Magnus Carlsen to play in the Bundesliga this weekend

by Johannes Fischer
1/10/2025 – In 2024, FC St. Pauli, which had just been promoted to the top division of the Bundesliga, pulled off a coup: they were able to convince Magnus Carlsen, a football fan and the world's number one, to become a member of their team. But it remained unclear how often Carlsen would play in the coming season. But the time has come sooner than expected, as Carlsen will play in St. Pauli's home matches against Solingen and Düsseldorf this weekend. And if Düsseldorf choose not to go to Hamburg with their best lineup, Carlsen could even face Gukesh, the newly crowned world champion, on Sunday. | Photo: Nils Rohde
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The strongest chess league in the world

The Bundesliga is stronger than ever this season. This is reflected, among other things, by the fact that Gukesh, the world number 4 and new world chess champion since November, is registered with Düsseldorfer SK on board 3, behind Arjun Erigaisi and Ian Nepomniachtchi.

Düsseldorf are therefore among the favourites this season and are also favourites against St. Pauli, Carlsen or no Carlsen. Düsseldorf have started the season with three wins and are currently in third place in the standings. St. Pauli have started (without Carlsen and never with their best lineup) with three defeats and one draw and are in 14th place. If Düsseldorf want to keep their ambitions of winning the championship, they should not give up any points against St. Pauli on Sunday.

St. Pauli should have a better chance than against Düsseldorf in their match against SG Solingen, whom Carlsen & Co will play on Saturday. Although Solingen also started the season with three wins, they are nominally weaker than Düsseldorf.

However, the actual top match of the 5th round will not take place in Hamburg, but in Baden-Baden, where OSG Baden-Baden will face SC Viernheim. Baden-Baden are at the top of the standings after four rounds and are playing with their best lineup featuring Fabiano Caruana, Alireza Firouzja, Vishy Anand, Levon Aronian, Vincent Keymer, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Richard Rapport and Peter Svidler on boards 1 to 8.

Viernheim started the season with one win, one draw and one defeat, but with Hikaru Nakamura, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Parham Maghsoodloo, Alexey Sarana, Aravindh Chhithambaram and David Anton Guijarro they also field a world-class team.

Crosstable - Bundesliga 2024/25

Düsseldorf, Chess Bundesliga

The Düsseldorf squad: Wei Yi, Praggnanandhaa, Javokhir Sindarov, Andrey Esipenko, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Jorden van Foreest, Victor Bologan, Anish Giri. | Photo: Jan Werner

Carlsen in the Bundesliga

Carlsen's performance in the Bundesliga this weekend may be spectacular, but it's not Carlsen's first appearance in the Bundesliga. In 2004, he played two games for Schachfreunde Neukölln (one loss, one draw) and from 2006 to 2009 he played three seasons and eight games for the the OSG Baden-Baden.

Here is Carlsen's first win in the Bundesliga.

