MegaBase 2023: Modern master play

by Nagesh Havanur
9/13/2023 – MegaBase 2023 is Chess History in action. Regularly updated every month, the Main Database currently offers 10 million games, many of them annotated. Our columnist offers a review with focus on modern master play. There is a lot more to discover in this treasure trove: grand battles, opening novelties and exemplary endgames.
The ChessBase Mega Database 2023 is the premiere chess database with over 9.75 million games from 1560 to 2022 in high quality.

Five centuries of chess before you

When MegaBase came my way at the end of last year there were more than 9.7 million games. Today, with updates, there are as many as 10 million games in this database. The first of them, Francisco De Castellvi - Narcisco Vinoles, was played in Valencia, Spain way back in 1475. The last of them with updates in my database is Sergiy Zavgorodniy - Peter Roberson from the World Team Rapid Championship played on 28 August 2023.

The number is still growing. So when you see this MegaBase on your screen, you have more than five centuries of chess before you. It’s impossible to do justice to this kind of work in one review. So here I shall deal with one theme: modern master play.

The first question that a reader would ask is about the world champions and their games in this century. For starters, Magnus Carlsen has more than 3000 games and Ding Liren more than 2000 games in this database. As the newly crowned world champion, Ding Liren, is yet to open his innings (now that is a cricket analogy!). So first, we shall focus on Carlsen and his rivals. On merit and sporting success, his World Championship games with Karjakin and Caruana here are important. The stakes were high, and the challengers also performed very well. They deserve as much credit as the world champion (well, almost).

The first of them, Carlsen - Karjakin, World Championship 2016, was a fierce struggle and the games here are annotated by John Nunn, Yasser Seirawan, Wesley So and Fabiano Caruana, among others. Karjakin came close to a victory in the following game, but it was not enough.

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The game after Carlsen's loss wasn't guaranteed to be exciting, but viewers were in for a surprise. I had expected a fairly tame draw, but instead we were treated to an extremely complex fighting game with an opening not usually seen at the top level. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 The Archangel variation was certainly not expected by most people, and probably not by the Karjakin camp either. Playing it requires a tremendous amount of knowledge, so it's likely that Carlsen prepared it before the match as a backup to his main defenses. I have some experience playing this as Black against Karjakin, as it was my mainstay opening for a time, and we played several interesting games. As an attempt to win, it can work if the opponent is poorly prepared or surprised, but Karjakin proved up to the task. 7.a4 Rb8 8.c3 d6 9.d4 Bb6 10.axb5 axb5 11.Na3 Karjakin decided to go for the main and most principled line, immediately grabbing the b-pawn. It is what he recently played against Svidler and the most forcing variation, so he probably felt playing this way avoided the most amount of risk. 0-0 12.Nxb5 Bg4 13.Bc2 exd4 14.Nbxd4 Nxd4 15.cxd4 Bxf3 16.gxf3 Nh5 17.Kh1 I always felt that this line was one of the most unpleasant for Black to face. White avoids any risk and hopes to prove the advantage of the bishop pair after the center opens up, usually when White sacrifices a pawn with e5 or f4. Meanwhile, Black has to constantly be on the lookout for tactics. Qf6 18.Be3 c5!? Years ago, as Rustam Kasimdzhanov was frying some plantains, he explained to me that this move was the best chance for Black to equalize. After we analyzed it, he tried it against Nakamura in the 2014 Tromso olympiad. Carlsen and his team also must have felt this was the best way for Black to approach the position. 19.e5 Qe6 20.exd6 c4! This unusual move is the point behind 18...c5. Black keeps the center closed, and plans on capturing d6 next and creating mating threats after with ...Bc7. 21.b3 cxb3 21...c3 was how Rustam approached the position, and although it may be playable, he lost the game. Carlsen's choice is perhaps a better way to equalize. 22.d5 Qxd6 23.Ra6 Nf4 24.Ra4 Ng6 25.Qd3 Bc7 26.f4 Nakamura-Kasimdzhanov, Tromso ol 2014, and Black was outplayed. 22.Bxb3 Qxd6 23.Ra6 After 23 moves, we have reached a critical position, and one which was certainly analyzed by both players and their teams. Magnus sank into thought here, which perhaps means that he forgot what he had prepared, or that he was deciding between two roughly equivalent options. Rfd8 Another option was to play 23...Qd7 immediately, and considering the Bxf7 tactics which happened later in the game, keeping the rook on f8 for now was worthy of consideration. 24.Rg1 g6 I have a feeling that this would have offered Black better chances for equality. 24.Rg1 Qd7 25.Rg4 I thought that placing the rook on h4 was very strange, but there was no other convenient way of defending the d4-pawn. The next dozen or so moves are very difficult to explain. The position is highly concrete and it's likely both players were creating and reacting to immediate threats; the end result being very computeresque play. The tempting sacrifice 25.Rg5 g6 26.Rxh5 gxh5 seems to lead nowhere. The computer suggestion of 25.Bc4 Bxd4 26.Bg5 would lead to a very drawish ending: Rdc8 27.Ra4 Rc7 28.Bxf7+ Qxf7 29.Rxd4 Rf8 30.Rd8 Rc8 31.Rxc8 Rxc8 , and White's winning chances are minimal 25...Nf6 26.Rh4 Qb5 27.Ra1 g6 This move is generally useful, providing luft for Black's king. 28.Rb1 Qd7 29.Qd3 Nd5 30.Rg1 Now White's plans are clear. Rooks on the open files and a bishop on b3 pave the way for an eventual rook sacrifice on g6, h7 or a bishop sacrifice on f7. The immediate threat is Bg5. Bc7 31.Bg5 Re8 32.Qc4 Rb5! An excellent move, but I'm not sure it was one which was accurately calculated by either player. 32...Nb6?? 33.Qxf7+ Qxf7 34.Bxf7+ Kxf7 35.Rxh7+ shows the tactics available at White's disposal. 33.Qc2 33.Ba4 is of course critical. White seems to win a rook, but Black has a sneaky response: Qf5! 34.Qf1! Interposing with the queen on g2 is the only way to save White. Now Black has only one move to stay in the game: Rb1‼ 34...Qxf3+ 35.Qg2 Qxg2+ 36.Kxg2 wins for White. 35.Qxb1 Qxf3+ 36.Rg2 Nc3 37.Qf1 Nxa4 , and Black has very decent compensation for the exchange in the form of White's uncoordinated forces and a mighty queen on f3. However, White could still try to regroup and play this for a win, even though a draw is the most likely result. 33...Ra8?! After this, Black again experiences difficulties. 33...Rb4 is the machine recommendation, the point being to keep the rook on the e-file for 34.Bd2 Re2! 34.Bc4 Rba5 35.Bd2 Ra4 36.Qd3 Ra1 37.Rxa1 Rxa1+ 38.Kg2 Ne7? Almost the decisive mistake, but practically this move was difficult to punish. After something like 38...Bd8 39.Re4 Nf6 , Black is still clearly worse, but he has decent chances to hold on due to counterplay against White's king. 39.Bxf7+ Very tempting, but not correct. After this sacrifice everyone in the spectators' lounge got very excited and started predicting a win for Karjakin. However, the whole line becomes very forcing and leads to a drawish position. 39.Qb3! was more critical: Nf5 39...Qf5 40.Re4 Bd6 41.Qb7 just wins material - the knight is trapped. 40.Bxf7+ Kg7 40...Qxf7 41.Qxf7+ Kxf7 42.Rxh7+ Ke6 43.Rxc7 , and this ending is most likely lost or at least very difficult to hold. 41.Rh3 It feels like Black should have counterplay here, but there is no path to create threats to White's king. It turns out Black's king is the terminally weak one. Qe7 42.Bg8 h5 43.d5 , and Bc3 is coming. Of course, this would not guarantee a win, as the position remains very complicated, especially in time trouble, but objectively Karjakin would have good winning chances like this. 39...Kxf7 40.Qc4+ Kg7 41.d5 My first thought during the game was 41.Rxh7+ Kxh7 42.Qf7+ Kh8 43.Bh6 , with mate I thought, but then I saw Qxd4 and the tables are turned. Black wins. 41.Bh6+ Kf6! is surprisingly also bad for White, as the attack leads nowhere. 41...Nf5 Now everything is forced. 41...Be5? 42.Bc3 Qd6 43.Qf4! is a very study-like win, with a double pin on Black's king and queen. 42.Bc3+ Kf8 43.Bxa1 Nxh4+ 44.Qxh4 Qxd5 And here it became clear that Carlsen would not lose the game. White is not winning h7 and his pawn advantage is not enough to cause Black significant problems. Karjakin tried hard to create progress here, but to no avail. 45.Qf6+ Qf7 46.Qd4 Ke8 47.Qe4+ Qe7 48.Qd5 Bd8 49.Kf1 Qf7 50.Qe4+ Qe7 51.Be5 Qe6 52.Kg2 Be7 53.Qa8+ Kf7 54.Qh8 h5 55.Qg7+ Ke8 56.Bf4 Qf7 57.Qh8+ Qf8 58.Qd4 Qf5 59.Qc4 Kd7 60.Bd2 Qe6 61.Qa4+ Qc6 62.Qa7+ Qc7 63.Qa2 Qd6 64.Be3 Qe6 65.Qa7+ Ke8 66.Bc5 Bd8 67.h3 Qd5 68.Be3 Be7 69.Qb8+ Kf7 70.Qh8 Qe6 71.Bf4 Qf6 72.Qb8 Qe6 73.Qb7 Kg8 74.Qb5 Bf6 Finally Karjakin gave up trying to win. Magnus survived a difficult position! If he had lost, the match would have been practically decided, but now it is still a wide open contest. Tomorrow Carlsen has a critical game with White to try and win; he hasn't managed to convert his advantages so far in the match, so we'll see if he can pull through in the crucial last games. ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Karjakin,S2769Carlsen,M2853½–½2016World-ch Carlsen-Karjakin +1-1=109

