The Agony and the Ecstasy

by Nagesh Havanur
7/29/2018 – Among other things this issue includes games from the World Championship Candidates, Grenke and Gashimov Memorial Tournaments. 2295 games (several annotated) with 10 opening surveys from the Caro-Kann to the Queen’s Indian. A collector’s issue. Not to be missed.
Enjoy the best moments of recent top tournaments (Berlin, Baden-Baden and Shamkir) with analysis of top players. In addition you'll get lots of training material. For example 10 new suggestions for your opening repertoire.

When gladiators fight unto death

The Editor was bemused.

"Why does it take so long to write a review?"CBM 184

"Some times it’s just one game and you are trying to figure out all the answers yourself without looking at ChessBase. But you don’t get them and then you check out the magazine" I replied.

Presently we shall see that game here. The main part of the DVD is devoted to the Candidates Tournament. Three of the players have annotated their games in this issue. So we have Caruana on his encounter with Grischuk, Ding Liren on his battle with Mamedyarov and Kamnik on his victory over Aronian. I was particularly interested in another game Kramnik versus Caruana. This was a magnificent duel with both players fighting on the edge of precipice. In this issue the game is annotated by Evgeny Postny and a separate commentary is provided by Karsten Müller. By way of comparision I have  also checked the annotations by Timman (New in Chess), Jacob Aagaard (Ameican Chess Magazine)  and Mikhalevski (ChessPublishing.com) among others.  From my experience, I can say, it’s impossible for one annotator to get everything right. This game is incredibly complicated. Readers are well-advised to check the analysis here with a “microscopic” eye.
 
