Norway Chess, Round 2: Fighting chess in Stavanger

by André Schulz
6/1/2023 – The second round of the Norway Chess Tournament saw some very competitive games, which didn't always have a deserving winner. Nakamura was lucky to beat Gukesh, Firouzja scored against Mamedyarov and Abdusattorov had the better end against Aryan Tari. Carlsen and Caruana won in Armageddon against So and Giri. | Photos: Lennart Ootes/ Norway Chess
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The Norway Chess Tournament, like most other tournaments, is a privately organised and financed top tournament with some of the world's best players. However, the tournament is no longer completely private, as FIDE has created the "FIDE Circuit" for the current World Championship cycle. This includes all top tournaments with at least eight players and seven rounds, open or round-robin, that meet certain international standards. The average rating of the top eight players must also be at least 2550. For their results in such tournaments, including high-level blitz and rapid chess tournaments, the top eight players in each tournament will receive points. The player with the most points at the end of the season will play in the Candidates Tournament. This new system replaces the old system of the Grand Prix series, which never really took off.

The current player ranking is as follows:

Regulations FIDE Circuit...

So it makes double sense for the players to do well. They get better prize money and also circuit points.

Magnus Carlsen won't be interested in this additional reward for a good performance. After all, he has been World Champion long enough, for ten years, and probably has no ambitions to qualify for another World Championship match. Carlsen doesn't need any special incentive to play to win, because it is more or less in his nature to want to win. In the past the Norwegian's mood was particularly bad after defeats, but now he seems to have a better grip on himself. Yes, even Carlsen is getting old. Once upon a time, heroes like Smyslov or Korchnoi could still play at the top level at a very old age, but in their day the youngest grandmasters were not yet 12, 13 or 14.

Carlsen's game in the first round against Caruana was somewhat unusual for the Norwegian. The best player in the world was in a bad position for a long time after the opening - that didn't happen very often in the past - and then he was outclassed because he lost control - you didn't see that very often either. Otherwise, the world's number always had a trick up his sleeve, even in bad positions. Did the former world champion give up his superiority and sovereignty with his title?

Let our authors show you how Carlsen tailored his openings to be able to outplay his opponents strategically in the middlegame or to obtain an enduring advantage into the endgame.

All joking aside, Carlsen will hardly have been thrilled by his defeat by Caruana. And in Wesley So the Norwegian had another tough nut to crack in round 2.

Wesley So published two new opening DVDs: 1.b3, the so called Nimzo-Larsen-Attack, for White and his black secrets in the modern Italian. Get them in a package and save money!

After Carlsen's 1.e4 an Anti-Berlin variation of the Spanish came onto the board. As the game progressed, the pawns on both sides were blocked and, seeing no way forward, the players agreed to a draw. Magnus Carlsen then won the Armeddon game, in which Carlsen showed why he usually is so difficult beat. After a bad opening he started a remarkable swindle and managed to win a lost position.

Carlsen, Magnus28531–0So, Wesley2760
11th Norway Armageddon
Stavanger NOR31.05.2023[Johannes Fischer]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.0-0 Bd6 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 Qe7 9.d4?! Moving the d-pawn twice in the opening is not a good idea. More solid and better was 9.Nbd2 with an equal position. 9...Bg4! 10.Nbd2 0-0-0 11.Re1 g5 12.Bg3 Nh5 Suddenly White is in big trouble. 13.c3 Or 13.dxe5 Bc5 14.Qe2 Nxg3 15.hxg3 h5 with a strong attack for Black. 13...exd4 14.cxd4 Bb4 Another option was 14...Bxg3 15.hxg3 Rxd4 with a clear advantage for Black. 15.Qa4!?
White is clearly worse, but Carlsen now starts an inspiring swindle. 15...Bxf3 16.Nxf3 Bxe1 17.Qxa7 Threatening 18.Ne5 and 19.Qa8#. Qb4 18.Rxe1 Nxg3 19.hxg3 Qb6 A natural defense, but now White gets enough compensation for the exchange. The engines recommend 19...Kd7! 20.d5 Rhe8 21.dxc6+ Kxc6 22.Rc1+ Kd7 23.Rd1+ Ke6 and White's attack comes to an end. 20.Qa8+ Kd7 21.Qa4 f6 22.d5! Kc8 23.e5! White's counterplay is surprisingly strong and with very limited time So does not find an adequate defense. Kb8 24.exf6 cxd5 25.f7 Qf6 26.Ne5 Rhf8
27.Re3! White does not want to regain the exchange with 27.Nd7+, but continues to attack. Rxf7 28.Ra3 c6 29.Qa7+ Kc7 30.Rb3! Rb8 31.Rf3! The winning rook-move. Qxe5 32.Rxf7+ Kd8 33.Rf8+ 1–0

Fabiano Caruana is currently climbing back up in rankings. His results in the Grand Chess Tour Tournament in Bucharest and his win over Carlsen in Round 1 of Norway Chess have brought him a total of 15 Elo-points, and on the live-ranking list Caruana is now in fourth place, just behind the World Champion (That's Ding Liren). Caruana's opponent in round 2 was Anish Giri. This game also ended without a winner and led to an Armageddon game, which Caruana won.