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It has been the only game I have ever played against Magnus. He wasn't such a monster yet, but it was obvious what he was going to become. It was a tough, positional lesson from a 17-year-old. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Bc4 Be7 5.Nd5 I am quite sure I was surprised by Magnus' opening choice. I have decided to play solidly, what is probably not the best strategy against this player. The move I played in the game isn't critical, but it gives White a chance to get the bishop pair. In closed positions like this one it is not clear whether having a bishop pair is good or bad - it is going to be determined. It is to be added that I had a good memories connected with 5.Nd5 - two years earlier I managed to beat another Norwegian grandmaster, Leif Johannessen during the Torino 2006 Olympiad. d6 6.d3 Nf6 7.Nxe7 Qxe7 8.c3 0-0 The logical alternative is 8...Be6 which was played by Johannessen. White went for 9.Bb5 (to keep the pair of bishops) and after 0-0 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 the position was roughly equal. 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4 a6!? To take b5 under control in order to exchange the bishop after Na5 or Be6. 11.0-0 It would be quite logical to play 11.Bb3 in order to keep the bishop pair, but after Be6 12.Bc2 Rad8!? The straightforward 12...d5 gives room for White's bishop pair: 13.exd5 Bxd5 14.0-0 Rad8 15.Re1 Rfe8 16.Nd2! and there are serious chances White has more prospects. 13.0-0 d5 14.exd5 14.Qe2 d4 is better for Black 14...Rxd5 15.Re1 15.Qe2 Rfd8 16.Rfe1 Bf5 15...g5!? 15...Bf5!? is more solid and easier to play for Black. 16.Bg3 e4 17.Nd2 exd3 18.Bb3 Rd7 with a complex position, where - I believe - Black has the upper hand. 11...Be6 It was also possible to go for 11...Na5 12.Bd5 12.Nd2 makes not so much sense after g5 13.Bg3 b5 as White probably has to go Bd5 anyway. 12...g5 12...Be6? 13.d4 13.Bg3 An idea of 13.Nxg5? which is strong in similar positions doesn't work here: Nxd5 14.Nf3 Nf6 15.Nd2 Qe6! 16.f4 exf4 17.Rxf4 Nh7 and Black is winning. 13...Nxd5 14.exd5 , but this position, with knight on a5, is more tricky for Black than it seems. b5 14...f5 15.b4 f4 16.bxa5 15.Re1 f5 In the event of 15...f6 things can quickly go wrong for Black, e.g. 16.b4 Nb7 17.d4 cxb4 18.cxb4 e4? better is 18...Qf7 19.h4 Qxd5 20.hxg5 hxg5 21.Qc2 e4 22.Qxe4 Qxe4 23.Rxe4= 19.Nd2 f5 20.f3 e3 21.f4!± and White is much better as Black's minor pieces are blocked. 16.Nxe5!? dxe5 17.Bxe5 with certain amount of compensation. 