GCT Paris: Nakamura by a nose

by Alex Yermolinsky
6/25/2018 – Sergey Karjakin seemed unstoppable after Saturday's first nine rounds of blitz, however, Nakamura finally emerged as the winner of the Paris Grand Chess Tour. Hikaru fought until last minute and finished one and a half points ahead of the field. Meanwhile, Wesley So played it safe to get clear third and keep the lead in the Tour overall standings. | Photos: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

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A three-horse race

While I had been following the first stage of the 2018 Grand Chess Tour — Your Next Move in Leuven — quite closely, my schedule did not allow me to catch more glimpses of the live action.

As in Leuven, Wesley So was able to win the rapid section, albeit not with the same huge margin. While in Leuven, he managed to just barely eek out a win, this time around several of the blitz specialists were able to quickly close the gap on the first day. Karjakin grabbed the lead after winning six (including against So) and losing two with just a single draw on the day.

But on Sunday "Surging Sergey" stalled, and he won only one game, which was still enough to take clear second place in the combined standings.

We all saw how Wesley struggled in the blitz portion in Leuven, and his start in Paris was no different.

 
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1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.h4 Qc7 8.h5 So likes this line having used it twice against Dominguez and once against Hansen, all in 2017. h6 9.Nf3 Lenier preferred 9.Rb1 9...b6 10.a4 10.Bb5+ Bd7 11.Bd3 Ba4 is considered to be main line. The above mentioned game went 12.Bd2 Nd7 13.0-0 a6 14.Re1 Bb5 15.Bxb5 axb5 16.Qe2 0-0 17.Qxb5 Ra5 18.Qe2 Ra4 19.g4 Rfa8 with great position for Black (Hansen-So, Chess.com PRO League 2017). 10...Ba6 11.Bb5+ Bxb5 12.axb5 a5 13.bxa6 Rxa6 14.Rxa6 Nxa6 15.Qd3 Nb8 16.0-0 Nd7 17.Bf4
By the looks of it Black shouldn't be having any issues here. 17...0-0 Even 17...Qa7 was possible. 18.Ra1 Rc8 19.Qd2 Kh7 20.Qd3+ Kg8 21.Qd2 Kh7 Making it clear that Black doesn't mind a draw. 22.g4 Sergey felt obliged to push forward. Qc6 23.Qd3+ Kh8 24.Bg3 Ra8 25.Rxa8+ Qxa8 26.Bh4
26...Ng8?! Very passive. on 26...Nc6 27.g5 feels threatening. Best was 26...g5! 27.hxg6 Nxg6 28.Bg3 Kg7 preparing to invade with the queen. 27.Kg2 Qa4 28.g5 Qc4?! Suddenly Wesley decides to counterattack. 28...Nf8 29.Nh2 Qe8 would have been a logical continuation of Black's strategy. 29.Qd2 b5? 30.Qf4 cxd4 31.Qxf7 With the fall of the f7-pawn Black may not like the resulting endgames even if he survives the mating attack, as the following notes demonstrate. d3 31...dxc3 32.Qxe6 Nc5 33.Qf5 Qe4 34.Qxe4 dxe4 Not 34...Nxe4 as 35.g6 shuts down two black pieces. 35.Nd4 hxg5 36.Bxg5 Nh6 37.Nxb5 32.cxd3 Qg4+ 33.Bg3 Nc5 34.gxh6 34.Nh4 Kh7 35.Qg6+ Kh8 36.f3 Qxg5 37.f4 Qxg6 38.Nxg6+ Kh7 39.d4 was another example of how to entomb the black knight and king. 34...gxh6 35.Nh4 Qg7 36.Ng6+ Kh7 37.Qe8 d4 38.cxd4 Qb7+ 39.Kh2 Nxd3 40.Qxe6 Qf3 41.Qd7+ 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Karjakin,S2782So,W27781–02018C19Paris GCT 2018-Blitz4

So lost his lead, but not his head, as the following game at the start of day five attests.

