Daniel King’s Power Play Show: Carlsen, Firouzja and a typical pawn sacrifice

by Daniel King
1/22/2021 – In this Power Play Show, GM Daniel King takes a look at Magnus Carlsen's win against Alireza Firouzja from the first round of the Tata Steel Tournament 2021 in Wijk aan Zee, in which Carlsen brought a typical pawn sacrifice to initiate a dangerous - and finally successful - attack. | Power Play is on air most Fridays at 17:00 UTC (18:00 CET, 13:00 ET). All the usual puzzles, games and instruction will be on offer. | Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit
Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

A typical pawn sacrifice

In this show I look at the game M. Carlsen vs A. Firouzja, which features the d5 exd5 e5 positional pawn sacrifice. By examining Polugayevsky-Tal USSR Ch. 1969 and Carlsen-Giri 2020, I chart the evolution of this pawn sacrifice (in similar positions).

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,174,61854%2421---
1.d4952,91955%2434---
1.Nf3283,84956%2440---
1.c4183,33456%2442---
1.g319,80456%2427---
1.b314,46454%2427---
1.f45,92648%2377---
1.Nc33,85550%2384---
1.b41,77548%2379---
1.a31,23954%2405---
1.e31,07549%2409---
1.d396150%2378---
1.g466946%2361---
1.h446554%2381---
1.c343651%2426---
1.h328456%2419---
1.a411759%2462---
1.f310047%2427---
1.Nh39267%2511---
1.Na34360%2477---
1.d4 0 Nf6 0 2.c4 0 e6 0 3.Nf3 0 d5 0 4.Nc3 0 Nbd7 0 5.Bg5 4:04 h6 1:06 6.Bh4 3:10 Be7 9 7.cxd5 7:13 Nxd5 12:22 7...exd5 8.Bxe7 23 Qxe7 16:30 9.e4 5:38 Nxc3 0 10.bxc3 8:11 0-0 1:10 11.Bd3 13:09 c5 24 11...b6 12.0-0 Bb7 13.a4 a5 1/2-1/2 (43) Werle,J (2525)-Moradiabadi,E (2587) Vlissingen 2015 12.0-0 0 cxd4 27:53 13.cxd4 39 b6 6:24 13...e5 14.d5 Nc5 14.a4N 4:09 14.Rc1 Nf6 15.Qe2 Bb7 16.Rfd1 Rac8 1-0 (35) Obolentseva,A (2324)-Girya,O (2456) Moscow 2019 14.Re1 Bb7 Black is ahead in development compared to Carlsen-Giri, so it isn't as easy to effect this pawn sacrifice. 15.d5 15.Re3 Rfc8 16.Qe1 Nf6 17.Rd1 Rc7 18.d5 18.Bb1 Ne8 19.d5 e5 20.g3 Nd6 18...exd5 19.e5 Ne4 20.Nd4 Qxe5 15.Qd2 Rac8 16.Rad1 Rfd8 17.d5 exd5 18.e5 d4 15...exd5 16.e5 d4 17.Nxd4 Nxe5 18.Qh5 18.f4 Qc5 18...Rae8 19.Bb5 g6 20.Qxh6 Rd8 14...Bb7 3:08 15.a5 1:37 bxa5 19 16.Rxa5 2:30 Nf6 2:31 17.Re1 10:17 17.e5? Nd5 17.d5?! exd5 18.e5 Ne4 17...Rfd8 1:31 18.Qa1 4:01 Qc7 5:12 19.h3 1:41 19.Rxa7 Rxa7 20.Qxa7 Ra8 21.Qc5 Qxc5 22.dxc5 Rc8= 19...a6 5:17 20.Rc5 4:13 Qf4 19:22 21.Re5 2:33 The threat is Nd7 15 22.Ra5 1:54 Nf6 7:03 23.d5 59 23.g3!? Qc7 23...Qxf3 24.Re3 Qxe3 25.fxe3 Bxe4 - probably a draw. 26.Bxe4 Nxe4 27.Rxa6 Rxa6 28.Qxa6 Nf6 24.Kg2 23...exd5 15 24.e5 19 Ne4 1:20 25.Qd4 0 Rdc8 1:11 26.Raa1 2:21 a5 4:55 27.Rab1 1:10 Bc6 7:41 27...Ba6       28.Bxa6 28.Bxe4 dxe4 29.Rxe4 Qf5 28...Rxa6 29.Qxd5 Nc3 30.Qd7 Qc4 31.Rb7 Qe6 32.Qd3 Qc4 33.Qd7 27...Rc7 28.Rxb7 Rxb7 29.Qxd5 28.e6 3:03 28.Rb6 is okay for White but it is messy: Bd7 28...a4 29.Rxc6 Rxc6 30.Qxd5+- 29.Qxd5 Nc5 30.g3 30.Bb5 30...Be6 30...Qa4 31.e6 Bxe6 32.Rbxe6 Nxe6 33.Rxe6 fxe6 33...Rd8 34.Rd6 Qe8 35.Bc4 Rxd6 36.Qxd6 a4 34.Qxe6+ Kh8 35.Ne5 31.Qxa8 Rxa8 32.gxf4 Nxd3 28...fxe6 10 29.Ne5 2:34 Qf6 0 30.f3 1:25 30.Bxe4= dxe4 31.Nxc6 Rxc6 32.Qxe4 should be tenable for White. 