Carlsen joins the fray in style
The Ruy Lopez is one of the oldest openings which continues to enjoy high popularity from club level to the absolute world top. In this video series, American super GM Fabiano Caruana, talking to IM Oliver Reeh, presents a complete repertoire for White.
A second round of, still, mostly lopsided matches was played on Saturday in Chennai. However, some of the teams already fielded their top players after allowing them to rest on opening day. Notably, Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana — who celebrated his 30th birthday — made their debuts for the Norwegian and US teams respectively.
While Caruana used a pragmatic approach, signing a safe draw with white against Paraguay’s Axel Bachmann, Carlsen worked extra hard until getting an on-brand victory over Uruguay’s Georg Meier. The world champion thus helped Norway score a 4-0 win over the South American squad now reinforced by the recently transferred Meier.
In the game, Carlsen gained a pawn just before entering a queen endgame. Engines showed zeros for quite a while, but commentators suspected the world champion was not going to stop trying, and that it was likely he would eventually succeed.
And they were right: it was a typical Carlsen endgame grind. As GM Karsten Müller shows in his analysis below, even when White gained a second extra pawn and had connected passers on the kingside, the 6-men tablebases evaluate the position as drawn. But precise defence is needed to keep the balance.

Norway vs Uruguay | Photo: Stev Bonhage
Upsets by Zambia and Bulgaria
To describe Bulgaria as an underdog does not sound quite right. However, this time around, the European country has not sent its highest-rated players to the Olympiad. According to the July official FIDE ratings list, Bulgaria’s number 10 is representing the country on top board, while an untitled 2272-rated player is fourth in the lineup.
The relatively low ratings did not prevent them from taking down the 15th seeds from Croatia by a convincing 3½-½ score. On board 3, Tsvetan Stoyanov (rated 2450) tactically outplayed Ante Brkic (2611) from the white side of a Sicilian.
31...Rf8 was a blunder, since it allowed 32.Rg5, as after 32...Rxf4 White has 33.Qe8+ Bf8 34.Qxe5, grabbing the initiative while keeping his extra exchange.
Throughout this video course, we will study how to master sacrifices and the initiative in several aspects: opposite-coloured bishops, the bishop pair, the exchange sacrifice, launching an attack, and the good moment to sacrifice will be covered.

The playing hall | Photo: Madelene Belinki
Bulgaria is, notwithstanding, a traditional chess country. Zambia’s upset was, therefore, perhaps more surprising. The squad from the landlocked South-African nation defeated Denmark despite having a 200+ rating deficit on all four boards.
Olimpiu Di Luppi described it best.
Draws were seen on boards 1-3 while Nase Lungu (2216) scored the all-important victory, over Martin Haubro (2411), on the fourth board.
Black’s 31...Rd6 was not a great idea. Lungu quickly replied with 32.g5, and after a series of exchanges in the centre, the knight had a marvellous outpost on f6 to wreak havoc on Black’s camp. Haubro was checkmated seven moves later.

The women’s squad from Zambia | Photo: David Llada
More evenly matched encounters will be seen in round 3, with the favourites from the United States paired up against Georgia and the second seeds from India set to face Greece.
Find Sunday’s top pairings and more technical information at the end of this article.
Bulgaria vs Croatia and Zambia vs Denmark
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.a4 Ngf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.0-0 Bg7 7.Re1 0-0 8.d4 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Nc5 10.Bf1 Bd7 11.f3N 11.a5 Rc8 12.f3 a6 13.Be3 Re8 14.Qd2 Qc7 15.Ra3 Qb8 16.Qf2 e5 17.Nb3 11...Nh5 12.a5 Ne6 13.Nxe6 fxe6 14.Be3 b5 15.Bxb5 Bxb5 16.Nxb5 Bxb2 17.Rb1 Be5 18.a6 Qc8 18...Qa5 19.c3!± Nf4 20.g3 Nh5 21.f4 21.Bxa7?! Qxa6 22.Bd4 Rfc8 21.Kg2+- 21...Bg7 21...Nxf4± 22.gxf4 Bxf4 22.Qb3+- Kh8 23.Rf1? 23.e5!+- 23...Nf6= 24.Nd4 24.Bxa7 Nxe4 25.Be3 Rxa6 24.Nxa7 Qxa6 25.Nb5 Ng4 24...Ng4! 25.Bd2 Qxa6 26.Qb5 26.Qxe6? Bxd4+ 27.cxd4 Qe2 28.Qxg4 Qxg4-+ 26...Bxd4+ 27.cxd4 Qxb5 28.Rxb5 Rfc8 29.f5! gxf5 30.exf5 Rc2 31.Bg5 Nxh2 32.Rf2 Rxf2 33.Kxf2 exf5 34.Bxe7 a5 35.Rxf5 Kg8 36.Bxd6 Ng4+ 37.Kf3 Nh6 38.Rg5+ Kf7 39.Ba3 a4 40.Kf4 Rg8 41.Rd5 Rg4+ 42.Kf3 Rg6! 43.Ra5 Rf6+ 44.Ke4 Re6+ 45.Kd5 Nf5 46.Rxa4 h5 47.Ra7+ Kf6 48.Ra8 Re3 49.Rf8+ Kg6 50.Bc1 Rd3 51.Rg8+ Kf7 52.Rg5 Kf6 53.Rxh5 Rxd4+ 54.Kc5 Rg4 55.Bf4 Nxg3 56.Bxg3 Rxg3 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.
