Fierce defenders
Top grandmasters are tough defenders. In round 2 of the Norway Chess Tournament, both Magnus Carlsen and Sergey Karjakin — a.k.a. the Minister of Defence — were on the ropes against Aryan Tari and Richard Rapport respectively. And they both survived, showing how difficult it is to convert a superior position when facing players that have spent years at the very top of the world ranking.
The polish GM Michal Krasenkow presents a repertoire based on the Noteboom and the Stonewall. Black's set-up may lead to a whole range of different and interesting positions, which help the black player to broaden his strategic and tactical understanding.
The Semi-Slav defense (1.d4 d5 followed by ...e7-e6 and ...c7-c6) is one of the most popular opening set-ups for Black. Black can follow two entirely different concepts.
While Carlsen went on to beat Tari in Armageddon, Karjakin drew with white against Rapport (Black gets draw odds in the tiebreaker). This was the second day Carlsen got in trouble in one of the two games of each round, and for a second time in a row he came out a winner, collecting 1½ points in both rounds to now stand in clear second place behind Rapport.
Meanwhile, Ian Nepomniachtchi, who could not make it in time to play the first round, kicked off his participation with a stunning win over Alireza Firouzja. After drawing the classical game, Nepo employed the King’s Indian to take down his dangerous opponent, who was clearly not ready to face the double-edged opening.
In round 3, sole leader Rapport will have the white pieces against Carlsen, a day before the world champion gets to face his next challenger for the world crown.

The playing hall at the Clarion Hotel in Stavanger | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Nepomniachtchi 1½ - 1 Firouzja
Out of a highly theoretical Spanish Opening in the classical game, Nepo, playing white, got the upper hand in the middlegame, but a single misstep on move 20 by the Russian allowed Firouzja to equalize and eventually save the draw.
After showcasing resourcefulness in such a high-class game, though, Firouzja was not prepared to face the good old King’s Gambit. The players followed a game between ∼2300 rated players until move 10, when the youngster already made a critical mistake.
Nepomniachtchi vs. Firouzja - Armageddon
Black is a pawn and an exchange up, but only his queen is developed, while White has created a host of killer threats with his queen and minor pieces. Blocking the e-file is clearly a priority here, but 10...Be6 is not the right way to do it — 10...Be7 should be preferred, since Black will be able to castle in the next move.
Glorious sacrifices, unexpected tactics and checkmating attacks. The King's Gambit is one of the oldest and most romantic openings in the game of chess. This DVD contains all you need to know to tackle your opponent.
After both bishop moves, the engines give 11.Nc3 as best, which explains why getting a chance to castle after moving the dark-squared bishop was the way to go. Moreover, after 11...g5, White continued to make use of the initiative by playing 12.d5
Since 12...Bxd5 fails to 13.0-0-0, finishing White’s development and bringing one more piece to the attack, Firouzja opted for 12...gxf4 13.dxe6 Bd6. But again, even before capturing on f7, Nepo demonstrated how the King’s Gambit is all about activity and played 14.0-0-0.
White had a massive lead in development and went on to get a 25-move victory. It was a remarkable debut in the tournament for the World Championship challenger!