12.Bxe6?! With taking on e6 White is giving up any chances for having an edge. It was possible to keep the tension by playing 12.Bd5! , because after g5? better is 12...Rac8 and after 13.h3 Kh7! (to prepare g7-g5) 14.d4 cxd4 15.cxd4 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 exd4 17.Bxf6 worse is 17.Qxd4 Bxd5 18.exd5 Qe5 and a game would be drawish. 17...Qxf6 18.Bxb7 Rb8 19.Bxa6 Rxb2 20.a4 and in this position, while it's probably equal, Black has to be more careful. Ra8 20...Qe5!? 21.Bd3 Ra8 22.f4 Qa5 23.e5+ Kg8 24.exd6 Rd2 25.Qf3 Rd8 21.Bd3 Qf4 Looking for active counterplay. 22.a5 Rd2 23.Qb1 g6 24.a6 Bxh3 25.gxh3 Qg5+ 26.Kh2 Qf4+= 13.Nxg5! Bxd5 14.Nf3 Be6 15.Nd2! Kg7 16.f4 with a serious attack, e.g. Qe8 17.f5 Bd7 18.Nc4 12...Qxe6 There was nothing wrong with 12...fxe6 , but it is probably wiser to take with the queen, as Black has a healthier pawn structure, while White can't really make a use of the d5-square. 13.Re1 Probably it was a moment to play safely. After 13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.a4 the position would be equal. It was also very tempting to go 13.d4 immediately as a pawn sacrifice after exd4 14.cxd4 Qxe4 14...cxd4 15.Nxd4 Nxd4 16.Qxd4 would give Black some questions to be answered. 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.dxc5 dxc5 17.Re1 gives White decent compensation, because of Black's weakened pawn structure on the kingside. 13...Rac8 As White was about to play d3-d4, Carlsen is preparing for it. 14.Nd2 White knight is going to e3 - or via c4 or via f1. 14.d4?! cxd4 15.cxd4 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 exd4 17.Qxd4 Rc4 18.Qb6 Rxe4 19.Rxe4 Nxe4 20.Qxb7 d5 could be slightly worse for White. 14...Nd7 With this move Black has achieved one of his goals - the knight has escaped from f6 and thus the bishop remains of h4, being a potentially vulnerable piece. 15.Nc4 b5 It was also possible to play 15...d5 16.exd5 Qxd5 , but part of Black's plan was to play against White's bishop and that's why Carlsen didn't want to destroy his pawn chain. 16.Ne3 Nb6 17.Nf5 At this point of the game I was very happy about my position. I thought that my opponent had allowed me to create some real play on the kingside, while his knights on the queenside are far away from where they should be. However, this feeling lasted for only few moves as Magnus easily found a way to stop my aggressive plan. Kh7! This move must have been seen far in advance, as both Re1-e3-g3 and Qd1-g4 were getting very dangerous. 18.Qh5?! Had I known how the game continued, I would probably have gone for 18.d4 cxd4 19.cxd4 exd4 20.Nxd4 Nxd4 21.Qxd4 Rc6 22.b3 d5 23.Rad1 dxe4 24.Rxe4 Qd5! 25.f3 Qxd4+ 26.Rexd4 Re8 with an equal position, but it is Black who should make precise moves. 18...f6! Great defensive resource and a positional pawn sacrifice. I remember that during the game I only considered 18...Qg6 19.Qxg6+ fxg6 19...Kxg6? 