GRENKE Rd5: Carlsen back in the lead

by Alejandro Ramirez
2/7/2015 – He seems to be doing the same as he did in Wijk aan Zee: Carlsen has his second straight win after losing. This gives the Norwegian a tie for first with Naiditsch, who was held to a draw by a stubborn Caruana. Another fantastic game today was Aronian-Anand, in which the Indian player was outplaying his opponent... only to get hit by a bolt from the blue!
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Round 05 - February 07, 2015, 15:00
Aronian Levon 2777
1-0
 Anand Viswanathan 2797
Adams Michael 2738
½-½
 Bacrot Etienne 2711
Naiditsch Arkadij 2706
½-½
 Caruana Fabiano 2811
Carlsen Magnus 2865
1-0
 Baramidze David 2594

Daniel King shows the games Aronian vs Anand and Carlsen vs Baramidze

A packed stadium for the weekend games!

Carlsen continues in hot pursuit as he vanquished the lowest rated player in the event. Anand showed a very interesting way of handling the Ragozin that Aronian lost to Carlsen with just a couple of weeks ago... against Aronian himself! However a serious miscalculation cost him the game.

Aronian, Levon 1-0 Anand, Viswanathan
Anand really had a clear advantage until Aronian's bolt from the blue turned the tables:

Two losses in a row for Vishy Anand

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1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 d5 4.d4 Bb4 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Qa4+ Nc6 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bxf6 Qxf6 9.e3 0-0 10.Be2 a6 11.0-0 Be6 12.Rfc1 Bd6 13.a3 Talk about learning from your defeats! This is the line that Carlsen used with White to beat Aronian in Wijk aan Zee just a few weeks ago. Ne7 14.b4 A new twist to the same idea: In that game Carlsen played 14.Qd1. c6 15.Qb3 g5!? And a whole different idea from Anand! He decides to expand on the kingside instead of passively waiting for Aronian to make some kind of progress on the queenside. How effective this approach is will require many practical tests. 16.Qb2 Qg7 16...g4 17.Nd2 is natural, but also it is unclear what exactly Black gains from pushing this pawn. 17.Na4 Rae8 18.Nc5 Bc8 19.g3 Nf5 20.Bd3 Qf6 21.Rf1 h5 22.Rac1 h4 23.Qd2 Even though Black's plan was actually rather slow, it is also clear he has made some clear progress, while Aronian is not close to destroying the queenside pawn structure at all. Nh6? Giving White a breath of fresh air he did not deserve. 23...hxg3 24.hxg3 24.fxg3 even though this loses a pawn, its necessary to give White counterplay. Nxe3 25.Rf2 Ng4 26.Rff1 Re3! 24...Kg7 White is hard pressed to find a move in this position. 24.e4! White attacks the g5 pawn and can ignore the threat on his knight on f3. A bolt from the blue! Bxc5 24...dxe4 25.Nxe4+- 24...Qxf3 25.Qxg5+ Kh7 26.e5+ Bf5 26...Nf5 27.Bxf5++- 27.Bxf5+ Qxf5 27...Nxf5 28.Rc3! Nxd4 28...Qxc3 29.Qxf5+ Kh6 30.Qf6+ Kh7 31.Qxh4+ Kg6 32.Qf6+ Kh7 33.exd6+- 29.Qxh4+! Kg7 30.Qxd4± 28.Qxf5+ Nxf5 29.exd6 and the pawn on d6 is, unfortunately for Black, untouchable. Nxd6 30.Nd7+- White wins an exchange! 25.e5 Qg7 25...Bxb4 was perhaps a little better. 26.bxc5 Suddenly black is in serious problems. The pawn e5 is restricting all of black pieces, essentially stopping the attack. g5 is currently hanging, and there is no easy way to defend it. f6 26...hxg3 27.fxg3 g4 28.Nh4 are too many concessions: Black is just full of weaknesses and no activity. 27.exf6 Rxf6 28.Nxg5 Bf5 29.Rce1 Rff8 30.Rxe8 Rxe8 31.Nf3 White's up a clear pawn at the moment. Bxd3 32.Qxd3 Re4 33.Re1 hxg3 34.hxg3 Black is strategically lost: he is down a pawn, his b-pawn is worthless in most endgames and White has two passed pawns. Perhaps a little early to lose, but not too far off from it. 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Aronian,L2777Anand,V27971–02015D383rd GRENKE Chess Classic5