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 0-0 6.0-0 d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.a4 a5 Aronian's move, which So himself played against Anand in 2016. Lately more attention has been given to 8...a6 and 8...Bf5 9.Re1 Anand played 9.Nbd2 but it basically came down to the same thing. 9...Bg4 10.Nbd2 Nb6 11.Bb5 Bd6 12.Ne4 12.h3 Bh5 13.Ne4 f5 14.Ng3 Vachier Lagrave-Aronian, 2016. 12...Na7 13.h3 Bh5 14.d4 Nxb5 15.axb5 exd4 16.g4 Bg6 17.Nxd6 Qxd6 18.Qxd4 Qxd4 19.Nxd4 a4 20.Bf4 Rfc8
Both players seemed to be well-versed in this line, as it has been seen in Kanovski-Shirov, 2017. One wonders why Alexey would willingly go for such a position against a mere 2405 player, but for an encounter between elite players this whole thing looks appropriate. 21.Rad1 Nc4 22.Re2?! Re8 23.Bc1 Kf8 24.f4 Rxe2 25.Nxe2 f6 26.Rd7 Rc8 27.Rd4 Bf7 28.Kf2 Ke8 29.Re4+ Kf8 30.f5 Rd8 31.Nd4 Rd5 32.Re2 Re5 33.Rxe5 fxe5 34.Nc2 Be8
Take a look at this position. White is in trouble and now it's time to take a tough decision. 35.Ne3 This is what's wrong with blitz - people simply drift when they have no time to adjust. In a better clock situation Maxime would have come up with 35.Na3! Nxa3 36.bxa3 Bxb5 37.c4! Bxc4 38.Bb2 e4 39.Ke3 with real drawing chances. 35...Bxb5 36.Nxc4 Bxc4 37.Bg5 Ke8 38.Bh4? If White keeps his king in front of the e-pawn then the b2-pawn becomes indefensible in the long run. The only chance was 38.h4! Kd7 39.h5 Bf7 40.Ke3 Kd6 41.Ke4 b5 42.Kd3 to keep the black king from advancing by threatening to come around e7-f8. 38...Kd7 39.f6 gxf6 40.Bxf6 Ke6 41.Bd8 c6 42.h4 Bb3 43.Ke3 Bd1 44.g5 Kd5 45.Bf6 Bh5 46.Kd3 Bg6+ 47.Ke3 Kc4!
Decisive. 48.Bxe5 Kb3 49.c4 Kxc4 50.Kd2 Kb3 51.Kc1 c5 52.Bd6 b6 53.Be7 c4 54.Bf6 b5 55.Kd2 b4 56.Be7 56.Bg7 a3 57.bxa3 c3+ 58.Kc1 bxa3 56...c3+ 57.bxc3 bxc3+ 58.Kc1 a3 0–1
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Vachier-Lagrave,M2789So,W27780–12018C54Paris GCT 2018-Blitz10

For the rest of the tournament Wesley kept his composure, basically trying to draw every game. His openings with Black held, and the final score of +2-2=14 was good enough to finish third overall and keep the Tour lead after the first two events.

So played it cool in the final day of blitz | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

The hero of the day was Hikaru Nakamura, who finally was able to win a tournament after taking a backseat so far in 2018. Hikaru's blitz skills need no further advertising, and today he particularly shined in his trademark tactical defence.

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 c5 4.Bd3 d5 5.b3 Nc6 6.0-0 Be7 7.Bb2 0-0 8.Nbd2 b6 9.a3 Bb7 10.Qe2 Qc7 11.Rac1 Rac8 12.c4 dxc4 13.bxc4 cxd4 14.exd4 Rfe8 15.Rfe1 Qb8 16.Ne4 Na5 17.Neg5
Rather a scary spot when you sit across the board from Shakh. 17...Qf4!? No fear. No chickening out with 17...Bxf3 18.Qxf3 h6 19.Ne4± 18.Nxe6 fxe6 Both players missed a fantastic rejoinder 18...Qh6! but this is the stuff of silicon monsters: 19.Neg5 Bd6 20.Qc2 Bf4 etc. 19.Qxe6+ Kh8 20.Ne5 It's over, right? Bf8! Not so fast. 21.Qh3 It turns out there's no smotherred mate after 21.Nf7+ Kg8 22.Nh6+ Kh8 23.Qg8+ Nxg8 24.Nf7+ Qxf7! 21...Kg8
One would expect Mamedyarov to finish the job, but he was in bad form in Paris. 22.Nd7? Missing with the shot! 22.Bf5 Bd6 23.Nd3 Qg5 24.c5 Bf8 25.d5 is what Shakh normally does in his attacking games. 22...Ne4! A cobra-like strike. 23.f3 Ng5 24.Qh5 Re3 Who's attacking who now? 25.Ne5 Rxd3 26.Nxd3 Qf5 27.d5 27.Qg4 Qxd3 28.Qxg5 Nxc4 leaves White emply-handed. 27...Nxc4 28.Ba1 Bxd5 29.Kh1 Rc6 30.Nf2 Qg6 31.Qg4 Ne3 32.Rxc6 Nxg4 Vacuuming white pieces off the board is a sure way to finish. 32...Bxc6 would have done it as well: 33.Qg3 Bd6 34.Be5 Bxe5 35.Qxe5 Nxf3 36.Qxe3 Nxe1 33.Rxg6 Nxf2+ 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Mamedyarov,S2808Nakamura,H27690–12018D05Paris GCT 2018-Blitz17

So and Nakamura

A draw with So and a win over Mamedyarov sealed the tournament for Nakamura | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

With the tournament win already in the bag, Nakamura nonetheless pushed hard for a win at the end of the last round game after Caruana blundered away a big advantage.