Then Carlsen struck back in the next game:

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Going into the World Championship matches, many people logically considered Magnus to be the clear favorite against Sergey Karjakin. First of all the difference in their rating was a bit wide, as was their most recent overall performance.This year alone Magnus had won four big tournaments (Tata Steel, Norway, Leuven and Bilbao), while Sergey had only won the (admittedly long and tough) Candidates tournament which qualified him as the Challenger. Those things carry weight in people's minds but rounds 1-9 showed a different and very surprising story. The challenger's strong balanced attack, his ability to find good moves and make plans, his outstanding defense, and resistance to cracking under pressure, proved him to be an impregnable fortress. Magnus could not find a way to break Sergey down until eventually, overextending himself in Round 8, the Champion even had to accept defeat. At this point in Game 10 with only 3 games to the finish he absolutely has to find a way to even the score. He HAS to do it today. 1.e4 In Rounds 1 and 8 Magnus got nowhere with 1.d4, after giving the Trompovsky and the Colle system a try. Sergey Karjakin knew his stuff there. In fact he got nothing but trouble in game 8. So today Magnus decides to go back to the "best by test move" recommended by Fischer and Caruana. To be honest I'm kind of surprised that Magnus does not try 1.c4 or 1.Nf3/1.g3 but maybe we will see that in Round 12. e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 3.Bc4 Bc5 Carlsen-Karjakin Round 5, but Magnus got nothing there either and in the end he must have been happy to save that game. 3...Nf6 Sergey sticks to his guns and goes for the Berlin Opening. I noticed that during the entire match so far, one of Sergey's strategies has been simply to go for the main lines in the opening and play a normal game. He does not overpush but maintains composure by playing objective, strong moves. 4.d3 Magnus' strategy seemed mostly aimed at surprises in the opening and later on, hopes to exploit his opponent's mistakes over the board. It reminded me of a quote by a famous chess player: "I will play 40 good moves. If my opponent plays 40 good moves too, we will draw." The problem in this match is Sergey is the opponent who finds all the good moves too. 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.Re1 Carlsen-Karjakin Round 3, where White got very close to first blood, but later on couldn't convert. 4...Bc5 Putting the bishop on an active post while also preparing to exchange the knights with ...Nd4. 5.c3 Magnus has won many games in the past with 5.Bxc6 dxc6 And here White has many moves, but the latest innovation is 6.Qe2 threatening to take Nxe5. Qe7 6...Bg4 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 7.Nbd2 Bg4 8.h3 Bh5 9.a3 Nd7 10.b4 Bd6 11.Nc4 f6 12.Ne3 a5 13.Nf5 The knight on f5 is very powerful and not easy to dislodge. Qf8 14.bxa5 Rxa5 15.0-0 Qf7 16.a4 Nc5 16...0-0? 17.Bh6! is a really nice combination. 17.Qe1 b6 18.Nd2 Rxa4 19.Nc4 Bf8? 20.Be3 and White won easily - Carlsen against a strong GM. 5...0-0 6.Bg5 This is unexpected, both for the spectators and I assume for Sergey too. Usually White castles his king first with 6.O-O and then after 6...d6 7.Bg5, when Black no longer has the option of ...Be7. 6.Bxc6 does not win a clean pawn, since after bxc6 7.Nxe5 d5 Black will get fast development in return. 6...h6 7.Bh4 Be7 This is the safe and natural approach. I like this move. 7...g5 8.Bg3 d6 9.Nbd2 is not desirable for Black as with the rook still on h1, White gets extra attacking options. 8.0-0 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.Nxe5 You think White has won a pawn? Well... Nxe4! No. Black is better. 8...d6 9.Nbd2 It's a little perplexing in general is Magnus' opening approach, as it's not very clear here where White's advantage is. Perhaps 9.Bg3 with a complex position for example, Nh5 If 9...Bd7 then 10.h3 which is a typical Ruy Lopez subtlety, vacating the h2-square for the bishop to retreat into! Nh5 11.Bh2 f5∞ 10.Bxc6 bxc6 10...Nxg3 11.Bxb7! Aha! The suicidal bishop gives up its life so White wins a pawn. Bxb7 12.hxg3± 11.Nxe5 dxe5 12.Qxh5 Qxd3 13.Qxe5 Re8 and Black has the bishop pair and some compensation for the pawn. 9.Re1 Nh5 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.d4 Nf4= 9...Nh5 10.Bxe7 If 10.Bg3 Black just grabs the bishop pair: Nxg3 11.hxg3 Bf6 with a happy position. 11...Nb8 12.d4 c6 13.Bd3 Nd7 14.Nc4 Qc7 should also bring a smile to Sergey's face. 10...Qxe7 11.Nc4 11.Bxc6 to give Black doubled pawns looks like a good option. bxc6 12.d4 12.g3 f5 12...Nf4 But in fact White cannot really exploit it. In fact if anything, the strong knight on f4 gives Black good chances. For example 13.Qa4 Rb8 14.b3 Rb6 when Black seizes a strong initiative. I can already foresee a rook swing (Rb6-g6) to the kingside later on. 11...Nf4 Simple and strong. 11...f5 is a more complicated way to equality. 12.Ne3 fxe4 13.dxe4 Kh7= 12.Ne3 Qf6 12...f5 is always an option here, though after 13.g3 fxe4 14.dxe4 Nh3+ 15.Kg2 the knight on h3 still has to find a way to escape. 13.g3 Nh3+ 14.Kh1 A little too passive. The king would be better placed on g2. 14.Kg2 Ne7 15.d4 gives White a small advantage as he has more space and seizes control over the center. Ng6 16.Bd3 the knight on h3 can be kicked away later with Ng1. 14...Ne7 Now comes the manoeuvring phase. Both sides will now try to improve their position. The knight on h3 is very active, and Black can always exchange it with ...Ng5. I think Black has no problems here. 15.Bc4 Putting the bishop on the right diagonal. 15.d4 seems natural but leads nowhere. exd4 16.cxd4 c5= 15...c6 15...b5 was being cried out by the spectators online: 16.Bb3 But I am not sure where it leads. Advancing pawns too far can lead to unnecessary weaknesses and as everyone knows pawns cannot move backwards. In fact White is threatening a2-a4 so perhaps 16.Bxb5 Rb8 16...Rb8 with an around equal position. 16.Bb3 Ng6 Perhaps a small inaccuracy. The knight was just fine on e7, to guard the d5 and f5-squares. In fact Black has on his agenda an active option here to try to seize the initiative: 16...d5!? 17.exd5 cxd5 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.Bxd5 Rd8 20.Be4 and now comes The Pin: Bg4! and White has to sacrifice material to get rid of this dangerous pin. 17.Qe2 I always think Magnus excels in this kind of close to equal positions. So in fact his opening choice has been quite successful despite its modest appearance. Now even if the advantage is not much, White has chances to outplay his opponent. a5 18.a4 Fighting for space on the queenside and fixing the pawn on a5. With the black knights so far away on the kingside, later this a5 pawn will lack protection. Watching the game live, I thought a stronger move was 18.d4 based on the chess principle 'Attack on the flank is best met by a counter-attack in the center'. a4 19.Bc2 Ng5 20.Nxg5 hxg5 21.Rad1 and White is a little better. But now I like Magnus' choice too, as he wants to dominate the whole board, and not just the center. 18...Be6 19.Bxe6!? When I first saw this move I thought Magnus had just made a small blunder. I thought that's it, he just wasted one of his last White games, congrats to Sergey for making an easy draw and getting one step closer to being a World Champion. However deeper inspection shows that he is setting a trap! 19.Nd2! is definitely the best move. Black's knights on g6 and h3 look nice, but in fact they're stepping on each other's toes as neither of them can really put a foot on f4, while White is ready to consolidate his center with f3. Bxb3 20.Nxb3 and in fact White is already threatening to win a pawn with Nc4, amongst other threats. Ng5 21.f3 White has a much better coordination of pieces than his opponent's. 19.Bc2 Ng5 20.Nxg5 hxg5 21.Rad1 is possible too, though not as forceful as 19.Nd2. 19...fxe6 20.Nd2 Now White is threatening to block the kingside with f3. d5 I thought 19.Bxe6 was a blunder because at first sight 20...Nxf2+ seems to finish the game with a clean draw. But Magnus still has a final trick up his sleeve which I am sure he will go for. 21.Kg1! is the prepared trick. Now White gets two knights for a rook and a couple of pawns. 21.Kg2? Nh4+ 22.Kg1 22.gxh4? Qg6+ would end the match right here and right now. 22...Nh3+ 23.Kh1 Nf2+ and a perpetual check is undesirable for White, as he is trailing in the match. 21...Nh3+ 22.Kg2 Nhf4+ 23.gxf4 Nxf4+ 24.Rxf4 exf4 24...Qxf4 25.Qf3! gives Black an unpleasant choice. To trade queens or not to trade? Either way White will be happy. Qh4 26.Qg3 25.Nc2 In terms of material Black is fine, but with the position being closed, the White knights get a lot of jumping potential. Leading the match by one game, Sergey decides to avoid unbalanced positions like this. e5 Perhaps 25...b5 to open some files but then 26.e5! dxe5 27.Ne1!? with the idea to blockade with the knights on e4 and f3. The position is totally chaotic. 26.Qg4 and White is preparing to improve his kingside with h4 or Ne1-f3. At the very least he is not worse and could even be better. 21.Qh5!? Again a very daring try by Magnus. He goes for the most risky but most rewarding continuation. 21.f3! would be my preference. White is well on his way to consolidation. Knight sacrifices on f4 do not work, while the doubled e-pawns give Black eternal problems. Rad8 22.Rae1 I like White. 21...Ng5 Sergey misses the draw! Just when he is close to it, he chooses another way. 21...Nxf2+ 22.Kg2 22.Kg1 Qg5 wins a pawn with an easy tactic. 23.Qxg5 Nh3+ Check! 24.Kg2 Nxg5 22...Qf7! Threatening ...Nf4 check. 23.Kg1 White prevents the check, and now Black has to find: If White retreats with 23.Qe2 then Nh4+ and it's clear to see that it leads to a perpetual. 