CBM 186: A summer of Carlsen, Caruana and Mamedyarov

by Nagesh Havanur
11/1/2018 – ChessBase Magazine 186 featured star analysis from World Number 3 Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, but reflecting on the most recent issue, Professor NAGESH HAVANUR chooses to focus his review in large part on the games featuring Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana who will take centre stage next week. In that light, his highlights are worth reviewing even if you're familiar with the games from our contemporaneous coverage this past summer. Enjoy!
Enjoy the best moments of recent top tournaments (Sinquefield Cup, Biel, Dortmund) with analysis of top players. In addition you'll get lots of training material. For example 10 new suggestions for your opening repertoire.

The Warlord from the East

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (featured on the cover of this issue) reminds one of the legendary warriors of the East. Few can rival him in swashbuckling play over the board. One had a glimpse of the same in his game with Aronian in the recent Olympiad. He conjured up a magical attack from nowhere to score a victory. But then this kind of play also has its flip side. Two rounds later he fell prey to Caruana who withstood his aggression to begin an attack on his own that prevailed in the end. The despairing Azeri left the board without a word.

IM Sagar Shah narrates the conclusion of this key game | ChessBase India YouTube

In this issue, there are as many as 46 games played by Mamedyarov. In Biel he beat Carlsen with powerful positional play and the victory enabled him to come first ahead of Magnus. The game is annotated by GM Mikhail Golubev.