Saric,I | 2680 | Petkov,M | 2510 | ½–½ | 2022 | | 44th Chess Olympiad Open 2022 | 2.17 |
Kozul,Z | 2602 | Yordanov,L | 2316 | 0–1 | 2022 | | 44th Chess Olympiad Open 2022 | 2.17 |
Stoyanov,T | 2450 | Brkic,A | 2611 | 1–0 | 2022 | | 44th Chess Olympiad Open 2022 | 2.17 |
Georgiev,T | 2272 | Bosiocic,M | 2549 | 1–0 | 2022 | | 44th Chess Olympiad Open 2022 | 2.17 |
Bjerre,J | 2608 | Bwalya,G | 2396 | ½–½ | 2022 | | 44th Chess Olympiad Open 2022 | 2.27 |
Rasmussen,A | 2550 | Phiri,R | 2293 | ½–½ | 2022 | | 44th Chess Olympiad Open 2022 | 2.27 |
Mwali,C | 2320 | Thybo,J | 2520 | ½–½ | 2022 | | 44th Chess Olympiad Open 2022 | 2.27 |
Lungu,N | 2216 | Haubro,M | 2411 | 1–0 | 2022 | | 44th Chess Olympiad Open 2022 | 2.27 |
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Ecuador’s women beat Slovenia
A larger number of upsets on individual boards were seen in the women’s section. However, the favourites mostly managed to win the matches against their lower-rated opponents.
The one major surprise was seen on board 26, where Ecuador defeated the 26th seeds from Slovenia. Wins on boards 2 and 3 were enough for the South Americans to get their second consecutive victory, plus the right to face the 19th seeds from Israel in round 3.
On board 3, Slovenia’s Teja Vidic (2099), playing black, would have kept the game balanced against Josselyne Peñafiel (1804) had she swapped queens at the right time.
Although 56...Rg2+ is by no means losing, 56...Qxc4 was a better alternative for Black. After 57.Kd3 Qxc4+ 58.Rxc4 White had better prospects in the ensuing endgame. Peñafiel showed good technique until getting a 72-move victory.

Ecuador’s Carla Heredia | Photo: Lennart Ootes
In round 3 of the women’s tournament, the favourites from India will face England, while the second seeds from Ukraine will be paired against Slovakia.
Ecuador vs Slovenia
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 b6 5.Nge2 0-0 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.Nxc3 d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Bd3 Re8 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.b4 Bb7 12.Bb2 Ne4 13.Rc1 Ndf6 14.Re1 a6 15.f3 Nd6 16.Rc2 Qd7 17.g4 Re7 18.Rce2 b5 19.Bb1 a5 20.Qd3 g6 21.Bc1 axb4 22.axb4 Rae8 23.Nd1 Nc4 24.Nf2 Qd6 25.Qc3 Bc6 26.Kg2 Re6 27.Nd3 Nd7 28.Nf4 R6e7 29.h4 Nf8 30.h5 Ne6 31.Nh3 gxh5 32.Qd3 f6 33.Nf2 Rg7 34.Rh1 Ree7 35.Kf1 Ng5 36.f4 Ne4 37.Nxe4 dxe4 38.Qc2 hxg4 39.Rg2 Qxb4 40.Ba2 Bd5 41.Rh5 c6 42.Qe2 Qc3 43.Bd2 Qa3 44.Bb1 Qb3 45.Qe1 Na3 46.Bb4 Ra7 47.Bc5 Ra4 48.Bxa3 Rxa3 49.Rf5 Ra1 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.