24.Kg1 24.gxh4? Qg6+ 24...Nh3+ 25.Kh1 Nf2+ 23...Qf6! It's easy to miss this move. Black prepares ...Qg5 followed by ...Nh3 check, so White has nothing better than 24.Kg2 24.Ng4 Qg5 24...Qf7= 22.h4 Magnus is so happy to be able to torture his opponent in a long endgame that he just went for it. According to online sources he spent less than half a minute on this move. I don't blame him at all for wanting to squeeze the life out of Sergey in the endgame but 22.Rae1! preparing Ng4, is even stronger. For example Nf3 23.Ng4 Qg5 24.Qxg5 hxg5 25.Nxf3 Rxf3 26.Rd1± You may ask, what is worse than doubled pawns? Well. .. two sets of doubled pawns. 22...Nf3 23.Nxf3 Qxf3+ 24.Qxf3 Rxf3 25.Kg2 Magnus' daring play starting from 19.Bxe6 has paid off. White has a very pleasant endgame advantage. The doubled e-pawns are a constant source of problems. I don't like Black's position. Rf7 26.Rfe1 This leaves the f2-pawn slightly vulnerable. Not that it matters though. White has an abundance of plans here. I like 26.Ng4 forcing h5. h5 27.Nh2 Nf8 28.Nf3 Now White seizes the g5-square too. Nd7 29.Rae1 White is well on the way to converting his advantage. 26...h5 26...Raf8 can be simply met by 27.Nd1 27.Re2 gives birth to Nf4+ ideas. 28.gxf4 exf4 27...h5 28.Re2 27.Nf1 Finding ideal squares for his pieces is a piece of cake for Magnus. Kf8 27...Raf8 28.Re2 Rf3 29.Rd1 with the queens off the board any tries by Black to attack will not be successful. So instead he tries to improve his king. 28.Nd2 Ke7 29.Re2 Protecting f2. This is a very happy position. I had no doubt that White would be able to convert this position barring big blunders. It's got nothing to do with Sergey, Black's structure is simply bad. Kd6 30.Nf3 Raf8 31.Ng5 Re7 32.Rae1 Rfe8 33.Nf3 Besides all Black's problems, his knight is also a little misplaced on g6. Nh8! Improving the position of the knight. Despite being at a disadvantage, Sergey hangs tough. The question for White now, is how to convert his advantage? 34.d4 A conversion of advantages. Magnus decides the time is ripe to blast open the center and endanger the position of the black king. Personally I would prefer to leave Black with his doubled pawns and choose 34.b4 axb4 35.cxb4 Nf7 36.a5 with a clear advantage too, but sooner or later White has to find a way to break through. 34...exd4 35.Nxd4 g6 Protecting the f5-square. A lesser wood pusher might go 35...Nf7 but then 36.exd5 cxd5 37.c4 dxc4 and the black king is caught in the middle of the crossfire. 36.Re3 Threatening Rf3. Again White has an abundance of plans here. b2-b4 ideas are always in the air. I like the subtle 36.Nb3!? b6 37.Nd4 with the idea of weakening c6 but perhaps it is too subtle for the most part. 36...Nf7 37.e5+ 37.Rf3 Ne5 38.Rf6 Rf7 allows Black to defend, no problemo. After the exchange of his most active rook, White's chances to convert become much harder. 39.Rxf7 Nxf7 37...Kd7 38.Rf3 Perhaps not the best but it is a normal move, especially when both players are relatively low in time. 38.b4 is more accurate, to prevent ...c5 ideas. 38...Nh6?! Sergey also makes a natural consolidating move. If he can block the f-file with ...Nf5, then all well and good. However Black has better options here on move 38 though. 38...c5 looks good, to set the queenside pawns into motion. After 39.Nb3 b6 40.Nd2 Black still does not fully solve his problems however. Nh8! 40...Rg8 41.Rf6 and the g6-h5 pawn chain will be quite vulnerable. 41.c4 41.Rf6 Rf7! eliminates White's most active piece! 41...Rf7 the programs show that Black is fine but it's hard for me to believe with the knight on h8. Also, it's almost impossible for a human to play ...Nh8 over the board. 38...g5 39.hxg5 Nxg5 40.Rf6 Or 38...Rg8 39.Rf6 but White still looks better here. 39.Rf6 Rg7 40.b4 Now White is back on track. 40.c4!? is the complicated way to try to knock out Black. His king will be vulnerable in the center even in the endgame. 40...axb4 41.cxb4± Both players have finished the time trouble stage and now have an extra hour of thinking time. Compared to a few moves back, White has now managed to increase his advantage and gain firm control over the position. Black's dark-squares are very vulnerable and at the same time he has to think of ways to regain control over the f-file. Ng8 If 41...Nf5 White simply retreats his knight to b3 or f3, and the pressure becomes untenable in conjunction with a power rook on f6. 42.Rf3 Nh6 43.a5 Improving his position slowly but surely. Of course White avoids the repetition of moves! Nf5 . 44.Nb3 Kc7 45.Nc5?! Magnus starts to drift, probably because he has such a nice position. White could have sealed the win with 45.Rc1 threatening b5. And if Kb8 46.a6 if the b7-c6 pawn chain falls then the last of Black's bastions are fallen. Rc7 47.Rfc3 A sample line of how the game can end: bxa6 48.Rxc6 Rxc6 49.Rxc6 Kb7 50.Na5+ Ka7 51.Rc7+ Kb8 52.Rf7+- Seventh rank, active pieces, later on active king, White has all the trumps that he needs. Black's position is crumbling. 45...Kb8 46.Rb1 Ka7 Now there is no clean finish. However White is still clearly ahead. 47.Rd3 Rc7 Trying to counter with a punch is too slow 47...g5 48.hxg5 Rxg5 After 49.b5+- Black cannot defend all his weaknesses (b7 and e6). 47...b6 can be met simply by 48.Na4 Or even better: 48.axb6+ Kxb6 49.Ra3 Ra7 50.Rxa7 Kxa7 51.Kf3± when the White king is really fast. 48.Ra3 Nd4 49.Rd1 Nf5 50.Kh3 Nh6 51.f3 White has improved the position of his king in the past few moves and is now introducing the possibility of opening up the kingside with g4. Black can do nothing but sit and wait. Rf7 52.Rd4 Nf5 53.Rd2 I like 53.Rf4 but then Rh7! preventing g4, leaves the White rook immobile on f4. 53...Rh7 54.Rb3 Ree7 55.Rdd3 This is one of Magnus' favorite strategies. He likes to wait patiently for his opponent to crack while slowly improving his own position. This worked well for him today. But objectively now is the time to strike. 55.b5! cxb5 56.Rxb5 Black cannot hold on to his b7 and e6-pawn for long. Perhaps Black can try Ne3 but then 57.Rd3 Nc4 58.f4 gives White all the time he needs to improve his position. Black's rooks are stuck defending pawns, which is never a good sign. Rooks are made for offense, not defense! 55...Rh8 56.Rb1 Again waiting for the right moment. Just wait, just wait... Patience is a virtue. Rhh7 57.b5! NOW! cxb5 . 58.Rxb5 Compared to move 55, the only change is that White's rook is on d3. Notice the difference? Black does not have Ne3-c4 now and his position crumbles quickly. d4 59.Rb6 Rc7 60.Nxe6 Rc3 61.Nf4 Rhc7 62.Nd5! Simplification makes White's job easier. The rule of thumb is that when you are ahead in material you aim for trades and exchanges. Like in soccer, 11 players vs 10 players is harder than 5 players vs 4 players, and a 3 vs 2 game is a piece of cake. Chess is no different. When you are ahead in material, exchanges usually mean less complications = cleaner win. 62.Rxg6 Rxd3 62...Rc1 gives White a choice between five different moves that win. 63.Nxd3 Rc3 64.Rf6 Ne3 65.Nf4 and White's win should be easy. Contrary to appearances there is never any mate on h1, as White can always free his king with g3-g4. Meanwhile White is two pawns up. 62...Rxd3 63.Nxc7 Some people didn't understand it at first, however if you put this position in a super computer it just gives +- 5.36, meaning White is more than five pawns up in a mathematical scale. Kb8 64.Nb5 Kc8 64...Rxf3 65.a6 promotes the passed a-pawn. 65.Rxg6 Rxf3 66.Kg2! Activating the king. From here Magnus does not give Sergey any chance to escape. Rb3 67.Nd6+ Another exchange. Now it is 6 vs 5. Nxd6 68.Rxd6 Re3 69.e6 Not 69.Rxd4? Rxe5 70.Ra4 Kd7 when the Black king goes over to the kingside and secures the draw. The rook on a4 has become a mere spectator protecting the a-pawn. 69...Kc7 69...d3 70.Kf2+- 70.Rxd4 Rxe6 70...Re5!? 71.e7!? Rxe7 72.Rd5 does not change anything. 71.Rd5! The White rook attacks h5 while at the same time protecting his a-pawn. Rh6 72.Kf3 Sergey could safely have resigned here, but it does not hurt to make a few more moves. After all its not over until the king is mated. Kb8 72...b6 73.axb6+ Kxb6 74.Kf4 Kc6 75.Rd8 White need not even calculate rook and single pawn endings because he can win the enemy pawn by force. Kc7 76.Rg8 Kd6 77.Kg5 Rh7 78.Kg6+- 72...Kc6 73.Rf5 Kd6 74.g4 hxg4+ 75.Kxg4+- also wins easily. 73.Kf4 73.g4 hxg4+ 74.Kxg4+- easy win. 73...Ka7 74.Kg5 Rh8 75.Kf6 Magnus finally levels the match! This has been a great game and a great fight by both players. After choosing a modest line against the Berlin Opening, Magnus slowly improved his position and kept the game going. Black's knight looked a little shaky on h3 (perhaps 11...f5!?) and White managed to take advantage of this. The sequence from move 19-21 seems to me a little strange as Black allowed doubled-pawns and White gladly went for it and both sides developed interesting options. Perhaps 21...Ng5 was a crucial mistake as Sergey could maybe have made a draw with 21...Nxf2. But of course sitting at home, it is much easier to calculate than it was for the two fighters in New York. Having played nine long games in two weeks with all the attendant pressure, tension and drama, most certainly took a toll on both players. A World Championship match definitely requires levels of extraordinary endurance for anyone. Looking ahead with the score 5-5 I feel Magnus has good chances now in the match. He absolutely had to win today and he did. Tomorrow is a rest day, so both players can relax and prepare new ideas. I'm sure Sergey will try to put on the pressure in Round 11 and fight for a win with the white pieces (in Round 9 he got close!) If the match ends with two draws and a tie of 6-6 ensues, both players go to the tiebreaks with a shorter time control. Magnus may have the edge there although Sergey never fails to impress and surprise his fans. 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2853Karjakin,S27691–02016World-ch Carlsen-Karjakin +1-1=1010