The Ruy Lopez is one of the oldest openings which continues to enjoy high popularity from club level to the absolute world top. In this video series, American super GM Fabiano Caruana, talking to IM Oliver Reeh, presents a complete repertoire for White.

The young Indian grandmaster D. Gukesh is going to be a great one one day. He is also busy collecting Elo and circuit points in the Sigeman tournament, in Sharjah and now in Stavanger.  Gukesh is ranked 15th in the live list and is already on a par with the likes of Aronian and Vachier-Lagrave. After beating Firouzja in round 1, the Indian played with White against the "oldie" Nakamura.

In this Fritztrainer: “Attack like a Super GM” with Gukesh we touch upon all aspects of his play, with special emphasis on how you can become a better attacking player.

They debated a position with an isolated queen's pawn, arising from a line of the symmetrical Tarrasch variation. Gukesh went for the attack, but then lost his Isolani and found himself on the losing side. However, with only seconds on the clock, Nakamura gave the Indian a chance to turn the tables...

No wonder that Nakamura later claimed that it was a "Great Day".

In round 1 Alireza Firouzja lost to Gukesh. In round 2, against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and with the white pieces, the world's best junior and the world's best blitz player in the live rankings hoped to level the score. He succeeded.

In a Queen's Gambit Accepted, the two players fought an intense battle, and the scales only tipped in Firouzja's favour as the time control approached.

The fifth game of the round was the encounter between Aryan Tari and Nodirbek Abdusattorov. The Uzbek is also one of the "New Kids On The Block". In live-rankings he is currently twentieth, and he continues to go from strength to strength. Against Tari Abdusattorov chose a rather speculative attack in the Sicilian Rossolimo, starting with 7...Rg8 followed by g5. This developed into a very colourful game, in which Tari had very good chances to win, but after failing to make use of them, he lost in the end.

Robert Ris had a closer look at the game which he described as "coffeehouse chess".