 
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49...Rc5?! No matter how good the position, in blitz one should never go back. 49...Ne4 50.Kf1 d4 51.Rxa5 c5 etc. 50.f3 Ke7 51.Ra7+ Kf6 52.h6 gxh6 53.Bd3 Rc3 54.Kd2 Ra3? Black wants to win with a maximum comfort, but this is misleading. A hands-on approach 54...d4 55.Rxa5 c5 56.g4 fxg4 57.fxg4 Ke6 58.Ra7 Kd5 59.Bxh7 Ne4+ was strongly recommended. 55.Ra6 Ra2+ 56.Ke1 Rg2 57.Rxc6
The key pawn has been eliminated. Caruana is in tailspin. 57...Ke7 58.Rc7+ Ke6 59.Rxh7 Nf7 60.Bb5 Rxg3 61.Be8 Nd6 62.Kf2 Rh3 63.Bc6 d4 64.Kg2 Rh4 65.Kg3 Rh1 66.Kg2 Ra1 67.Rxh6+ Ke7 68.Rh7+ Kf8 69.Rd7 Nc4 70.Rxd4 Rc1 71.Bb5 Nb6 72.Rd6 Nc4 73.Ra6 Ke7 74.Kf2 Rc2+ 75.Kg3 Ne3 76.Rxa5 Rg2+ 77.Kh4 Rg1 77...Rh2+ 78.Kg3 Rg2+ 79.Kh3 Rf2 80.Bc6 Nf1 78.Ra6 Kf7 79.Ra3 Ng2+ 80.Kg3 Ne1+ 81.Kf2 Rh1 82.Bc4+ Kf6 83.Ra6+ 83.Rc3 Nc2 84.Kg2 would have completed this incredible turnaround some 40 moves sooner. 83...Kg7 84.Ra7+ Kf6 85.Rf7+ Kg6 86.Rc7 Nc2 87.Rc6+ Kg7 88.Rc7+ Kf6 89.Rc6+ Kg7 90.Rd6 Nb4 91.Be6 Kf6 92.Bc8+ Ke7 93.Rd7+ Kf6 94.Rd4 Rb1 95.Rd6+ Ke7 96.Rh6 Nd3+ 97.Ke3 Nc5 98.Bxf5 Rb3+ 99.Kf2 Kf7 100.Kg3 Rb2 101.Rc6 Rb5 102.Kg4 Ra5 103.Rb6 Na4 104.Rb7+ Kf6 105.Rb8 Nc3 106.Rb6+ Ke7 107.Be4 Ra1 108.f5 Rg1+ 109.Kf4 Kf7 110.Ke5 Ra1 111.Rb7+ Kf8 112.Rc7 Ra5+ 113.Kf6 Ra6+ 114.Kg5 Ne2 115.f6 Ra5+ 116.Kg4 Ra6 117.Kf5 Ra5+ 118.Kg4 Ra6 119.Kg5 Ra5+ 120.Kh6 Nf4 121.Bg6 Ra8 122.Rh7 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Nakamura,H2769Caruana,F28161–02018D37Paris GCT 2018-Blitz18

Watching the games I could not shake off a feeling that this year's Tour field was split in half. Nakamura, Aronian, MVL, Karjakin and So are the players who have consistently done better than the rest, and it reflects in the standings.

Nakamura pushed for a win in his last game against Caruana | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

Sergey Karjakin has all the reasons to be disappointed with the way he finished up in Paris, same as a week earlier in Leuven, and — rather more importantly — three months ago at the Candidates in Berlin. It seems Sergey plays his best when he is down and out, but as soon as he makes his trademark comeback and takes the lead, his strategy changes into protective mode. In the second day of Paris Karjakin did not win a single game out of the last six. The slide started here.

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.d3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.a3 0-0 9.Nc3 Na5 10.Ba2 Be6 11.b4 Nc6 12.Nd5 Nd4 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 14.Nxd4 exd4 15.Bxe6 fxe6 16.Bd2 e5 17.f4 exf4 18.Bxf4
18...a5 An active move attempted at an inappropriate moment. 18...Qd7 should hold this together with no particular difficulty. Another question is, why go into this line against an older, and presumably more tired opponent? 19.Qh5! c6 20.a4! Timely counterstrike! axb4 21.axb5 Be7 22.Bg3 Rxa1 23.Rxa1 Qb6? 23...cxb5 24.Qxb5 Qc7 24.Qg4 Kh8 25.Qd7 Bg5 26.Qxd6 Rc8 27.bxc6 h6 28.c7 Qb7 29.h4 Be3+ 30.Kh2 Rg8 31.Qa6 1–0
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Anand,V2759Karjakin,S27821–02018C77Paris GCT 2018-Blitz15

The “Minister of Defence” moniker Sergey had earned for his defensive heroics in the last two years did not live up to its reputation, as Karjakin lost another long endgame against one of his principled rivals.