Magnus Carlsen, Sergey Karjakin

Magnus Carlsen and Sergey Karjakin | Photo: Albert Silver

The next World Championship match, Carlsen - Caruana, was relatively a staid affair with a number of nuanced draws. The games here are annotated by Anand, Adams, Gelfand, Duda and Wesley So, among others

The challenger was not without chances in this match as seen in the following game:

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The 10th game of the World Championship match was the most back and forth affair of any game thus far. There were plenty of games where one side did not make the most of their chances, but this has been the only one where I thought both players at some point had very real winning chances. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 Magnus stays true to his Rossolimo/Sveshnikov repertoire for the 5th time in a row. Starting from game 5, I have expected him to pivot every single game, and been wrong every single time. Perhaps he will just play this the whole way through? 3.d4 Caruana eschews Bb5, which he chose in his first 3 White games. cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Nd5 I was a bit surprised to see Caruana enter the same line as game 8. Even though he got an excellent position in that game, he had to figure Magnus would have come with improvements, and the line is supposed to be okay for Black. 7.Bg5 Leads to the mainline Sveshnikov. 7...Nxd5 8.exd5 Nb8 9.a4 Be7 10.Be2 0-0 11.0-0 Nd7 12.b4!? The first major deviation. Caruana chose Bd2 in the previous game. Still, the move does not look too impressive to me. 12.Bd2 Carlsen misplayed the position and quickly ended up worse. 12...a6 13.Na3 a5!? A very commital decision, but not a bad one. Magnus forces the queenside open right away, a fearless decision against a prepared opponent, but he had other options. 13...b6 Appeals the most to me. Black tries to keep the queenside closed and will look for his own counterplay with f7-f5. In fact, I actually prefer Black in a practical game here. 14.bxa5 Rxa5 15.Nc4 Ra8 16.Be3 Caruana was still playing very fast. He probably was in his preparation. f5! Black absolutely needs counterplay, and f5-f4 is coming. However, unlike game 8, here White cannot comfortabll play f2-f4 himself to keep his kingside secure. 17.a5 17.f4 Black is absolutely fine after exf4 18.Bxf4 Nb6 18...g5!? If Black is in a feisty mood 17...f4! 18.Bb6 Qe8 The battle lines are drawn. White clearly has an edge on the queenside, Black's pieces (particularly the c8-bishop and d7-knight) look a little clumsy, and the b6 square could prove to be a problem. But Black's kingside pawn mass promises him decent counterplay. 19.Ra3 A not so mysterious rook move. It looks pointless now but Black's plan is clearly to launch a kingside attack, and the rook will be a good defender laterally along the third rank. 19.Re1 This is the computer's recommendation by a wide margin, but I don't really understand the move? I guess it just serves as some vague prophylaxis against e5-e4. It claims white is better but I am unconvinced because after Rf6! Black is ready to challenge the b6-bishop via Be7-d8. 19...Qg6 20.Bc7 e4! Carlsen is in burn the bridges mode. His pawns are vulnerable and could quickly fall if the center were to open at an inopportune moment, but he is looking for direct counterplay against White's king, truly in the style of the Sveshnikov. 20...Ra6 A quiet defensive move like this one was surely fine, but I think the World Champion was right to go for it. 20...b5!? It was also possible to play in the same manner as the game, only without committing to e5-e4. This could make some sense as the central pawns proved weak. 21.Nb6 21.axb6? It's possible this move annoyed Magnus since e5-e4 no longer works, but it is also insufficient. Rxa3 22.Nxa3 The problem is here Black needs a new attacking plan since e5-e4 fails to bring its desired returns. Nc5! The b-pawn is well under control, and most importantly, White's pieces are totally unprepared to defend his king. How will the c7-bishop ever contribute to a proper defense? Rf6-h6 is coming and Black should win. 22...e4 23.Bh5! Qg5 24.Qg4! White is doing well. Getting his queen to g4 will really lesse any attacking chances Black can hope for 21...Nxb6 22.Bxb6 This leads to a similar position to the game, but Black does not need to play e5-e4 if he so desires. For instance, he seems to have a good position after b4 23.Rb3 Bf5! When it is clear there are reasons the pawn is good on e5 as well. 21.Kh1 b5!? A very commital move, but not a bad one. 21...Qh6 The machines prefer a slower buildup with something like this. Black certainly will have attacking chances by lifting the f8-rook, but I don't mind Magnus's decision either. 22.Nb6! 22.axb6? This would be asking for trouble. I find it unlikely White will survive after the energetic Rxa3 23.Nxa3 f3! 24.gxf3 Ne5! Black's attack looks devastating. 22...Nxb6 23.Bxb6 Qg5?! Technically, this move loses the game against best play, but it comes with a very nasty idea of playing Rf6-h6 and delivering mate on the h-file. A machine with its nerves of steel would have no trouble grabbing h5, but for a human, it looks absurdly dangerous. 24.g3 Caruana's move makes a lot of sense. Taking on f4 and bringing the rook to g3 should dispel any mating dreams. 24.Bxb5! White could have gotten away with this. Rf6 Extreme precision is needed to beat back the attack, but it is possible. 25.Re1! An important move. White hits the e4-pawn while simultaneously clearing f1 for the bishop. Bf5 25...Rh6 26.Rxe4 25...Rg6 26.Bf1 Bf5 26...Ba6 27.Rxe4!+- 27.a6 Rh6 28.a7 Qh4 29.h3 f3 This loks absolutely terrifying for a human, but apparently White wins with another only move: 30.Qd4!+- The point is to defend against the threat of Bxh3 followed by Qg4. Bxh3 31.gxh3 Qg4 32.Rxf3! No more exf3 thanks to the pin exerted by the queen being on d4. After Qxf3+ 33.Bg2 The a-pawn will carry the day. One certainly cannot fault Caruana for not seeing all of this. 26.f3! e3 27.a6 Rh6 28.Re2‼ An incredibly difficult only move that would have to have been prepared in advance. White is ready to play Qg1 and hold the position together. Even then, the variation continues. Qh5 29.Qg1 Bh4 30.g4! fxg3 31.Raxe3! White wins. But this is really just a machine line, and outside of human capability. 24...b4 25.Rb3 25.gxf4 I would have been tempted to clear the 3rd rank for defensive purposes, and this probably is an easier route to equality. Still, while Caruana's choice gives him some only moves to find, he did find the moves and he objectively was not worse. 25...Bh3 26.Rg1! The rook is needed for defensive purposes. 26.Re1 Bf6! Moves like Bc3 or Be5 could come next. White is in trouble. 26...f3 White is under a lot of pressure. Around here I thought Caruana might crack and give Magnus the first decisive result, but he defended very well. 27.Bf1! This is a tough move. I would have been tempted to just let the bishop stay on h3, since White can always sacrifice an exchange on g2 very happily and otherwise it's not clear what active role the bishop plays. But it was absolutely critical to play Bf1. 27.Bb5? A move like this looks sensible... Rf6! Until you realize White will simply be mated on the h-file! Rh6 and Qh5 is coming, and there is nothing to be done. 27...Bxf1! 27...Qh5 Caveman play does not work here since White is in better shape to keep the h-file under control. The queen coming to f1 is very important, for instance after 28.Rxb4 Rf6 29.Bxh3 Qxh3 30.Be3! Black will not get Rh6 very easily, and e4 is hanging to boot. White should win. 28.Qxf1! Another important decision. White cannot allow a disaster on the h-file. His position looks awful with the queen and the rook so passively placed and the d5-pawn falling, but he remains solid and can rely on the a5-pawn for counterplay. 28.Rxf1? Keeping active pieces comes at a heavy price. After Qg4! 29.Rxb4 Rf5! White will promptly be mated by Rh5 and Qh3. 28...Qxd5 29.Rxb4 Qe6 30.Rb5= The position is dynamically balanced, but White has to be more careful than Black. He managed without a ton of trouble. Bd8 31.Qe1! The queen returns to life. Bxb6 32.axb6 Rab8 33.Qe3 Qc4 34.Rb2 Rb7 35.Rd1 Qe2! Setting a devilish trap, though it is not enough to claim an advantage. 36.Re1! Far from the only holding move, but I am awarding an exclamation point for not falling for Black's idea. 36.Qb3+? Kh8 37.c4 Looks like it traps Black's queen. But the nasty response Rxb6!-+ Would promptly turn the tables! 36...Qxe3 37.Rxe3 d5 The position is balanced as neither side can easily mobilize their pawn majority. Black's center looks impressive, but he can't do anything with it so long as he is left with a passive rook on b7. 38.h4 Rc8 39.Ra3 Kf7 40.Kh2 Ke6 41.g4 Rc6 42.Ra6 Ke5 43.Kg3 h6 44.h5 The position is some kind of mutual stalemate where neither side can do anything. Magnus tried to make something happen with Kd4? But only made trouble for himself after the strong response 45.Rb5! When Black has to be somewhat accurate to not get into trouble. Still, he has more than one route to a draw, and Magnus found a very easy one. Rd6! Overprotecting the d5-pawn White was planning to harass with Raa5. 46.Ra4+ Ke5 47.Rab4 Ke6 Nice and easy. White has no good way to challenge Black's central pawn mass without allowing liquidation. 48.c4 dxc4 49.Rxc4 Rdxb6 50.Rxe4+ Kf7 51.Rf5+ Rf6 Black loses a pawn but simplifies into an easily drawn 3 vs 2 on the kingside. Caruana did not even bother trying. His winning chances are approximately zero. 52.Rxf6+ Kxf6 53.Kxf3 Kf7 54.Kg3 With only 2 games to go, each player has only one game to try with White. Carlsen gets to go first, and I'll be interested to see what first move he chooses, as well as if we will see a 6th 2.Nf3 Nc6 Sicilian in the final game. ½–½
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Caruana,F2832Carlsen,M2835½–½2018World-ch Carlsen-Caruana10

Carlsen struck back in the tie-break games and only here managed to prevail over his opponent:

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1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 Bb4 4.e4!? This move is extremely rare, and judging by the time situations that followed, it seems this came as a surprise to the Challenger. 0-0 4...Bxc3 is possible, but super-GM opinion coalesced against White's position in the line 5.dxc3 Nxe4 6.Qd5 Ng5 7.Qxe5+ Ne6 Black's position is slightly worse, even if from my modest perspective I consider it to be relatively easy to play! 5.Nge2 c6 This move makes sense in conjunction with ...Ba5-c7, or alternatively... 6.Bg2 a6!? At this point, if not on the move before, Black commits to a plan which might be practically interesting, but doesn't particularly inspire confidence on an objective level. 6...d6 7.0-0 a5 8.d3 Nbd7 is a more 'traditional' English follow-up. 7.0-0 b5 8.d4! This has to be critical. White is a little better, but with the murky strategic situation and the rapid time control anything could happen. d6 9.a3 9.f4?! exd4 10.Nxd4 bxc4 9...Bxc3 9...Ba5 10.b4 Bc7 11.cxb5 axb5 12.d5 may simply be a strategic disadvantage, so it's wise to try and avoid this. 10.Nxc3 bxc4 11.dxe5 It is not yet time for 11.f4 : Bg4! 12.Qd2 Qb6 11...dxe5 12.Na4 12.Qe2 was the engine suggestion, and it seems to me that Black has to play another unusual move in order to avoid being clearly worse. a5 12...Qd3? 13.Qxd3 cxd3 14.Rd1± 12...Be6 13.f4± 13.Na4! Ba6 14.Nc5 Qb6 15.Nxa6 Qxa6 White should be a little better, but nothing is too clear yet. 12...Be6! Black has to play this cold-blooded move in my opinion- recognising that Nc5 isn't quite the dramatic positional masterstroke that it seems. 12...Nbd7 13.Qc2 Nb6 14.Nxb6 Qxb6 15.Qxc4 is miserable. 13.Qxd8 13.Nc5 Qe7 14.Nxe6 Qxe6 15.Be3 Rc8! With ...c5 and ...Nc6-d4 to come; Black seems to be emerging from his difficulties now. 13...Rxd8 14.Be3 Nbd7 15.f3 White opts for a steady approach, seemingly convinced of having some kind of edge. Indeed, in practical games between ordinary mortals this would be the case. Rab8 16.Rac1 Rb3 17.Rfe1 Ne8?! This move is strategically desirable, but only if Black can also get ...f6, ...Nd6 and ... Kf7 without being interrupted. Now, he probably risks being somewhat worse again. 17...Rdb8! is better, intending to give back the pawn in a way that makes White's structure a little weaker. 18.Bf1 c3 19.Rxc3 Rxc3 20.bxc3 Rb3 21.Ra1 a5= 18.Bf1 Nd6 19.Rcd1 Nb5? 19...Nb7! was required, followed by the cold-blooded sequence 20.f4 g6 21.f5 gxf5 22.exf5 Bd5 23.Nc3 Nf6 when despite the strange location of some of Black's pieces, there is no objective problem. I suspect that Fabiano saw this, didn't notice that the Nb7 defended the Rd8 and opted for a move that stopped Nc3. 20.Nc5! This is a key move for White to see, after which he is clearly better. Rxb2 21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.Bxc4 Nd4 23.Bxd4 exd4 24.Bxe6+ The engine suggests the brutal and unfindable 24.Rxd4 Kf7 25.Kh1‼+- when Black has no defence against Red1 and Rd6; White will probably come out 2 pawns ahead. 24...Kf8 25.Rxd4 Ke7 26.Rxd7+ Rxd7 27.Bxd7 Kxd7 28.Rd1+ Ke6 29.f4 c5 Watching this position live in the 'kibitzing' area, I was shocked to discover that barely anyone else thought the position was closer to a draw than a win. 30.Rd5?! 30.Rc1 Kd6 31.a4!? is the engine opinion. Almost all these positions will come down to some version of 3v2 on the kingside with an extra a-pawn each to confuse the players; the point is to identify which versions entail Black having a worse rook! For instance, see the line Rd2?! 32.e5+ Kd5 33.e6 Kxe6 34.Rxc5 g6 35.Re5+ Kf6 36.Ra5 Ke6 37.h3 Rd6 38.Kf2+- when White is close to winning. 30...Rc2 31.h4 c4 32.f5+ Kf6 33.Rc5 h5 34.Kf1 Rc3?! Not losing, but a bad idea. Following 34...c3 35.Ke1 Rg2 36.Rxc3 Ke5= Black would have very comfortably held this ending even two pawns down. 35.Kg2 Rxa3 36.Rxc4 Ke5 37.Rc7 Kxe4? Based on a flawed trick. This is probably the decisive error. 37...Ra2+! could have been played first, and then the trick works as in the next note: 38.Kh3 Kxe4 39.Rxg7 Ra1 and since White has to think about getting mated, he is not able to stay in position to deliver Rg5+. 38.Re7+ 38.Rxg7 Ra2+ 39.Kh3 Ra1!= is the tricky point. 38...Kxf5 39.Rxg7 Kf6 40.Rg5 a5 41.Rxh5+- Now the position is winning for Carlsen. Sometimes, a flank pawn can hold off two central pawns in such cases, but definitely not when the opponent's two pawns are both on the opposite side of the board. a4 42.Ra5 Ra1 43.Kf3 a3 44.Ra6+ Kg7 45.Kg2 Ra2+ 46.Kh3 Ra1 47.h5 Kh7 48.g4 Kg7 49.Kh4 a2 50.Kg5 Kf7 51.h6 Rb1 52.Ra7+ Kg8 53.Rxa2 Rb5+ 54.Kg6 Rb6+ 55.Kh5 1–0
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Carlsen,M2835Caruana,F28321–02018World-ch Carlsen-Caruana Tiebreak1

Magnus had a string of successes in tournaments — time and again he proved himself in World Rapid and Blitz Championships.

Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana

Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana | Photo: Nikolai Donaevsky / World Chess

Veterans, Anand and Kramnik

What about veterans like Anand and Kramnik? One may ask. Anand has more than 4000 games and Kramnik has more than 3000 games in this database. These friends and rivals have played a whole World Championship match between them and continue to compete. In recent years it was this epic encounter that made waves in the chess world:

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1.e4 To understand just how extraordinary the game is you're about to see, bear in mind it was played at 15+10 time control :) e6 A rare guest in Kramnik's games. 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Qd2 a6 9.Bd3 b5 10.a3 c4 This leads to an almost new position, though the structure is almost as old as chess itself. 10...0-0 11.0-0 f5 1-0 (48) Cheparinov,I (2711)-Bluebaum,M (2620) Germany 2019 11.Be2 Nb6 12.0-0 Bd7 The conflict has already been well-defined. Black is very strong on the queenside, White will try to get f5 and get to the black king. 13.Bd1!? Interesing approach. It looks like White wants to play Ne2, c3, Bc2, but in fact it's trickier than that. 13.g4 h5 14.gxh5 Rxh5 doesn't feel clear. 13.Nd1 a5 14.c3 b4 is the reason Vishy leaves his knight on c3 for now. 13...g6 13...Qc7 looks natural too, but probably doesn't change too much. 14.h3 Some sort of waiting game, but also a useful move of course. 14.Ne2 a5 14...Qc7 15.Bf2!? And this is, amazingly, some sort of zugzwang :) Kramnik finds a useful move though. h6! 15...0-0-0 16.b3 Kb7 17.Be2 White is the favorite to get to Black's king first here. 16.Ne2 Vishy changes his plan after seeing the pawn on h6. 16.Kh2 0-0-0 17.b3 17.Ne2 Kb7 17...Rdg8 18.Be2 g5 was the point behind h6, gaining a tempo on counterplay, with a huge fight. 16...a5! Of course. 17.c3 0-0-0 18.Bh4 Bxh4 19.Nxh4 Kb7 20.Nf3 Ra8 21.Bc2 Qd8 The advance ...b4 still needs some work. 21...b4 22.axb4 axb4 23.cxb4 22.g4 Not without dangers potentially, but Vishy probably felt he can't do without f5 in a long run. 22.Nh2 h5 22...Qe7 23.Ng4 h5 24.Nf6 b4 25.axb4 axb4 26.b3∞ 23.Nf3 Qe7 24.Ng5 Rhb8 A nice square for the knight, but feels slow. 22...Qe7 22...h5 Black should't start a fight where his opponent is stronger. 23.Ng5 23.Kg2 Qe7 23...Qe7 23...hxg4 24.Nxf7 Qh4 25.Nxh8 Rxh8 26.Qe3± 24.f5 gxf5 25.gxf5 exf5 26.Bxf5 Raf8 27.h4 f6 28.exf6 Rxf6 29.Bxd7 Nxd7 30.Ng3± 23.Ng3 23.Kh2 h5 23.Rae1 b4 24.f5 b3 24...gxf5 25.gxf5 25.f6 25.Bb1 Rag8 25...Qf8 26.Bd1 Na7 23...b4 24.axb4 axb4 Kramnik played his breakthrough first and somewhere around here Vishy loses some ground 25.Rxa8 25.Kg2 b3 26.Rxa8 Rxa8 27.Bb1 or 25.h4 Na5 26.h5 Nb3 both lead to a perfect mess 25...Rxa8 26.f5 gxf5 27.gxf5 27.Qxh6 fxg4 28.hxg4 Ra2 27...Ra2 28.Qc1 bxc3 28...exf5!? would be interesting, but also deprive us of all the beauty to come. 29.Bxf5 29.Nxf5 Bxf5 30.Bxf5 bxc3 31.bxc3 Qa3 29...Be6 30.Qxh6 Rxb2 31.Ng5 Nd8 and it feels easier to play black here 29.bxc3 Qa3 30.Bb1? This, surprisingly, is a mistake, but it wouldn't be obvious even in a classical game, let alone at the breathtaking speed the two giants were playing. 30.Qxa3 Rxa3 31.Ne2 exf5 It's White who still needs to be accurate here. 30...Qxc1? A rare case when Kramnik doesn't evaluate the queen exchange correctly. After 30...Rb2! 31.f6 Na4 32.Ne2 Na7 Black is substantially better, aided by his more active queen and a safer king. 31.Rxc1 Rb2 31...Ra3 also makes sense. 32.f6 Na4 A massively complex ending. 33.Bh7 Something tells me it's a trap. Interesting would be 33.Bg6!? Be8 34.Bh5 The bishop is well placed here. Kc7 35.Nh2 Nxc3 36.Rxc3 Nxd4 and we went from complex to complex, with a very tough fight ahead. 33...Na5? That's exactly what Vishy probably had played Bh7 for. 33...Be8 34.Kf1 Na7 35.Ne2 Nb5 36.h4 Kc7 37.h5 and maybe it's better to play White here, cause a bit amazingly Black ran out of ideas. 34.Bg6! Oh boy, here we go. Nb3 35.Re1! In anticipation of what follows. Be8 36.Nf5‼ The point of it all. Now pretty much everyone realized Black is in trouble, and Kramnik had to find a way to hang in there. fxg6 Black had other defences, but Kramnik didn't have all the time in the world, of course. 36...Nxc3!? 37.Nd6+ Kc6 38.Nxe8 Nc1‼ The point of Black's counterplay. 39.Bh7‼ An amazingly difficult solution. 39.Rxc1 Ne2+ 40.Kf1 Nxc1 41.Nd6! Ne2 41...fxg6 42.f7 Rb8 43.Ne8 42.Bxf7 42.Nxf7 Nf4 43.Bh7 Nxh3 42...Nf4 43.Be8+ Kb6 44.f7 Ng6 remains very difficult for both. 39.Bxf7 N1e2+ 40.Kf2 Nxd4+ 41.Kg3 41.Ke3 Nc2+ 42.Kf4 Nxe1 43.Nxe1 Re2 44.Bxe6 Rxe1 45.f7 Rf1+ 46.Ke3 Ne4 47.Nf6 Nxf6 48.Ke2‼ Nh7 49.Kxf1 41...Ne4+ 42.Rxe4 Nf5+ 43.Kf4 dxe4 44.Bxe6 exf3 45.Kxf5 Rc2 46.f7 f2 47.Kg6 f1Q 48.Nf6 with a royal mess, and the reason White needs his bishop to control c2, e4, and f5! 