1.d4
Nf6
2.c4
e6
3.Nc3
Bb4
4.Qc2
This move was first used at the top levelnby Alekhine. The idea is to force the exchange on c3, without incurring doubled pawns. The drawback of the move is White's slight deficit in development. The particular interest of this game is that both players have used the line successfully in the past, and have contributed to the theory of the line. So a couple of world experts are meeting!
4...d5
The most straightforward answer. Black tries to open the centre and create complications, as soon as possible. His king is ready to escape to the kingside, whereas the white monarch will have to remain uncastled for some time.
5.a3
White carries out the classical idea.
5...Bxc3+
[If 5...Be7?!
6.cxd5
exd5
7.Bg5
we reach an Exchange QGD, with White having the extremely useful extra move a2-a3.]
6.Qxc3
Ne4
[A no less sharp struggle arises after 6...c5
7.dxc5
d4
and now the world's grandmasters are unable to agree on the best retreat forthe queen - c2 or g3.]
7.Qc2
c5
The consistent follow-up.
8.dxc5
Nc6
The only way! The number of pawns does not yet play a great role. The important thing is to bring the pieces into play as quickly as possible. Now is an important moment - should White exchange pawns on d5 or not? The further character of the battle will depend on this decision.
9.cxd5
The most aggressive, and also riskiest continuation! White opens the path of the c8 bishop, but strengthens his extra pawn. [Heavy simplifications result from 9.e3
Qa5+
10.Bd2
Nxd2
11.Qxd2
dxc4
12.Qxa5
Nxa5
13.Rc1
b5
14.cxb6
Bb7
and Black has enough initiative for the pawn. The analyses of the leading specialists in the line lead to a draw, on practically an empty board. ]
9...exd5
[Not 9...Qxd5?
10.Be3!
]
10.e3
As can be seen, White has so far developed only his queen. Black has both knights on good central squares, he is ready to castle, and his bishop will soon come to f5.His development lead threatens to assume alarming proportions. But in modern chess, such general considerations and fierce words do not play a great role. Concrete analysis determines everything.
10...Bf5
[10...Qa5+
is now out of fashion, thanks to the exchange sacrifice seen in Kazimdzhanov-Karpov, Spain 2007: 11.b4!
Nxb4
12.axb4
Qxa1
13.Bb5+
Kf8
14.Ne2
and whatever the computer might say, humans know that White's position is much easier to play.; 10...Qf6
was tried in a game Carlsen-Polgar, from Wijk aan Zee 2008, but without success: 11.f3!
Qh4+
12.g3
Nxg3
13.Qf2
Nf5
14.Qxh4
Nxh4
15.b4
a6
16.Kf2
Ne5
17.Bb2
f6
18.Rd1
Be6
19.Ne2
Bf7
20.Rg1
Nc4
21.Bc1
g5
22.Nc3
0-0-0
23.e4!
and the white bishops destroyed Black.]
11.Bd3
0-0
[As on the previous move, 11...Qa5+
is again met by 12.b4
Nxb4
13.axb4
Qxa1
14.Ne2
For example, 14...Bd7
15.f3
Ba4
16.Qb2
Qxb2
17.Bxb2
Nf6
18.Nd4
Bd7
19.b5
Rc8
20.Ba3
a6
21.bxa6
bxa6
22.Kd2
Bb5
23.Bxb5+
axb5
24.c6
Kd8
25.Rc1
and Black could not contain his opponent's initiative. Drozdovskij-Brodsky Poltava 2008]
12.Nf3
Qa5+
13.Nd2
[Necessary. Now after 13.b4
Nxb4
14.axb4
Qxa1
15.Nd4
(which nobody has played), there follows a nice exchange of tactical blows: 15...Ng3!
16.Nb3!
Qa6!
with, as they say, "a complicated struggle"!]
13...Nxd2
14.Bxd2
Bxd3
15.Qxd3
Qxc5
16.Rc1
[Novelty. Sasha improves on his own play. In an earlier round at Wijk an Zee, the game Morozevich-Adams went 16.Bc3
d4
17.Bxd4
Nxd4
18.Qxd4
Qb5
19.0-0-0
Qf5
20.e4
Qg5+
21.Kb1
Rad8
22.f4
Rxd4
23.fxg5
Rxe4
24.Rd7
Rg4
25.g3
Rxg5
26.Rxb7
a5
and Black equalized.]
16...Qb6
17.0-0
I like Morozevich's idea. There is harmony in his ranks. Taking on b2 is clearly not good, since the white rook gets to b7.
17...Rad8
[17...d4
does not equalize. I would then suggest 18.b4
After exchanges in the centre, White retains some initiative.]
18.f4
But what is this? The move looks antipositional, weakening the square e4 and the pawn on e3. But how can Black exploit this? maybe he can't! Meanwhile, the advance of the pawn to f4 has a concrete idea, namely to eprive the black knight on the e5 square, via which it can get to c4 after b2-b4. So maybe my first reaction was too emotional. Probably Sasha doid not invent this idea over the board, but found it at home, so it needs to be taken seriously.
18...Rfe8
[After 18...d4
19.e4!
the f4-pawn would be doubly useful.]
19.b4
Correct. The black knight is restricted on all sides. White's play looks a bit od, but I have already said that general cosndierations nowadays play less of a role than specifics. We will see what transpires...
Magnus is thinking hard. He has made all the obvious moves and now needs to find a plan. One idea for White is Rf3-h3.