Adams, Michael ½-½ Bacrot, Etienne
Bacrot outplayed the Englishman convincingly, but was unable to finish him off:

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55.Rh2 Qg1? 55...Qd1! The move is actually quite cheeky: White cannot move his pieces, the threat is Bh6. 56.f4 Bh6! And now the threat is Bxf4! There is no good way of preventing this, so White is lost. 57.Qxd4 57.a4 Bxf4 57...Qg4+ 58.gxf4 Qg4# 57...Qf1# 56.Qe2 Bxe5 57.f4 Bd6 58.a4 d3?! 58...Bc7! 59.Qg2 Rxh2+ 60.Qxh2 Qd1 61.Qg2 Suddenly it is clear that White survived, and more importantly there is no good way of pushing the d-pawn forward. The a-pawn creates enough counterplay to distract Black. Ba3 62.a5 Bc1 63.Qd5 Qf1+ 64.Kh2 Qe2+ 65.Kh3 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Adams,M2738Bacrot,E2711½–½2015A153rd GRENKE Chess Classic5.2

Naiditsch, Arkadij ½-½ Caruana, Fabiano
The German's handling of the White side of a sharp Marshall Gambit was very good, and he obtained strong pressure with his pair of bishops. Caruana's defense was stubborn, and this time Naiditsch was simply unable to break through.

Close, but no cigar... the pair of bishops did not prove enough to topple Caruana

Fabiano Caruana cannot be too happy with the result of the opening, however

Carlsen, Magnus 1-0 Baramidze, David
Baramidze was holding his own until a crucial mistake was all it took for Carlsen to play like a machine and take the win.

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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Nb8 10.d4 Nbd7 11.Nbd2 Bb7 12.Bc2 Re8 13.Nf1 Bf8 14.Ng3 g6 One of the tabiya's (starting position) of chess. The Breyer has been considered to be a very solid, albeit a little passive, way of handling the Spanish as Black. 15.a4 Bg7 15...c5 is considered to be the main line, trying to exploit the weakness of the b3 square with the continuation 16.d5 c4 which has been seen many, many times. 16.Bd3 c6 17.Bg5 Nf8 18.Qd2 Ne6 19.Bh6 Nd7 20.Bc2 Bxh6 21.Qxh6 Qf6 22.Rad1 Rad8 22...exd4 23.cxd4 Qf4 24.Qxf4 Nxf4 25.e5!? 23.d5 cxd5 24.exd5 Qf4 25.Qxf4 Nxf4 26.Ne4 Bxd5 27.axb5 axb5 28.Nxd6 So far Baramidze has done a fantastic job defending and cdreating counterplay at the same time. His well placed pieces give him compensation even if he loses the b5 pawn. Re6? This, unfortunately for the German player, is quite the mistake. 28...Bxf3 29.gxf3 Re7 30.Nxb5 Rb8 31.c4 Nxh3+∞ 28...Rf8 29.Ne4 29.Nxb5 Rb8= the pawn is regained on b2. 29...f5 doesn't leave the rook vulnerable to an attack on e6. 29.Ne4! f5 30.Nfg5! Re7 31.g3! What a sequence! The knight on f4 cannot move as the bishop on d5 is hanging, and because of the awkward positions of Black's rooks and the pinned knight on d7 his structure will be compromised. Bxe4 32.Bxe4 fxe4 32...Nxh3+ 33.Nxh3 fxe4 34.Ng5± 33.gxf4 Rf8 34.Nxe4 Rxf4 35.b4 Material is still even, but White's knight on e4 is monstrous and the b5 pawn will soon come under attack. Nf6 36.Nd6 Rf3 37.Nxb5 Rxh3 38.c4 Material is still even, but clearly Black's pawns are less threatening than White's. The position is very hard to play. Rh4 38...Rb3 39.Nd4! is a nice trick to keep the pawns alive. Taking on b4 fails to the fork on c6. 39.Nd6 39.Nd6 39...Nh5 40.b5 Nf4 41.b6 Rg4+ 42.Kf1 Rh4 Black tries to create some counterplay against White's king, but it is insufficient. It can fend off for itself against a lone rook and knight. 43.f3 Rh1+ 44.Kf2 Rh2+ 45.Kg1 Rc2 46.Kh1 Nh3 47.Ne4 The knight comes back to defend against Nf2+. There were other winning moves, but this is the easiest. Rxc4 48.Rd8+! Kg7 49.Rb1 And now there is nothing to do against the advance of the b-pawn. Blockading is not possible due to Nd6, forking the rook. One mistake is all it took for Carlsen to win a very Carlsen-like position. 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2865Baramidze,D25941–02015C953rd GRENKE Chess Classic5