Kramnik and Caruana

Kramnik vs Caruana, Berlin Candidates, Round 4 | Photo: World Chess

 
Kramnik vs Caruana, Candidates 2018
Vlad has just received a shock when he thought he was winning
 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 Kramnik himself used to play the Petroff during 1990s Till he found the Berlin with 2...Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 make Kasparov's life miserable and win the World Championship in 2000 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Qe2 This leads to an early exchange of queens.However, it is no sign of peaceful intentions. 5.d4 d5 the standard line has no surprises for Caruana. A few rounds later Karjakin tried 5.Nc3 and won against Caruana. 5...Qe7 6.Nc3 Nxc3 7.dxc3 Qxe2+ 8.Bxe2 Nc6 9.Be3 Be7 10.0-0-0 0-0 11.Rhe1 Bf6 12.Nd2 This move, preparing to play Ne4 is clumsy and costs tempi. 12.Nd4 makes more sense. 12...Re8 13.Bf3 Ne5 14.Bf4 Kf8 The immediate 14...c6 allows 15.Nc4 15.Bd5 c6 16.Bb3 Bf5 17.h3 needlessly complicating matters for himself 17.Nc4 Nxc4 18.Bxc4 d5 19.Bd3 should be level. 17...g5 18.Bh2 Kg7 Commentators suggested the freeing advance 18...d5! 19.c4 It is necessary to prevent...d6-d5 before playing Ne4. 19.Ne4 Bxe4 20.Rxe4 d5 is good for Black. Karsten M�ler prefers 19.f4 gxf4 20.Bxf4 d5 21.c4 19...g4 20.Ne4 Bxe4 21.Rxe4 Bg5+ 21...Rad8 22.hxg4± 22.Kb1 gxh3 23.c5?! Now the whole board goes up in flames.But the complications favour Black. 23.gxh3! is simple and good. After f5 Postny gives 24.Ree1 Perhaps better than Karsten M�ler's 24.Bxe5+ dxe5 25.Rd7+ Kf6! 26.Re1 Bh4 24...Nf3 25.Rxe8 Rxe8 26.Bxd6 Re2 Not 23.Rxd6? Nxc4! 24.Rxe8 Rxe8 25.Rd1 Nd2+ 26.Ka1 hxg2-+ with the twin threats of ...Nf3 and...Re2. 23...f5! Vlad was only expecting 23...hxg2? 24.cxd6 Nf3 25.Rg4 But now the pawn on f5 would not allow the rook on g4. 24.Rb4 hxg2 25.Rxb7+ Kh8 26.cxd6 Burning his boats. White is ready to give up a piece. Worse is 26.Rg1? Nf3 27.Rxg2?? Re1# 26.Bg1 dxc5-+ followed by...Rad8 is also hopeless for White as the bishop on g1 cannot hold out for long. 26...Nf3 27.Ba4 If 27.Bg1? Re2-+ 27...Nxh2 28.Bxc6 Rad8! In the press conference after the game Caruana said, he did try to see if the spectacular move 28...Re4!? worked. It didn't. 29.Rg1 29.Bxe4? fxe4 30.Rg1 e3 31.Rxg2 31.fxe3 Rf8-+ 31...e2 32.Rg1 Nf1-+ 29...Re6 30.Bxg2 Rxd6 31.Rh1 Rad8 29.d7 29.Bxe8? Rxd6 30.Rxd6?? g1Q+-+ After 29.Bxg2 White has nothing to show for the piece and the pawn on d6 does not count for much. 29...Re2 30.Bxg2 Rxf2-+ 31.Bc6 Ng4? Karsten M�ler gives 31...Nf1! 32.Rxa7 32.c4 Nd2+ 32...Ne3 32.Rxa7 A pawn is a pawn. However, Timman prefers 32.c4 Ne3 33.Rg1 Be7 34.Rc1 Bc5 35.Rb5 Bd4 36.c5 32...Ne3 33.Rg1 h6? Obvious and wrong. This move allows White to find counterplay. But then Caruana was in time trouble. He had only two minutes on the clock. Karsten M�ler gives 33...Rxc2! 34.Rc7 Bf6 35.Rc8 Rxb2+ 36.Kc1 Rxa2-+ 34.Rc7 Kg7? Now the bishop gets pinned. If 34...Nxc2? 35.Rxg5 Rxd7 36.Rc8+ Kh7 37.Bxd7 hxg5 38.Rxc2 Rxc2 39.Kxc2+- On 34...Rxc2? Timman gives 35.Rxg5! Rxd7 36.Rc8+ Kh7 37.Bxd7 Rxc8 38.Rxf5!+- Postny and Karsten M�ler rightly prefer 34...Kh7! 35.Bb5 35.a4? Rxc2 36.Rc8 Bf6 35...Rd2 36.a4 f4 37.a5 f3 38.a6 f2 39.Rh1 Bf4 40.Rb7 Bb8 41.a7 Bxa7 42.Rxa7= (M�ler). 35.a4 A menacing pawn advance. not 35.Rxg5+? hxg5 36.Rc8?? Rf1# 35...Kf7 Karsten M�ler gives 35...Rxc2 36.Rc8 Rxc6 37.Rxd8 Rd6 38.Re8 Ng4 39.Rf1 Kg6= 40.Rg8+ Kh7 41.Re8 Kg6= 36.Bb5 "A winning attempt in mutual time trouble"-Timman 36.a5 Rxc2 37.a6 Bf6 38.a7 Rxb2+ 39.Kc1 Rc2+= is safer. 36...Ke7?! Postny prefers 36...Nd5! 37.Rc8 Nb6 38.Rxd8 Bxd8 39.a5 Nxd7 40.Bxd7 Bxa5= Karsten M�ler offers 36...Rd2! 37.a5 Rd5 38.c4 Rd2 39.Rc8 Bf6 40.Rxd8 Rxb2+= 37.a5 Rf4 If 37...Kd6? 