19...h6
[My previous note explains this move. I also looked at the direct attempt to bring the knight to f5: 19...Ne7
20.Rf3
Qe6
21.f5
(21.Rc7
Qb6
22.Rc1
Qe6
) 21...Qe4
22.Qf1
an then the rook will go to f4, the queen to d3, and a complicate struggle ensues, which is hard to judge. ; The prospect of the white bishop coming to c3 makes me think alos about 19...f6
followed by Nc6-e7 and Qb6-e6.]
20.h3
Giving up on Rh3 as an idea, but making luft and waiting to see what Black will do.
20...a6
[Black also waits. Less beliigerant grandmasters might play 20...Ne7
21.Bc3
Nc6!
22.Bd2
Ne7
23.Bc3
Nc6
and shake hands.]
21.Rc5
White returns to the strategy of pressure in the centre. Black must be tied down to the d5 pawn, reducing his conyrol over d4, and only then will White seek a target on one flank or other.
21...a5
A logical response. The rook on c5 prevents the natural reply b4-b5, so the b4 pawn becomes a target for Black.
22.Rfc1
[The centre of the battle shifts to the queenside. Winning a pawn by 22.Rb5
Qa6
23.bxa5
allows the counterblow 23...d4
24.e4
Na7
25.Rb3
(25.a4
Nxb5
26.axb5
Qe6
hardly offers sufficient compensation.) 25...Qxd3
26.Rxd3
Rxe4
27.Rb1
Rd7
and Black has nothing to complain about.]
22...axb4
23.axb4
Re4
Carlsen counterattacks decisively. The b4 pawns can not escape the attention it has attracted from the black pieces. Magnus ignores the threat to the d5 pawn, because he sees the counter-threat against e3.
24.Kh2
[24.Rxd5
Rxd5
25.Qxd5
Rxe3!
(25...Rxb4
is also not bad, eg. 26.Kh2
(26.Bxb4??
Qxe3+
) 26...Rb1
27.Rc4
Qb3
again forcing exchanges.) 26.Rc5
(26.Bxe3??
Qxe3+
27.Kh1
Qxc1+
) 26...Re8
27.Bc3
Rd8
28.Qe4
Qc7
29.b5
Qd6
equalizes completely.]
24...Rc4!
[Yet another cunning move by the Norwegian. This time, the target is the bishop on d2, which is being x-rayed by the rook on d8. Unfortunately, barring something remarkable, the next few moves are likely to see a total simplification of the position. The only hope is Morozevich's unquenchable fighting spirit! Less convincing is 24...Nxb4
because White does not have to exchange minor pieces. He can play 25.Qb3
with an unpleasant pin. (or 25.Qb1
I am not sure which is better.) ]
25.R1xc4
[What else can one play, if all other moves favour Black? For example, after 25.R5xc4
dxc4
26.Qe2
Qa6
Black defends the c4 pawn, because of 27.Rxc4?
Rxd2!
]
25...dxc4
26.Qe2
Nxb4
27.Rxc4
[Sasha avoids exchanges. And not without reason. After 27.Bxb4
Qxb4
28.Rxc4
(28.Qxc4
Qxc4
29.Rxc4
b5!
) 28...Qe7
the outside passed b-pawn gives Black grounds to play for a win.]
27...Nd3
However, now the knight will be very strong. With its support, the passed pawn can reach b4 or b2. For the moment, this is still something of a dream, but grandmasters make a living by dreaming of the distant future...
28.Rd4
Realising the danger, Sasha hurries to restore the game to drawish channels. The clock times are now 0.19 - 0.49
28...Rxd4
[Trying to transfer the knight to e6 can also bring problems to Black, as White activates his pieces by 28...Nc5
29.Bc3
whilst he can eliminate the e6 outpost at any moment by f4-f5.]
29.exd4
Qxd4
[A white-square blockade by 29...Qb5
fails because of the bad position of the knight: 30.Qe4!
and it cannot be brought to d5.]
30.Qe8+
Kh7
31.Qxf7
Qe4
[A last attempt to impose some control. Pushing the b-pawn results in its loss: 31...b5?
32.Qf5+
]
32.f5
This counterattack saves White.
32...Qe5+
[Now 32...b5
is met by 33.Bc3
and winning the bishop leads to perpetual: 33...Qf4+
34.Kh1
Qc1+
35.Kh2
Qxc3
36.Qg6+
Kg8
37.Qe8+
etc.; whilst the variation 32...Nf4
33.Bxf4
Qxf4+
34.Kg1
Qc1+
35.Kh2
Qc6
gets nowehere because of the blow 36.f6!
Qxf6
37.Qxb7
]
33.Kh1
The only remaining question is who will give the perpetual check.
33...Nf2+
34.Kg1
Ne4
[34...Nxh3+
35.gxh3
Qd4+
36.Kf1
Qxd2
37.Qg6+
Kg8
38.Qe8+
ends in the same perpetual.]
35.Bf4
[The same idea - deflecting the queen from covering e8. But it was not yet time for the flashy 35.Bxh6?
because of 35...Qd4+
36.Kh1
Qd1+
37.Kh2
Qd6+
]
35...Qd4+
36.Kh2
Nf6
37.Bxh6
Qe5+
38.Kh1
Qe1+
39.Kh2
Ng4+
40.hxg4
Qh4+
41.Kg1
Qe1+
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