Results

Standings

Games

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1.e4 2 e5 7 2.Nf3 6 Nc6 6 3.Bc4 43 Bc5 8 4.d3 8 Nf6 15 5.0-0 23 d6 18 6.c3 15 h6 31 Recently 6...a5 got a lot of attention. 7.Nbd2 2:12       7.b4!? Bb6 8.a4= 7...a5 8       C54: Giuoco Piano: 4 c3 Nf6, main lines with 5 d4 and 5 d3. 8.Re1 1:26 0-0 10 9.Nf1 2:41 a4 1:09 The position is equal. 10.Bb5 5:18 a3 1:23 11.b4 9 Bb6 8 12.Bc4 11:29 Ne7 4:14 13.Ng3 5:25 Ng6 5:14 14.h3 1:11 c6 4:05 15.Bb3 3:25 d5 14:41
16.exd5N 14:18 Predecessor: 16.Qc2 Re8 17.Bd2 Be6 18.Rad1 Qd7 19.Be3 Bc7 20.Bc1 Nf4 21.Bxf4 exf4 22.Nf1 Bxh3 23.gxh3 Qxh3 0-1 Asgarizadeh,A (2452)-Chigaev,M (2589) Titled Tuesday intern op 3rd March blitz 2020 (4) 16...Nxd5 14 17.Bd2 10 Be6 1:59 18.Nh5 4:00 Bc7 16:05 18...Qd6= 19.d4! 5:50 exd4 1:42
Black should try 19...Nb6 20.Nxd4 26 Only move: 20.Bxh6!± Ndf4 21.Bxf4 21.Nxg7 Bxb3 22.Qxb3 Nh4= 21.Bxg7 Nxh5 22.Bxf8 Bxb3= 21...Bxb3 22.Qxb3 22.Qxd4 Qxd4 23.Nxd4 Nxf4= 22...Nxf4 23.Nxf4 Bxf4 24.Re4 24.Nxd4 Re8± 24.cxd4 Qd5± 20...Qd6 4:47 And now ...Qh2+ would win. 20...Qh4 with more complications. 21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.Qe2 Rae8 21.Ng3 1:15 21.g3!? Rae8 22.Rxe6 fxe6 23.Qg4 21...Rad8 3:41 22.Nxe6 15:52 fxe6 7 23.Qg4 1:46 Ne5 7:20 24.Qe2 1:10 Nxb4 12:19       Discovered Attack 25.Bg5! 12:48 hxg5 3:07 26.cxb4 1:19 g6 2:14 Prevents Qh5 27.Rad1 3:31 27.Qe3!? 27...Qxb4 3:09 White must now prevent ...Rxd1. 28.Bxe6+ 26 28.Ne4= remains equal. 28...Kh8 59 Strongly threatening ...Rde8. 29.Rb1 20:28 29.Rxd8 Rxd8 30.Bb3 29...Qf4 2:52 Threatens to win with ...Rde8. Black has more active pieces. 30.Rxb7 1:25 Nd3 2:11 31.Rd1 3
This costs White the game. 31.Rf1 is the only way for White. Nc5 32.Rxc7 32.Ra7? Rd2-+       Skewer 32...Qxc7 33.Qe3 Nxe6 34.Qxe6 31...Nc1!-+ 5:03 Weaker is 31...Qxf2+ 32.Qxf2 Nxf2 33.Rxd8 33.Rxc7? Rxd1+ 34.Kh2 Rd2-+ 33...Bxd8 34.Bd7= 31...Nxf2 32.Rxd8 Bxd8 33.Bf5 Nxh3+ 34.Kh2 32.Rxc1 13 Qxc1+ 7 33.Kh2? 1 33.Nf1 Qf4 34.g3 33...Rd2 1:04       Skewer, Deflection. Black is clearly winning. 34.Qe4 2
34...Rfxf2! 18:23 ( -> ...Qf1!) 35.Rxc7 Rxg2+ 0 36.Qxg2 2 Rxg2+ 0 37.Kxg2 1 Qd2+ 0 Artfully played by Gukesh D. Weighted Error Value: White=0.65/Black=0.08 (flawless) 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Firouzja,A2785Gukesh D27320–12023C5411th Norway Chess 20231.1
Caruana,F2764Carlsen,M28531–02023C1111th Norway Chess 20231.1
So,W2760Nakamura,H2775½–½2023C6711th Norway Chess 20231.1
Mamedyarov,S2738Tari,A2642½–½2023D3211th Norway Chess 20231.1
Abdusattorov,N2731Giri,A2768½–½2023E5711th Norway Chess 20231.1
So,W2760Nakamura,H27751–02023C5411th Norway Chess 20231.2
Mamedyarov,S2738Tari,A26421–02023A1311th Norway Chess 20231.2
Abdusattorov,N2731Giri,A27680–12023E0611th Norway Chess 20231.2
Carlsen,M2853So,W2760½–½2023C6511th Norway Chess 20232.1
Firouzja,A2785Mamedyarov,S27381–02023D2011th Norway Chess 20232.1
Giri,A2768Caruana,F2764½–½2023E2511th Norway Chess 20232.1
Gukesh D2732Nakamura,H27750–12023D4011th Norway Chess 20232.1
Tari,A2642Abdusattorov,N27310–12023B5111th Norway Chess 20232.1
Carlsen,M2853So,W27601–02023C6511th Norway Chess 20232.2
Giri,A2768Caruana,F27640–12023E0511th Norway Chess 20232.2
Nakamura,H2775Carlsen,M2853½–½2023C8911th Norway Chess 20233.1
Caruana,F2764Tari,A26421–02023D3611th Norway Chess 20233.1
So,W2760Giri,A2768½–½2023D5011th Norway Chess 20233.1
Mamedyarov,S2738Gukesh D2732½–½2023A3111th Norway Chess 20233.1
Abdusattorov,N2731Firouzja,A27850–12023D4511th Norway Chess 20233.1