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.Nc3 d6 6.Nf3 c5 6...Nc6 7.0-0 e5 was played by Navara against Georgiadis in Round 2. 7.0-0 Nc6! 8.e3 Surely, not a critical move. The Yugoslav System of the King's Indian has been only rarely seen in the practice of both players and in these games the lines tested were the main lines with 8.d5 Na5! 9.Nd2 and 8.dxc5 dxc5 8...d5!? A curious idea, which has been tried only a few times in the past: Black claims that White's extra move e2-e3 is not useful at all! 'Unless there's some concrete refutation, d5 is just a very nice move' - Carlsen. In Botvinnik-Najdorf, Amsterdam 1954, Black opted for a probably playable 8...Bf5!? Black's important options include a forcing 8...Bg4 9.h3 Bxf3 10.Bxf3 Nd7 and if 11.d5 Na5! (first occurred in Moiseev-Vasiukov, Erevan 1954) and 8...cxd4 9.Nxd4 9.exd4 d5! 10.c5 Ne4= 9...Bg4!? . In other words, Black has a really wide choice. 9.cxd5 After 9.dxc5!? dxc4 10.Qa4 (Behrensen-Shocron, ARG-ch Buenos Aires 1955) Black can play Be6 11.Ng5 Qc8!? maybe. 9...Nxd5 10.Nxd5 Qxd5 11.Ne5 Qd6 Probably sufficient for equality is 11...Qd8!? 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Bxc6 or 13.dxc5 Ba6 14.Re1 Qxd1 15.Rxd1 Rfd8 13...Bh3 14.Re1 Rb8 15.d5 Bxb2 16.Bxb2 Rxb2= 12.Nc4!N Qc7! 13.d5 Rd8 14.Bd2 Black is OK after 14.Qe2 Ne5 15.e4 Bg4 ∆16.f3 Nxc4! 17.fxg4 Bd4+ 18.Kh1 Ne5 19.Bf4 c4!?= 14...Nb4? Overpushing. White would have had at best a marginal advantage after 14...Ne5 15.Nxe5 Bxe5 or 14...b5!? 15.dxc6 15.Na3 Ba6! 15...bxc4 16.Qe1 a5 17.Bc3 15.Bxb4? A quite unpleasant surprise for Black would have been 15.e4! b5 16.Bf4! Qb7 if 16...e5 17.d6! Qc6 18.Nxe5 Qxd6 19.Qxd6 Rxd6 20.Nxf7!± 17.Ne5! and if 17.Na5? Qb6 18.Nb3 c4 19.Be3 Qc7 17...g5?! a blow, which is easy to underestimate: 18.Nxf7! rather than 18.Qh5?! gxf4 19.Qxf7+ Kh8 where Black is OK 18...Kxf7 19.Bxg5± with the idea of 20. a3!, 21. e5. It seems that both players missed this. 15...cxb4 Now Black has sufficient counter-chances in the double-edged fight. 16.Rc1 a5 17.a3!? bxa3 18.bxa3 a4! 19.Qd3 An alternative was 19.Qd2!? Qc5! not 19...Rb8? 20.Qb4 19...Bf5 "A massive oversight" - Carlsen. But this move is hardly too bad in fact. Instead, 19...Rb8! with the idea of ...b5 was quite a good option. Indeed, an immediate 19...b5? is wrong due to 20.d6 After the game Magnus mentioned another idea, 19...Bd7 (?!) 20.d6 exd6 21.Ne5! . Let's continue: Qa5 22.Nxd7 Rxd7 23.Bd5 and White has an initiative for the pawn, Black's position is unsafe. Bb2 24.Rc4!? Bxa3 25.Rb1 ∆b5 26.Rg4 b4 27.h4 Re8! 28.h5! One more option was 19...Ra6!? (Carlsen) 20.Qb1! 20.Rb1? Rc6! 21.Rfc1 Rc5 20.e4! Bd7 21.Qe3! Missed by Magnus. Ra6! 22.e5 b5 23.d6 Qb8! 24.dxe7 Re8 25.Rfd1 More dangerous than 25.Nd6 Rxe7 25...Rxe7 26.Qc5! Qf8? A serious mistake. The correct move was 26...Bf8! where White does not have much after 27.Nd6 27.Ne3! A move, missed by the world champion. Black is in trouble. Be6 27...Bxe5? loses to 28.Rxd7+- And 27...Qe8 28.Bb7 28.f4!?± 28...Rae6 29.Nd5 Rxe5 30.Nxe7+ Rxe7 is obviously difficult or possibly just bad for Black. 28.Qxb5 So, White grabbed a pawn, but Black is able to resist. Raa7 29.Nd5 Bxd5 30.Rxd5 Reb7 31.Qd3 Rb8 32.h4 Qe8?! 33.Qd4?! Qe7?! 34.f4?! Bf8 35.Kh2 Rab7?! 36.Qxa4?! Qxa3 37.Qxa3 Bxa3 After the imprecise play from both sides, in a kind of position where it's hard to find the 'computer moves', Mamedyarov has allowed Black to enter the endgame with fair chances for a draw. But at the same time White has avoided any practical risks. 38.Rcd1 Be7 39.Kh3 Rc7 40.h5 gxh5!? 41.f5 f6 42.e6 Rb3 43.Rd7 Rbc3 44.Ra1 Kg7 45.Ra8 Kh6 46.Re8 Bb4 47.Rb8 Be7 48.Be4 R3c4 49.Bd5 R4c5 50.Be4 Rc4 51.Bd5 R4c5 52.Rb7 Rxd7 53.Rxd7 Ra5? Instead, 53...Bf8! would have been correct. 54.Bc6? After 54.Bc4 Ra4 54...Ba3? 55.e7 Re5 56.Be6+- 55.Rxe7 Rxc4 56.Re8! a rook endgame is probably wining for White in the long run. After Re4 , 57.Rg8! should be played, preventing ...Kg5 and preparing g3-g4. 54...Ba3 55.Rf7 Here 55.e7? is answered by Re5= 55...Re5 After the game the contestants discussed 55...Rxf5 56.e7 Bxe7 57.Rxe7 Rc5 followed by. ..f5. And were unsure about the assessment. Yes, chess is complex. 56.Kh4 Carlsen had anticipated 56.Rxf6+ . White can't win there after Kg5 57.Rf7 Bc5 or 57...Bd6 56...Bc1?? A terrible blunder. The correct idea was to forget about the f6-pawn and wait: 56...Bc5 57.Rxf6+ Kg7 58.Rf7+ Kh6 . Then, for example, 59.g4 Bf2+! 60.Kh3 Re3+ 61.Kg2 Bh4 62.gxh5 Kxh5! and all that White can achieve here is the ending R + B vs R. 57.e7+- Not 57.Rxf6+? Kg7 58.Rf7+ Kh6 ∆59.e7 Bg5+ 1–0
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Mamedyarov,S2801Carlsen,M28421–02018E65Biel GM 51st9

Mamedyarov vs Carlsen

In general, Mamedyarov played sober, practical chess in Biel | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Biel International Chess Festival

When Mamedyarov was asked in an interview if there was a change in style he replied, “In the past, I used to play more aggressively, while now you might say I play more wisely.”

But then a leopard cannot change his spots. I found another game in this issue that is a lot more fun.

