"Why is Anish Giri on the cover?"

by Nagesh Havanur
5/29/2018 – In this second part of the review, our columnist draws attention to important games included in the issue. He also offers a test or two to young readers to hone their tactical skills. Among other things, this issue includes games from Wijk aan Zee, Gibralter Masters and Tal Memorial Tournaments. In all, 2189 games (several annotated) with 12 opening surveys from Sicilian to Slav. Not to be missed.
Enjoy the best moments of recent top tournaments (Wijk aan Zee and Gibraltar) with analysis of top players. In addition you'll get lots of training material. For example 12 new suggestions for your opening repertoire.

See also part 1: Challenging the Champion

CBM 183 Review, Part 2

"Why is Anish Giri on the cover of this issue?" asked a bemused reader. Not without reason. Giri finished joint first with Carlsen at Wijk aan Zee with a score of (+5 -0 = 8) losing only the tie-break thereafter (½-1½). In this issue, he annotates his games with Kramnik and Mamedyarov. This issue also includes games from the Gibralter Masters and several other tournaments, big and small.

The Gibralter event was won by Levon Aronian after beating Vachier-Lagrave in a playoff. They were closely followed by Hikaru Nakamura and Richard Rapport. A number of encounters from this event (276 players and 1300 games) are annotated in this issue. Here it is not easy to pick and choose. For now, I would mention only a few: Aronian-Short, Vachier-Lagrave vs Nakamura and Duda-Nakamura. Among the unannotated games, the encounter Pichot-Cheparinov is not to be missed.

Here is a little test for our young readers. In the following position, White has already sacrificed a piece and now offers a rook for a mating attack. Can Black save himself?

 
Black to move

I would also like to draw the attention of readers to games from Tal Memorial Tournament included in this issue. This celebrated event was held in March and it appears that the games from the tournament arrived at the last moment of preparation of this DVD. Consequently, all the games are included, but none is annotated. In a way, it’s a blessing in disguise. Readers should try and analyse these games on their own and then compare their work with Grandmaster commentary that should appear in the next issue. The tournament itself had a star-studded field, experienced campaigners at all. While Anand, the eventual winner showed his class, others were not far behind.

I was particularly impressed by the Svidler-Kramnik encounter:

 
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1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.0-0 Be7 5.d3 0-0 6.Nbd2 c5 7.e4 Nc6 8.Re1 Qc7 9.e5 Nd7 10.Qe2 b5 11.Nf1 Bb7 12.Bf4 Rfc8 13.Ne3 Qd8 14.h4 h6 15.c3 b4 16.c4 Nb6 17.Rad1 Rc7 18.Ng4 Qf8 19.Qe3 Nd4 20.Nxd4 cxd4 21.Qe2 Rd8 22.b3 a5 23.Nh2 Kh8 24.Qh5 Qg8 25.Ng4 Bf8 26.c5 Nd7 27.Nh2 Nxc5 28.Qe2 Ba6 29.Nf3 Qh7 30.Bf1 Ne4 31.Rc1 Rc3 32.Nxd4 Bc5 33.Qe3 Rxc1 34.Qxc1 Nc3 35.Be3 Bxd3 36.Nxe6 fxe6 37.Bxc5 Bxf1 38.Kxf1 d4 39.Bd6 Qf5 40.Kg2 Rc8 41.Qd2 d3 42.Re3 Ne4 43.Qxd3 Qxf2+ 44.Kh3 Rc3 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Svidler,P2760Kramnik,V28000–12018C0011th Tal Mem Rapid 20183.1

Games from the Blitz Tournament are also included in this issue and before you see the following miniature, take a look at the players in action:

Mamedyarov-Andreikin, Tal Memorial Blitz Tournament 2018

 
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1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Bg5!? An offbeat line. 4.Bf4 is standard. 4...h6 4...Nf6 5.Bxf6 gxf6 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.e3 transposes to the line below. 4...Nc6 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Bxf6 gxf6 7.e3 was seen in Grischuk-Carlsen, Paris GCT Rapid 2017 (��, 39 moves) After 4...f6 White plays 5.Bd2! White cannot prevent the freeing advance...e5 with 5.Bf4 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.Nbd2 Bxf3 8.Nxf3 e5 9.dxe5 fxe5 10.Nxe5?? Bb4+-+ Similarly 5.Bh4 is met by Nh6 A possible line is 6.Nf3 Nf5 7.Bg3 Nc6 8.e3 g5 9.Bd3 h5 10.Bxf5 Bxf5 11.h4 g4 12.Nfd2 e5 5...e5 6.e3 Black has to see how he can develop his kingside. 5.Bh4 Qb6 6.Nc3 e5!? A theoretical novelty that is not easy to counter in blitz. The immediate 6...Qxb2 does not offer much. 7.Nxd5 e6 8.Rb1 Qa3 9.Qc2! Qa5+ 10.Qc3 Qxc3+ 11.Nxc3= 7.Nf3 Not 7.dxe5?? Qxb2 8.Qc1 Qb4-+ 7...Nc6 8.e3 exd4 9.Nxd4 9.exd4 Be6 If 9...Qxb2 10.Nxd5 Bb4+ 11.Nxb4 Qxb4+ 12.Qd2 Qxd2+ 13.Kxd2 10.Qd2 Bb4= 9...Qxb2 10.Nxd5 Bb4+ Not 10...Nxd4?? 11.Bb5+‼+- 11.Nxb4 Qc3+ 12.Ke2 Qxb4 13.Rb1 Nxd4+ 14.exd4 Qa5 15.Ke3 g5 15...Nf6 allows 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Qe1! Qa3+ 18.Kf4+ Be6 19.Qb4 Qxb4 20.Rxb4 0-0-0= 16.Bb5+ Kf8 17.Bg3 Nf6 18.Bd6+ Kg8 19.f3 Bf5 20.Rb2 If 20.Rb3 Nd5+ 21.Kf2 Qxa2+ 22.Kg1 Bc2-+ 20.Qb3 Bxb1 21.Rxb1 a6 was the lesser evil. 20...Qc3+ 0–1
  • Start an analysis engine:
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  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Mamedyarov,S2809Andreikin,D27120–12018D1011th Tal Mem Blitz 2018

It is to the credit of Mamedyarov that he shrugged off this loss and went on to win the Blitz Tournament.

For Shirov the Slav and the Semi-Slav form one huge and common opening. Of course it is a mighty opening complex and the DVD cannot give a complete picture of it, but in the areas he chooses to highlight our author is an absolute expert and capable of giving the deepest possible insights into the secrets of this extremely solid opening.

Daniel Fridmam

To return to the magazine, there are as many as twelve opening surveys from Sicilian to Slav. I would like to make special mention of Lars Schandorff’s analysis of 7...Bg4 line in Petroff Defence. Until recently this move was under a cloud. Schandorff informs us that Daniel Fridman has done much to rehabilitate the whole line.

I have chosen one critical game from his survey and offered a general overview here:

Cheparinov-Fridman, European Individual Championship, 2017 (C42)
 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 5.Nc3 is currently in vogue. 5...d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 The more direct line 6...Bd6 although well-analyzed, still scores points for Black. 7.0-0 Bg4 7...Be7 8.c4 Nb4 9.Be2 0-0 10.a3 Nc6 also played here is not without problems. 8.c4 8.Re1 Be7 9.c4 9.Bxe4 dxe4 10.Rxe4 Bxf3 11.Qxf3 Nxd4 12.Qd3 Ne6 13.Qe2 0-0= 9.c3 f5 10.Nbd2 0-0 11.Qb3 Kh8!? 12.Qxb7 Rf6 13.Qb3 Rb8 14.Qc2 Bd6 9...Nf6 10.Nc3 Nxd4 11.cxd5 Bxf3 12.gxf3 c5 13.Bb5+ Kf8!?∞ Danin-Li Chao, Grenke 2016 (0-1, 52 moves). The game is fully discussed in this issue. 8...Nf6 A necessary retreat as Black cannot maintain both the queen pawn and the knight in their present positions. 8...Bxf3 9.Qxf3 Nxd4 10.Qe3 Bc5 11.cxd5 f5 12.Nc3± 8...Be7 9.Nc3 Nxc3 10.bxc3 is known to be good for White. 9.Nc3 Be7 9...Bxf3 10.Qxf3 Nxd4 11.Qe3+ Ne6 12.cxd5 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 Qxd5 14.Be4 Qb5 15.a4 Qa6 16.Rd1! was seen in Kasparov-Karpov, (6) World Championship Match 1986. While the game was drawn, the opening favoured White with two bishops and superior development. 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.h3 Be6 12.Re1 0-0 13.a3 This prevents a knight sortie to b4 that would have threatened the bishop on d3 and also strenghthened the position of the knight on d5. Re8 14.Qc2 h6 15.Rxe6 fxe6 16.Qe2 Bd6 17.Bg6 Qd7 Black returns the exchange to release presssure from the bishop. A good practical decision according to Lars Schandorff. If Black saves the rook with 17...Re7 there follows 18.Bd2 Bf4 19.Be1 and he cannot make further progress. 18.Bxe8 Rxe8 19.Bd2 Nf6 20.Qb5 Nd8! 20...b6 makes the c-file a target for the White rook in the long run. Currently his object is to prevent the freeing advance...e5. 21.Rc1 20...Rb8 allows 21.Re1 21.Qb3 21.Qxd7 Nxd7 is level. But neither side wants a draw. 21...Qf7 22.Qa4? White is still trying to probe the queenside. But he gets nothing. Instead he should have tried 22.Ne5! Bxe5 23.dxe5 Nd7 24.f4 22...a6 23.Re1 23.Ne5 was still available. 23...Nc6 24.Ne5 Bxe5 25.dxe5 Nd7 26.Qb3? Still targeting the queenside pawns. 26.f4 strengthening e5 and threatening f4-f5 in the long run is preferable. 26...b5? Black is anxious to put an end to the threat to the b-pawn. He could have done it better with 26...Nc5 27.Qc4 Or 27.Qc2 Rd8 27...Qf5 28.Qxf5 exf5 29.f4 27...Rd8 threatening...Nd3. 27.Ne4 Ncxe5 28.Qg3 Nc4!? Courting danger! Black hopes to mobilize his queenside pawns. 28...Kh7? 29.Bc3 Nc4 30.Qxc7± wins a pawn. So also 28...Qg6 29.Qxg6 Nxg6 30.Rc1± 29.Bxh6 Nxb2 30.Re3 Re7 31.Bg5 Nc4 If 31...Re8 32.Rf3 Qg6 33.Bf6 Qxg3 34.Rxg3+- 32.Rf3 Qg6 33.Bxe7? Obvious and wrong. Reducing Black's queenside pawns is more important than giving up the bishop for the rook. He should have played 33.Qxc7! Nce5 34.Rg3 Rf7 35.f3+- and White would mop up the pawns on the queenside with 36. Qc8+ while retaining threats on the kingside. 33...Qxe4 34.Bg5 Nde5 35.Rc3 c5 36.Kh2 Kh7 37.Rc1 Nd3 38.Rc3 Ncb2 If 38...Nce5? 39.f4 Qd4 40.Rc2± 39.Bc1 Nxc1 40.Rxc1 Nd3 41.Rc2 e5 The other line is unclear. 41...c4 42.Qg5 Qd5 43.Qh4+ Kg8∞ 42.Qg5 Heading for perpetual check as Black pawns are dangerous. c4 43.Qh5+ Kg8 44.Qe8+ Kh7 45.Qh5+ Kg8 46.Qe8+ ½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Cheparinov,I2688Fridman,D2605½–½ C42European Individual Championship, Minsk

There is much else in this DVD that deserves to be explored. Apart from these surveys, there are regular sections on opening traps, middlegame tactics and endings. I was interested to see an article by Efstratios Grivas on the Novotný theme (named after Antonín Novotný, Czech chess composer who discovered the idea).

Here is a problem by Milan Vukcevich for young solvers.

 
White mates in two moves

Grivas also gives examples of the Novotný from tournament play. This brings us to the end of this review. In all, there are 2189 games of which 171 are annotated by masters and grandmasters. Among others, they include Michael Adams, Mihail Marin, Michel Krasenkow. Igor Stohl and Krisztian Szabo to mention a few. A major contribution is made by Suat Atalik who has annotated 55  games. He is followed by Daniel Fernandez with 44 games.

Recommended.

ChessBase Magazine 183

  • Languages: English, German
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Enjoy the best moments of recent top tournaments (Wijk aan Zee and Gibraltar) with analysis of top players. In addition you'll get lots of training material. For example 12 new suggestions for your opening repertoire.

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Prof. Nagesh Havanur (otherwise known as "chessbibliophile") is a senior academic and research scholar. He taught English in Mumbai for three decades and has now settled in Bangalore, India. His interests include chess history, biography and opening theory. He has been writing on the Royal Game for more than three decades. His articles and reviews have appeared on several web sites and magazines.

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