20.Be7 20.Ne3 quite risky is 20.Nxd6 Rc7 21.f4 exf4 21...Rd7 22.fxe5 Nxe5 23.Rad1! 23.d4 cxd4 24.cxd4 Nd3 25.Re3 Nxb2 26.Bg3 23...Rxd6 24.Be7 Rfd8 25.Bxd6 Rxd6 26.d4 cxd4 27.cxd4 Nc6 28.d5 Ne5 is not so easy to asses 22.e5 Na4∞ 23.Re2 g5 24.Bf2 g4 with a very complex position. 20...g5 21.Bg3 where I thought White could be slightly better, as with d3-d4 break some time in the future Black's pawn's could be vulnerable. Althought, probably, the position remains equal. 19.Re3? Obviously, the most critical was 19.Qg4 Rf7 19...g6 is worse as after 20.Nxh6 Nd8 21.Qxe6 Nxe6 22.Ng4 Black's pawns are less stable. 20.Nxh6 Qxg4 21.Nxg4 d5 and it turns out that Black's pieces are extremely active in the centre, while White's minor pieces are out of the game for the (important) moment. 19...Ne7! Simple and strong. Black is better now, as in a resulting position Black's knight from b6 has huge prospects, while the bishop on h4 needs some time to be placed on a decent square. 20.Nxe7 In my naivety, when I played 19.Re3, I believed that after 20.Rg3 Nxf5 21.exf5 Qf7 22.Rg6 I would be having huge threats, like Bxf6. However, after the simple Nd5 Black is just winning. 20...Qxe7 21.Bg3?! It was quite important to understand that Qf7-g6 is a positional threat. So, it was wise to play 21.Qf5+ g6 this is surely best, but while White pieces aren't great, Black's pawn structure is much less stable now. In the event of 21...Kg8 22.Re2 Qf7 23.Bg3 White is doing ok, as with queens on the board Black can't easily improve its position. 22.Qg4 Qf7 23.f4! Qd7 24.Qxd7+ Nxd7 25.fxe5 dxe5 26.Rf3 and this is a position which should be easy to hold. 21...Qf7 22.Qf5+ Qg6! Practically forcing White to trade the queen and thus entering into the better endgame. 23.Qxg6+ 23.Qe6 Rcd8 24.f3 Rfe8 25.Qb3 d5 23...Kxg6 24.f4 Opening the position is the only chance for White. Rfe8 It was also possible to play 24...Kf7 25.Rf3 Rfe8 26.fxe5 dxe5 25.Rd1 Kh7 Quite typical for Magnus style, he decided to play a slow move, which slightly improves his position, while not explaining what his further plan is. However, probably it was stronger to play 25...Kf7 as the king is also safe on f7, while closer to the centre. 26.Re2 While this move isn't bad in itself, one has to be aware that there is a new tactical motif - from c3 knight can fork both rooks. a5 It was possible to play 26...exf4?! 27.Bxf4 d5 , but when there are no visible gains, it's pointless to open and simplify the position. 27.d4? Carlsen's patience gets rewarded! White should have played something like 27.Kf2 a4 28.Kf3 activiting its forces as much as possible and preparing to face Black's active moves. 