2/8/2018 – American Chess Magazine #5 is out, featuring a dashing Magnus "Clark Kent" Carlsen on the cover. The issue is packed with great stories, and we present the annotated game from Vassily Ivanchuk's World Cup run. That prompted ACM reader Art Jensen to send in this photo of his own cat "Taz" enjoying the article! The issue also includes reviews of two ChessBase DVDs.
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Vassily Ivanchuk went all the way to the 5th round of the World Cup, where he was stopped by eventual overall winner, Levon Aronian. On this journey, he managed to eliminate such players as Kramnik and Giri. However, from an aesthetic point of view, Ivanchuk believes the following game should grab our attention. After two draws he played the first tie-break game against an opponent from Kazakhstan. It was a cat and mouse play, where his white-squared bishop first had a heroic defensive role and then ultimately led a brutal counter-offensive on the very same flank.
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1.e4
1,184,215
54%
2421
---
1.d4
958,932
55%
2434
---
1.Nf3
286,327
56%
2441
---
1.c4
184,722
56%
2443
---
1.g3
19,884
56%
2427
---
1.b3
14,598
54%
2428
---
1.f4
5,953
48%
2377
---
1.Nc3
3,906
50%
2384
---
1.b4
1,790
48%
2378
---
1.a3
1,250
54%
2406
---
1.e3
1,081
49%
2409
---
1.d3
969
50%
2378
---
1.g4
670
46%
2361
---
1.h4
466
54%
2382
---
1.c3
439
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.d4d52.c4e63.Nc3c64.e3
Kazhgaleyev has also employed the
continuation4.cxd5exd55.Qc2!?several times here. In fact I myself
tested this same line two rounds later in my match against Kramnik and
obtained a very promising position after the opening.4...Nf6
Now we enter the field of the Meran Variation of the Slav Defence.Instead,
a game of mine against Carlsen proceeded in the following fashion:4...Bd65.Bd3f56.Qc2Nf67.Nge20-08.f3Kh89.Bd2a6?!10.c5!and White won
in 61 moves, M.Carlsen 2770 – V.Ivanchuk 2746, Leon 2009.5.Nf35.Bd2g66.Bd3Bg77.Nf3Nbd7was seen in my game vs Sashikiran at the Capablanca
Memorial earlier this year. There followed8.0-00-09.Qc2Re810.Rfe1a611.Rad1b512.cxd5exd513.e4b414.e5bxc315.exf6½-½ V.Ivanchuk
2738 – K.Sasikiran 2669, Matanzas 2017.5...Nbd76.Qc2Bd67.b30-08.Bb2
8...Re8!?In the second classical game of our match, I opted for8...e59.Be2e410.Nd2Nb8!?, but in the rapid I decided to try another
approach.9.Bd3Upon9.Be2I was ready to proceedb6Also9...dxc410.bxc4e511.0-0exd412.exd4Nf8is quite often played here.10.0-0Bb711.Rad1Qe712.Rfe1Rad8
...which is a very fashionable setup
nowadays.9...Qe7
10.Rd1This is a logical waiting move.Upon10.0-0Black can comfortably break in the center withe511.dxe511.cxd5?!is rather risky for White, but the replye412.Nxe4Nxe413.dxc6
, etc. needs more practical trials.11...Nxe512.Nxe5Qxe513.g3dxc4
thereby solving any problems in the opening.10...h6Black waits too...