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.a4! Rb8 7...Nxe4? 8.axb5 Nxf2 9.Qe2+- 9.Rxf2 Bxf2+ 10.Kxf2 Nd4± 8.Nxe5 Nxe5 9.d4 Bxd4 10.Qxd4 d6 11.axb5 axb5 12.f4 Nc6 13.Qd3 0-0 14.Nc3 Re8 15.e5 dxe5 16.Qxd8! 16...Rxd8N 16...Nxd8= 17.fxe5 Rxe5 16...Nxd8 17.fxe5 Rxe5 18.Bf4 Rc5 19.Be3 Rf5 20.Rxf5 Bxf5 21.Nxb5 Rxb5 22.Ra8 h6 23.Rxd8+ 17.fxe5± Nxe5 18.Bf4 Re8 19.Rae1 Nc4 20.Bxc7 20.Nxb5!± Rxb5 21.Bxc4 20...Rxe1= 21.Rxe1 Rb7 22.Rd1 Bd7 23.Bd8 Ng4 24.Ne4 Bc6 25.Nc5 Rb8 26.Rd4 Nge3 27.Bg5 Nf5 28.Rf4 Nfe3 29.Rd4 Nf5 30.Rf4 Nfe3 31.Rd4 ½–½ - Start an analysis engine:
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- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
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Nepomniachtchi,I | 2792 | Firouzja,A | 2754 | ½–½ | 2021 | | 9th Norway Chess 2021 | 2.1 |
Nepomniachtchi,I | 2792 | Firouzja,A | 2754 | ½–½ | 2021 | | 9th Norway Chess 2021 | 2.2 |
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Alireza Firouzja | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Carlsen 1½ - 1 Tari
Out of an Italian, the world champion found himself on the back foot with the white pieces against his younger compatriot. Tari missed a big chance to break through on move 26.
Carlsen vs. Tari - Classical game
Tari opted for 26...Ree2, when White is forced to give up his queen for the pair of rooks with 27.Qxe2 Rxe2 28.Kxe2. The 22-year-old, however, had 26...Rxf2+, and after 27.Kxf2 Qg3+ 28.Kg1 Qxh4, defending the position is incredibly difficult for White.
After the text, Carlsen coordinated his pair of rooks and continued to put up obstacles for his compatriot. A draw was agreed on move 46.
In the tiebreaker, Carlsen got the initiative on the kingside and went on to smoothly convert into a 47-move win.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 d6 6.Nbd2 a5 7.Nf1 Be6 8.Bb5N 8.Bb3 0-0 9.Ng3 h6 10.0-0 Bxb3 11.axb3 Re8 12.Nf5 Kh7 13.N3h4 Ng8 14.Qf3 8...0-0 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4 g5 11.Bg3 Nh5 12.Ne3 Qf6 13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.d4 exd4 15.Nxd4 Bxd4 16.cxd4 Nf4 17.h4 Rfb8 18.b3 a4! 19.bxa4 Rb2 20.hxg5 hxg5 20...Qxg5 21.Qf3= 21.Bxf4 gxf4 22.Nf5 Bxf5 23.exf5 Re8+ 24.Kf1 Qxf5 25.Rh5 Qg6 26.Rh4 26.Rh3 26...Ree2 27.Qxe2 Rxe2 28.Kxe2 Qe4+ 29.Kf1 Qxd4 30.Re1 Qxa4 31.Kg1 31...Kf8! 31...Qxa2 32.Re8+ Kg7 33.Rxf4 32.Rh8+ Kg7 33.Rc8 f3 33...Qxa2-+ 34.Rxc7 Qc4 34.gxf3 Qa5 35.Re4 c5 35...Qxa2 36.Rxc7 c5 36.a4!= d5 37.Re7 Qxa4 38.Rexc7 c4 39.Rc6 Qa1+ 40.Kg2 Qe5 41.Kh3 41.Kg1= 41...Qg5 41...f6! 42.Rd8 d4 42.Kh2! Qf4+ 43.Kg2 Qf5 44.Kg3 Qh5 45.Kg2 Qh4 46.R8c7! Qg5+ ½–½ - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
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Carlsen,M | 2855 | Tari,A | 2642 | ½–½ | 2021 | | 9th Norway Chess 2021 | 2.1 |
Carlsen,M | 2855 | Tari,A | 2642 | 1–0 | 2021 | | 9th Norway Chess 2021 | 2.2 |
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Ian Nepomniachtchi looking on as Magnus Carlsen suffers in his classical game against Aryan Tari | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Karjakin 1 - 1½ Rapport
Two remarkably fighting games were seen in this matchup, with Rapport getting a strong initiative in the classical encounter.
On this DVD Dorian Rogozenco, Mihail Marin, Oliver Reeh and Karsten Müller present the 8. World Chess Champion in video lessons: his openings, his understanding of chess strategy, his artful endgame play, and finally his immortal combinations.
