Shamkir, Round 3: Carlsen takes the lead

by Johannes Fischer
4/3/2019 – World Champion Magnus Carlsen looks determined and focused at the Vugar Gashimov Memorial in Shamkir. After defeating Viswanathan Anand in Round 2, he also won in Round 3, beating David Navara with Black through good technique and energetic play. He is now the sole leader with 2½ out of 3 alone. The second win of the day was provided by Anand who bounced back from his prior day's loss to beat Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. The remaining three games ended drawn. Report and analyses by GMs ARYAN TARI and DANIEL FERNANDEZ. | Photos: ShamkirChess.com

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Navara tests Carlsen's Sveshnikov

So far in Shamkir World Champion Magnus Carlsen is very much on track to make a run at his fourth tournament title. After three rounds, he is also back over 2850 for the first time since his 2016 World Championship fight.

But world number three Ding Liren and Carlsen's 2016 challenger Sergey Karjakin both have one win to their names and are thus just a half point behind.

Let's take a look at each of the games of Round 3.

Results of Round 3

Name FED Elo Res. Name FED Elo
Alexander Grischuk
 
 2771 ½ - ½ Anish Giri
 
 2797
Sergey Karjakin
 
 2743 ½ - ½ Veselin Topalov
 
 2740
David Navara
 
 2733 0 - 1 Magnus Carlsen
 
 2845
Teimour Radjabov
 
 2756 ½ - ½ Liren Ding
 
 2809
Viswanathan Anand
 
 2774 1 - 0 Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
 
 2793
 

David Navara

White against the World Champ is fun for David Navara | Photo: ShamkirChess.com

D. Navara 0-1 M. Carlsen

David Navara wanted to know what Carlsen had in reserve. In the Sveshnikov Sicilian, he opted for the variation with 7.♘d5, the Carlsen had played several times in the World Championship match against Fabiano Caruana (London, 2018). But Navara could not surprise the Magnus. Carlsen gained a comfortable and active game after the opening, which Navara sought to counter by an exchange. However, White did not get adequate compensation and he was soon fighting for a draw — no easy task given the legendary technique of the World Champion. Carlsen showed why activity in the endgame is often more important than material and could win in the end.

