1.e4
e5
2.Nf3
Nc6
3.Bb5
a6
4.Ba4
Nf6
5.0-0
Be7
6.Re1
b5
7.Bb3
0-0
8.h3
No Marshall. Kariakin prefers to avoid a theoretical duel and saves his novelties for another day.
8...Bb7
Nowadays, Black leaves the pawn on d7 a little longer. maybe he can still play d5 in one move, and aso the bishop retains the chance to come to c5.
9.d3
d5
See the previous note. Black is ready to part with a pawn.
10.exd5
Nxd5
11.a4
[White plays it safe. The point is that after 11.Nxe5
Nd4!
Black manages to exchange off the powerful Spanish bishop.]
11...Nd4
12.Nxd4
exd4
13.axb5
The speed of play suggests that both players were prepared for exactly this variation.
13...axb5
14.Rxa8
Bxa8
15.Na3
I have seen this position before. Yes, now I remember! It was in December, at the Grand Prix in Elista, the game Leko-Jakovenko. White quickly achieves a decisive advantage, but could not win. Peter's team was very upset, and Dima was delighted...
15...Bb4
Virtually the only sensible move. [If 15...Qd7
16.Qg4!
is very strong.; and after 15...Bxa3
16.bxa3
c5
17.Qg4
White's two bishops give him a strong initiative.; 15...b4
is just positionally bad.]
16.Bd2
[In the above-mentioned game, the players first repeated moves: 16.Re5
Bd6
17.Re1
Bb4
and only then was 18.Bd2
played.]
16...Bxd2
17.Qxd2
Qf6
I remember we analysed the text in the press-centre at Elista, and we humans could not find any advantage for White. Now we will see what Kariakin and his computer have come up with. Black offers the b5-pawn,but prepares the powerful Nd5-f4. [Novelty! The Leko-Jakovenko game went 17...Bc6?
18.Re5!
b4
19.Nb5!
Nf6
20.Qf4
Bd5
21.Bxd5
Nxd5
22.Qxd4
c6
23.Na7!
Qc7
24.Nxc6
Qxc6
25.Rxd5
Qxc2
26.Qxb4
and, believe it or not, the Hungarian no. 1 and Super-GM could not realize the advantage of two extra pawns.]
18.Bxd5
DRAW! A cynical decision, in my view. No fight at all took place here. Poor show, Sergey. Poor show, Levon. [After 18.Nxb5
there is 18...Nf4
19.f3
Qh6
20.Kh2
(20.Qf2
Qg5!
) 20...Bxf3
21.gxf3
Qxh3+
22.Kg1
Qg3+
and Black has at least a draw. Probably a draw at most, as well.] 1/2-1/2