27...exd4 28.cxd4 c4 With a significant amount of my help, Black is about to create a dangerous passed pawn. 29.f5 White is looking for active counterplay. c3 It was also possible to try 29...d5 30.e5 b4 as here White would be forced to play 31.Be1! and the point is that after 31.e6 g6 31...c3 31...Na4 32.g4 c3 33.bxc3 Nxc3 34.Bxc3 Rxc3 35.e6= 32.bxc3 Black has to take with a pawn and there is no Na4. bxc3 33.e6= 30.bxc3 Na4 This is what I underlined in comments to 26. Re2 move. The Na4 idea is possible only because of the very unfortunate location of both white rooks. 31.Rde1 There is nothing wrong with the text, but an easier way to draw was 31.Be1 as after Nxc3 32.Bxc3 Rxc3 33.e5 dxe5 34.dxe5 Rc5 35.e6 Rxf5 36.Rd7 White is getting active and can easily defend here. 31...Nxc3 32.Rc2 d5 It was also possible to give d6 away, as knight from c3 is very strong. After 32...b4 33.Bxd6 Nb5 34.Rxc8 Rxc8 35.Bc5 Nc3 White has to play actively, but it's enough to hold the game: 36.Kf2 Nxa2 37.Ke2 b3 38.Kd3 and while this position looks terrifying for White, engines hold it: a4 39.Ba3! b2! 39...Rc3+ 40.Kd2 Rc2+ 41.Kd3 Rxg2?! 42.e5 is still drawn, but getting risky for Black. 40.Kd2 Rb8 41.Rb1 Rb3 42.Bxb2 Nb4 43.Kc1 Re3 44.Kd2 Rb3= 33.exd5 33.e5? Ne4 34.Rxc8 Rxc8 35.e6 b4-+ is totally lost and also a great example of Black's strategy - the bishop from g3 is doing nothing, while the knight on e4 is dominating. 33...Nxd5 34.Rc5! The most natural defensive resource. Engines also hold the game after 34.Rec1 Rcd8 35.Re1 Re3 36.Rxe3 Nxe3 37.Rc5 Rxd4 38.Rxb5 Ra4 , but this is hard to spot that White has active counterplay: 39.Bf2! 39.Kf2 may also be a path for a draw, but a very narrow one: Nd1+ 39...Nc4? leads to a funny line, where Black's knight is trapped on f1, which saves White. 40.Ke2 Rxa2+ 41.Kd3! Nd2 42.Bf4 Nf1 43.Rb1 43.h3? a4 44.Rb1 Ng3-+ 43...Rf2 44.Bc7 a4 44...Rd2+ 45.Ke4 Rd7 46.Bxa5 Nxh2 is probably drawn. 45.Ra1 a3 46.h3 a2 47.Bb6 Rb2 48.Bd4 Rb3+ 49.Kc2 Rb4 50.Kc3 Rb1 51.Rxa2 Ng3 52.Rf2 Ne4+ 53.Kc2 Rb4 54.Bc3= 40.Kf3 Rxa2 41.Be1! a4 42.Ra5 Ra3+ 43.Ke2 Ne3 44.Bb4 Nc4! 45.Bxa3 Nxa5 46.Kd3 and activity of the white king saves the game. 39...Nc4 40.Rb7 40.Bc5!? Rxa2 41.Rb7 Rb2 42.Ra7 40...Rxa2 41.Bd4 34...Rxc5 35.dxc5 Rc8! Black isn't winning after 35...Rxe1+ 36.Bxe1 b4 as the pawn on c5 is giving enough counterplay. Black's king is too far away to neutralise it. 37.Kf1 It is hard to spot, but 37.Kf2 gives more tactical resources for Black. It also saves the game, but is tougher. 37...a4 37...Ne3+?? 38.Ke2 Nxf5 39.Kd3 is actually lost for Black! 38.Bd2 a3 38...Kg8 39.Ke2 a3 40.Bc1 Nc3+ 41.Kd2 Kf7 41...Nxa2?? 42.Bxa3+- 42.Kc2 Nxa2 43.Bd2 Ke7 44.Kb3 Nc3 45.Bxc3 bxc3 46.Kxa3 Kd7 47.Kb3 Kc6 48.Kxc3 Kxc5= 39.Bc1 Kg8 In the line after 39...Nc3 40.c6 b3 40...Nxa2?? 