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 The Spanish with 3.Bb5 allows Black to vary more. 3...Nf6 4.d3 "The slow but venomous Italian Game" in Karsten Mueller's words has been revived by modern masters led by Carlsen. The older line 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Be2 is well-analysed and no longer played at this level. 4...h6 preventing Ng5 before he can play...d6 4...Bc5 developing a piece in the traditional way still looks preferable. 4...Be7 is also played here. 5.0-0 d6 It appears that the Black bishop would only be developed to e7 followed by ...0-0. 5...Bc5 was still available. 6.Re1 A routine move that leaves other pieces behind. 6.c3 preparing d4 is met by...g6 and...Bg7. Currently it's the main line in this variation. 6...g5!? A radical move, ruling out castling on this side and intiating attack on the king. 6...Be7 followed by..0-0 leads to a traditional setup. 6...g6 followed by...Bg7 is better-known here. 7.d4? Opening up the centre without developing pieces on the queeside is an error. He could have played 7.Nc3 or 7.Be3. 7.Nc3 7.Be3 7.c3 g4 8.Nfd2 Be6 is good for Black. 7...g4 8.dxe5 gxf3 9.exf6 Ne5! stronger than 9...Rg8 seen in Sebastian-Beerdsen, PRo League, Rapid 2017 10.Nd2 Qxf6 11.gxf3 forced 11.Nxf3?? Nxc4-+ 11...Rg8+ 12.Kh1 Nxc4 13.Nxc4 Bh3 14.Ne3 h5 15.Bd2 0-0-0 15...Qxb2 allows White to defend the position. 16.f4 0-0-0 17.Qxh5 Be6 18.Qe2 16.Qe2 d5! 17.Rg1 Rxg1+ 18.Rxg1 dxe4 19.fxe4 Qxb2 20.Qxh5? Activating the queen and also making up for his material deficit. As for the bishop, he is tactically defended move after move. 20.Nd5?? Qxc2-+ 20...Be6 21.Rg8 f6! 22.Rh8 Qd4 23.Qa5! Resourceful play in a lost position. Qxe4+ 24.Kg1 a6 24...b6!-+ is even more decisive. Black follows up with...f5-f4 and ... Bd5 with a mating attack. 25.Bc3 Bd5‼ sacrificing a whole piece and allowing his own king to run for a mating attack 26.Nxd5 Rxd5 27.Rxf8+ Kd7 28.Rf7+ Ke8 29.Re7+! Never say die! Kxe7! not fearing ghosts Of course he is not going to allow 29...Qxe7? 30.Qxd5+- 30.Qxc7+ Rd7 31.Qc5+ Kf7 32.Qh5+ Qg6+!-+ No more checks. 33.Qxg6+ Kxg6 34.Bb4 Rc7 35.c3 b6! Accurate till the end. White loses the c-pawn after...a6-a5. 0–1
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Vachier Lagrave,M2779Mamedyarov,S28010–12018C55Saint Louis Rapid

A fine contest. In fairness to the Frenchman, it should be pointed out that he beat Mamedyarov twice in the blitz event and went on to score 13½/18 coming first ahead of Nakamura, Caruana and Karjakin. All the games from the blitz and rapid sections of Saint Louis Tournament may be found in this issue.

Carlsen and Caruana

Carlsen and Caruana face off in St. Louis | Photo: Lennart Ootes

A war of nerves

The main event, the Sinquefield Cup tournament ended in a three-way tie between Aronian, Carlsen and Caruana with 5½/9 apiece. As is known, it saw too few decisive games, but many hard-fought draws. Of course, the focus of interest was the Carlsen-Caruana clash as it was to be their last duel before the World Championship match. When they met in the seventh round, Caruana was leading by half-point with only three rounds to go. The challenge before Magnus was to beat him and win the race for the final standings. The game is analysed by Michael Roiz in this issue. I have annotated it afresh taking into account what the players themselves have had to say and offered a few pointers in the line of improvement.

