1.d4
Nf6
2.c4
g6
3.Nc3
d5
4.Qb3
In Russian chess literature, the systems with Qb3 is associated with the name of our Patriarch, Mihkail Moisevich Botvinnik. Admittedly, he used to la the move after first interpolating 4.Nf3 Bg7.
4...dxc4
5.Qxc4
Bg7
6.e4
White has taken over the centre completely. And please note that his knight is still on g1. The subtle point of this is t deprive Black of the move Bg4.
6...0-0
7.Be2
Nfd7
Dominguez follows another of the game's greats, Vassily Smyslov. The tranefr of the knight to the queenside opens the diagonal for the Bg7 , which attacks the d4-pawn.
8.Be3
There was already a threat of Nb6, followed by taking on d4. The knight on g1 still remains at home.
8...Nb6
9.Qd3
[In a number of games, White has advanced he queen, which looks somewhat paradoxical, eg. 9.Qc5
f5
10.Nf3
fxe4
11.Nxe4
N8d7
12.Qc2
Nf6
13.0-0
Nbd5
14.Bc4
c6
15.Nc5
Kh8
16.Ne5
Qd6
17.Qe2
Nh5
18.Ne4
Qd8
19.Ng5
Qe8
20.f4
e6
21.Rae1
and White's advantage was obvious Bluvstein-Zugic, Montreal 2008)]
9...f5
A typical blow. Black has not managed to attack the central dark squares successfully, so he switches his attention to the light squares. The automatic reply e4-e5 would present him with a georgeous square on d5. [In the game Kramnik-Dominguez Dresden 2008, after 9...Nc6
10.Rd1
f5
11.Nf3
f4
12.Bc1
Bg4
13.e5
Qd7
14.Ne4
Rad8
15.Nc5
Qc8
16.Qc3
e6
17.h3
Bh5
18.0-0
the ex-world champion obtained some advantage, but later even had to fight for a draw. ]
10.Rd1
An unusual move. White again protects the pawn on d4 and prepares the square c1 as a retreat for the bishop, which will not now interfere with the development of the queen's rook. [If 10.Nf3
f4
11.Bd2
Nc6
12.d5
Ne5
(12...Nb4
13.Qb1
e6
is also interesting) 13.Nxe5
Bxe5
Black has decent play. Later he can break up the white centre with c7-c6 or e7-e6.]
10...f4
[Nonetheless, Black puishes the bishop back, seizing space and gaining a tempo, but he pays a rather high price in terms of reduced pressure on the white centre, especially the square e4.
I was looking at straightforward pressure on the light squares with 10...Nc6
11.Nf3
Nb4
12.Qd2
fxe4
13.Nxe4
Bf5
14.Qxb4
Bxe4
but found that this runs into the nice refutation 15.d5!
with the point that Black cannot take on d5: 15...Bxd5?
16.Bxb6
axb6
17.Rxd5!
Qxd5
18.Bc4
]
11.Bc1
e5
[This is an idea of the Azeri GM, Mamedyarov. Black also refrains from developing his queen's knight, with pressure on d4. Instead of this he blockades the centre. If he succeeds in stabilising things, then he can later start gradually to develop an attack on the kingsgide, where the white king is likely to end up being located. Instead, the moves 11...Nc6
12.Nf3
would transpose back into Kramnik-Dominguez, given above.]
12.d5
[Objectively the strongest move. After 12.Nf3
exd4
13.Nxd4
c5!
14.Ndb5
Qxd3
15.Bxd3
Nc6
Black has no problems.; Nor is 12.dxe5
Qxd3
13.Bxd3
Nc6
14.Nf3
Nxe5
any better.]
12...c6
The planned break. Black fights actively for the centre, not cnceding White an inch.
13.Nf3
It is time for the subtlety to end. There is no longer any reason to delay the development of the knight. [13.d6
does not bother Black, wo calmly develops around the d6-pawn: 13...Be6!
; Likewise, 13.a4
is well met by 13...a5!
]
13...cxd5
14.Nxd5
[The only hope of an advantage. After 14.exd5?!
Bf5
it is already Black who can hope for more than equality. White does not want to allow e5-e4, of course, but the white knight on e4 does not sit in comfort: 15.Ne4
Na6
16.Nfg5
Nc5
17.Qf3
Nxe4
18.Nxe4
Nc8
19.0-0
Bxe4
20.Qxe4
Nd6
21.Qa4
e4
with initiative to Black.]
14...Nxd5
15.Qb3!
[Novelty! So it is clear - Magnus has stidied the line, and found an improvement. Whit avoids the queen exchange and maintains the tension in the centre.
In the game Jakovenko-Mamedyarov Elista 2008, there followed 15.Qxd5+
Qxd5
16.exd5
Bf5
17.0-0
Nd7
and Black had completely solve dhis opening problems. The remainder of the game contained many subtleties and ended in a draw: 18.Rfe1
a6
19.Bd2
Rac8
20.Ng5
Rc2
21.Ne6
Rfc8
22.Nxg7
Kxg7
23.Bc3
Kf6
24.Bf3
b5
25.g4
fxg3
26.hxg3
b4
27.Bxb4
Rxb2
28.a3
Rcc2
29.g4
Rxf2
30.Rf1
Rxf1+
31.Rxf1
Bc2
etc.]