39...N1e2+ 40.Kf2 Nxd4+ 41.Ke3 Nxf3 There's nothing better now. 42.Kxf3 and White is doing well here, but I assure you, it wouldn't be obvious during the game to you, or me, or Anand, or anyone :) d4 42...Nb5 43.Bg8 Nd4+ 44.Kf4 c3 45.Bxf7 Re2 46.Ra1 Re4+ 47.Kg3 Rxe5 48.Bg6 43.Nd6 d3 44.Nxc4 d2 45.Nxd2 Rxd2 46.Bg8 36...exf5 37.e6+- 36...Kc6 37.Nd6 Kd7 Another cunning try. 38.Bxf7 Bxf7 39.Nxf7 Nxc3 40.Nh8‼ There are many lines here, but only this seems to win. 40.Nd6 Nc1 41.Rxc1 Ne2+ 42.Kf1 Nxc1 43.f7 Rb8 40...Nc1 41.Rxc1 41.f7 N1e2+= 41...Ne2+ 42.Kf1 Nxc1 43.f7 Rb8 43...Ke7 44.Nh4 Rb8 45.N4g6+ Kd7 46.f8Q Rxf8+ 47.Nxf8+ Ke7 48.Nfg6+ Ke8 49.Nf4+- 44.Ng6 and White wins 37.Nd6+ Kc7 38.Nxe8+ Kd7 39.Nd6 g5! Controlling h4 is vital. 40.Nf5‼ I've never seen this before. After 36.Nf5!! white knight dances all the way back, and again it's brilliant, and correct, and important! Ke8 40...exf5 41.e6+ White's pawns queen here. 41.Nxh6 Nxc3 Both players, as well as thousands watching live, knew it must be winning for White here, but with minutes ticking away, it was also unlikely to be easy. Black gets counterplay against white king. 42.Nxg5 Nxd4 43.f7+ Ke7 44.Ra1 Very natural. 44.Rf1! An almost impossible task, under the circumstances. Nce2+ 44...Rb8 45.Nh7+- 45.Kf2 and all the checks are of no avail: Nc6 45...Nc3+ 46.Ke3 46.Ke1+- Rb1+ 47.Kxe2 Rxf1 48.Kxf1 Nxe5 49.Ke2 d4 50.Kd1 Nd7 51.h4 and White wins, slowly but surely. 44...Nce2+ 45.Kf2 Nf4+ 46.Kg3? most natural, but 46.Kf1‼ was strong, to keep the king safe from checks. Nc6 46...Ng6 47.Ng8+ Kd7 47...Kf8 48.Ra8+ Kg7 49.Ne7! is a very cute point. 48.Ra7+ Kd8 49.Ne7 Nf8 50.Ra8+ Kxe7 51.Re8+ Kd7 52.Rxf8+- 47.Ng8+ Kf8 48.Nf6 Kg7 49.f8Q+‼ Such a rare theme. Kxf8 50.Ra8+ Rb8! 50...Nb8 51.Ra7 is actually mate. 51.Nd7+ Ke7 52.Nxb8 Nxe5 and whilst my computer assures me White is clearly winning here, I must confess it still looks messy to me! 46...Ng6 47.Ra7+ Kd8 48.Ra8+ Kc7 49.Rg8 Ne2+! Kramnik reinforces his defences with this vital check, and now it's Vishy who has to fight for his life. There was't much time left for subtleties... 50.Kf2 50.Kf3 would be better. Nxe5+ 51.Ke3 Nxf7 52.Nhxf7 c3 53.Ne5 c2 54.Nd3 Rb3 55.Kxe2 Rxd3 56.Nxe6+ Kd6 57.Rc8= 50...Nef4+ 51.Ke3 c3 52.Nxe6+? 52.Rxg6 Nxg6 53.Nxe6+ Kd7 54.Nf4 was still okay, but by now they were both blitzing... d4+ 55.Ke4 c2 56.e6+ Kc7 57.Nd3 Rb3 57...Kd6!? 58.Kf5 Rxd3 59.Kxg6 c1Q 60.f8Q and the white king being safe, draw is no longer difficult. 52...Nxe6 53.Rxg6 d4+ 54.Ke4 Re2+? 54...c2 55.Rxe6 c1Q 56.f8Q Kramnik correctly felt this should be checkmate, but hesitated to go for it with no time to figure it out with accuracy. Qe3+ 57.Kd5 Rb5+ 58.Kc4 Qb3+ 59.Kxd4 Qa4+! is the most convincing way, but far from easy. 55.Kf3! Re3+ 56.Kg4 Nf8 56...c2 57.Rxe6 c1Q 58.Re7+ Kb6 59.f8Q Qg1+ 60.Kh4 Qg3+ 61.Kh5+- 57.Rg8 Nd7 57...c2 58.Rxf8 c1Q 59.Rc8+= 58.Nf5‼ This move again! I don't know if there's ever been a game in history of games, where the same knight landed three times on the same square, and it was always the best move by far, and twice a sacrifice!! c2 there's no win 58...Re4+ 59.Kf3 c2 60.Rg1 d3 61.Kxe4 d2 62.e6 d1Q 63.exd7 White's pawns are too strong here. Qxg1 64.d8Q+ Kxd8 65.f8Q+ Kc7= 58...Rxe5 59.Nxd4 Re4+ 60.Kf3 Rxd4 61.Ke2 c2 62.Rg1= 59.Nxe3 c1Q 59...dxe3 60.e6 c1Q 61.exd7= 60.Nd5+ Kb7 61.e6 A fascinating position. Qd1+ 62.Kg5 Qd2+? With seconds left, Kramnik gets unlucky choosing the square to check from. 62...Qg1+ 63.Kf5 63.Kh6 Qc1+ 64.Rg5 Qc6 63...Qb1+ 64.Kg5= 63.Kg6? A truly unfortunate moment for Vishy. The knight was still around to crown his carrer with 63.Nf4! Nc5 64.Rg6! and Vishy would have won this 63...Qg2+ and Black picks up the full house. White resigned, but in a way the result seems irrelevant here. An incredible creative achievement by both players, this game will be the one to remember for years to come. 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Anand,V2753Kramnik,V27530–12020Legends of Chess Prelim3.1

Vishy Anand, Vladimir Kramnik

Vishy Anand and Vladimir Kramnik | Photo: Frederic Friedel and Wolfgang Rzychon

Young talents

This brings us to the young talents in the world arena. Currently the Indian trio, Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh and Arjun Erigaisi, have taken the chess world by storm and rightly so. The MegaBase has a number of their games, both annotated and unannotated.

Among others, Abdusattorov, Duda and Firoujza deserve special mention. Abdusattaorov has had a big rivalry with Gukesh and the dramatic clash here helped the Uzbek Team to win the Gold Medal in the Chess Olympiad and pushed the Indian team to claim the Bronze Medal.