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 The Petroff Defence that Caruana had played four times in the Candidates' 2018. 3.Nxe5 3.d4 Nxe4 4.dxe5 d5 5.Nbd2 Nxd2 6.Bxd2 Be7 was seen in Grischuk-Caruana, Canidates' 2018. Fabiano went on to outplay his opponent in a long game. White's opening play was not to blame, though. 3...d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 5.Qe2 Qe7 6.Nc3 6.d3 Nf6 7.Nc3 Qxe2+ 8.Bxe2 g6 9.Bg5 Bg7 10.0-0-0 0-0 led to a draw in Wesley So-Caruana, Candidates' 2018. 6...Nxc3 7.dxc3 Qxe2+ 8.Bxe2 Nc6 9.Be3 Be7 10.0-0-0 0-0 was seen in Kramnik-Caruana, Candidates' 2018. Here again White's opening play was OK. However, Caruana went on to win in the final phase of the game. 5...Nxc3 5...d5? loses a pawn after 6.Qe2! 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Be3 Nc6 This move allows White bishop to occupy c4. But preventing it with...c6 and ...d5 is too slow. Soon White is poised for a kingside attack. 7...c6 8.Qd2 Nd7 9.0-0-0 0-0 10.Kb1 d5 11.h4 Or 7...0-0 8.Bc4 c6 9.h4 d5 10.Bd3 Nd7 11.Qd2 8.Bc4 It is surprising that this simple developing move has not been seen at this level. It targets f7 pawn and discourages queenside castling. 8.Qd2 Be6 9.0-0-0 Qd7 was seen Karjakin-Caruana, Candidates' 2018. Fabiano was outplayed in the only game that he lost in this event. 8...0-0 9.Qd2 Bf5 In retrospect this move appears less than precise. The way to equality lies in 9...Ne5! 10.Nxe5 dxe5 11.0-0-0 Qxd2+ 12.Rxd2 as shown in a CC game, Garcia-Zarate, IECC Email, 2006. 10.0-0-0 Qd7? After this move the knight cannot go e5 and slowly Black's position begins to deteriorate. 10...Ne5 is preferable, though White enjoys a slight plus after 11.Nxe5 dxe5 12.Qe2 11.Kb1 Rfe8 Vacating the square for the bishop and centralizing the rook. 12.h4 Bf8 Fortifying the kingside. 13.h5 h6 The h-pawn has to be stopped. But this move only provokes the advance of the g-pawn. 14.Be2 Bg4 15.Nh2 Bxe2 16.Qxe2 Ne5? In this issue (CBM 186) Michael Roiz suggests 16...Re4!? 17.Nf1 Or 17.g4 Rae8 18.Qd3 d5! 19.Qxd5 Qxd5 20.Rxd5 Bd6 17...Rae8 18.Nd2 R4e5 19.g4 Qe6 and White is only slightly better. 17.Bc1! At first sight this move, exposing the queen to a discovered attack looks strange. However, it guards b2 against a combined attack with the Black queen on b5 and knight on c4. Qc6 The queen gets off the pin and also prepares d6-d5. 18.f4? This only sends the knight where he wants to go. Roiz prefers 18.g4! Qc4 19.Qxc4 Nxc4 20.b3 Ne5 21.c4 18...Nc4 19.Qd3 Preventing d6-d5 and seeking control of light squares. Not 19.Qf2? d5!= 19...Qe4 20.g4 Here comes the long-awaited advance. Ne3 20...Qxd3 21.cxd3 Ne3 22.Rde1 Nd5 comes to the same thing. 21.Rde1 Qxd3 22.cxd3 Nd5 23.Reg1 Re6?! Roiz offers 23...Re2! 24.g5 Kh7 25.Ng4 Rae8 and the pressure exerted by the Black rooks on the central file should lead to equality. 24.g5 Ne7?? A terrible blunder as Caruana also realised on making the move. 24...Kh7 25.Ng4 25.Rg2 Rae8 and Black lives on. 25...Re2 26.f5 hxg5 27.Bxg5 Be7 28.Bxe7 Rxe7 29.h6 g6 30.fxg6+ fxg6 31.Rf1± was only the lesser evil as shown by Roiz. 25.gxh6! The obvious 25.Ng4? allows Nf5! defending the critical square h6. 25...Rxh6 26.f5 Rh7 Caruana had missed 26...Rxh5?? 27.Ng4 Rxh1 28.Nf6+ Kh8 29.Rxh1# 27.Ng4? Magnus saw the move 27.f6! But could not make up his mind to play it. After Nf5 Or 27...Nd5 28.Ng4 Here also White should win as Black is paralysed. 28.Rg5 Nh6 29.Nf3 Re8 30.Rg2 White wins as Black is helpless against the threats of Ng5 and Rhg1. 27...Kh8 28.f6 This looks scary. However, Black has a defence. Ng8! 29.fxg7+? This makes life easy for his opponent. Roiz and other commentators suggest 29.h6! and it sets problems for Black as shown in these lines. Nxf6 29...gxh6 30.Rh5± 29...gxf6 30.Rf1! Re8 31.Be3 c5 32.c4± 30.Nxf6 gxf6 31.Re1± 29...Rxg7 30.Be3 c5 31.Bf4 Re8 32.Ne3 Rxg1+ 33.Rxg1 Re6 34.Nd5 Nf6 35.Nc7 Re2 36.Nb5 Re6 36...Nxh5?? 37.Rh1+- 37.Rf1 Indirectly targeting the f7 pawn if the knight moves from f6. But this is easily parried. Curiously, the pawn capture on a7 does not lead to much. 37.Nxa7 Kh7! Now the knight can take the h5 pawn and if the White rook tries to pin the piece, the king can come to g3. 38.Rh1 Nd5 39.Bc1 37...Kg8 38.Nc7 Here the game ended in repetiton of moves. The capture of pawns by both sides is only level. 38.Nxa7 Nxh5= 38...Re2 39.Nb5 Re6 40.Nc7 Re2 41.Nb5 Re6 ½–½
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Carlsen,M2842Caruana,F2822½–½2018C42Sinquefield Cup 20187