30...Ng5! 4:55 30...Ng3 31.Rb6! 1:17 Be8 1:08 32.Qe3 0 a4 46       32...h5 33.f4 Ne4 34.Bxe4 dxe4 35.Qxe4 a4 32...Qe7 33.Ng4! 1:32 Qd8 18 34.Rxe6 1:15 Nxe6 0 34...a3! 35.Rxh6= 35.Re7 Qd6 35...gxh6 36.Nxh6+ Kf8 37.Qd4 Nxf3+ 38.gxf3 Qg5+ 39.Ng4 Qg7= 35.Qxe6+ 24 Bf7? 20 A fatal mistake The game is still in the balance 35...Kh8 36.Nxh6!? 36.Qf5 Qb6+ 37.Kf1 Bg6! 38.Qxg6 Qxg6 39.Bxg6 a3 36...Bh5 37.Ng4∞ Qf8 38.Re5 Rc1+ 39.Kf2 Qf7 40.Qd6 36.Nxh6+!+- 1:56 gxh6 11 37.Qxh6 18 Qc7 38.Qh7+ 43 White mates. Kf8 3 39.Qh8+! 14 Bg8 6 40.Qh6+ 7 40.Qh6+ Qg7 41.Qd6+ Qe7 42.Qxe7#
  • 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
Carlsen,M2862Firouzja,A27492021D5383rd Tata Steel Masters 20211.1
 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Position not in LiveBook
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.d4 c5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 Nxc3 7.bxc3 cxd4 8.cxd4 Bb4+ 9.Bd2 Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 0-0 11.Bc4 Nc6 12.0-0 b6 13.Rad1 Bb7 14.Rfe1 Na5 15.Bd3 Rc8 16.d5 exd5 17.e5 Nc4 18.Qf4 Nb2 19.Bxh7+ Kxh7 20.Ng5+ Kg6 21.h4 Rc4 22.h5+ Kh6 23.Nxf7+ Kh7 24.Qf5+ Kg8 25.e6 Qf6 26.Qxf6 gxf6 27.Rd2 Rc6 28.Rxb2 Re8 29.Nh6+ Kh7 30.Nf5 Rexe6 31.Rxe6 Rxe6 32.Rc2 Rc6 33.Re2 Bc8 34.Re7+ Kh8 35.Nh4 f5 36.Ng6+ Kg8 37.Rxa7 1–0
  • 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
Polugaevsky,L-Tal,M-1–01969D41URS-ch37 Final2
 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
Magnus won the first "set", but one of the advantages of the system is that even when ahead, you cannot sit on your lead and cruise to victory: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c5!? While its "only" rapid, clearly the players treat it like a serious event, with opening preparation trying to surprise the opponent. Giri here chooses the Semi-Tarrasch, an opening having a renaissance due to Kramnik making it an efficient "blocking" weapon, most recently in the 2018 Candidates where Anish was his second! 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 Nxc3 7.bxc3 cxd4 8.cxd4 Bb4+ 9.Bd2 Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 0-0 11.Bc4 Recently Magnus has tried 11 Bd3, but Giri certainly can be trusted to have solved that problem. 11.Bd3 Nc6 12.Bc2 Qe7 12...Qa5 13.Qxa5 Nxa5 14.Bd3 Bd7 15.Ke2 1/2-1/2 (49) Carlsen,M (2861)-Ding,L (2805) Abidjan 2019 13.0-0 Rd8 14.Qe3 b6 15.Rfd1 Bb7 16.Rac1 Rac8 17.h4 Na5 18.Bd3 h6 19.g4 Nc6 20.Bb1 20.g5 hxg5 21.hxg5 Nxd4 22.Nxd4 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 Rxd4 24.Qxd4 Qxg5+ 25.Kh2 Qxc1 26.Qd8+ Kh7 27.e5+ g6 28.Bxg6+ fxg6 29.Qe7+= 20...Qd7 21.Kh2 21.g5 hxg5 22.hxg5 e5 22...Ne7 21...Qd6+ 22.Kg1 Na5 23.Bd3 Rxc1 24.Rxc1 Nc6 25.Bb5 Nxd4 26.Qxd4 Qxd4 27.Nxd4 Rxd4 1/2-1/2 (56) Carlsen,M (2872)-Xiong,J (2712) Wijk aan Zee 2020 11...Nd7 The modern way. In the old days 11...Nc6 looked more natural, but while at fist it appears more active, the knight tends to end up at a5 leaving the black king more exposed, illustrated by the beautiful classic Polugaevsky- Tal from the 1969 Soviet Championship. 