41.Bxa3 bxa3 42.c7+- 41.axb3 a2 we can see why king is placed better on f1 not on f2 - after 42.Bb2 Black has no check on d1! 40.Ke1 Kf7 41.Kd2 Nc3 41...Ke7? 42.Kc2 Kd7 43.Kb3 Kc6 44.Kc4+- 42.Kc2 Nxa2 43.Bd2 Ke7 44.Kb3 Nc3 45.Bxc3 bxc3 46.Kxa3 46.Kxc3?? Kd7 47.Kb3 Kc6-+ 46...Kd7 47.Kb3 Kc6 48.Kxc3 Kxc5= 36.Bf2 b4 37.Bd4? Missing the tactical blow. This is probably not a losing move yet, but it was better to play 37.Re2! a4 37...Nc3 38.Rb2! (stopping b4) Kg8 39.Bd4 Nb5 40.Be3 Kf7 41.Rc2= 38.Bd4 only now! 38.Rc2? Ne7 39.g4 Nc6-+ is allowing Black to regroup and win step by step 38...a3 38...Nc3 39.Rb2= 39.Kf2 39.Rc2 Ne7-+ 39...Nc3 39...Kg8 40.Kf3 Nc3 41.Rc2 Nb5 42.Rc4= 40.Rc2! Losing is 40.Bxc3 , but the whole line is actually really unique. bxc3 41.Rc2 Rxc5 42.Ke3 h5! 43.Kd4 Rxf5 44.Kc4 44.Kxc3 Rc5+ 45.Kb3 Rxc2 46.Kxc2 h4 47.Kb3 h3 48.g3 g5 49.Kxa3 f5 50.Kb4 f4 51.gxf4 g4 52.a4 g3 53.hxg3 h2-+ 44...g5! 45.Kb4 g4 46.Kxa3 46.Rxc3 Rf2-+ 46...Rb5 47.Rxc3 f5 48.h3 48.Rb3 Ra5+ 49.Kb2 f4 50.Rb4 Re5! 51.a4 Re2+ 52.Ka3 Rxg2 53.Rxf4 Rxh2 54.a5 g3 55.a6 g2-+ 48...Kg6 48...f4? 49.hxg4 hxg4 50.Rc4= 49.hxg4 49.h4 f4 49...hxg4 50.g3 It looks unbelievable, but Black is winning by collecting the g3-pawn. Kf6! 51.Ka4 51.Rc6+ Ke5 52.Rc4 Rb1-+ 51...Rb2 52.a3 Kg5 Now, when the rook has an option of going to g2, the king goes to g5! 52...Ke5 53.Rc5+ Ke4 54.Rc4+ Kf3 55.Rf4+= 53.Ka5 53.Rc8 Rg2 54.Rg8+ Kf6 55.Rf8+ Ke6 56.Re8+ Kd5-+ 53...Rg2 54.a4 Rxg3 55.Rxg3 f4-+ 40...Nb5 41.Rc4 This is how White saves the game! Rd8 42.c6 b3 43.c7 Nxc7 44.Rxc7 Rxd4 45.axb3 Rb4 46.Ra7 Rxb3 And this rook endgame is drawn. 47.g3 h5 47...Kg8 48.Kg2 Kf8 49.Kh3 h5 50.Kh4= 48.Kg2 Kh6 49.Kh3!?= 49.h4 Kh7 50.Ra8= 37...Nc3! 38.Re7 38.Kf2 Nxa2 39.Re7 Kg8 would lead to the position from the game 38...Kg8 39.Kf2 Nxa2 39...a4? 40.Ra7 Nb5 41.Rd7= 40.Ke3?? 40.Ra7 Nc1 41.Kf1‼ An amazing move. This is the safest square for the king, as the bishop comes to e3 and king can't be checked anyhow! 41.Kf3? Nb3 42.Be3 Nxc5 43.Rxa5 Nd3 44.Rb5 Rc2 and with White's king on f3 pawns are collapsing. 41...Nb3 41...b3?? 42.Rxa5= 42.Be3 Re8 42...h5 43.Ke2 Rc6 44.g3 Nxc5 45.Rxa5= 42...Nxc5 43.Rxa5 Nd3 44.Rb5 Rc4 44...Rc2 45.h3 Rb2 46.Bd4 Ra2 47.g4= 45.Bd2= 43.Ke2 Nxc5 43...Re5 44.g4= 44.Rxa5 Nb3 45.Rd5 Re5 46.Rxe5 fxe5 47.Kd3 Kf7 48.g4 Nd4 48...h5 49.h3 hxg4 50.hxg4 Kf6 51.Ke4= 49.Kc4 Kf6 50.h3 50.Kxb4?? Nc2+ 50...b3 51.Kc3 h5 52.Kb2= 40...Nc1 Also 40...b3 41.Kd3 b2 42.Bxb2 Rxc5 was enough to win. 41.Re6 The problem is that after 41.Ra7 Nb3 White loses either a pawn or the bishop. 41...Nb3 42.Ra6 Re8+ 43.Re6 Kf7 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Bartel,M2608Carlsen,M27140–12008B30Bundesliga 07089.3