The Petroff (or Russian) Defence which is characterised by the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 has been popular at the highest levels for many years and enjoys the reputation of being an extremely solid defence.

Player interviews courtesy Saint Louis Chess Club YouTube

Nepo dominates Sparkassen Chess Meeting

The Dortmund tournament was won by Nepomniachtchi ahead of Kovalev and Duda. The surprise of the event was the poor showing of Vladimir Kramnik who had dominated the event for years but ended up with 3/7 points. One reason for his failure was his loss to the eventual winner. In this issue Nepominiachtchi himself annotates the game against Kramnik:

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 I did not expect this. Vladimir usually chooses the Berlin Defence. 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Bc5 The further course of the game leads us to the idea that with the more usual move order 5...b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.a4 the idea 7.Nxe5 Nxe5 8.d4 Bxd4 9.Qxd4 d6= 7...b4 fails to an 8.Nxe5 Nxe5 9.d4 Bxd4 10.Qxd4 - in this case the white bishop needs not fear the advance c5-c4. 6.c3 b5 This year Wojtaszek against Topalov and Carlsen against Karjakin played 6...0-0 7.d4 Ba7 , although this variation is not considered to be the safest. 7.Bb3 7.Bc2 d5 leads to very sharp and irrational lines, which, as I know, have been analysed out to a draw. 7...d6 8.a4 b4!? This move was a revelation for me. Now White's thrust in the centre will follow under less favourable conditions for Black, because in some variations the b4-pawn will be left hanging. Other continuations are seen much more often: 8...Rb8 8...Bg4 8...Bb7 9.d4 Ba7 10.Bg5 The exchange of queens looks tempting, but in the resulting endgame Black would get counterplay thanks to his active pieces and the opening of the b-file: 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Nxe5 dxe5 12.Qxd8+ Kxd8 13.Nd2 13.Bxf7 Rf8 14.Bd5 Nxd5 15.exd5 a5 16.Be3 Bxe3 17.fxe3 Rxf1+ 18.Kxf1 bxc3= 13...Ke7 14.cxb4 Be6 14...Rb8 15.Bc2 Rxb4 16.b3± 15.Bxe6 Kxe6 16.b3 Bd4 17.Ra2 c5 18.bxc5 Bxc5 and after the activation of his rooks Black should achieve equality. The immediate 10.Bd5 does not look particularly convincing: Nxd5 11.exd5 Ne7 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Nxe5 Qxd5 13...0-0 14.cxb4 Qd6 15.Nc4 Qxd5 14.Qxd5 Nxd5 15.Nc6 bxc3 16.Rd1 Be6 17.Nxc3 Nxc3 18.bxc3 Bc5 18...0-0 19.Ba3 Rfe8 20.a5 19.Bf4 0-0= 10...Rb8 11.Bd5 11.dxe5 still does not promise any advantage: Nxe5 12.Nxe5 dxe5 13.Qxd8+ Kxd8 14.Bxf7 bxc3 15.Nxc3 15.bxc3 Rf8 with obvious compensation for the pawn 15...Rxb2 16.Nd5 Bd4!? 17.Rad1 17.Nxf6 h6! 18.Bh4 g5 19.Bg3 Rf8 20.Rab1 20.Rad1 Ke7 20...Rxb1 21.Rxb1 Rxf7 22.Rd1 Bd7 and here it is White who has to be thinking about getting equality 17...h6 18.Bc1 Rb8∞ At the board the following continuation appeared interesting to me: 11.a5!? 0-0 12.Ba4 Ne7 12...Nxa5 13.cxb4 Nc4 13...Rxb4 14.Bd2± 14.Qc2 Rxb4 15.Bb3 Nb6 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.Nxe5± 13.Nbd2 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Nbd2 Ng6 - in spite of the compromised pawn structure Black has good play 13...Ng6 14.h3 It is probably easier to play with White here, but the main battleground still lies ahead. 