8/27/2015 – An unusual day today, as we saw four (!) opposite colored bishops positions. It’s an unusual circumstance, which can make the game either extremely exciting or very dull. Unfortunately for us today there were four games in which, because of the opposite colored bishops, the game was simply drawn. To make up for it Aronian played a brilliant sacrifice against So, and ties for the lead.
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2015 Sinquefield Cup
This super-GM single Round Robin brings together some of the best players in the world. This is the second leg of the Grand Chess Tour.
The players – Magnus Carlsen (Norway), Levon Aronian (Armenia), Fabiano Caruana (USA), Hikaru Nakamura (USA), Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria), Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France), Alexander Grischuk (Russia), Anish Giri (Netherlands), Viswanathan Anand (India), Wesley So (USA).
The venue is the Chess Club and Scholastic Center at 4657 Maryland Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63108. Tickets can be purchased at the Saint Louis Chess Club.
Round Four
Round Four
Name
Rtg
Res.
Name
Rtg
Grischuk, Alexander
2771
½-½
Topalov, Veselin
2816
Caruana, Fabiano
2808
½-½
Anand, Viswanathan
2816
Vachier-Lagr, Maxime
2731
½-½
Nakamura, Hikaru
2814
Giri, Anish
2793
½-½
Carlsen, Magnus
2853
So, Wesley
2779
0-1
Aronian, Levon
2765
Daniel King shows the game of the day from round 4: So vs Aronian
An unusual day today, as we saw four (!) opposite colored bishops positions. It’s an unusual circumstance, which can make the game either extremely exciting or very dull. The games are exciting when one of the sides has a strong attack, and then the opposite colored bishops gives the advantage to the attacker, as he has an extra piece that cannot be neutralized. Unfortunately, the very dull case is endgames, and that was the theme of the day. Saving us from monotony was a brilliant massacre that Aronian inflicted onto So.
The first game of the day to finish, Grischuk-Topalov, was a Najdorf. Grischuk had a chance to get a slightly better game by interposing a subtle Rhe1 at some point, which would have given him the same position that he got in the game but with a full extra tempo, but he missed his chance and the resulting endgame was a dead draw.
Grischuk missed his one chance for a slight edge and it was a dead draw after that
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1.e4
1,180,950
54%
2421
---
1.d4
956,910
55%
2434
---
1.Nf3
285,509
56%
2441
---
1.c4
184,270
56%
2442
---
1.g3
19,857
56%
2427
---
1.b3
14,569
54%
2428
---
1.f4
5,946
48%
2377
---
1.Nc3
3,897
50%
2383
---
1.b4
1,788
48%
2379
---
1.a3
1,247
54%
2406
---
1.e3
1,080
49%
2409
---
1.d3
965
50%
2378
---
1.g4
670
46%
2361
---
1.h4
465
54%
2381
---
1.c3
438
51%
2425
---
1.h3
289
56%
2420
---
1.a4
118
60%
2461
---
1.f3
100
47%
2427
---
1.Nh3
92
67%
2511
---
1.Na3
47
62%
2476
---
Please, wait...
1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3a66.Be3Ng47.Bc1Nf68.f3e5White has a choice between playing this, repeating moves or going for the Bg5 lines after Ng4. Also he has 11 moves besides f3 that make sense... such is the Najdorf.9.Nb3Be610.Be3h5The modern variations of the Najdorf all involve an early h5. The idea is that g4 is delayed, or sometimes outright prevented, but on the other hand Black can't castle.11.Nd5Bxd512.exd5Nbd713.Qd2g614.0-0-0Nb6White has two possibilities in this position. Qa5 has been played more, but Kb1 is the move that is trending.15.Kb1Nbxd516.Bg5Be717.Na5played after an 11 minute think, so its fair to say that Grischuk wasn't in his preparation any more.Rb818.Bc4Nb618...Qc7 worked tactically, and was maybe a very bit better than the move played in the game.19.Bxd5Nxd520.Qxd5Bxg5=19.Bxf6?!After this move Black has no problems.19.Rhe1!Might be more accurateQc7what else?19...0-020.Bb3starts looking dangerous.20.Bxf6Bxf621.Qxd6Qxd622.Rxd6is like the game but White is up a tempo. Now e5 hangs.19...Bxf620.Qxd6Qxd621.Rxd6Bd822.Rd3Bc723.Bb3Ke724.Rhd1Rhd825.Rxd8Bxd826.Nc4Nxc427.Bxc4With opposite colored bishops, it is clear that this game is now a dead draw.Bb628.c3Rd829.Rxd8Bxd830.Kc2Bc731.Bd5Done.½–½
Next was Giri-Carlsen. The World Champion used the Sveshnikov Sicilian, not the most fashionable but strong enough in many circumstances. Giri was unable to put any real pressure on his opponent and again the opposite colored bishops reared their ugly head.