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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.e3 0-0 7.Bd2 a5 8.a3 Bxc3 9.Bxc3 Ne7 10.Qc2 b6 11.b3 Ba6 12.a4 Ne4 13.Bb2 Nc6 14.Ba3 Nb4 15.Bxb4 axb4 16.Bd3 Nf6 17.0-0 c5 18.dxc5 bxc5 19.e4 dxe4 20.Bxe4 Ra7 21.Ne5 Qd6 22.Rfe1 Nxe4 23.Qxe4 Rd8 24.Qf3 Qc7 25.Rad1 Raa8 26.Rxd8+ Rxd8 27.Rd1 Rc8 28.Qg3 h5 29.h3 Rd8 30.Rxd8+ Qxd8 31.Nd3 h4 32.Qe3 Bb7 33.f3 Qd6 34.Kf1 e5 35.Nxc5 Bc8 36.Ke1 Bf5 37.a5 Qc7 38.a6 Bc8 39.Nd3 Bxa6 40.Qxe5 Qb6 41.Nc5 Qa5 42.Kd1 Qd8+ 43.Kc2 Bc8 44.Ne4 Be6 45.Kb2 Qa8 46.Nc5 Qa3+ 47.Kb1 g6 48.Kc2 Qa2+ 49.Qb2 Bf5+ 50.Ne4 Qa7 51.Kd3 Qg1 52.Qc2 Qc5 53.Qd2 Qg1 54.Kc2 Qa1 55.Kd3 Qg1 56.Qe2 Qa7 57.Qe3 Qa2 58.Kd4 Qxg2 59.Ng5 f6 60.Qe8+ Kg7 61.Qe7+ Kh6 62.Nf7+ Kh5 63.Kc5 Qxf3 64.Qxf6 Qe3+ 65.Kxb4 Bxh3 66.Ne5 Qd2+ 67.Kb5 Bd7+ 68.Kc5 Qe3+ 69.Kb4 Bf5 70.Qh8+ Qh6 71.Qd8 Qg7 72.Nf3 Qb7+ 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Gukesh,D2684Abdusattorov,N26880–12022Olympiad-4410.1

In fairness to Gukesh, he has fared better against Abudusattorov in recent days, beating him on occasion. Gukesh is an intense, passionate player with great determination to win. On occasion he overreaches himself in his turbulent quest for victory.

Dommararju Gukesh, Nodirbek Abdusattorov

Dommaraju Gukesh and Nodirbek Abdusattorov | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Praggnanandhaa also has great determination to win. Besides, he has strong nerves and can withstand pressure. He finds resources in desperate situations, as shown in this game:

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1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.e3 e6 5.d4 d5 6.a3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 a6 8.Bd3 cxd4 9.exd4 g6 10.Bg5 Bg7 11.Be4 Ne7 12.h4 h6 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Qd2 Nd5 15.h5 g5 16.Ne5 Bg7 17.Bxd5 exd5 18.0-0 Be6 19.Rae1 0-0 20.Re3 Bf5 21.Qd1 Re8 22.Rfe1 Be6 23.Na4 b6 24.Rb3 Qc7 25.Nxb6 Rab8 26.Na4 Rxb3 27.Qxb3 Bxe5 28.dxe5 Qa5 29.Qd1 Bg4 30.f3 Bd7 31.Nc3 Qc5+ 32.Kh2 d4 33.Re4 dxc3 34.Qxd7 c2 35.Qxe8+ Kg7 36.b4 Qc3 37.f4 c1Q 38.f5 Qc7 39.f6+ Kh7 40.Qf8 Qxe5+ 41.Rxe5 Qf4+ 42.Kg1 Qc1+ 43.Kf2 Qf4+ 44.Ke2 Qxe5+ 45.Kd3 Qxf6 46.Qe8 Qf1+ 47.Kd4 Kg7 48.Qe5+ Kg8 49.Qb8+ Kg7 50.Qg3 Qd1+ 51.Kc5 Qxh5 52.Qe5+ Kg8 53.a4 Qd1 54.a5 Qg1+ 55.Qd4 Qxg2 56.b5 g4 57.bxa6 g3 58.a7 Qa8 59.Kd6 g2 60.Ke5 Qf3 61.Qd8+ Kh7 62.a8Q Qc3+ 63.Qd4 Qxd4+ 64.Kxd4 g1Q+ 65.Kd3 Qd1+ 66.Ke3 Qe1+ 67.Kd3 Qd1+ ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2859Praggnanandhaa,R2684½–½2023Tata Steel-A 85th12

One point about these young Indian players is that their play is constantly evolving and their opening arsenal keeps on changing. This makes it difficult for the opponents to prepare against them. As of now, only Carlsen seems to get the better of them, and that, often in the endgame, in which he is a virtuoso.

Last, but not least, is Daniil Dubov. He is a daredevil and his play is, especially, reminiscent of young Tal. The following game made waves in the chess world for its imaginative play and tactical fantasy:

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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.b4 Bb6 7.e5 Ne4 8.Bd5 Nxc3 9.Nxc3 dxc3 10.Bg5 Ne7 11.0-0 h6 12.Bh4 0-0 13.Re1 Qe8 14.Bb3 a5 15.Bf6 a4 16.Bc4 Ng6 17.Qd3 d5 18.exd6 Be6 19.Qxg6 fxg6 20.Rxe6 Qf7 21.Bxc3 Kh8 22.Re4 Qf5 23.Re7 Rg8 24.Bxg8 Rxg8 25.dxc7 Qc2 26.Be5 Bxf2+ 27.Kh1 Bb6 28.h3 Kh7 29.Re1 a3 30.Kh2 g5 31.Nd4 Qc4 32.Nf5 Qxb4 33.Rc1 Kg6 34.Rxg7+ Kxf5 35.Rxg8 Bxc7 36.Bxc7 Qb2 37.Rc5+ Ke4 38.Rd8 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Dubov,D2702Karjakin,S27521–02020RUS-ch 73rd11

Dubov is a hit-or-miss player. You can learn from both his wins and losses in this Database.

Daniil Dubov

Daniil Dubov | Photo: Eteri Kublashvili

Annotations

This brings me to the subject of annotations in this database. The games in recent years are annotated in detail, thanks to their main source, ChessBase Magazine, right up to November 2022. Not so with games from the past. A number of them are unannotated. Others have annotations of varying length and quality.

Which annotations are best? Those that offer a judicious blend of explanation and analysis. Currently Anish Giri sets an example. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find annotations by Carlsen, Caruana, Karjakin and Ding Liren to their games. This was in the years before they contested the World Championship title on their own.

System Requirements

Currently the system requirements for the MegaBase 2023 are Windows 10 and ChessBase 17 Program. On older programs, the search function is slow and results are not always accurate.

The number of games in MegaBase has now exceeded 10 million, and it is still growing. So at some point or the other, use of ChessBase 17 would become inevitable. Young readers are tech-savvy and they don’t need this advice. Older readers may try and see if they can run the MegaBase 2023 with the program they already have. If not, ChessBase 17 would have to be used. In the long run it would accommodate other big databases.

Seeing the games in the MegaBase is the first step. Thereafter one has to supplement one’s understanding with some good reading and, importantly, practice over the board.

Notes

  1. In a previous review of the MegaBase I had dealt with its treatment of three world championship matches:

https://en.chessbase.com/post/megabase-2022-three-epic-matches

  1. A detailed commentary on this game may be found here:

https://en.chessbase.com/post/the-dramatic-deciding-game.

Gukesh’s own account of this traumatic experience may be found in his interview in New in Chess Magazine, 2022 #6.

  1. Praggnanandhaa has analysed this game with Carlsen in CBM 212. Worth a look. Readers may also see his interview in New in Chess Magazine # 6.

https://www.newinchess.com/

  1. I did annotate the Dubov – Karjakin game before:

https://en.chessbase.com/post/cbm-200-from-kasparov-to-carlsen-a-review-by-nagesh-havanur

  1. However, his own annotations to the game in New in Chess Magazine 2021 #1 are important. They offer an insight into the mind of this gifted player.

Further reading

  1. Carlsen versus World Championship 1916 by Lev Alburt and Jon Crümiller, with round by round game analysis by Vladimir Kramnik. Chess Information and Research Center. 2017.
  2. Carlsen vs Caruana, Duel of Giants by Niclas Huschenbeth. Independently published. 2018
  3. The Magnus Method by Emmanuel Neiman. New in Chess.2021

The ChessBase Mega Database 2023 is the premiere chess database with over 9.75 million games from 1560 to 2022 in high quality.

Prof. Nagesh Havanur (otherwise known as "chessbibliophile") is a senior academic and research scholar. He taught English in Mumbai for three decades and has now settled in Bangalore, India. His interests include chess history, biography and opening theory. He has been writing on the Royal Game for more than three decades. His articles and reviews have appeared on several web sites and magazines.
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