11...Ne7 12.dxe5 I took aim at the e5-pawn without noticing a good "positional" alternative: 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Bc4 Ng6 14.Nbd2 0-0 15.a5 with comfortable play, but here too, e.g. after f5 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.Qc2 Kh8!? Black has a series of interesting alternatives open to him. 12...Nfxd5 13.exd5 0-0 13...dxe5? 14.Nxe5+- 14.exd6 Qxd6 15.c4 Nf5 Up till this point Kramnik had been playing like lightning and at this moment already had a few extra minutes - for that reason alone I had no great illusions about my position. White's pawn centre is very unstable, and in addition almost all the opposing pieces are involved in the action. 16.Nbd2 Simple and sensible - White completes his development. The computer recommends 16.Qc1!? f6 17.Bf4 Qd7 18.Nbd2 g5 19.Bg3 and now both h5 and also 19...g4 20.Nh4 Nxg3 21.hxg3 f5 20.Ne4 Qg7 21.d6 h4 22.dxc7 Rb6 23.c5 Re6 require careful analysis. 16...f6 Of course not 16...h6? 17.Ne4 Qg6 18.Ne5+- 17.Bh4 The critical position. Black has a choice: a) recover the pawn at once and in doing so retain the advantage of the bishop pair, b) break open the centre, before the white pieces can improve their coordination or c) complete his development with natural moves. Qf4?! Kramnik chooses the first option. Let us take a look at the other two possibilities one after the other: I. 17...g5 During the game this move seemed to me rather committal. After it Black has no more chances to attack the g2-pawn. Additionally: he was able to recover the material sacrificed without weakening his position. Nevertheless the idea of g5-g4 adds to his supply of further options. 18.Bg3 Nxg3 19.hxg3 Qxg3 19...g4 20.Ne4 20.Nh2 is too passive 20...Qe7 21.Nd4! 21.Nfd2? f5-+ 21...Qxe4 In the event of 21...Bd7!? picturesque positions can arise. 22.Re1 Qg7 22...f5 23.Nd2 Qf6 24.N2b3 f4 25.Qd2 23.Nb5!? axb5 24.axb5 Rb7 24...Ra8 25.d6 c6 26.c5 f5 27.Qb3+ Kh8 28.b6 fxe4 29.Qxb4 Bf5 30.Qc4 24...Bb6 25.c5 f5 26.cxb6 fxe4 27.bxc7 Rxb5 28.Rxe4 Rc5 29.d6 Qxb2∞ 25.d6 c6 26.c5 f5 27.Qb3+ Kh8 28.b6 Bxb6 29.cxb6 fxe4 30.Qxb4 Qe5∞ 22.Nc6 Bb7 22...Ra8 (22...Rb7 can hardly change matters) 23.Re1 and on account of the fork on e7 the black queen is facing the road to the scaffold: Qxc4 24.Rc1 Qa2 25.Re2 winning 23.Nxa7 23.Re1 leads to an amusing draw: Bxf2+ 24.Kxf2 Qf5+ 25.Qf3 Qc2+ 25...gxf3 26.Ne7+ Kh8 27.Nxf5 with a won endgame. 26.Qe2 Qf5+= 23...Qxc4 24.Nc6 Bxc6 25.dxc6 Rfd8 26.Qe1 and thanks to the position of the black king having become too exposed White can still set his opponent some problems. 20.c5 Qf4 21.Nb3 21.Rc1 g4 21...Bb7 22.Na5 22.c6 Bc8 22...Ba8 There is not a nice future in store for all, but at least one of the black bishops will make the break to freedom. For example: 23.Nd4 23.c6 g4-+ 23...Bxd5 24.Ndc6 Rbd8 25.Nxd8 the position with the two knights on the edge which occurs after 25.Nxa7 looks too risky for White Bxg2 26.Qb3+ Bd5 27.Qg3 Qe4 28.Kh2 Rde8 29.Rae1 Qxe1 30.Rxe1 Rxe1 White's position appears quite terrible, but the computer holds the draw: 31.Qxc7 Rh1+ or 31...Rfe8 32.N7c6 h5 33.Nd4 33.Qd6 Rh1+ 34.Kg3 h4+ 35.Kg4 Be6+ 36.Kf3 36.Kh5 Kg7 37.Qc7+ Bf7+ 