Giri-Carlsen was a Sveshnikov, not the most common
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1.e4c52.Nf3Nc63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3e5The Sveshnikov Sicilian. It goes in and out of fashion, and Carlsen playing it might bring some attention back to a defense that is largely overlooked, despite the fact that there is no definite refutation of it.6.Ndb5d67.Bg5a68.Na3b59.Nd5Be710.Bxf6Bxf611.c3Ne7One of several possibilities Black has at his disposal. Krasenkow likes to play this move.12.Nc2Nxd513.Qxd5Rb814.Nb4Bb715.Qd30-016.Be2a517.Nd5b4Giri took some time to get to this position, but Carlsen reached it relatively quickly. Black shouldn't have any real problems in this position. This vriation has been played a couple of times. White might be able to pressure slightly on the light squares but it won't big a big deal.18.0-0bxc319.bxc3Bg520.Rab1Qd721.Rb3Bc622.Rfb1Rxb323.Rxb3g624.Rb6Rc825.h3Bxd5Even this move was maybe unnecessary.25...h526.Ra6Bxd5is safer:27.Qxd5Rc5!a nice intermezzo.28.Qxd6Qxd629.Rxd6Rxc3=26.Qxd5Rxc327.Rxd6Qe728.Bd1Rc729.g3Kg7White has a very minor amount of pressure, but this is way closer to a draw. Black's bishop isn't the greatest but White can't create threats, so it will eventually remaneuver.30.Ba4Bc131.Rc6½–½
Caruana faced a nice novelty from Anand in his game, and the Indian player equalized effortlessly. However, some strange strategical decisions put his game in danger. Caruana pushed forward, but it was not enough. Black’s position was just strong enough to hold a blockade. Caruana went for some tactics, but it resulted in a dead drawn endgame.
This is what the players saw today at the confessional booth!
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1.d4d52.c4c63.Nf3Nf64.Nc3e65.Bg5h66.Bxf6the not very sharp Moscow.6.Bh4dxc47.e4g5is the ultra-sharp anti-Moscow.6...Qxf67.e3g68.Bd3Bg79.0-00-010.e4An interesting break, played rather quickly. Sometimes White holds on to this and plays preparatory moves.Qd811.Re1c5!An interesting novelty from the Indian player, always showing superb opening knowledge.12.exd512.dxc5d413.Nb5e5gives Black plenty of compensation for the pawn. He will break on b6 if he cannot capture c5, and his passed pawn, good development and open lines will give him a fine position.12...cxd413.dxe6Bxe614.Ne2Caruana's solution clearly cannot pose real problems for Anand. White has some kind of blockade, but Black's position is active and well developed.Qd615.Qd2Nc616.Nf4Bg4 giving up the bishop for the f3-knight is not necessary, but with the opposite colored bishops coming into play the position should be rather equal.17.Be4Bxf318.Bxf3Ne519.Bd5Rac820.b3b521.Rac1bxc422.bxc4Rc723.Nd3Nxd3Anand was critical of this move after the game, correctly pointing out that the retreat with Nd7 was a better move and equalizing. Now he comes under a little bit of pressure.24.Qxd3Kh725.g3Bf626.Rb1White is slightly better with his control of the b-file and slightly better bishop.Kg727.Rb5Rfc828.Reb1Rc529.a4Rxb530.axb5White has some hopes of an advantage. He can pressure f7 and he has potentially dangerous pawns, but to be fair this should be holdable for Black if he just stays put.Rc731.Qb3Qe532.Qf3Bg533.c5taking advantage of tactics to push the pawn, but Anand has this under control.Rd7!34.b6axb635.cxb635.Bc6Rd836.cxb6d337.Qe4Qxe438.Bxe4d239.Rd1Bf6is going to be a draw, no matter what the computer says.35...Rxd536.Qxd5Qxd537.b7d338.b8Qd2White won an exchange, but he is simply not able to do anything with it due to the huge pawn on d2.39.Rd1Qf340.Qb2+Kh741.Qc2Be3forcing the draw.42.fxe3Qxe3+½–½
The MVL-Nakamura game was crazy from the get go. An exciting King’s Indian Saemisch Variaion was too messy for even computers to understand. Somehow Nakamura made a serious mistake, but MVL was unable to punish it as he failed to find the correct continuation. This allowed the American to consolidate his extra pawn, but it was meaningless in the endgame.