...although it was worth considering10...e511.dxe5Nxe512.Nxe512.cxd5!?12...Bxe513.cxd5Bg4!?or even10...b611.0-0Bb711.h3
Also here, upon11.0-0I intended to goe512.dxe5Nxe513.Nxe5Qxe514.g3dxc415.Bxc4Qe7when I evaluated the ensuing position as roughly equal.11...dxc4
The alternative was to
develop the queenside by11...b612.Bxc4!White
was practically forced to recapture with the bishop......since upon12.bxc4e5White's direct attempt13.Nh4!?is probably met
most simply by
Although perhaps it is worth trying the idea of13.Bf5!?exd414.Nxd4Ba315.Ba1!Nb6with an unclear game. Despite having a weak pawn on c4, White
hopes to create threats by invading with the knight on f5.13...Nf8!,although there is the very interesting idea
of13...exd414.Nf5Qf8or14...Qe515.Nxd6Qxd616.Be2!Rxe3!?17.fxe3Qg3+18.Kf1dxc319.Bxc3Qxe3leading to a complicated position in
which Black has his chances.12...e5
Here it is already a matter
of taste since12...b5followed by ...Bb7 looks fully acceptable for Black.13.Be2?!This bishop retreat looks somewhat passive.I expected13.Nh4!Nf813...Nb614.Ng6Qc715.Nxe5is in White's favor.while13...e4?14.Nf5Qf815.Nxd6Qxd616.d5is quite unpleasant for Black.14.0-0?!14.Nf5Bxf515.Qxf5exd416.Rxd4Be5would also have pleased
me......but not14.dxe5!Bxe515.0-0Bc716.Nf5Qe517.Ng3Qg518.Nce214...e415.f3when my plan wasb516.Be2Nd5if I hadn’t found
anything better than that.It was also possible to simplify the position
by means of13.dxe5Nxe514.Nxe5or14.Be2!?14...Bxe515.0-0Bc716.Rfe1Qe517.f4A slight initiative might be felt for Black after17.g3Qh518.h4Bg4although White would not have any serious problems.17...Qe713...e414.Nd2Nb615.Nc4Bf5
Of course I could have preserved my
bishop from exchange by15...Bc716.g4?!Now White decided to play very
aggressively.After16.Nxd6Qxd617.0-0Nfd518.Qc1Qg619.Kh2Rad8
Black would have been able to gradually prepare an attack on the kingside.16...Bh7I didn't want to allow any further attacks on this bishop, so I
rejected the retreat to g6 because of a possible Nc4-e5 with gain of tempo.17.h4Nfd518.g5hxg519.hxg5
19...Bb4!?
The threat of 20.Rxh7 Kxh7, 21.Nxe4 is now eliminated and I am just
threatening to pick off the pawn on g5.Possibly Murtas was counting on
19...Nxc320.Bxc3Nxc421.bxc4Qxg522.Kd2but I absolutely didn't want
to improve my opponent's pawn structure.or first22.c5 and
only then 23.Kd2.It would however have been very logical to go19...Bg6!preventing my rival from improving his pawn structure on the next move.20.Rg1?The rook abandons the
h-file which means the total collapse of White's strategy.It was necessary
to exploit some helpful tactics -20.f4!Bf5and then of course not20...Nxc421.Bxc4!Nxe322.Qh221.Kf2?but21.Qc1!?when the
position is not at all clear.21...Nxf4!20...Rad8
21.Kf1
In any case, White should have opted for21.a3Nxc322.Bxc3Bxa322...Bxc3+23.Qxc3Rd524.Ne523.Nxa3Qxa324.Ra124.b4?Nd524...Qd625.Rxa7Rd7although there is hardly anything good for White here.21...Bf5!At the moment I played this move, I had already calculated all the way to the
end and seen 28...Qg2, correctly assesing that it was completely in my favor.22.Rg3Nxc423.bxc4Nxc324.Bxc3Bd625.Rg1Bh226.Rh1Bh3+27.Ke1Qxg528.Kd2Qg229.Kc1
29...Rd6!A precise move! White's position is already
hopeless since he is unable to defend the pawn on f2 or create any threats
along the h-file.30.Kb1Rf631.f4exf332.Bd3f233.Rhf1Rxe334.Kb2Qf335.d5Bxf136.Bxf1Rxc337.Qxc3Qxd10–1
The polish GM Michal Krasenkow presents a repertoire based on the Noteboom and the Stonewall. Black's set-up may lead to a whole range of different and interesting positions, which help the black player to broaden his strategic and tactical understanding.
The Semi-Slav defense (1.d4 d5 followed by ...e7-e6 and ...c7-c6) is one of the most popular opening set-ups for Black. Black can follow two entirely different concepts.
A quick flip through the current issue
Edition: Winter 2017/2018 Cover: Magnus Carlsen Pages: 156
Carsten Hansen is a FIDE Master and chess enthusiast residing in Bayonne, New Jersey. He has written twelve books, mostly on openings, the most recent The Sicilian Dragon — move by move (Everyman Chess 2016). From 2000 to 2014, he wrote the book review column, Checkpoint at chesscafe.com. You can find his blog on all areas of chess at carstenchess.com
The Scandinavian is a rarely employed opening on the hightest level und guides your opponent on much less familiar terrain than for example the Sicilian, French or any 1.e4 e5 system. After 1.e4 d5 Black fights for the initiative from move one.