15...Kh8
The most solid. There is no sense in leaving the king on the "diagonal of death", and the knight cannot be saved anyway. [Against 15...Qb6
White had prepared 16.Bc4!
and in the endgame, White will have a solid advantage, with a bishop or rook on d5.]
16.Bc4
Finally White's idea becomes clear. He will keep the pawn on e4, so as not to have to worry about the advance e5-e4 and to keep the bishop on g7 quiet. Let it just sit and gaze at its own pawn! Meanwhile, the d5 point will serve as a major outpost for the white pieces, from which they will control the whole board.
16...Nc6
Black in his turn will try o exploit the square d4. But the most he can ever achieve is to move the pawn from e5 to d4, and this is hardly likely to be enough to give fully equal chances. For example, the pawn on d4 could later become an object of attack.
17.Bxd5
The bishop is the first to "reach the summit". It exerts unpleasant pressure on the black queenside. Similar structures arise in the King's Indian Defence, and are regarded as slightly better for White.
17...Qe7
[A sensible reaction, but the product of a long think. The clock times have changed sharply: 1.20 - 0.54. There is no question of who has the initiative, who has prepared the more thoroughly...
Here is an illustrative variation,showing why the knight jump to d4 does not work: 17...Nd4
18.Nxd4
exd4
19.0-0
Be5
20.Rd3!
Qf6
21.Bd2
g5
22.Bb4
Rd8
23.Bc5
b6
(23...g4
24.Rfd1!
) 24.Bxd4
Bxd4
25.Rxd4
Qxd4
26.Rd1
Qf6
27.Bxa8
and White remains with an xtra pawn, since Black cannot win it back: 27...Rxd1+
28.Qxd1
Qxb2
29.Qd8+
Kg7
30.Qxg5+
followed by 31.h4, with a clear advantage to White.]
18.h3
A good prophylactic move. The knight on f3 is very important in the battle for the centre. Carlsen prevents Bc8-g4 and reduces the likelihood of the storm g6-g5-g4. One does not need a microscope to see White's further plan:Bc1-d2-c3, 0-0, Qb3-b5 etc. Passive play by Black looks doomed in the long run; he needs to come up with some way to create counterplay!
18...Nb4
[And Lenier Dominguz finds a way. Here, 18...Nd4
was again insufficient: 19.Nxd4
exd4
20.Bd2!
Qe5
21.Bb4
Re8
22.0-0
there is no threat of f4-f3, so castling is possible 22...Be6
23.Rfe1
Rad8
24.Bd2!
and suddenly all Black's pawns are hanging. Against 24...b6
there is 25.Bxe6
Rxe6
26.Bxf4!
]
19.Bc4
[Very quickly played. Maybe even too quickly...
In this concrete position, the sudden change of plan looks strong: 19.0-0
Nxd5
20.exd5!
The point is that the black queen is badly placed, and the e5 pawn weak. Here is an illustrative variation of this: 20...Bf5
(20...e4
21.Rfe1!
) 21.Rfe1
Qd6
22.Bd2
a5
23.Nxe5!
Bxe5
24.Rxe5
and now there is no 24...Qxe5?
because of 25.Bc3
]
19...b5
An excellent blow! Dominguez times it very well - when his opponent has seized the centre, but not yet completed his development. This justifies Black launching sharp play.
20.Bxb5
[Carlsen cold-bloodedly asks to see what his opponent has got. He does not believe it! A more cautious player would have hurried to simplfy the position: 20.Bd2
bxc4
21.Qxb4
the weakness of the e5 pawn gives White some advantage. The game might continue 21...Qxb4
22.Bxb4
Re8
23.0-0
Bb7
24.Rfe1
Kg8
25.Rd7
Bc6
26.Rc7
Rec8
27.Rxc8+
Rxc8
28.Bc3
Re8
29.Nd2
Bb5
and Black holds.]
20...Nxa2
[Accurate calculation. To assess the position after 20...Be6
21.Bc4
Bxc4
22.Qxc4
Rac8
23.Qb3
Nc2+
24.Kf1
at the board would be practically impossible. It is clear that Black has some compensation for the pawn, but is it enough? After the deepest analysis, Black seems OK, but in a practical struggle, I would rate his chances as slightly inferior. ]
21.Bd2
[It looks as though the black knight is trapped, but Black has a way out. Exchanging pieces by 21.Qxa2
Qb4+
22.Bd2
Qxb5
was unfavourable for White, whose kng cannot escape from the centre. ]
21...Rb8
22.Qa4
[Here the exchange by 22.Qxa2
Rxb5
is not so bad, since White now has 23.0-0!
But White does not achieve any advantage, since Black quickly creates strong piece pressure: 23...Be6
24.Qa1
Bb3
25.Rc1
Qb7
26.Rfe1
Rd8
etc.]