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.e3 Bg7 4.Be2 0-0 5.0-0 b6 6.c4 A48: 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 g6: Torre, London and Colle Systems Bb7 LiveBook: 24 Games 7.a3 7.Nc3 e6 8.Qc2 d5 9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.Bd2 Nd7 11.Nxd5 Bxd5 12.Rfd1 1/2-1/2 (63) Nakamura,H (2785)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2796) Stavanger 2017 7...e6 8.b4 The position is equal. c5 9.Bb2 d6N Predecessor: 9...Nc6 10.bxc5 bxc5 11.Nc3 cxd4 12.exd4 Ne7 13.Rb1 0-1 (59) Natacheev,P (2243)-Iljin,A (2528) Sochi 2018 10.Nbd2 Nbd7 11.h3 Qe7 12.Rc1 Rac8 13.Qb3 Rfd8 14.Rfd1 Ba8 15.Bc3 d5 16.dxc5 bxc5 17.cxd5 Bxd5 18.Qb2 cxb4 19.axb4 Nb6 20.Bd4 Ne8 21.Bxg7 Nxg7 22.Ra1 Ne8 23.Ne5 Rc7 24.Nd3 24.e4 feels hotter. Ba8 25.f3 f5 26.Nd3 Nf6 27.Qe5 24...Qf6 25.Qxf6 Nxf6 26.Nc5 Ba8 27.Ndb3 Rxd1+ 28.Rxd1 Nfd5 29.b5 Kf8 30.Bf1 Ke7 31.Rd2 Nc3 32.f3 Bd5 33.e4 Bxb3 34.Nxb3 Nc4 35.Rd4
35...Na3! 36.Rb4 Nc2 37.b6 Nxb4 38.bxc7 Endgame KBN-KNN Kd7 39.e5? 39.Kf2 39...Kxc7-+ 40.f4 Kb6 41.Nd2 Nbd5 42.Nc4+ Kc5 43.g3 Ne4 44.Kg2 Kd4 45.Kf3 g5 46.h4? 46.Be2 46...gxf4 47.gxf4
47...a5! 48.Nxa5? 48.Be2 48...Nd2+ 49.Kf2 Nxf1 50.Kxf1 KN-KN Ke4 51.Nb7 Kxf4 52.Nd8 Kxe5 53.Nxf7+ Kf6 54.Nd6 Ne3+ 55.Kf2 Nf5 56.Ne4+ Ke5 57.Ng5 h6 58.Nf3+ Kf4 59.h5 Kg4 60.Ne5+ Kxh5 61.Kf3 Kg5 62.Nf7+ Kf6 63.Nd8 e5 64.Kg4 Ng7 65.Nb7 h5+ 66.Kf3 Kf5 67.Nd6+ Ke6 68.Ne4 Kd5 69.Nf6+ Kd4 70.Ne4 Ne8 71.Ng3 Nf6 72.Ke2 e4 73.Kd2 Ke5 74.Ke3 h4 75.Nf1 Ng4+ 75...h3-+ 76.Ke2 Kf4 76.Ke2 Kf4 76...h3-+ 77.Ng3 h2 77.Nd2 h3 78.Kf1 e3 79.Nb3 Kg3 79...e2+-+ 80.Kxe2 h2 80.Nd4 h2 81.Ne2+ Kf3 Precision: White = 28%, Black = 61%. 0–1
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Karjakin,S2782Vachier-Lagrave,M27890–12018Paris GCT 2018-Blitz16

Karjakin was certainly ready to fight | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

Levon Aronian is going through his recovery program after the Candidates debacle. Not everything was perfect in Paris, but Levon battled on. Despite being eight points behind So in the Tour standings, Aronian is still there rounding up the list of contenders.

 
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44...Rd2+ 45.Ka3 Rxh2 46.Rxa6 h4 46...Rh3 47.a5 Rxg3 48.Rc6 h4 47.gxh4 Rxh4 48.a5 g5 49.Rb6 g4 50.Rb4 f5 51.a6 51.Rf4 Kf6 52.Rf1 g3 53.a6 Kg5 54.Rg1 f4 55.b4 Rh8 56.b5 keeps the pawns on even course, so a draw is a likely result 51...Rh8 Kramnik's winning now. 52.Rf4
52...Kf6 This endgame is too complicated for blitz - mistakes are unavoidable. 52...Rf8! 53.a7 53.b4 g3 54.Rf1 f4 55.Rg1 Kf6 56.b5 Ke6 57.b6 f3 58.Re1+ Kd7-+ 53...Kf6 54.b4 Ra8-+ 53.b4 Kg5 54.Rf1 g3 55.b5 Ra8 56.Kb4 f4 57.Ka5 g2 58.Rg1 f3 59.b6 Kf4 59...Rf8 60.a7 Kh4 61.b7 f2 62.b8Q fxg1Q-+ 60.b7
60...Rh8?? Alright, Kramnik blew a win, but losing it? 60...f2 61.bxa8Q fxg1Q= 61.a7 White threatens to queen with check. Ke3 62.b8Q Rh5+ 63.Ka4 Rh4+ 64.Ka3 f2 65.Qg3+ Ke2 66.Rxg2 1–0
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Aronian,L2764Kramnik,V27871–02018C10Paris GCT 2018-Blitz19