Urh,Z | 2321 | Ortiz Verdezoto,A | 2046 | 0–1 | 2022 | | 44th Chess Olympiad Women 2022 | 2.26 |
Rozman,M | 2104 | Miranda Vargas,A | 1723 | 1–0 | 2022 | | 44th Chess Olympiad Women 2022 | 2.26 |
Heredia Serrano,C | 2090 | Unuk,L | 2340 | ½–½ | 2022 | | 44th Chess Olympiad Women 2022 | 2.26 |
Penafiel Mendoza,J | 1804 | Vidic,T | 2099 | 1–0 | 2022 | | 44th Chess Olympiad Women 2022 | 2.26 |
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Round 3 pairings - Open
This DVD allows you to learn from the example of one of the best players in the history of chess and from the explanations of the authors how to successfully organise your games strategically, and how to keep your opponent permanently under pressure.
1 |
2 |
|
IND |
India *) |
7½ |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
7½ |
Greece |
GRE |
|
25 |
2 |
24 |
|
GEO |
Georgia |
8 |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
6 |
United States |
USA |
|
1 |
3 |
26 |
|
ITA |
Italy |
7½ |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
7½ |
Norway |
NOR |
|
3 |
4 |
4 |
|
ESP |
Spain |
7½ |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
7½ |
Brazil |
BRA |
|
28 |
5 |
29 |
|
AUS |
Australia |
7½ |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
7 |
Poland |
POL |
|
5 |
6 |
6 |
|
AZE |
Azerbaijan |
7 |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
8 |
Argentina |
ARG |
|
30 |
7 |
31 |
|
SWE |
Sweden |
6 |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
6½ |
Netherlands |
NED |
|
7 |
8 |
8 |
|
UKR |
Ukraine |
8 |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
8 |
Cuba |
CUB |
|
32 |
9 |
33 |
|
AUT |
Austria |
7 |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
7 |
Germany |
GER |
|
9 |
10 |
10 |
|
ENG |
England |
7 |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
6½ |
Lithuania |
LTU |
|
35 |
11 |
36 |
|
SUI |
Switzerland |
7 |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
8 |
India 2 |
IND |
|
11 |
12 |
12 |
|
ARM |
Armenia |
7 |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
6 |
Egypt |
EGY |
|
38 |
13 |
39 |
|
MNE |
Montenegro |
8 |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
6½ |
Iran |
IRI |
|
13 |
14 |
14 |
|
UZB |
Uzbekistan |
8 |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
7½ |
Slovenia |
SLO |
|
41 |
15 |
42 |
|
CHI |
Chile |
7½ |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
7½ |
France |
FRA |
|
15 |
...96 boards
Round 3 pairings - Women
1 |
21 |
|
ENG |
England |
7 |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
7½ |
India *) |
IND |
|
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
UKR |
Ukraine |
7 |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
7½ |
Slovakia |
SVK |
|
22 |
3 |
23 |
|
CZE |
Czech Republic |
6 |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
6½ |
Georgia |
GEO |
|
3 |
4 |
4 |
|
POL |
Poland |
7½ |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
6 |
Vietnam |
VIE |
|
24 |
5 |
25 |
|
ITA |
Italy |
6½ |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
8 |
France |
FRA |
|
5 |
6 |
6 |
|
AZE |
Azerbaijan |
8 |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
7 |
Greece |
GRE |
|
27 |
7 |
28 |
|
MGL |
Mongolia |
8 |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
7 |
United States |
USA |
|
7 |
8 |
8 |
|
GER |
Germany |
7 |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
7 |
Switzerland |
SUI |
|
29 |
9 |
30 |
|
EST |
Estonia |
7 |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
8 |
Armenia |
ARM |
|
9 |
10 |
10 |
|
KAZ |
Kazakhstan |
7 |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
8 |
Peru |
PER |
|
31 |
11 |
32 |
|
INA |
Indonesia |
8 |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
7½ |
India 2 |
IND2 |
|
11 |
12 |
12 |
|
HUN |
Hungary |
6½ |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
8 |
Colombia |
COL |
|
33 |
13 |
34 |
|
SWE |
Sweden |
8 |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
8 |
Spain |
ESP |
|
13 |
14 |
14 |
|
CUB |
Cuba |
7½ |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
7 |
Australia |
AUS |
|
35 |
15 |
36 |
|
BRA |
Brazil |
8 |
4 |
|
: |
|
4 |
7½ |
Bulgaria |
BUL |
|
15 |
...78 boards
*) This team is assigned to a fixed board.
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