12.0-0 b6 13.Rad1 Bb7 14.Rfe1 Rc8 15.Bb3 Re8 While Magnus earlier tried a more positional plan with a4-a5, all this is pretty standard with Kramnik having had this position as black several times. Black stays flexible, ready to make exchanges in the e-line after a possible d5 exd5 exd5. Making a useful more for White is not trivial, themost popular choice being 16.h3 passing the move back to Black. 16.Re3!? An odd looking move, as arranging an attack via g3 certainly not is possible, but it has a more subtle hidden point. Nf6 The point of the modern Semi-Tarrasch, instead of a5 the knight ends up at f6, not only attacking the white centre but also providing protection for the black kingside ( no Bxh7+ sacrifice!) 17.d5 Technically speaking only this is the novelty. exd5 18.e5 18.exd5 Qd6 18...Ne4 19.Qe1 This is the point of White's opening concept. At first sight it might look like a pawn down and a strong black knight at e4, but due to tactics in the e-file White indirectly protects the pawn on e5, thus having the unstoppable plan of Nd4 and f3, forcing the black knight to retreat. Qc7 Giri thought for a while. After the match he said he was aware of the white concept, but obviously had troubles recalling the right antidote. Black's move is logical, but has the downside that Nb5 wins a tempo aiming for the d6 square, but similar could be said of 19...Qe7 with a then possible Nf5. 20.Nd4 a6 Stopping Nb5. 20...Qxe5 21.f3 f5 22.fxe4 fxe4 is 3 pawns for the piece, but while by the classic scale that is just enough for a knight, then A) modern computers does give numbers like 3.1 or 3.2 instead of the traditional 3, but more importantly B) the white knight on d4 makes it intolerable for Black. 21.h4!? Magnus later admitted that his preparation ended around here. 21.f3 also was logical, but given the chance why not stay on brand and add some Alphazero flavor. 21...Rcd8 22.f3 Nc5 23.h5 Whites position is starting to make sense. E5 is now well protected and the h-pawn does a great job of discouraging ...g6 keeping the white knight away from f5, as then apart from hxg6 and attack down the h-line, the Alphazero h6!? very much becomes an option. Black really has his hands full already, not to mention this is a 15 minute game and Anish having spent quite some of the precious minutes already. Ne6 24.Nf5 24.h6 g6 25.Qh4 Qe7 24.Qh4 Nxd4 25.Rxd4 h6= 24...d4 Giri said that this move gave him hope, as optically the bishop on b7 springs to life, and Black appears to have some activity. 25.Red3! A "slow" looking move, but White now threatens the trivial Nd6 followed by Bxe6 and Rxd4 getting the pawn back, but keeping a dominant position. Nc5 And now it looks like White's e-pawn is en prise, but back rank tactics also makes that an illusion. 25...Bd5 should bring relieving exchanges, but 26.Nd6 Bxb3 27.Nxe8 works tactically, when despite Black having a pawn and solidity for the exchange, White's win is just a matter of technique. 