As fans, we all appreciated Kramnik's valiant efforts at the Candidates. Vladimir was the creative force even if to the detriment of his final result. If he could not get the tactics done in a classical time control, how could he expect to do better in blitz? Other players, such as Anand and So, who felt unsure of their ability to handle the tactics, played with some reservations, but Kramnik never took his foot off the gas pedal while falling off the cliff.

 
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29.Qe4 I bet Kramnik thought he was winning here. Much better was 29.Qxg4 Bxg4 30.Re7 29...Re8 30.Nf5 Rbb8 31.Rg3?? However.... In reality White had to be looking for a bailout: 31.Nxd6 Bxd5 32.Qxe8+ Rxe8 33.Rxe8+ Kh7 34.Rxd5 Bxc3 35.Ne4 Bg7 36.Nxc5 Qxf4 37.Re4 31...Qxf5 0–1
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Kramnik,V2787Mamedyarov,S28080–12018C70Paris GCT 2018-Blitz11
Nakamura,H2769Kramnik,V27871–02018A14Paris GCT 2018-Blitz14

Everybody makes mistakes in blitz, but Kramnik's blunders were simply atrocious. One wonders if Vladimir would have been better off staying at home. At least, he only made a commitment for one tournament as a wild card.

Kramnik's uncompromising chess was present in Paris | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

I am terribly saddened by Grischuk performance in both Leuven and Paris. I hoped he would be well rested and poised to compete in the Tour. Instead, in many of his games, Alex appeared flat and poorly motivated. I hate to say this, but the years of chess clock abuse may be catching up with Grischuk.

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 Nbd7 7.c5 Nh5 8.Be2 Nxf4 9.exf4 b6 10.b4 a5 11.a3 c6 12.0-0 axb4 13.axb4 Rxa1 14.Qxa1 Qc7 15.g3 bxc5 16.bxc5 f6 17.Re1 e5 18.Bd3 g5 19.Qb1 Rf7 20.fxe5 fxe5 21.Nxe5 Nxe5 22.Rxe5 Bd7 23.Ne2 Bf6
In the words of Roman Dzindzi White has an extra pawn and the compensation. A player of Grischuk's class should have never let Black off the hook. 24.Re3 24.Bxh7+ Rxh7 25.Qg6+ Bg7 26.Re7 with Qf7 to follow. 24...Qc8 25.Bc2 Qf8 26.Qe1 Kg7 27.Qd2 Kg8 28.Nc1 Qg7 29.Ne2 Qf8 30.Qd3 Bg4 31.Nc1 Re7 32.Nb3 Qf7 33.Rxe7 Qxe7 34.Qe3 Bd7 35.Nd2 g4 36.Qxe7 Bxe7 37.f4
White is still better, but it's a long endgame while low on time. 37...gxf3 38.Nxf3 Bf6 39.Kf2 h6 40.Ne5 Be8 41.h4 Kf8 42.Ke3 Ke7 43.Kf4 Kd8 44.Kf5 Ke7 45.Ba4 Bg7
Alright, I can understand that many successful blitz players use simple chess means and move fast. The keep the edge on the board to build one on the clock. Problem is, Alexander Grischuk has never been like that. He improves on the board, at the cost of getting worse on the clock. Practical or not, this is how he has played for almost 20 years of high level competitive chess. And look what he does now 46.Nxc6+?? Just letting go off the game. White keeps on pushing for a win with 46.g4 and with reasonable play he's very likely to succeed. 46...Bxc6 47.Bxc6 Bxd4 48.Kg6 Bxc5 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Grischuk,A2766Karjakin,S2782½–½2018D37Paris GCT 2018-Blitz11
Grischuk,A2766Nakamura,H27690–12018C67Paris GCT 2018-Blitz3

Of all players who did not have good results in neither Leuven or Paris, we should worry the least about Caruana. Fabi knows what his main job is, and he knew he was going to take some beating in faster time controls even if he were in his best shape. I do not think his taking the last place will damage Caruana's confidence come November.

