.Rf5 (26.Kh4 Rxe5 with a prompt checkmate) 26...Bxf5+ 27.Kh4 Rh6+ 28.Kg5 Bc8–+ , e.g. 29.Nxc4 Rg6+ 30.Kf4 (30.Kh5 Be7) 30...Rf6+ 31.Kg5 Re5+! 32.Nxe5 Be3+ 33.Kh4 Rh6+ 34.Qh5 g5#; Or 25.Kh4 Rh6+ 26.Kg5 Rg6+ etc.
25...Rg6+ 26.Kh5 26.Kf5 Bc8+ 27.Ke4 Nd3+ (27...Rd6–+) 28.Kd5 Rxe1–+; 26.Kf4 Nd3+ 27.Kf3 Rf6+ 28.Kg4 Bc8+ 29.Kh4 Rxe1–+
26...f6 26...Bc8 27.Ne4 Be7–+ was equally good.
27.Rxe5 27.Bd5+ Kf8 doesn't change anything.
27...Rxe5+ 28.Kh4
28…Bc8! Shutting the trap for White's king. 29.g4 is followed by 29…Bf2+ 30.Kh3 Rh6# (30...Rh5#)
0–1
You can find Michal Krasenkow's analysis along with 18 more commented brilliancies of Hikaru Nakamura in the new ChessBase Magazine #215!
Order now in the ChessBase Shop – Single issue € 21.90!
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Read ChessBase Magazine for 6 months (= 3 issues) for the special price of only € 44.90 € (instead of € 65,70 for buying them individually). As a thank you, you will also receive 3 months ChessBase Premium Membership free of charge.
*Bonus for new subscribers only, i.e. there was no CBM subscription for 12 months!
Save twice with ChessBase Magazine: For the annual subscription to ChessBase Magazine you’ll pay only € 109.90 per year (compared to € 131.40 for the 6 individual issues).
* Bonus only for new subscribers, i.e. there was no CBM subscription for 12 months! As a new subscriber you will receive the original ChessBase USB stick with 128 GB
From Hikaru Nakamura's last-minute win in Stavanger to new repertoire ideas for the Caro-Kann, Sicilian or Nimzo-Indian to Part 5 of Karsten Mueller’s video series "Fundamental Endgame Knowledge":
Over 7 hours of video playing time with Ivan Sokolov, Daniel King, Jan Markos, Mihail Marin, Oliver Reeh and many more! World-class chess explained in video: Dorian Rogozenco shows two wins of Hikaru Nakamura from Norway Chess 2023, including the decisive last-round game against Fabiano Caruana – Sharjah Masters 2023: Analyses by tournament winner Arjun Erigaisi as well as Ivan Cheparinov, Grigoriy Oparin, Thai Dai Van Ngyuen and Samvel Ter-Sahakyan – “Special” on Hikaru Nakamura: exclusive collection of 19 encounters with detailed commentary from 2007 to 2023 – Action in the centre: Christian Braun's Anti-Sicilian recipe 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5!? - "Nakamura's strategy in practice": Mihail Marin sheds light on the US American's skills, incl. two interactive videos and a large collection of exercises – Rossolimo á la Carlsen: Daniel King recommends the cutting-edge 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e5!? for Black. - "Basic Knowledge" Part #5: Karsten Mueller reveals tips and tricks in the endgame with two pawns against one. incl. two interactive training videos and much more!
Top games and master analyses
Norway Chess 2023: With a win in the final round against Fabiano Caruana, who was leading until then, Hikaru Nakamura won the tournament n Stavanger. Analyses by Anish Giri, Michal Krasenkow and Igor Stohl. Dorian Rogozenco shows two of Nakaumura’s wins in video.
Sharjah Masters 2023: Arjun Erigaisi took undivided first place with 6.5 out of 9, followed by seven players with 6 out of 9. The tournament winner comments on two of his best games. Plus analyses from Grigoriy Oparin, Ivan Cheparinov, Thai Dai Van Nguyen and Samvel Ter-Sahakyan.