38.Rc6+ Ke7 39.a6+- 38.c3 Preventing both ...Rb4 and...Rd4 38.a6 Rb4= 38...Kd6 Experts have questioned this move.It's hard to believe, such an obvious move can be wrong. Instead they recommend 38...Rg4 After 39.Rh1 Black can try Postny's Nd5 or Karsten M�ler's 39...Kd6 White is slightly better in each case. 39.Rb7? The tragedy for Vlad has begun.One move before the time control he misses the win. Postny gives 39.Rc6+! Ke7 40.a6 Rxd7 41.Rc8 Ra7 42.Re8+ Kf6 43.Rxe3+- 39...Rg4 40.Re1 f4 41.a6 h5 Karsten M�ler gives 41...f3 42.a7 f2 43.Rxe3 Bxe3 44.Rb8 Rg1+ 45.Kc2 Rg2 46.Bf1 Bxa7 47.Rxd8 Rg7 48.Bh3 f1Q 49.Bxf1 Rxd7 50.Rh8 Be3 51.b4 42.a7 Ra8 43.b4? After the game Caruana indicated, 43.c4! was stronger and he intended to reply with Kc5 There follows 44.b4+ Kd4 45.Bc6 Kc3 46.Rc7+- 43...h4 44.c4? There was a win with 44.d8Q+! Bxd8 45.Rd7+ Ke5 46.Bc6 Rxa7 47.Rxa7+- 44...h3 45.c5+? The previous idea still works, but it's not as decisive. 45.d8Q+! Bxd8 46.Rd7+ Ke5 47.Bc6 Rxa7 48.Rxa7± 45...Ke5 46.Rb8 Vlad thought he was winning with this move. Sadly, it's based on a miscalculation. Karsten M�ler gives 46.c6 h2 47.c7 Rg1 48.Bc6 Rxe1+ 49.Ka2 Nd5 Aagaard's line also draws. 49...Ra1+ 50.Kxa1 Nd5 51.Bxd5 Kxd5 52.c8Q h1Q+= 50.Bxd5 Kxd5 51.c8Q h1Q 52.Rb5+= White draws by perpetual check. His other line is complicated. 46.Bc6 h2 47.Rh1 Rg1+ 48.Kb2 f3 49.Bxf3 Rg3 50.Rxh2 Rxf3 51.c6 Nc4+= 46...Rxa7 47.Rg8 Threatening 48.Rxg5 Rxg5 49.d7-d8 =Q. Black's position looks hopeless. Bf6‼ 48.d8Q the only move 48.Rxg4? Kf5 49.Rxe3 fxe3 50.d8Q Bxd8 51.Rg1 h2 52.Rh1 Bf6-+ 48...Bxd8 49.Rxg4 Till now White was a piece down and now he is an exchange up. However, his troubles are not over. 49.Rxd8?? Rg2-+ 49...Bf6 with the same veiled threat of ....Ra1+, once the king moves away 50.Rg6 Rb7 51.Be2 After the more obvious 51.Bd3 Black rook has more play. Rxb4+ 52.Ka2 Rd4 53.Bb5 Rd2+= 51...Rxb4+ 52.Ka2 Nc2 trying to weave a mating net Simpler is 52...Ke6 53.Rb1 Ra4+ 54.Kb3 Ra8= Postny's line is similar. 52...Be7 53.c6 Ra4+ 54.Kb1 Rb4+= 53.Rc1 Nd4 If 53...h2? 54.c6+- 54.Bd3 This move has been criticised. But 54.Bg4 suggested by some experts also does not win. h2! 55.Re1+ Kd5 56.Rxf6 Now Black is a whole rook down! Ra4+ 57.Kb2 Rb4+ 58.Kc1 Rc4+ 59.Kd1 Ra4 60.Rh6 60.c6 Ra1+ 61.Kd2 Rxe1 62.c7 Rd1+!= 60...Kc4 61.c6 In New in Chess Magazine, 04/2018 CC-GM Rolf Knobel gives 61.Be2+ Kc3 62.Ra6 Nxe2 63.Rxa4 Ng1 and White draws by perpetual check. 64.Ree4 64.Rxf4 h1Q= 64...h1Q= 61...Kd3 threatening mate! 62.Rh3+ f3 63.Bf5+ 63.Bxf3?? Ra1# 63...Nxf5 64.Rxf3+ Kc4 65.c7 Nd6 66.Rf4+ Kb5 67.Rxa4 Kxa4 68.Rh1 Kb5 69.Rxh2 Kb6= 54...Ra4+ 55.Kb1? "I decided to repeat moves, but then suddenly ...Nb3 came." Kramnik. Postny gives the paradoxical 55.Kb2! Ke6 56.Rh1 As Aagaard shows, it works. Rb4+ 57.Kc3 Nc6+ 58.Rxf6+ Kxf6 59.Rxh3= 55...Nb3! 56.Re1+ 56.Rc2 Ke6 57.Rh2 Nxc5 58.Rxh3 Nxd3 59.Rxd3 Ra1+ 60.Kc2= 56...Kd5 57.Kc2 Postny gives 57.Rxf6 Ra1+ 58.Kb2 Rxe1 59.Kxb3 h2 60.Bc4+ Kxc5 61.Rf5+ Kd6 62.Bd5 f3! 63.Bxf3 Re3+ 64.Kc2 Rxf3 65.Rh5! Rf2+ 66.Kd3= 57...Nd4+ 58.Kb1? This doesn't lose yet. But it draws him close to the same peril as before. Postny gives 58.Kc1! Nf3 59.Rd1 Ra1+ 60.Bb1+= 58...Nf3 59.Rd1?? Moving the rook to a "safer" square costs him the game. 59.Rf1 Nd2+ 60.Kc2 Ra2+ 61.Kd1 Nxf1 62.Bxf1 h2 63.Rh6 f3 59.Rxf6 Nxe1 60.Bf1 h2 61.Rh6 Kxc5 62.Rxh2= 59...Ra1+ 60.Kc2 Rxd1 61.Ba6 61.Kxd1 h2 62.Rh6 Bh4-+ 61...Rd2+ 61...h2 62.Bb7+ Ke5 63.Bxf3 62.Kc1 Bb2+ 63.Kb1 Kxc5 The last potential threat is eliminated. 64.Bb7 Ne5 65.Rf6 f3 66.Rf5 f2 and a despairing Vlad resigned here. 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Kramnik,V2800Caruana,F27840–12018C42FIDE Candidates 2018