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.a3 d5 5.Bb5 d4 5...Nxe4 6.Qe2 Nxc3 7.Qxe5+ Qe7 8.dxc3 Bd7 9.Qe3 0-0-0 10.0-0 Qxe3 11.Bxe3 a6 12.Bd3 h6 1/2-1/2 (91) Mamedov,R (2709)-Yu,Y (2751) Huaian 2017 6.Ne2 C47: Scotch Four Knights and Four Knights with 4 g3 Bd6 7.d3 LiveBook: 8 Games 0-0 8.Bc4N The position is equal. Predecessor: 8.Ng3 Na5 9.0-0 c6 10.Ba4 b5 11.Bb3 Nxb3 12.cxb3 Re8 1-0 (31) Durarbayli,V (2630)-Ererdem,G (2164) Konya 2015 8...Na5 9.Ba2 c5 10.Ng3 b5 11.0-0 c4 12.Bd2 Be6 13.Ng5 Bg4 14.Qe1 Bc7 15.h3 Bd7 16.b4 c3 17.Bc1 Nc6 18.f4! h6 19.fxe5 Nxe5 Of course not 19...hxg5 20.exf6 gxf6 21.Bd5± 20.Nf3 Nxf3+ 20...Be6= remains equal. 21.Rxf3± a5 22.bxa5 Rxa5 23.Qf2 Be5 24.Bb3
24...b4! 25.Nf5 25.axb4 Rxa1 25...Be6 26.Bxh6 26.Bf4= Bxf4 27.Rxf4 26...Bxf5 26...gxh6 27.Nxh6+ Kh7 28.Bxe6 Kxh6 27.Bxg7! Kxg7 28.Rxf5 And now Rf1 would win. Qd6 29.a4? Don't go for 29.Rg5+? Kh8-+ 29.Rf1!= 29...Bh2+ 30.Kh1 Rxf5 31.Qxf5 Qe5! 32.Rf1 Rh8 32...Bg3! 33.Rf3 Rh8 33.Rf3 Rh5 34.Qc8 Qc7! 35.Qa6 35.Qxc7 was the only chance. Bxc7 36.g4! 35...Be5 36.a5 36.Qb5 might work better. 36...Rg5 36...Bd6-+ has better winning chances. 37.g4 Rxa5 37.Qb6 Qxb6 38.axb6 Kf8 39.b7 39.g4 39...Ke7-+ 40.g4
40...Kd8?
40...Rg8! and life is bright. 41.Bc4 Kd6 41.Bxf7?? 41.Rxf6!+- was the only winning move. Kc7 41...Bxf6 42.b8Q+ 42.Rxf7+ Kb8 43.Kg2 41...Kc7 42.Rf5? 42.Rf1 42...Rxf5 Black is clearly winning. 43.exf5 Nd7 44.g5 intending Kg2. Nc5 Precision: White = 38%, Black = 44%. 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Caruana,F2816Karjakin,S27820–12018Paris GCT 2018-Blitz5

Why not show up for a low-pressure event and have fun games such as this one?

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GM Simon Williams checks in on the action from the second day of blitz.