CBM authors (Lubomir Ftacnik, Imre Hera, Igor Stohl, Viktor Moskalenko, Renato Quintiliano and many more) comment on their favourite games of "H-Bomb" - an exclusive collection of 19 encounters from the period 2007 to 2023.
Alvar Alonso Rosell presents an active concept for Black against the Catalan, with which one can put one's stamp on the game early on - and that by a transition to the Dutch!
Ivan Sokolov examines the highly topical variation 11.h4!? in the Semi-Tarrasch, especially Giri's novelty 13.Rh3 against Praggnanandhaa from the Chessable Masters. Robert Ris uses three new games by Richard Rapport to examine what White can hope for in the Vienna Game with 5.Qf3. And Daniel King gives a recommendation for the sideline 3...e5 against the Sicilian Rossolimo Variation - which has already been tested at the highest level!
Ivan Sokolov: Semi-Tarrasch
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 Nxc3 7.bxc3 cxd4 8.cxd4 Bb4+ 9.Bd2 Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 0–0 11.h4!?
Robert Ris: Vienna Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 d5 4.fxe5 Nxe4 5.Qf3
Daniel King: Rossolimo Variation
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e5
From the Alekhine Defence to the Huebner Variation in the Nimzo-Indian - ChessBase Magazine #215 offers 11 opening articles with new ideas for your repertoire!
Grigorians: Alekhine Defence 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4
Postny: Caro-Kann Fantasy Variation 3.f3 Qb6
Braun: Sicilian 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5
Quintiliano: Najdorf Poisoned Pawn Variation II
Papp: French Winawer 5.Bd2 (Part II)
Ris: Two Knights Defence 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 d5!?
Szabo: Vienna Game 3.f4 d5 4.fxe5 Nxe4
Hera: Petroff 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.c4
Kuzmin: Slav Defence 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4
Schandorff: Tarrasch Defence with 5.e3 and 7.g3
Edouard: Nimzo Indian 4.e3 c5 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.Nf3
"With engine help in Kasparov's footsteps" – Rainer Knaak presents eight traps from tournament practice - from the Caro-Kann to the King's Indian. You can see three of them demonstrated in the video!
The 2023 World Women's Championship between defending champion Ju Wenjun and her challenger Lei Tingjie was decided in the last round. Play through the final game together with Robert Ris!
Dorian Rogozenco presents the sixth game of the 1972 World Championship match between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky in Reykjavik - a "very impressive game, especially the way Fischer outplayed his opponent!"
In a game of chess, very different emotions can influence decision-making to one's disadvantage. How can this be prevented? Jan Markos gives you a concrete guide and reveals which practical trick has often helped him himself!
Strategy expert Mihail Marin sheds light on the skills of the US American, who is known and feared above all as a very concrete player. Incl. two interactive videos and a large collection of exercises!
37 games peppered with many training questions await you in Oliver Reeh's tactics contribution! Solve his four favourite combinations move by move together with the IM from Hamburg in the interactive video format with feedback function!
In the introductory video, our expert presents the most important techniques. Then it's your turn in two interactive training videos! In addition, Dr Karsten Mueller provides a contribution with endgame highlights by Hikaru Nakamura (video introduction + analyses).
Order now in the ChessBase Shop – Single issue € 21.90!
Try out ChessBase Magazine now! Order the ChessBase Magazine taster package!
Read ChessBase Magazine for 6 months (= 3 issues) for the special price of only € 44.90 € (instead of € 65,70 for buying them individually). As a thank you, you will also receive 3 months ChessBase Premium Membership free of charge.
*Bonus for new subscribers only, i.e. there was no CBM subscription for 12 months!
Save twice with ChessBase Magazine: For the annual subscription to ChessBase Magazine you’ll pay only € 109.90 per year (compared to € 131.40 for the 6 individual issues).
* Bonus only for new subscribers, i.e. there was no CBM subscription for 12 months! As a new subscriber you will receive the original ChessBase USB stick with 128 GB