Back in tie for first: Magnus Carlsen

Baramidze has proven to be no pushover, but at some point in his games here in Baden-Baden he makes one mistake that costs him the full point.

Standings

Replay Round five Games

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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Nb8 10.d4 Nbd7 11.Nbd2 Bb7 12.Bc2 Re8 13.Nf1 Bf8 14.Ng3 g6 One of the tabiya's (starting position) of chess. The Breyer has been considered to be a very solid, albeit a little passive, way of handling the Spanish as Black. 15.a4 Bg7 15...c5 is considered to be the main line, trying to exploit the weakness of the b3 square with the continuation 16.d5 c4 which has been seen many, many times. 16.Bd3 c6 17.Bg5 Nf8 18.Qd2 Ne6 19.Bh6 Nd7 20.Bc2 Bxh6 21.Qxh6 Qf6 22.Rad1 Rad8 22...exd4 23.cxd4 Qf4 24.Qxf4 Nxf4 25.e5!? 23.d5 cxd5 24.exd5 Qf4 25.Qxf4 Nxf4 26.Ne4 Bxd5 27.axb5 axb5 28.Nxd6 So far Baramidze has done a fantastic job defending and cdreating counterplay at the same time. His well placed pieces give him compensation even if he loses the b5 pawn. Re6? This, unfortunately for the German player, is quite the mistake. 28...Bxf3 29.gxf3 Re7 30.Nxb5 Rb8 31.c4 Nxh3+∞ 28...Rf8 29.Ne4 29.Nxb5 Rb8= the pawn is regained on b2. 29...f5 doesn't leave the rook vulnerable to an attack on e6. 29.Ne4! f5 30.Nfg5! Re7 31.g3! What a sequence! The knight on f4 cannot move as the bishop on d5 is hanging, and because of the awkward positions of Black's rooks and the pinned knight on d7 his structure will be compromised. Bxe4 32.Bxe4 fxe4 32...Nxh3+ 33.Nxh3 fxe4 34.Ng5± 33.gxf4 Rf8 34.Nxe4 Rxf4 35.b4 Material is still even, but White's knight on e4 is monstrous and the b5 pawn will soon come under attack. Nf6 36.Nd6 Rf3 37.Nxb5 Rxh3 38.c4 Material is still even, but clearly Black's pawns are less threatening than White's. The position is very hard to play. Rh4 38...Rb3 39.Nd4! is a nice trick to keep the pawns alive. Taking on b4 fails to the fork on c6. 39.Nd6 39.Nd6 39...Nh5 40.b5 Nf4 41.b6 Rg4+ 42.Kf1 Rh4 Black tries to create some counterplay against White's king, but it is insufficient. It can fend off for itself against a lone rook and knight. 43.f3 Rh1+ 44.Kf2 Rh2+ 45.Kg1 Rc2 46.Kh1 Nh3 47.Ne4 The knight comes back to defend against Nf2+. There were other winning moves, but this is the easiest. Rxc4 48.Rd8+! Kg7 49.Rb1 And now there is nothing to do against the advance of the b-pawn. Blockading is not possible due to Nd6, forking the rook. One mistake is all it took for Carlsen to win a very Carlsen-like position. 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2865Baramidze,D25941–02015C953rd GRENKE Chess Classic5
Aronian,L2777Anand,V27971–02015D383rd GRENKE Chess Classic5
Adams,M2738Bacrot,E2711½–½2015A153rd GRENKE Chess Classic5.2
Naiditsch,A2706Caruana,F2811½–½2015C893rd GRENKE Chess Classic5.3