22...Qb7
[Lenier forces exchanges. The move
22...Be6
was also interesting. By supporting the errant knight Black prepares a queen move to b7 or c5. I think that in this case, White would have to play accurately to equalize. ]
23.0-0
[There is no real alternative. The various bishop retreats can only rebound on White: 23.Bc4?
Qxe4+
; 23.Bc6
Qa6!
; 23.Be2
Be6!
]
23...Qxb5
24.Qxa2
Qxb2
25.Qxa7
The queenside is completely emptied of pawns. The interest in the game now centres around the pawn on e5. Can White bring serious pressure to bear on it?
25...Qb7
A slightly too obvious attempt to make a draw. Evidently, his time deficit shortage and excessive respect for his opponent is making Dominguez nervous. [He should have preferred the banal 25...Be6
with equal chances.]
26.Qc5
Rather an artificial move. Carlsen senses his opponent's feelings and tries to complicate the game. [White could have obtained a lasting advantage in the endgame after 26.Ra1
Be6
27.Qxb7
Rxb7
28.Rfc1
His rooks can penetrate the black camp. But evidently, Magnus did not think this amounted to much. He knows his stuff, of course, but in my analysis, the more I look, the more difficult it seems for Black. ]
26...Be6
Correct. He needs to activate his pieces. [It was also not very practical to calculate complicated variatiosn involving the capture on e4. For example, after 26...Qxe4
27.Bc3
Bb7
28.Bxe5
Bxe5
29.Rfe1
Qf5
30.Nxe5
White creates unpleasant pressure in the centre.]
27.Qd6
[Continuing to press. Nothing comes from 27.Nxe5
Qxe4
28.Rfe1
Qf5!
; whilst Carlsen refrained from 27.Bc3
because of 27...Rfc8
28.Qa3
Qb3
]
27...Bb3
A strong retort. It is already clear that the rather light-hearted raid by the white queen, more suitable for a blitz game than a serious tournament encounter, has allowed Black to solve his defensive problems. And now the Norwegian GM is thinking seriously. Today he has not handled his clock very well. When he needed to think, he has played quickly, and when he has had a natural move, he has hesitated. This is very much a sign of poor form in a player. The clock times now are: 0.50 - 0.07.
28.Rb1
[the pin on the b-file is not dangerous, but nor was 28.Rc1
Qxe4
29.Rfe1
Qd5!
any stronger.]
28...Qxe4
A sad sign for Carlsen. White can regain the pawn, of course, but with that his list of achievements ends.
29.Bc3
Rbd8
30.Qa3
Bc2?!
[But time-trouble has its effect after all! Having achieved full equality, Dominguez misplaces the bishop, and gives the game new interest. Correct was 30...Bd5!
and whichever way White takes back the e5-pawn gives him nothing, eg. 31.Bxe5
Bxe5
32.Rfe1
Bd6
33.Qb2+
Be5
34.Qc1
(34.Nxe5??
Qxg2#
; 34.Qb5
Qc4
) 34...Qc4!
]
31.Rb5
[This time the Norwegian GM does not hesitate. He transfers the rook to an active position, at the same time freeing the b2 square for the queen. An excellent regrouping!
Also very attractive was 31.Rb4
eg. 31...Qd5
32.Qb2
Bf5
33.Bxe5
Bxe5
34.Nxe5
Kg8
35.Rxf4
and White wins a pawn, although admittedly, the win is not guaranteed.]
31...Qa4
[There were not many candidate moves. Analysis shows, however,that
31...Qc6
was more reliable.]
32.Qb2!
Setting up a dangerous battery on the long diagonal.
32...Bd3?
[A serious mistake, bt one should not criticise the Cuban GM too harshlly for it. believe me, the position was too complicated! Lenier has instictively met blow with counterblow, but has miscalculated. He could have retained some chances of holding by 32...Be4
33.Bxe5
Qa7!
]
33.Rb7
The decisive blow. The rook exploits the fact that the b7 square is no defended by te black bishop. White's pressure will turn into a mating attack, whilst the sacrifice on f1 is of no interest to anyone.
33...Qc2
The last chance. [33...Bxf1
34.Bxe5
leads to mate.]
34.Qb4
Rfe8
Covering the e7 square and the e5 pawn, but in no way weakening White's attack. The clocks now read 0.18 - 0.03. [Now after 34...Bxf1
35.Qe7
Rg8
36.Bxe5
is decisive.]
35.Re1
[Remembering his past misfortunes in this tournament, Magnus is afraid of miscalculating. He could win at once by 35.Bxe5
Bxe5
36.Nxe5
Rxe5
37.Qxf4
Rf5
38.Qh6
forcing mate.]
35...Be2
36.Nxe5
Bxe5
[Black can hardly hope to save the game after 36...Qxc3
37.Qxc3
Bxe5
38.Qc5
etc.; whilst after 36...Rxe5
there follows 37.Bxe5
Bxe5
38.Qe7
]
37.Bxe5+
Rxe5
38.Qxf4
The white queen penetrates decisively to the black king. Mate is forced.
38...Qf5
39.Qh6
1-0