38.Kg4 Rg1+-+ 36...Rg1‼ 37.Ke4 Bf7+ 38.Kf5 Re6 39.Ne7+ Kg7 40.Qxe6 Bxe6+ 41.Kxe6 h3 42.c6 h2 43.c7 Re1+ 44.Kd6 h1Q-+ 33...h4 33...Rh1+ 34.Kg3 Rg1+ 35.Kh3 34.Kh3 f5 35.Nxf5 Rh1+ 36.Kg4 Rg1+ 32.Kg3 Rg1+ 33.Kh2 33.Kh3? g4+ 34.Kh4 h5‼ 35.Kxh5 g3-+ 33...Rg2+ 34.Kh3 Re8 35.N7c6 g4+ 36.Kh4 Re1 37.Ne7+ Kh8 38.Qd8+ Kg7 39.Nf5+ Kg6 40.Ne7+= 25.Ne7+ Kh8 26.Nxd5 Qe4 27.Nxf6 Qf5 28.Qe1 Rxf6 29.Rc1 g4 25...Rxd8∞ 26.Rc1 Qe4 27.f3 Qe3+ 28.Kh2 28.Kh1 g4-+ 28...g4 28...Bxc5 29.Rxc5 Qxc5 30.Nb7 29.fxg4 Qh6+ 30.Kg1 Qe3+= II. II. 17...c6 The most precise move. With accurate play the struggle soon ends in a dead draw: 18.Rc1 18.dxc6 Qxc6 looks too dominant: the position which has occurred here can serve as a striking example of the motif "the strength of the bishop pair" 18...cxd5 19.Nb3! dxc4 19...d4 20.c5 after 20.Qd3 the play is more complicated 20...Qd5 21.Nbxd4 Nxh4 22.Nxh4 Bxc5 23.Ndf5 Rd8 24.Qg4 Bxf5 25.Nxf5 g6 26.Rfe1 Qxf5 27.Qxf5 gxf5 28.Rxc5 Rd2 29.b3 Rb2= 20.Qxd6 Nxd6 21.Bg3 Rd8 22.Na5 Ra8 23.Nc6 Rd7 24.Nxa7 Raxa7 25.Bxd6 Rxd6 26.Rxc4 Bd7 27.Rxb4 a5 28.Rb8+ Kf7 29.b3 Rd3 intending ...Be6. All variations are logical enough and up to a certain point forced. Moves III-IV. 17...Bd7 and 17...Re8 are in my opiniion too slow, but on the other hand they do not spoil things. White's plan is as previously - get the rook to c1 and if possible the knights to b3 and d4, let the bishop be exchanged on g3. Complicated, double-edged play with chances for both sides can be expected. 18.Bg3 Nxg3 19.hxg3 Qxg3 20.c5! The key idea which holds White's plan together. With its help the dangerous bishop is pacified. Qg6 After 20...Qf4 21.Rc1 it would be much better for Black if his g-pawn were already on g5. 21.Rc1 At first we both considered this position as more or less level. Vladimir was counting on his bishops, for my part I was hoping to maintain my hanging pawns. But the more I immersed myself in this position, the rosier White's prospects appeared to me and the greater my hopes became. And even when analysing it was not easy to find a satisfactory reaction for Black. Qf7 A strong move but Black is now going on the defensive. His queen is no longer as active as previously. The move 21...Rd8? would be pretty bad: : 22.d6 cxd6 23.c6 . . Nor does the chancy thrust 21...b3 promise Black an easy life: 22.Nxb3 Bh3 22...Rb4 23.Nbd4 Bh3 24.Nh4 Qg5 25.Ndf3+- Dexterity, as it were. 23.Nh4 Qg5 23...Qe4 24.Qd4 Rfe8 25.Rfe1 Qxd4 25...Qxe1+ 26.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 27.Kh2 Rxb3 28.gxh3+- 26.Rxe8+ Rxe8 27.Nxd4 Bd7 28.Nhf3 Rb8 29.b3± 24.Rc3!± In the event of 21...Bh3 22.Nh4 Qg4 23.Rc4 Qxd1 24.Rxd1 Bc8 24...Bd7 25.c6 Bc8 26.Ne4± 25.Nb3 it tuns out that even the exchange of queens does not make things any easier for Black: 25.Nf1 Rd8 26.Ne3 25...c6 26.d6 Be6 27.Rdc1 and only a miracle can now help Black to hold on. 22.Ne4 22.Nb3 was a move I liked less because in the variation with Bb7 23.c6 Bc8 the idea of d5-d6 is obviously less strong. 22...Re8?! The b3-square has remained vacant for the queen, which turns out to be useful in the following important variation: 22...Bg4 23.Qb3 23.Qd3 Rbd8 24.Rfd1 Qg6 23...Rfe8 23...Rbd8 24.Nd4± 24.Rfe1 Now by means of h6! Black can organise his resistance properly after 24...Rbd8 25.Nd4 the manoeuvrable knights create too many threats and the white pawns remain unscathed. 