Kramnik with head down

Despair! Nothing is left. A terrifying battle! | Photo: Evegeny Surov / chessnews.ru

This issue includes all games from the Candidates’ Tournament and each of them is annotated. That alone makes it a collector’s issue.

What about Magnus?

The magazine also includes games from Grenke and Gashimov Memorial Tournaments. As is known, Carlsen was pipped at the post by Caruana. Magnus was bogged down by draws and could not find a win to win the superior ending against Caruana. He fared better in the Gashimov Memorial Tournament scoring first ahead of Ding Liren and Karjakin.At the time of writing he is playing in the  Biel Chess Festival. It would be followed by the Sinquefield Cup and European Club Cup ( he would be skipping the Olympiad, though).Hopefully, he would find the form for the world championship to be held later this year.

Siesta Variation returns

To return to this magazine, there are as many as ten opening surveys ranging from the Caro-Kann to the Queen’s Indian Defence. Among them Krisztian Szabo’s survey of the Siesta Variation deserves special mention. This variation was adopted by Capablanca who employed it twice with success  way back in 1928.

Capablanca

Apparently, he had picked up the idea from Frank Marshall who played it against him their 1909 Match (the line itself has its ancestry in an old game, Walbrodt-Von Scheve, DSB Kongress, Dresden 1892). Here is an amusing miniature:

 
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1.e41,184,21554%2421---
1.d4958,93255%2434---
1.Nf3286,32756%2441---
1.c4184,72256%2443---
1.g319,88456%2427---
1.b314,59854%2428---
1.f45,95348%2377---
1.Nc33,90650%2384---
1.b41,79048%2378---
1.a31,25054%2406---
1.e31,08149%2409---
1.d396950%2378---
1.g467046%2361---
1.h446654%2382---
1.c343951%2425---
1.h328956%2420---
1.a411860%2461---
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1.Nh39267%2511---
1.Na34762%2476---
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.c3 a6 5.Ba4 f5 6.d4 fxe4 7.Ng5 exd4 8.Nxe4 Nf6 9.Bg5 Be7 10.Qxd4 b5 11.Nxf6+ gxf6 12.Qd5 bxa4 13.Bh6 Qd7 14.0-0 Bb7 15.Bg7 0-0-0 16.Bxh8 Ne5 17.Qd1 Bf3 18.gxf3 Qh3 0–1
  • 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
Reti,R-Capablanca,J-0–11928C74Berlin Tageblatt
Reti,R-Capablanca,J-0–1 C74Berlin Tageblatt

Admittedly, current theory and practice has gone much ahead in this variation. In this case it’s also to good to know the path that has been traversed so far.

Apart from these surveys, there are regular sections on opening traps, middlegame tactics and endings. There is much else in this DVD that deserves to be explored. In all, there are 2295 OTB games of which 156 are annotated. The commentators include Caruana, Kramnik and Ding Liren to mention regular contributors like Krasenkow, Mikhalchshin and Marin. A major contribution is made by Daniel Fernandez who has annotated 29 games. He is followed by Michael Roiz with ten games.

Recommended.

Enjoy the best moments of recent top tournaments (Berlin, Baden-Baden and Shamkir) with analysis of top players. In addition you'll get lots of training material. For example 10 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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