26.Rxd4 Rxd4 27.Rxd4 Nxb3 28.Qg3 Material being equal (when White recaptures on b3) and all Black's pieces being on seemingly optinal squares, it is hard to believe that Black is just lost. However, another Alphazero theme comes to mind: Black's king is confined to g8, while White's has space around it, making it easily escape the black back rank threats on the safe haven h2. The black king, however, is caught in a mating net. 28.axb3 h6 29.Nd6 is also good for White 28...g6 If 28...f6 then 29.Rg4! immediately wins, with Qxe5 30.Rxg7+ Kh8 31.Rxh7+ the principal point mating on g7 next move. 29.axb3 Rd8?! Allows a very beautiful finish, making the difference between a great game and a classic. 29...Bxf3 was better way to muddy the waters, when White has several ways to keep a winning edge, but by far most convincingly by 30.Rc4! when 30.gxf3? Qc1+ 31.Kf2 Qc2+ 30...Bc6 31.Nd4 cynically ends the game. Qxe5 32.Qxe5 Rxe5 33.Rxc6 Rxh5 34.Rxb6 30.e6‼ Hitting where it hurts the most. Qc1+ Black's queen is overloaded as 30...Qxg3 is met by 31.Rxd8# 31.Kh2 Rxd4 32.e7‼ The true moment of beauty, it is the least valued piece that breaks Black's resistance. Qc8 The key idea is that 32...Bc6 stopping promotions fails to the back rank mate after 33.Qb8+ 33.Qe5! Threatening mate on g7 as well as queening the pawn. All that is left for Black is to give a check. Rh4+ 34.Kg3! A fitting end, illustrating the difference in king safety, the white monarch safely steps forward, even attacking the rook on h4, while Black's king is caught on its castling square. If 34...gxf5 promoting with check and the collecting the rook on h4 wins trivially. It might still feel like classical chess should produce more interesting opening concepts, higher quality in games but these "youngsters" playing Clutch chess or Chessable Masters do a very impressive job of making that point of view sound old and grumpy. The World Champion plays close to prefection, and Giri forces him to illustrate both positional sacrifices and sharp tactics by putting up strong resistance. All in the space of half an hour. 1–0
  • 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
Carlsen,M2863Giri,A27641–02020D41Chessable Masters Final3.21

And here's another mate in two problem. White to play and mate in 2. Motto: "Vive la bagatelle".

 
Joseph William Abbott, Counties Chess Association 1886

This week

Previous shows

You’ll find older broadcasts in the Power Play category. To watch these you'll need a ChessBase Premium Account.

Daniel King is the prolific author of the Power Play series which numbers 28 volumes to date.  The Tactic Turbo for the King’s Gambit is the subject of his most recent DVD.

Here’s a teaser:

Daniel King presents 50 puzzle positions in video format, all arising from the King's Gambit. They feature typical tactics from the opening, so this is a great way of becoming familiar with the tricks and traps that you can set your opponent.

Links

Daniel King is a regular on playchess.com. Commentating on live events such as the World Championship or analysing themes for his monthly Power Play Show. He also produces a DVD series called Power Play for ChessBase in the Fritztrainer format.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.