And here are the ten games Carlsen has played in the Bundesliga so far.

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MoveNResultEloPlayers
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1.Nf3       Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.0-0 d5 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Nc3 Nc6 8.d4 Nb6 9.e3 Re8 10.d5 Na5 11.Nd4 Bd7 12.e4 c6 13.Re1 This move is more ambitious than the old 13.b3 , which allows Black to break loose by cxd5 14.exd5 e6 13...cxd5 14.exd5 Rc8 14...Nac4 15.b3 Nd6 16.Bf4 Rc8 -see below and CBM 105 15.Bf4 Nbc4?! This is hardly good. Tactical tricks don't work and the a5 knight remains out of play. Other possibilities: 15...Nac4 16.b3 Nd6 Black improves the position of his knight. 16...Nb2?! 17.Qd2 Bf5 18.Ncb5! Nd3 19.Nxf5 Nxe1 20.Nxg7 Nxg2 21.Be5 Rf8 22.Kxg2 a6 23.Nc3± Ftacnik 16...Bg4!? 17.Qxg4 Bxd4 18.Bd2 18.Rac1 Nd6 19.Bd2 Bf6 19...Nf5!? 20.Nb5 Rxc1 21.Bxc1 Bg7 22.Nxa7 Nxd5 23.Nb5 Qd7 24.a4 e6 Ftacnik 20.h4 Qd7 21.Qb4 Nf5 22.Ne4 Nxd5 23.Nxf6+ Nxf6 24.Rxc8 Rxc8 25.Bg5 1-0 Miton,K-Bobras,P/Lubniewice 2003/EXT 2004 (45) 18...Bf6 19.bxc4 Nxc4 20.d6 Nxd2 21.d7 Rxc3 22.dxe8Q+ Qxe8 23.Rac1 ½-½ Karpov,A-Ivanchuk,V/Wijk aan Zee 2003/CBM 093 (39) 17.Qd2 17.Rc1 Bg4!? 17...Nf5 18.Nde2 Na8 19.Qd2 Qb6 20.Ne4 e5 21.dxe6 Bxe6 22.Bg5 1-0 Cvitan,O-Milu,R/Medulin 2002/CBM 090 ext (26) 18.Qd2 Rxc3 19.Qxc3 Nb5 20.Nxb5 Bxc3 21.Nxc3 Qd7 22.a4 ½-½ Filippov,V-Johannesson,I/Izmir 2004/CBM 104 no vc (50) 17...Nf5 17...Na8 18.Rad1 18.Be5 Bxe5 19.Rxe5 Qa5 20.Re3 Nc7 21.a4 21.Rae1 Ncb5 22.Ndxb5 Nxb5 23.Ne4 Qxd2 24.Nxd2 Kf8 25.Nc4 Ftacnik 21...Na6 22.Rae1 Qb4 23.R1e2 Bg4 24.Re1 Bd7 25.h4 Nc5 0-1 Tkachiev,V-Ye Jiangchuan/Shanghai 2001/CBM 085/[Ftacnik] (48) 18...Qa5 19.Ne4 Qxd2 20.Rxd2 Nc7 21.Bxd6 exd6 22.Rf1 Bb5 23.Nxd6 Bxf1 24.Bxf1 Nxd5 25.Nxc8 Rxc8 26.Nf5 gxf5 27.Rxd5 f4 28.Rd7± 1-0 Rogozenko,D-Ftacnik,L/Hamburg 2004/CBM 100 ext (61) 17...Bf5 18.a4 a6 19.Rac1 Qd7 20.h4 Bh3 21.Bh1 h5 22.Kh2 Bg4 23.Bg2 Nf5 24.Nxf5 Bxf5 25.d6! exd6 26.Rxe8+ Rxe8 27.a5 Nc8 28.Nd5± 1-0 Miton,K-Kempinski,R/Warsaw 2003/CBM 095/[Ftacnik] (35) 18.Nde2 18.Nce2 Nxd4 18...e5 19.dxe6 Bxe6 20.Rad1 Nxd4 21.Nxd4 Bg4 22.Bxb7 ½-½ Kresz,L-Kopasov,E/Chessfriend.com 2003/Telechess CBM 97 19.Nxd4 Bg4 20.h3 e5 21.hxg4 exf4 22.Rxe8+ Qxe8 23.Qxf4 Rd8 Ftacnik 18...h6!? 