25.Nd4 f5 26.Nd2 26.Nc6 fxe4 27.Nxa7 Bd7∞ 26...Rxe1+ 27.Rxe1 Bxc5 28.Ne6 28.Nc6 Re8 29.Ne5 Bd6!? 30.Nxf7 Rxe1+ 31.Nf1 Kxf7∞ 28...Bd6 29.Nc4 f4 30.Nxd6 cxd6 31.a5 31.Qc4 a5 31...Qf6 32.Qc2 White retains something of an initiative, but with prudent play Black should be able to hold this position. 23.Re1 Bf5 Here 23...Bg4 is no longer as good. 24.Qd3! Rbd8 25.Nfd2 A weaker move is 25.Qxa6 Bxf3 26.gxf3 Qg6+ 27.Kf1 Qh5 28.Kg2 Qg6+ 29.Ng3 Rxe1 30.Rxe1 Bxc5 25...Bc8 26.d6 cxd6 26...Bb8 27.Qd4± 27.cxd6 with tangible pressure. Astonishingly the move 22...Re8 turned out to be a serious inaccuracy. 24.Ng3 Rxe1+ 24...Bg4 25.Qd3± 25.Qxe1 Bg4 After 25...Qxd5? 26.Nxf5 Qxf5 27.Qe7 Black is helpless. After other retreats of the bishop too White's advantage is obvious, e.g. 25...Bg6 26.d6 cxd6 27.cxd6 Bb6 28.Nh4 Qd5 29.Rd1 Qe5 30.Qxe5 fxe5 31.Nxg6 hxg6 32.b3± 26.Qe4± Now we can come to an intermediate evaluation. White has managed to hold his centre and position his pieces cleverly. After the exchange of rooks Black's back rank has become a genuine weakness and the breakthrough d5-d6 an extremely insistent threat. h5 27.Nf5 27.Nh4 with the same ideas would have been even stronger. 27...Re8 27...Bxf5 28.Qxf5 Rd8 29.d6 cxd6 30.cxd6 g6 31.Qd3 Bb8 32.Rc6 a5 33.Nd2+- 28.Qd3 Bb8? As for the question mark attached to this move, I am not quite certain, but with this defence against d5-d6 Black is too hard hearted in his treatment of his once frightening bishop. 28...Qd7 29.N3h4 Re5 30.Ne3 and White prevents his opponent's attempts to become active. 29.N3h4 Be2 In the absence of better options, Black drives the opposing queen away from its optimal square. 30.Qd2 Bg4 30...a5 31.d6 cxd6 32.cxd6+- 31.Ne3? Of course I did not miss the obvious continuation 31.Qxb4 But in reality White had no reason to avoid the variation Qxd5 32.Qxb8 Qe6 33.Qxc7 Bxf5 34.Nxf5 Qxf5 after the further moves 35.c6 Re2 36.Qb6 he wins easily. 31...Bd7? 31...f5! could have made White's task palpably easier. After the precise reply 32.g3 with the further continuation Ba7 32...f4 33.Nxg4 hxg4 34.Qxf4± 32...a5 33.Rc4 33.Rc4 White still has agreat advantage, but a "mechanical" win is no longer there. 32.Qxb4 a5 32...f5 33.c6+- 33.Qxa5 c6 34.d6 Qb3 35.Qc3 Qxa4 36.Nhf5 Qe4 37.Ne7+ Kh8 38.Qb3 Rf8 39.Qc2 For the sake of safety White exchanges queens. Qxc2 40.Nxc2 Kh7 41.Nd4 Black resigned. It was a very complicated game. The main events happened in the relatively short section between moves15 and 23, and the nuances of the struggle between the nimble knights and the mighty bishops only show up under later analysis. 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Nepomniachtchi,I2757Kramnik,V27921–02018C78Dortmund 46th5

Kramnik against Nepomniachtchi

“We are friends, but we love to fight!” | Photo: Georgios Souleidis

In the second part of the review, I shall deal with the rest of the magazine, especially, opening surveys.

Continued in part 2...

Enjoy the best moments of recent top tournaments (Sinquefield Cup, Biel, Dortmund) 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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