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1.d4Nf62.c4g63.Nc3Bg74.e4d6The KID! of course, Nakamura is going aggressive against MVL playing for the full point.5.f3The Saemisch. This has dropped in popularity considerably with the new Classical lines with 6.h3, but it's nice and refreshing to see this sharp line.0-06.Nge2c57.d5e68.Ng3exd59.cxd5a610.a4h5This move is standard in this structure. It makes the g3 knight uncomfortable and allows the f6 knight to have more options.11.Be2Nbd712.0-0h413.Nh1Nh5An old game between Spassky-Polgar happened in 1993, which was quite interesting.14.Be3f5!? A standard breakthrough, MVL is given no time to consolidate his position and finish good development. Black strikes while the knight is on h1.14...Bd4 was the aforementioned game.15.Bxd4cxd416.Qxd4Qg517.Rad1and Black has a lot of compensation for the pawn. Spassky-Polgar,J 1993.15.f4Qe816.Bxh516.Qe1!?is also messy.16...gxh517.e5!?The position is extremely complicated. Even engines need some tiem to try to understand what is going on. Tactics are everywhere, the pawn structures can change wildly, some pieces are not in the best positions. Such is the King's Indian/Benoni!dxe518.d6!?Creating counterplay by freeing the d5 square.exf419.Bxf4Nf620.Nf2Bd721.Nd3h322.Ne5!?hxg223.Re1The computers are confsued about the evaluation. They keep jumping back and forth over which move is best. When talking to MVL and Nakamura about the game the consesus simply seemed to be "it's a mess".Be6?!23...Bc6!was definitely better. g2 needs a defender.24.Qf3Ne4?A mistake, allowing a crushing continuation.24...Ng4!?25.Rad1?but MVL misses!25.Re2!Next White takes on g2 with a big and obvious attack on the kingside.25...Bxe5!26.Bxe5Qg6MVL might have missed that here Ng5 is a strong threat.27.Qxg227.Re2Ng528.Qxg2f4Black is definitely in the driver's seat.27...Qxg2+28.Kxg2Bd7!Black is fine here, up a pawn. However it is clear that winning chances are slim. The opposite colored bishops create strong drawing chances and White is active.29.Rg1Kf730.Kf3Rg831.Nxe4fxe4+32.Kxe4Ke633.Bf4Bxa434.Rde1h435.Rxg8Rxg836.Kf3+Black can keep pushing for as long as he wants, but as soon as the rooks come off the opposite colored bishops will guarantee a draw as long as White keeps a queenside blockade.Kf637.Re5Bc6+38.Ke3Re8what else?39.Rxe8Bxe840.d7the d pawn is irrelevant, its more important to make sure the black pawns are blockaded.Bxd741.Bd6c442.Kd4b543.Kc3Ke644.Bc7Kd545.Bd8h346.b4cxb347.Kxb3Kc548.Be7+Kb649.Bd8+Kc550.Be7+Kb651.Bd8+Black can never make progress.½–½
MVL was down two pawns, but by that point there was no danger for him
The game of the day was without a doubt the beautiful destruction of Wesley So. Levon Aronian’s spectacular knight sacrifice was very well founded, and with White’s lack of development he was simply torn apart.