18...e5 19.dxe6 Bxe6 20.Qxd8 Rexd8 21.Rac1 Rd7 22.Ne4 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 Nd4 24.Nxd4 Bxd4 25.Bb8 a5 26.Ba7 1-0 Filippov,V-Nedev,T/Istanbul 2003/CBM 096 (53) 19.h4 h5 20.Rac1 Rc5 21.Red1 Nc8 22.Ne4 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 Ncd6 24.Nc5 Bc8 25.Nd3 Qb6 26.Ne5 26.Be5 Bh6 27.Bf4 Bg7 28.Be5 Bh6 29.Bf4 Bg7 ½-½ Hauchard,A-Nataf,I/Montreal CAN 2005/The Week in Chess 533 26...Rd8 27.Qc3 Bd7 28.Qc7 Qxc7 29.Rxc7 Bb5 30.Nc3 Ba6 31.Ne4 Bxe5 32.Bxe5 Ne8 33.Rc1 b6= 0-1 Kuljasevic,D-Kozul,Z/Zagreb 2004/CBM 105 (64) - see annotations in CBM105 15...h6!? is interesting to push the white bishop from its active position: 16.Be5 16.h3 g5 17.Bc1 e6 18.dxe6 Bxe6 19.Nxe6 Rxe6 20.Rxe6 Qxd1+ 21.Nxd1 fxe6 22.Kf1 Nd5 23.Rb1 b6 ½-½ Khalifman,A-Smirin,I/Togliatti 2003/CBM 094 ext 16.Rc1 g5 17.Be3 17.Be5? f6 is the point! 17...Nac4 18.b3 Nxe3 19.Rxe3 Qc7 20.Qd3 Qd6 21.Nf5 Qa3 22.Rc2 Bxc3 23.Nxh6+ Kg7 24.Nxf7 Qa6 25.Qe4 Bf6 26.Ne5 Kf8 27.Qg6 Bxe5 28.Rf3+ Bf6 29.Rxf6+ ½-½ Ilic,Z-Yermolinsky,A/San Francisco 2003/EXT 2004 16...Bxe5 17.Rxe5 Nbc4 18.Re1 Nxb2 19.Qd2 Qb6 20.Ne6 g5 21.Re5 fxe6 22.Rxg5+ hxg5 23.Qxg5+ Kf7 24.Qh5+ Kg7 25.Qg5+ Kf7 26.Qf4+ Kg7 27.Qg5+ ½-½ Grischuk,A-Timofeev,A/Moscow 2004/CBM 104 16.b3 Nb2 This tactical idea meets a very nice riposte in the present game. The other option was 16...Qb6 (a logical consequence of the previous move but White is better anyway) 17.Nce2 Na3 17...Nd6 18.Qd2 Nf5 19.Nxf5 Bxf5 20.Rac1 e5 21.Be3 Qa6 22.Bf1 b5 23.Nc3 Bd7 24.Ne4± 1-0 Merrifield,D-Clark,R/Chessfriend.com 2004/Telechess CBM 103 (29) 18.Qd2 e5 19.dxe6 Bxe6 20.Rac1 Bg4 21.Rxc8 Rxc8 22.Be3 Rd8 23.Qc1 Qd6 24.h3 Bxe2 25.Nxe2 b6 26.Nf4± h6? 27.Nd5 g5 28.Bd2 Nc6 29.b4? 29.f4!+- 29...Nb5 ½-½ Tania,S-Ganguly,S/Mumbai 2003/CBM 093 ext 17.Qd2 Nac4 18.bxc4 Nxc4 19.Qd3 Nb2 20.Qe3 Nc4 Repetition of moves? No!
How to evade the repetition of moves?
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Nielsen,P2663Carlsen,M25811–02005D76Bundesliga 040512.1
Carlsen,M2581Nikolic,P2676½–½2005C92Bundesliga 040513.1
Carlsen,M2698Socko,B26301–02006C95Bundesliga 06075.2
Stocek,J2572Carlsen,M2698½–½2006D38Bundesliga 06077.2
Carlsen,M2698Hracek,Z26141–02007D58Bundesliga 060714.4
Kempinski,R2590Carlsen,M2690½–½2007E15Bundesliga 060715.4
Carlsen,M2714Jussupow,A2583½–½2008D61Bundesliga 07088.3
Bartel,M2608Carlsen,M27140–12008B30Bundesliga 07089.3
Maiwald,J2508Carlsen,M27860–12008A90Bundesliga 08098.1
Carlsen,M2786Socko,B26310–12008E97Bundesliga 08099.1

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Johannes Fischer was born in 1963 in Hamburg and studied English and German literature in Frankfurt. He now lives as a writer and translator in Nürnberg. He is a FIDE-Master and regularly writes for KARL, a German chess magazine focusing on the links between culture and chess. On his own blog he regularly publishes notes on "Film, Literature and Chess".
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