Select from the dropdown menu to replay the games

Schedule

Round 01 - February 02, 2015, 15:00
Caruana Fabiano 2811 ½-½ Anand Viswanathan 2797
Bacrot Etienne 2711 ½-½ Baramidze David 2594
Aronian Levon 2777 ½-½ Carlsen Magnus 2865
Adams Michael 2738 ½-½ Naiditsch Arkadij 2706
Round 02 - February 03, 2015, 15:00
Anand Viswanathan 2797 ½-½ Naiditsch Arkadij 2706
Carlsen Magnus 2865 1-0 Adams Michael 2738
Baramidze David 2594 ½-½ Aronian Levon 2777
Caruana Fabiano 2811 ½-½ Bacrot Etienne 2711
Round 03 - February 04, 2015, 15:00
Bacrot Etienne 2711
½-½
 Anand Viswanathan 2797
Aronian Levon 2777
0-1
 Caruana Fabiano 2811
Adams Michael 2738
1-0
 Baramidze David 2594
Naiditsch Arkadij 2706
1-0
 Carlsen Magnus 2865
Round 04 - February 06, 2015, 15:00
Anand Viswanathan 2797
0-1
 Carlsen Magnus 2865
Baramidze David 2594
0-1
 Naiditsch Arkadij 2706
Caruana Fabiano 2811
½-½
 Adams Michael 2738
Bacrot Etienne 2711
½-½
 Aronian Levon 2777
Round 05 - February 07, 2015, 15:00
Aronian Levon 2777
1-0
 Anand Viswanathan 2797
Adams Michael 2738
½-½
 Bacrot Etienne 2711
Naiditsch Arkadij 2706
½-½
 Caruana Fabiano 2811
Carlsen Magnus 2865
1-0
 Baramidze David 2594
Round 06 - February 08, 2015, 15:00
Anand Viswanathan 2797 - Baramidze David 2594
Caruana Fabiano 2811 - Carlsen Magnus 2865
Bacrot Etienne 2711 - Naiditsch Arkadij 2706
Aronian Levon 2777 - Adams Michael 2738
Round 07 - February 09, 2015, 15:00
Adams Michael 2738 - Anand Viswanathan 2797
Naiditsch Arkadij 2706 - Aronian Levon 2777
Carlsen Magnus 2865 - Bacrot Etienne 2711
Baramidze David 2594 - Caruana Fabiano 2811

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08.02.2014 Round 6 Simon Williams
09.02.2014 Round 7 Mihail Marin

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All photos: Georgios Souleidis

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Grandmaster Alejandro Ramirez has been playing tournament chess since 1998. His accomplishments include qualifying for the 2004 and 2013 World Cups as well as playing for Costa Rica in the 2002, 2004 and 2008 Olympiads. He currently has a rating of 2583 and is author of a number of popular and critically acclaimed ChessBase-DVDs.

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