So was heavily punished for not developing
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1.d4Nf62.c4e63.Nc3Bb44.f3c55.d50-06.e4d67.Nge2a6!?An interestig idea. The sacrifice 7...b5 was played in Grischuk-Topalov earlier this year, with a great result for the Bulgarian. Aronian changes his approach and prepares b5, and interesting idea.8.a4Ba5!?Nice understanding from the Armenian. This threatsn b5 again!9.Bd29.Ng3b510.axb5axb5and Black is better.9...exd510.cxd5Nh5!A very uncomfortable move for So. Now it is unclear how to develop his pieces.11.g3Nd712.Bg2b5Black has good play all around the board.13.g4?So tries to push back Aronian, but the Armenian does not give back any ground!13.0-0b414.Nb1is ok for Black but White isn't doing that badly.13...b414.Nb114.gxh5bxc315.bxc3Qh4+is not pleasant.14...Qh4+15.Kf1Ne5!The start of a very strong attack. There is nothing White can do but accept the piece.16.Be1?!16.Qe1Qf617.gxh5Nxf3-+16.gxh5f5is too strong. Black is tooa active, White has no plan and it is uncomfortable to defend. And yet, this was the best continuation.16...Qf6!17.gxh5Nxf318.Bf2Bg4!Keeping the initiative seems much stronger to me than to go for material with Qxb2.19.Qc119.Bxf3Qxf320.Rg1Qh3+21.Ke1f5-+19...Nd4!20.Nxd4cxd4Black's attack is way too strong. The king is weak, So has no development... how to defend this position?21.e5tryign to get some squares.dxe522.Nd2Rac823.Qb1b3!24.Nxb3Bb625.a5Ba725...Rc2‼is brilliant, but everything wins.26.Kg1Bf5!27.Be4Qg5+28.Kf1Qf4d3 comes next, White's position clearly collapses.0–1
1.d4d52.c4c63.Nf3Nf64.Nc3e65.Bg5h66.Bxf6the not very sharp
Moscow.6.Bh4dxc47.e4g5is the ultra-sharp anti-Moscow.6...Qxf67.e3g68.Bd3Bg79.0-00-010.e4An interesting break, played rather
quickly. Sometimes White holds on to this and plays preparatory moves.Qd811.Re1c5!An interesting novelty from the Indian player, always showing
superb opening knowledge.12.exd512.dxc5d413.Nb5e5gives Black
plenty of compensation for the pawn. He will break on b6 if he cannot capture
c5, and his passed pawn, good development and open lines will give him a fine
position.12...cxd413.dxe6Bxe614.Ne2Caruana's solution clearly
cannot pose real problems for Anand. White has some kind of blockade, but
Black's position is active and well developed.Qd615.Qd2Nc616.Nf4Bg4
giving up the bishop for the f3-knight is not necessary, but with the opposite
colored bishops coming into play the position should be rather equal.17.Be4Bxf318.Bxf3Ne519.Bd5Rac820.b3b521.Rac1bxc422.bxc4Rc723.Nd3Nxd3Anand was critical of this move after the game, correctly pointing out
that the retreat with Nd7 was a better move and equalizing. Now he comes under
a little bit of pressure.24.Qxd3Kh725.g3Bf626.Rb1White is slightly
better with his control of the b-file and slightly better bishop.Kg727.Rb5Rfc828.Reb1Rc529.a4Rxb530.axb5White has some hopes of an advantage.
He can pressure f7 and he has potentially dangerous pawns, but to be fair this
should be holdable for Black if he just stays put.Rc731.Qb3Qe532.Qf3Bg533.c5taking advantage of tactics to push the pawn, but Anand has this under
control.Rd7!34.b6axb635.cxb635.Bc6Rd836.cxb6d337.Qe4Qxe438.Bxe4d239.Rd1Bf6is going to be a draw, no matter what the computer says.35...Rxd536.Qxd5Qxd537.b7d338.b8Qd2White won an exchange, but he
is simply not able to do anything with it due to the huge pawn on d2.39.Rd1Qf340.Qb2+Kh741.Qc2Be3forcing the draw.42.fxe3Qxe3+½–½
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Alejandro RamirezGrandmaster Alejandro Ramirez has been playing tournament chess since 1998. His accomplishments include qualifying for the 2004 and 2013 World Cups as well as playing for Costa Rica in the 2002, 2004 and 2008 Olympiads. He currently has a rating of 2583 and is author of a number of popular and critically acclaimed ChessBase-DVDs.
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