Chess Winners Win Slowly
By GM Lubomir Kavalek
"I am playing all-out to win, because I like to win tournaments,"
are the words we could expect from the world's top-rated player Magnus Carlsen.
But these words were uttered 40 years ago by Bobby Fischer before he won the
world championship match against Boris Spassky in Reykjavik, Iceland.
Fischer played in eight U.S. championships and won them all. In 1963 he won
all games. He won 20 consecutive games on his way to the world title during
the 1970 Interzonal and the 1971 Candidates matches. At the 1962 Interzonal
in Stockholm he outraced the competition by 2.5 points, in Buenos Aires in 1970
by 3.5 points. His FIDE rating skyrocketed to 2785 points in 1972, leaving the
next player, Boris Spassky, a whopping 125 points behind. Such dominance will
never be repeated.
But Carlsen seems to be running in Fischer's footsteps. The Norwegian grandmaster
dominates the live rating list with 2843 and is closing in on Garry Kasparov's
all-time highest rating record of 2851. Carlsen, 21, leads a pack of hungry
young grandmasters who are willing to fight as they showed this summer. Among
them is the U.S. champion Hikaru Nakamura, 24, the Italian Fabiano Caruana,
20, and Russia's Sergey Karjakin, 22.
The traditional tournament in the Swiss city of Biel used a soccer system to
count the results: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw. It should promote
fighting spirit and Carlsen took advantage of it in the past. But this time
he was out-kicked by a young Chinese player Wang Hao, 23, who won the first
prize.
However, the organizers will have to send the traditional way of scoring to
FIDE for rating, to be aligned with other tournaments. And the score is different.
It seems we have not one, but two winners in Biel, but we will let the historians
sort it out.
A mad pawn rush
Another hot event this summer was the tournament in Dortmund, Germany, where
the ten-time winner Vladimir Kramnik, 37, was again the favorite. But the former
world champion missed a few chances to win games and the victory went to Caruana
who shared first place with Karjakin, but had a better tiebreak.
But Kramnik created an astonishing game, playing a defense he tried to demolish
in the past: the King's Indian. "I dropped the King's Indian in 1997 after
one too many bad experiences against Kramnik," admits Kasparov in his new
column "Garry's Choice" in the Chess Informant 114. Against the German
grandmaster Jan Gustafsson, Kramnik was on the other side of the board. In the
era of computers, Kramnik was able to play an opening he almost never used.
The game is a remarkable symbiosis of man and machine.
In the position where heavy hitting is expected, Kramnik quietly moves his
rook pawn. But behind that inconspicuous turn is hidden rage. The pawn begins
a mad dash, sacrifices flare and when Gustafsson makes two rook missteps, the
game is over.
[Event "40th GM"] [Site "Dortmund GER"] [Date "2012.07.14"] [Round "2"] [White
"Gustafsson, Jan"] [Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E92"] [WhiteElo
"2629"] [BlackElo "2799"] [Annotator "GM Lubomir Kavalek/ Huffington Post"]
[PlyCount "54"] [EventDate "2012.07.12"] [SourceDate "2012.01.12"] 1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 {Kramnik didn't have
to guess that this is Gustafsson' main line against the King's Indian. He only
needed to check a few databases.} ({Kramnik/^s own weapon against the King's
Indian has been the Bayonet Attack} 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. b4) 7... c6 8. O-O
exd4 9. Nxd4 Re8 10. f3 d5 {The freeing central thrust is based on a pin along
the e-file} 11. cxd5 Nxd5 ({Preferable to} 11... cxd5 12. Qb3) 12. Nxd5 (12.
Bf2 {allows} Nf4 {with good play for black.}) 12... cxd5 13. Rc1 $5 {Preventing
black's star move Nb8-c6.The rook goes to an open file and indirectly protects
the e-pawn. This computer move is based on a nice tactical trick, taking advantage
of the weak last rank and a lack of black's queenside development.} ({The theoretical
move is} 13. Qb3 {protecting the bishop on e3 and planning Rad1, for example}
dxe4 ({But black can sneak out and counter with } 13... Nc6 14. Rad1 Nxd4 15.
Bxd4 Bxd4+ 16. Rxd4 Qf6 $1 {for example} 17. Qxd5 (17. Rd2 Qf4 18. Qxd5 Qe3+
19. Rf2 Be6 20. Qd3 Qb6 21. Qb5 Qe3 $11 { Gustafsson-Kotronias, Kemer 2007.})
(17. Rxd5 Be6 18. Rd6 Bxb3 19. Rxf6 Bxa2 $11) 17... Be6 18. Qc5 Rec8 19. Qb4
a5 20. Qa4 Rc2 21. Qxc2 Qxd4+ 22. Rf2 Rc8 $15) 14. Rad1 {and now after} exf3
$2 15. Rxf3 Qe7 16. Bc4 {white has a wonderful collection of attacking pieces
and the game is over.}) 13... a5 $5 $146 {A timeout move in the middle of a
raging battle, a brief moment allowing the kings to look for their lost horses.