Karjakin vs. Rapport - Classical game
Black has left his king in the centre, where it is clearly less vulnerable than the white counterpart. At this point, Karjakin knew it was time to take drastic measures — the game continued 25.Ne3 Nxe3 26.Rxg5 Rxg5. The Russian gave up the exchange, knowing all too well that he had a tough defensive task going forward.
In the imbalanced position with queens still on the board, Rapport kept trying to make good use of his material advantage, but Karjakin, much like Carlsen, showed great defensive skills and eventually got a draw.
The tiebreaker saw Karjakin giving up his queen for a rook and a knight.
Karjakin vs. Rapport - Armageddon
In this position, the engines consider Karjakin’s 14.exf6 Rxd1 15.Raxd1 to be the strongest continuation. Soon enough, however, the Russian once again found himself on the defensive.
The former World Championship challenger incredibly kept the balance for a second time in a row, but this time around his opponent had draw odds. Rapport collected the 1½ points to keep the sole lead in the tournament.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.g4 b5 8.Nxc6 Qxc6 9.Qd2 9.a3 9...b4= 10.Ne2 Qxe4 11.Rg1 Qc4 12.Nf4 Qc7 13.0-0-0N 13.Nh5 Nf6 14.Nxf6+ gxf6 15.0-0-0 Bb7 16.f4 Be7 17.Kb1 d5 18.g5 f5 19.Rg3 13...Nf6 14.Bg2 Bb7 15.g5 Ne4 16.Qd4 Nd6 17.Qxb4 Bxg2 18.Nxg2 Rb8 19.Qa4 a5 20.Bd2 20.a3= 20...Nc4! 21.Bc3 Bb4! 22.Bxg7 Rg8 23.Bf6 Be7 24.Bc3 Bxg5+ 24...Rxg5 25.Ne3 25.Ne3 Nxe3 26.Rxg5 Rxg5 27.fxe3 Rbb5! 28.Qd4 Rbf5 29.e4 Rf3 30.Kb1 30.Qh8+ Ke7 31.Qxh7 30...f6 30...Rg2!-+ 31.a3 f6 31.a4 31.Qd2 31...Rg7 32.h4 h5 32...Rg2-+ 33.h5 Rff2 33.Qd2 33...Qf4 33...Rxc3! 34.bxc3 Qb7+ 35.Kc1 Qxe4 34.Qe2!= Qg4 35.Qb5 Re7 35...Rxc3!? 36.Qb8+ Ke7 37.Qd6+ Kf7 38.bxc3 Kg8 36.Bxa5 36.Re1= 36...Rf5‼ 37.exf5 Qxd1+-+ 38.Ka2 38...exf5 38...Qxc2?! 39.Bb4= 38...Qd5+! 39.c4 Qxb5 40.cxb5 exf5 39.Bb4!= Rg7 40.Qxf5 Qg4 41.Qxf6 41.Qc5= Kf7 42.b3 41...Qxb4 41...Qe6+ 42.Qxe6+ dxe6 42.Qxg7 Qxa4+ 43.Kb1 Qxh4 44.Qe5+ Kd8 45.Qb8+ Ke7 46.Qe5+ Kd8 47.Qb8+ ½–½ - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
Karjakin,S | 2758 | Rapport,R | 2760 | ½–½ | 2021 | | 9th Norway Chess 2021 | 2.1 |
Karjakin,S | 2758 | Rapport,R | 2760 | ½–½ | 2021 | | 9th Norway Chess 2021 | 2.2 |
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Richard Rapport | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Standings after Round 2
Player |
Games |
Points |
Richard Rapport |
2 |
4½ |
Magnus Carlsen |
2 |
3 |
Alireza Firouzja |
2 |
2 |
Ian Nepomniactchi* |
1 |
1½ |
Sergey Karjakin* |
1 |
1 |
Aryan Tari |
2 |
1 |
*Will play their round-1 game on Saturday, September 11
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