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1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.d4 d5 6.a3 a6 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.b4 Bd6 9.Bb2 0-0 10.cxd5 exd5 11.Be2 Be6 12.0-0 LiveBook: 44 Partien a5 D40: Damengambit (Verbesserte Tarrasch-Verteidigung) 12...Qe7 13.Rc1 a5 14.Nb5 Bb8 15.bxa5 Nxa5 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.Nc7 Bxc7 18.Rxc7 Rac8 19.Rxc8 Rxc8 20.Nd4 ½-½ (27) Svidler,P (2768)-Anand,V (2767) Wijk aan Zee 2018 13.Nb5 Be7 14.bxa5 Nxa5N Vorgänger: 14...Qxa5 15.a4 Rfc8 16.Bd3 Qb4 17.Bc3 Qg4 18.a5 Ne4 1-0 (30) Stein,G-Otto,A Schwerin 1951 15.Nfd4 Bd7 16.Bc3 Nc6 17.a4 Ne4 18.Bb2 Nc5 19.Bf3 Ne5 20.Be2       Nc4 21.Bc3 Ne4 22.Be1 Bf6 23.Ra2 Re8 24.Bd3 Nc5 25.Bc2 g6 26.Bb4 Ne6 27.Bb3 Nxd4 28.Nxd4 Qb6 29.Bc3 Rec8 30.Ba1 Na5 30...Rc5= 31.Bxd5± Nc6 31...Rc5± 32.Nb5 Nb4?
32...Nd8 33.Bxf7+ Nxf7 34.Qxd7 Qc6 35.Qxc6 Rxc6 36.Bxf6 Rxf6 33.Bxf7+!+-       Kxf7 34.Qxd7+ Be7 35.Bd4? 35.Qh3+- Nxa2 36.Qxh7+ Ke8 37.Qg8+ Bf8 38.Bd4 35...Qc6= 36.Qh3 Nxa2 37.Qxh7+ Ke8! 38.h3 Rxa4 39.Rd1 Die Stellung ist ausgeglichen. Qe6 Und nicht 39...Qxb5 40.Qxg6+ Kd7 41.Bb6+ Rd4 42.Rxd4+ Qd5 43.Rxd5+ Bd6 44.Rxd6+ Ke7 45.Qf6+ Ke8 46.Re6+ Kd7 47.Qf7# 40.Qh8+ Kf7 41.Qh7+ Ke8 42.Qh8+ Kf7 43.Qh7+ Ke8 Precision: Weiß = 50%, Schwarz = 32%. ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Caruana,F2816Anand,V2759½–½2018A35Paris GCT 2018-Blitz1
Karjakin,S2816Nakamura,H2878½–½2018C67Paris GCT 2018-Blitz1
Kramnik,V2793Aronian,L28090–12018A11Paris GCT 2018-Blitz1
So,W2778Vachier-Lagrave,M2789½–½2018A04Paris GCT 2018-Blitz1
Grischuk,A2766Mamedyarov,S2808½–½2018B12Paris GCT 2018-Blitz1
Nakamura,H2878Anand,V2817½–½2018A05Paris GCT 2018-Blitz2
Karjakin,S2816Grischuk,A28311–02018B92Paris GCT 2018-Blitz2
Aronian,L2809So,W2856½–½2018A06Paris GCT 2018-Blitz2
Vachier-Lagrave,M2789Caruana,F28161–02018C54Paris GCT 2018-Blitz2
Mamedyarov,S2757Kramnik,V27930–12018D53Paris GCT 2018-Blitz2
Caruana,F2816Aronian,L2764½–½2018C47Paris GCT 2018-Blitz3
Kramnik,V2787Karjakin,S27820–12018A46Paris GCT 2018-Blitz3
So,W2778Mamedyarov,S28081–02018D06Paris GCT 2018-Blitz3
Grischuk,A2766Nakamura,H27690–12018C67Paris GCT 2018-Blitz3
Anand,V2759Vachier-Lagrave,M27890–12018B90Paris GCT 2018-Blitz3
Mamedyarov,S2808Caruana,F28160–12018D30Paris GCT 2018-Blitz4
Karjakin,S2782So,W27781–02018C18Paris GCT 2018-Blitz4
Nakamura,H2769Vachier-Lagrave,M2789½–½2018B50Paris GCT 2018-Blitz4
Grischuk,A2766Kramnik,V2787½–½2018C65Paris GCT 2018-Blitz4
Aronian,L2764Anand,V27591–02018B13Paris GCT 2018-Blitz4
Caruana,F2816Karjakin,S27820–12018C47Paris GCT 2018-Blitz5
Vachier-Lagrave,M2789Aronian,L2764½–½2018C54Paris GCT 2018-Blitz5
Kramnik,V2787Nakamura,H27690–12018A06Paris GCT 2018-Blitz5
So,W2778Grischuk,A27660–12018E99Paris GCT 2018-Blitz5
Anand,V2759Mamedyarov,S2808½–½2018B29Paris GCT 2018-Blitz5
Mamedyarov,S2808Vachier-Lagrave,M27891–02018A48Paris GCT 2018-Blitz6
Kramnik,V2787So,W2778½–½2018C54Paris GCT 2018-Blitz6
Karjakin,S2782Anand,V27591–02018C65Paris GCT 2018-Blitz6
Nakamura,H2769Aronian,L2764½–½2018C84Paris GCT 2018-Blitz6
Grischuk,A2766Caruana,F28161–02018C84Paris GCT 2018-Blitz6
Caruana,F2816Kramnik,V27870–12018C47Paris GCT 2018-Blitz7
Vachier-Lagrave,M2789Karjakin,S27821–02018D37Paris GCT 2018-Blitz7
So,W2778Nakamura,H2769½–½2018D37Paris GCT 2018-Blitz7
Aronian,L2764Mamedyarov,S2808½–½2018C55Paris GCT 2018-Blitz7
Anand,V2759Grischuk,A27661–02018B90Paris GCT 2018-Blitz7
Kramnik,V2787Anand,V2759½–½2018B13Paris GCT 2018-Blitz8
Karjakin,S2782Aronian,L27641–02018C84Paris GCT 2018-Blitz8
So,W2778Caruana,F2816½–½2018A29Paris GCT 2018-Blitz8