Anti-positional, slow, horrible - the move earned disapproval. It leaves a big
hole on b5 where a whole army can hide. It seems that black only marks the time
before he sets his queenside pieces into motion. But there are tactical elements
defining the position. As long as black maintains the pin along the e-file,
white can't do much. More importantly, the mad pawn dash is aimed at white's
main idea of playing Qd1-b3. } ({Gustafsson was ready for} 13... Nc6 14. Nxc6
bxc6 15. Rxc6 Bb7 16. Rc1 dxe4 17. Qxd8 Raxd8 18. f4 Bd4 $6 19. Kf2 Bxe3+ 20.
Kxe3 Kf8 21. Rc7 Re7 22. Rfc1 $14 {Gustafsson-Maze, Aix-les-Bains 2011.}) ({At
first glance the rook move 13. Rc1 looks like an oversight. Can't black simply
take the pawn? After} 13... dxe4 14. fxe4 Rxe4 $6 {it seems like white's position
is collapsing. But in positions like this the computers show marvelous tactical
skills. White begins a nice combination with} 15. Ne6 $1 Qd7 16. Nxg7 ({A shocking
choice, but} 16. Nc7 Rxe3 17. Nxa8 Nc6 {has been known for nearly 20 years to
be sufficient for black.}) 16... Rxe3 {It appears now that the knight on g7
is caught and black should win. But the combination continues with two astonishing
moves:} 17. Bg4 $1 Qxg4 ({After} 17... Qxd1 18. Rxc8+ Kxg7 19. Rxd1 {the back
rank pin is devastating; white wins the knight.}) 18. Nh5 $3 {and white wins,
for example:} Qxh5 (18... Qxd1 19. Rxc8+ $18) (18... gxh5 19. Qd8+ Kg7 20. Qf6+
Kg8 21. Qxf7+ Kh8 22. Qf8+ Qg8 23. Qf6+ Qg7 24. Rxc8+ {mates.}) 19. Rxc8+ Kg7
20. Qd8 Nd7 21. Rxa8 $18) ({GM Suat Atalik went only half-way with the a-pawn
against Handke in Cappelle la Grande in 2000. He played} 13... a6 {and came
under a surprisingly strong attack} 14. Qb3 dxe4 15. fxe4 Rf8 16. Rxf7 Rxf7
17. Rf1 Bf6 18. e5 Kg7 {and now white missed} 19. exf6+ $1 (19. Ne6+ Bxe6 20.
Qxe6 Nd7 21. exf6+ Nxf6 22. Bh6+ Kxh6 23. Qxf7 Qd4+ 24. Kh1 Re8 25. Bc4 Rc8
26. b3 b5 27. Bxb5 $2 axb5 28. Rxf6 Qxf6 {0-1 Handke,F (2413)-Atalik,S (2575)/Cappelle
la Grande 2000}) 19... Rxf6 (19... Kg8 20. Qxf7+ $1 Kxf7 21. Bc4+ {wins}) 20.
Qc3 $1 {with a decisive attack.}) 14. Qb3 ({Gustafsson continues with his major
idea. Other moves are not dangerous:} 14. Nb5 Nc6 15. Qa4 dxe4 16. fxe4 Be5
$1 17. g3 Be6 {black is fine.}) (14. Qd3 Na6) (14. Bf2 dxe4 15. fxe4 Nc6 16.
Nxc6 bxc6 17. Rxc6 Qxd1 18. Rxd1 Bxb2) 14... a4 $1 {A strong pawn sacrifice
that finds white's light pieces in awkward positions.} 15. Qxd5 Qxd5 16. exd5
a3 ({Not} 16... Rxe3 $2 17. Rxc8+ Bf8 18. d6 {and white wins.}) 17. b3 ({Leaving
a potential queen on the board. Woodchoppers would take the dangerous pawn off
the board with} 17. bxa3 {although after} Bd7 { they have to be prepared to
give up two pieces for a rook:} 18. Nc2 (18. Kf2 $6 Rxa3 $15) 18... Rxe3 $5
({Sacrificing the rook the other way is weaker:} 18... Rxa3 19. Nxa3 Rxe3 20.
Rc7 Rxa3 21. Rxb7) 19. Nxe3 Bd4 20. Kh1 ({White can't hold onto his knight:}
20. Kf2 $2 Rxa3 $17) 20... Bxe3 21. Rc7 $1 b6 22. d6 { and it is still not easy
for black to coordinate his forces.}) 17... Nc6 $1 { Jumping into the frey with
an astonishing knight leap. It is a beautiful developing move, attacking white's
light pieces and protecting the eighth rank at the same time.} 18. Nc2
({Eliminating the knight is to black's advantage:} 18. dxc6 Rxe3 19. cxb7
Bxb7 $19) (18. Nxc6 Rxe3 19. Kf2 Rxe2+ 20. Kxe2 bxc6 21. Rfd1 (21. Rxc6 Ba6+
$17) 21... cxd5 22. Rxd5 Be6 {with black's edge.}) ({White can match the intensity
of black's last move with} 18. Ne6 $5 {however,} Nb4 $1 (18... fxe6 19. dxc6
$16) 19. Nc7 Rxe3 20. Nxa8 Bf5 21. g4 Nxa2 {slightly favors black.}) 18... Rxe3
$1 {The splendid sacrifice deflects the white knight from the square b4.} 19.