Nakamura,H2775Carlsen,M28530–12023C3911th Norway Chess 20233.2
So,W2760Giri,A2768½–½2023E4811th Norway Chess 20233.2
Mamedyarov,S2738Gukesh D27320–12023A3511th Norway Chess 20233.2
Firouzja,A2785Caruana,F27640–12023C1111th Norway Chess 20234.1
Giri,A2768Nakamura,H2775½–½2023B3111th Norway Chess 20234.1
Mamedyarov,S2738Abdusattorov,N2731½–½2023D2011th Norway Chess 20234.1
Gukesh D2732Carlsen,M2853½–½2023C5411th Norway Chess 20234.1
Tari,A2642So,W2760½–½2023C8911th Norway Chess 20234.1
Giri,A2768Nakamura,H27750–12023C6711th Norway Chess 20234.2
Mamedyarov,S2738Abdusattorov,N27311–02023D3711th Norway Chess 20234.2
Gukesh D2732Carlsen,M28530–12023C5411th Norway Chess 20234.2
Tari,A2642So,W2760½–½2023C3611th Norway Chess 20234.2
Carlsen,M2853Giri,A2768½–½2023E0511th Norway Chess 20235.1
Nakamura,H2775Tari,A26421–02023C2711th Norway Chess 20235.1
Caruana,F2764Mamedyarov,S27380–12023A2811th Norway Chess 20235.1
So,W2760Firouzja,A2785½–½2023D8511th Norway Chess 20235.1
Abdusattorov,N2731Gukesh D2732½–½2023D4511th Norway Chess 20235.1
Carlsen,M2853Giri,A27681–02023E3611th Norway Chess 20235.2
So,W2760Firouzja,A2785½–½2023C6511th Norway Chess 20235.2
Abdusattorov,N2731Gukesh D2732½–½2023E0311th Norway Chess 20235.2
Firouzja,A2785Nakamura,H2775½–½2023B3111th Norway Chess 20236.1
Mamedyarov,S2738So,W2760½–½2023D2011th Norway Chess 20236.1
Gukesh D2732Giri,A2768½–½2023D1211th Norway Chess 20236.1
Abdusattorov,N2731Caruana,F27640–12023C6511th Norway Chess 20236.1
Tari,A2642Carlsen,M2853½–½2023B5111th Norway Chess 20236.1
Firouzja,A2785Nakamura,H27750–12023C5411th Norway Chess 20236.2
Mamedyarov,S2738So,W27600–12023A3711th Norway Chess 20236.2
Gukesh D2732Giri,A27681–02023B9211th Norway Chess 20236.2
Tari,A2642Carlsen,M28530–12023C5511th Norway Chess 20236.2
Carlsen,M2853Firouzja,A2785½–½2023B4011th Norway Chess 20237.1
Nakamura,H2775Mamedyarov,S2738½–½2023D2011th Norway Chess 20237.1
Giri,A2768Tari,A26421–02023E0411th Norway Chess 20237.1
Caruana,F2764Gukesh D2732½–½2023C6511th Norway Chess 20237.1
So,W2760Abdusattorov,N27311–02023D2011th Norway Chess 20237.1
Carlsen,M2853Firouzja,A27851–02023C4211th Norway Chess 20237.2
Nakamura,H2775Mamedyarov,S27381–02023A0611th Norway Chess 20237.2
Caruana,F2764Gukesh D27320–12023C6511th Norway Chess 20237.2
Firouzja,A2785Giri,A2768½–½2023C4411th Norway Chess 20238.1
Caruana,F2764So,W2760½–½2023E5111th Norway Chess 20238.1
Mamedyarov,S2738Carlsen,M2853½–½2023D3711th Norway Chess 20238.1
Gukesh D2732Tari,A26421–02023D0211th Norway Chess 20238.1
Abdusattorov,N2731Nakamura,H2775½–½2023C6711th Norway Chess 20238.1
Firouzja,A2785Giri,A27680–12023C4411th Norway Chess 20238.2
Caruana,F2764So,W27601–02023D3611th Norway Chess 20238.2
Mamedyarov,S2738Carlsen,M28530–12023A2111th Norway Chess 20238.2
Abdusattorov,N2731Nakamura,H27751–02023C6711th Norway Chess 20238.2
Carlsen,M2853Abdusattorov,N2731½–½2023C0111th Norway Chess 20239.1
Nakamura,H2775Caruana,F27641–02023C5811th Norway Chess 20239.1
Giri,A2768Mamedyarov,S2738½–½2023C6011th Norway Chess 20239.1
So,W2760Gukesh D2732½–½2023D3711th Norway Chess 20239.1
Tari,A2642Firouzja,A27851–02023B5111th Norway Chess 20239.1
Carlsen,M2853Abdusattorov,N2731½–½2023C0111th Norway Chess 20239.2
Giri,A2768Mamedyarov,S27381–02023C6011th Norway Chess 20239.2
So,W2760Gukesh D2732½–½2023C6511th Norway Chess 20239.2

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André Schulz started working for ChessBase in 1991 and is an editor of ChessBase News.
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