Nakamura,H2769Mamedyarov,S28080–12018A05Paris GCT 2018-Blitz8
Grischuk,A2766Vachier-Lagrave,M2789½–½2018A48Paris GCT 2018-Blitz8
Caruana,F2816Nakamura,H27690–12018A45Paris GCT 2018-Blitz9
Mamedyarov,S2808Karjakin,S27821–02018D37Paris GCT 2018-Blitz9
Vachier-Lagrave,M2789Kramnik,V27871–02018C54Paris GCT 2018-Blitz9
Aronian,L2764Grischuk,A2766½–½2018B50Paris GCT 2018-Blitz9
Anand,V2759So,W2778½–½2018C67Paris GCT 2018-Blitz9
Caruana,F2816Vachier-Lagrave,M2789½–½2018A46Paris GCT 2018-Blitz11
Kramnik,V2787Mamedyarov,S28080–12018C70Paris GCT 2018-Blitz11
So,W2778Aronian,L2764½–½2018D10Paris GCT 2018-Blitz11
Grischuk,A2766Karjakin,S2782½–½2018D37Paris GCT 2018-Blitz11
Anand,V2759Nakamura,H27690–12018B08Paris GCT 2018-Blitz11
Mamedyarov,S2808So,W2778½–½2018D41Paris GCT 2018-Blitz12
Vachier-Lagrave,M2789Anand,V2759½–½2018C44Paris GCT 2018-Blitz12
Karjakin,S2782Kramnik,V27871–02018C65Paris GCT 2018-Blitz12
Nakamura,H2769Grischuk,A2766½–½2018B50Paris GCT 2018-Blitz12
Aronian,L2764Caruana,F28161–02018B42Paris GCT 2018-Blitz12
Caruana,F2816Mamedyarov,S28080–12018B07Paris GCT 2018-Blitz13
Vachier-Lagrave,M2789Nakamura,H2769½–½2018A06Paris GCT 2018-Blitz13
Kramnik,V2787Grischuk,A2766½–½2018A49Paris GCT 2018-Blitz13
So,W2778Karjakin,S2782½–½2018C65Paris GCT 2018-Blitz13
Anand,V2759Aronian,L2764½–½2018C67Paris GCT 2018-Blitz13
Mamedyarov,S2808Anand,V2759½–½2018E34Paris GCT 2018-Blitz14
Karjakin,S2782Caruana,F2816½–½2018B41Paris GCT 2018-Blitz14
Nakamura,H2769Kramnik,V27871–02018A05Paris GCT 2018-Blitz14
Grischuk,A2766So,W2778½–½2018A37Paris GCT 2018-Blitz14
Aronian,L2764Vachier-Lagrave,M2789½–½2018A04Paris GCT 2018-Blitz14
Caruana,F2816Grischuk,A2766½–½2018A05Paris GCT 2018-Blitz15
Vachier-Lagrave,M2789Mamedyarov,S28081–02018B12Paris GCT 2018-Blitz15
So,W2778Kramnik,V2787½–½2018A06Paris GCT 2018-Blitz15
Aronian,L2764Nakamura,H2769½–½2018B50Paris GCT 2018-Blitz15
Anand,V2759Karjakin,S27821–02018C84Paris GCT 2018-Blitz15
Mamedyarov,S2808Aronian,L27640–12018D10Paris GCT 2018-Blitz16
Kramnik,V2787Caruana,F28160–12018D04Paris GCT 2018-Blitz16
Karjakin,S2782Vachier-Lagrave,M27890–12018A48Paris GCT 2018-Blitz16
Nakamura,H2769So,W2778½–½2018D41Paris GCT 2018-Blitz16
Grischuk,A2766Anand,V27591–02018A37Paris GCT 2018-Blitz16
Caruana,F2816So,W2778½–½2018C24Paris GCT 2018-Blitz17
Mamedyarov,S2808Nakamura,H27690–12018D05Paris GCT 2018-Blitz17
Vachier-Lagrave,M2789Grischuk,A2766½–½2018B52Paris GCT 2018-Blitz17
Aronian,L2764Karjakin,S2782½–½2018C50Paris GCT 2018-Blitz17
Anand,V2759Kramnik,V2787½–½2018C67Paris GCT 2018-Blitz17
Kramnik,V2787Vachier-Lagrave,M27891–02018A28Paris GCT 2018-Blitz18
Karjakin,S2782Mamedyarov,S2808½–½2018B29Paris GCT 2018-Blitz18
So,W2778Anand,V2759½–½2018A35Paris GCT 2018-Blitz18
Nakamura,H2769Caruana,F28161–02018D37Paris GCT 2018-Blitz18
Grischuk,A2766Aronian,L2764½–½2018C65Paris GCT 2018-Blitz18
Mamedyarov,S2808Grischuk,A2766½–½2018A48Paris GCT 2018-Blitz19
Vachier-Lagrave,M2789So,W27780–12018C54Paris GCT 2018-Blitz19
Nakamura,H2769Karjakin,S2782½–½2018D37Paris GCT 2018-Blitz19
Aronian,L2764Kramnik,V27871–02018C11Paris GCT 2018-Blitz19
Anand,V2759Caruana,F28161–02018C84Paris GCT 2018-Blitz19

Commentary by Yasser Seirawan, Jovanka Houska, Alejandro Ramirez (St. Louis)
Maurice Ashley and Romain Edouard (Paris)

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Yermo is enjoying his fifties. Lives in South Dakota, 600 miles way from the nearest grandmaster. Between his chess work online he plays snooker and spends time outdoors - happy as a clam.

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