Nxe3 Nb4 20. Rc4 $2 {White tried to prevent the pin Bg7-d4. It is a normal human
reaction. But he could have done it more subtly:} (20. Kf2 $5 {A more compact
defense preventing the bishop pin Bg7-d4. White should hold.} Nxa2 (20... Bd4
{is met by} 21. Rc4 $1 $18) 21. Rc7 Nc3 (21... Nb4 22. Rfc1 {and white should
win.} Bf5 23. Nxf5 gxf5 24. Rc8+ Rxc8 25. Rxc8+ Bf8 26. d6 Kg7 (26... a2 27.
d7 a1=Q 28. d8=Q $18) 27. d7 Be7 28. d8=Q Bxd8 29. Rxd8 a2 30. Rd1 Nc2 31. f4
$18) (21... Be5 22. Re7 Bd6 23. Re8+ Kg7 24. Bb5 Nb4 25. Bd7 a2 26. Bxc8 a1=Q
27. Rxa1 Rxa1 28. Bxb7 Ra2+ 29. Ke1 Bxh2 30. Nc4 $11) 22. d6 Nxe2 (22... Be5
23. Bc4 (23. Rc5 Bd4 24. Rc4 $11) 23... Bxd6 24. Rxf7 Kh8 25. Nd5 b5 26. Re1
Bc5+ (26... Bf5 27. g4 Bc2 28. g5 (28. Nf6 g5) 28... Nxd5 29. Bxd5 Rc8 30. Rc1
$14) 27. Kg3 Bf5 28. Nxc3 bxc4 29. Rb7 Bd6+ 30. Kf2 a2 31. Nxa2 Rxa2+ 32. Kg1
Ra8 33. bxc4 $11) 23. Kxe2 Be6 24. d7 Rd8 (24... a2 25. Nd5 $1 a1=Q 26. Rxa1
Bxa1 27. Rc8+ Rxc8 28. dxc8=Q+ Bxc8 29. Ne7+ $11) 25. Rxb7 a2 26. Ra7 Bxb3 27.
Ra3 Be6 28. Rd1 $11) ({The computers want to walk a tightrope, defending with
a weird rook maneuver:} 20. Rc7 Bd4 21. Re7 {And somehow, in a mysterious way,
they show us that all the roads lead to draws.} Bf5 (21... Nxa2 22. Re8+ Kg7
23. d6 Nc3 24. Kh1 (24. Bd3 Ra5 (24... a2 25. d7 $16) (24... Nd5 25. d7 Bxd7
26. Rxa8 Nxe3 27. Rc1 Nd5+ 28. Kf1 Bb2 29. Re1 $14) 25. Rxc8 Bxe3+ 26. Kh1 a2
27. d7 Bg5 28. Ra1 Rd5 29. Rxc3 Bf6 30. Bc4 Bxc3 31. Bxd5 Bxa1 32. d8=Q Bc3
$11) (24. Kf2 Nd5 25. d7 Bxe3+ 26. Rxe3 Bxd7 $11) 24... Nxe2 25. Nc2 a2 26.
d7 a1=Q 27. Nxa1 (27. Rg8+ Kxg8 28. d8=Q+ Kg7 29. Nxa1 Bxa1 30. Qe8 Nd4 31.
Rd1 $14) 27... Rxa1 28. Rg8+ Kh6 29. Rxa1 Bxd7 $14) (21... Nxd5 22. Re8+ Kg7
23. Kh1 Nxe3 24. Rc1 Nd5 25. Rcxc8 Rxc8 26. Rxc8 Nc3 27. Rxc3 Bxc3 $11) 22.
Rd1 Bc5 23. d6 Nc2 24. d7 Bxe7 25. Nxf5 gxf5 26. Rc1 $11) 20... Nxa2 21. Ra4
$2 {White probably had nightmares about the move b7-b5, dislodging the rook
on c4. But after the rook exchange white wouldn't be able to cope with the a-pawn
supported on the long diagonal by black's dark bishop.} ({Instead of panicking,
Gustafsson should have tried} 21. Nc2 Nc3 22. Bd3 a2 23. Ra1) ({or} 21. Nc2
Bf5 22. Nxa3 Rxa3 23. g4 {with good chances of surviving.}) 21... Rxa4 22. bxa4
Bd4 23. Kf2 Nb4 24. Rc1 a2 $1 ({A pretty finish, although} 24... Bd7 {would
suffice.}) 25. Rxc8+ Kg7 26. Rc1 Nxd5 27. Rd1 Nxe3 (27... Nxe3 28. Rxd4 a1=Q
29. Kxe3 Qg1+ {the queen will ravish the kingside pawns.}) 0-1
Original
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