Seven years ago, French Grandmaster Bauer wrote probably the best book ever on the Scandinavian with 2...Qxd5 and 3...Qa5. The present DVD features the same opening but presented in a different format with Bauer actually talking us through the moves and the game references. There are a total of 31 videos covering main lines as well as the lesser variations where White tries to sidestep the principal paths. Bauer also gives an introduction and a conclusion. The presentation is rounded off with 13 interactive test positions where the viewers can try their hand at solving the positions. This is a good way of rounding off a study of the opening as it ensures that the viewer has understood the basic concepts and critical ideas behind Black's opening.
However, despite the obvious quality of this DVD, I did get the impression that the French GM is not entirely comfortable with speaking in English which though perfectly understandable makes his presentation rather less enjoyable to watch than, for example, the other DVD-ROM from ChessBase that we discuss below. The DVD is also available in German and also French — which I expect has a much smoother flow than the English version.
Scarcely any world champion has managed to captivate chess lovers to the extent Carlsen has. The enormously talented Norwegian hasn't been systematically trained within the structures of a major chess-playing nation such as Russia, the Ukraine or China.
This Master Class series has so far featured world champions Fischer, Kasparov, Karpov, Capablanca, Tal, Alekhine, and Lasker. Now we have coverage of the play of the present title holder, which is divided into the following segments: Contents/Introduction, Openings, Strategy, Tactics, Endgames, Short Biography and then an examination of the crosstables of tournaments in which he has participated.
In the openings segment, Huschenbeth draws some surprising conclusions which had not previously occurred to me — but the way the German grandmaster argues his case is convincing.
Mihail Marin hosts the Strategy section and it is revealing to hear how genuinely puzzled he is with Carlsen's handling of chess strategy, comparing him to some extent with Fischer but nevertheless finding his approach quite unique. In the examples under consideration he several times uses the expression "a mysterious move" which reinforces why Carlsen is such a difficult opponent. I found myself enjoying this section more than any of the others and the incorporated tests break the monotony of passively watching Carlsen crush his opponents one after the other!
The Tactics section is taken care of by International Master Oliver Reeh who, incidentally, also handles this department in ChessBase Magazine. The examples are well-chosen, instructive and interactive.
The Endgames section is presented by Grandmaster Karsten Mueller — one of the world's leading endgame specialists. He has uncovered a number of really instructive and interesting examples, although sometimes I feel that Mueller rushes through the material too quickly and that's a shame. As is his custom, Mueller provides analysis to show the relevance of the lines of play under consideration, but for the average student this is high-level stuff and not always easy to follow. I feel the instructive value of Mueller's presentation would be considerably stronger if he devoted more attention to explaining the endgame concepts and the motifs he is discussing.
Of the four presenters, only Reeh speaks flawless English, whereas the others occasionally misuse or mispronounce words. Nevertheless the lessons can be understood without too much effort.
Overall, this is an effective way of learning about the featured champion, whilst receiving high-level instruction by means of high quality material. So if Magnus Carlsen is your favorite player or you just want to learn more about his methods, then this is a good place to go.
American Chess MagazineWe are devoted to chess in America without forgetting what’s going on in the chess world at large. We cover national events and encourage reporting on chess in individual states. We do in-depth interviews, behind the scenes reporting and have great grandmasters writing notes that actually explain what’s going on.
Rossolimo-Moscow Powerbase 2025 is a database and contains a total of 10950 games from Mega 2025 and the Correspondence Database 2024, of which 612 are annotated.
The greater part of the material on which the Rossolimo/Moscow Powerbook 2025 is based comes from the engine room of playchess.com: 263.000 games. This imposing amount is supplemented by some 50 000 games from Mega and from Correspondence Chess.
Focus on the Sicilian: Opening videos on the Najdorf Variation with 6.h3 e5 7.Nb3 (Luis Engel) and the Taimanov Variation with 7.Qf3 (Nico Zwirs). ‘Lucky bag’ with 38 analyses by Anish Giri, Surya Ganguly, Abhijeet Gupta, Yannick Pelletier and many more.
Throughout the video course, Sasikran shows various examples from his career to explain sacrifices for initiative, an attack, a better pawn structure and much more.
In this insightful video course, Grandmaster David Navara shares practical advice on when to calculate deeply in a position — and just as importantly, when not to.
The Trompowsky is especially suited for faster time controls as you don‘t have to memorise endless lines of theory, and you push your opponent out of their comfort zone after your second move.
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