Notes by GM Aryan Tari
 
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 Magnus sticks to his Sveshnikov, which we can say has been one of his main openings since he played it in the London match with great success. 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Nd5 It's interesting that Navara enters this line. Usually the kind of positions that arise after this move are full of fight, which is fun. 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 Is usually more solid, depending on which line White chooses further. 7...Nxd5 8.exd5 Nb8 This is the most normal move. Black will usually later bring the knight back into the game from d7. But first we will see some logical developing moves from both sides: 8...Ne7 What Magnus played the last time he had this position, where he won a nice game against dutch GM Jorden Van Foreest in his previous tournament. 9.a4 9.c4 This and a4 as Navara played are the popular moves. The point is that after the knight gets kicked with a6, it can go back to c3 or a3 without being in front of the pawn. Also it stops Black from going b5. Be7 10.Be2 0-0 11.0-0 9.Bd3 a6 10.Nc3 and now it would be logical to have the pawn on c4. 9...Be7 9...a6 10.Na3 10.Be2 0-0 11.0-0 Nd7 As I said this position is generally full of fight. Black will play f5 and play on the kingside, while white is better on the queenside and will try to push there. Magnus had this position twice in the match against Caruana, but Navara chooses a different move. 11...a6 Black can play this, but it is not necessary, as he can always play a6 to kick the knight later. It makes more sense to develop the knight first. 12.Na3 12.Kh1 12.a5 Now as a5-a6 is a threat, Black always plays a6 13.Nc3 f5 and we get a double-edged game as usual in these positions. 12.b4 a6 13.Na3 a5 14.bxa5 Rxa5 15.Nc4 Ra8 16.Be3 f5 17.a5 f4 with an interesting fight which ended in a draw ½-½ (54) Caruana,F (2832) -Carlsen,M (2835) London 2018 12.Bd2 The point of this move is that White wants to play a5, and after a6 be ready to play Na3 and the a5-pawn would not be hanging. This way White will be able to bring his knight to c4. f5 13.a5 a6 14.Na3 e4 15.Nc4 Ne5 16.Nb6 Rb8 17.f4 exf3 18.Bxf3 g5 White was better in ½-½ (38) Caruana,F (2832)-Carlsen,M (2835) London 2018, but probably Magnus had some improvements in store. So Navara chooses a move which Magnus had not faced before: 12...a6 12...f5 would probably lead to the same after White will play f4 here. 13.Na3 13.Nc3 Does not make much sense, as after f5 the knight on c3 is not great, and doesn't have many squares. 13...a5N Surprise! Usually Black is not playing on the queenside, and is always going f7-f5 directly. Obviously Magnus must have had prepared this move, which is a novelty. The point is that Black wants to fix the queenside pawns, and follow this up with b6, so it will be harder for White to roll with the pawns there. And after doing that to play on the kingside with f5. 14.f4 A logical move, as White usually does this anyway after Black plays f5 in order to stop f4. White is ready to open up the position. 14.Nc4 Nb6! was probably the point. White can't go Na5 now, and Black is not unhappy to exchange the knights. 14...f5 This position seems critical to me. Both sides have completed their opening moves and we have reached a position with manouevring and many possibilities for each. That Navara spent only two minutes on the next move took me by surprise. 14...b6 this move can wait, and gives White additional options. 15.fxe5 Nxe5 16.Nb5 15.Nc4?! The knight is generally doing OK on c4, but I liked it better on d4. It doesn't do as much on this square. 15.Nb5 Seems more logical to me, and now White is ready to meet b6 with 16.fxe5 Nxe5 17.Nd4 and the knight gets an ideal square on d4, eyeing e6 and c6. 15...b6 This is just a move that improves the position a bit. White was not threatening anything, so why not? Black is now able to develop the bishop on that side if he wants to. 15...exf4 16.Bxf4 Nc5 was also possible, and seems double-edged. 17.Ra3 b6 would transpose to the game. 16.Ra3!? Interesting move that brings the piece that wasn't doing anything on a1 into the game. exf4 Magnus takes action in order to manage to play Nc5 so he can improve his knight. 17.Bxf4 Nc5∞ 18.Re3? Just a blunder by Navara. What he missed was: 18.Rh3 was discussed in the press conference. This position seems just unclear with chances for both. Nxa4 19.Re3 now Re3 works much better as 19.Bd3 Rf7 19...g5 20.Rg3! as the Black knight left the c5-square, there is no Ne4 here. 20.Rxe7 gxf4 21.Re6 20...Kh8 21.Bxd6 Bxd6 22.Nxd6 Qxd6 23.Qd4+ Qf6 24.Qxa4∞ 18.Rg3 Would be another interesting move, and again the position is unclear and full of fight. 18...g5 19.Rxe7 gxf4 and the rook on e7 has no square and will get lost. 20.Re6 20.Nxb6 Qxe7 20...Qxb6?? would turn the tables after 21.Qd4! Rf7 22.Re8+ Rf8 23.Rxf8+ Kxf8 24.Qh8+ Ke7 25.Bb5 and Black will eventually get mated. 21.Nxa8 Qa7 traps the knight and Black is winning. 22.Qd4 Qxa8 23.Qxf4 Ne4!-+ takes important squares and kills the fun for White. 20...Nxe6 21.dxe6 Bxe6 22.Rxf4 Bxc4 The knight on c4 was definetly annoying, and it is logical to get rid of it, as it is easier in practice to play for Black now. 23.Bxc4+ Kh8 24.g4? Seems like a strange decision to me to weaken the king. Probably Navara thought his only chance was to go active and didn't believe in just waiting, which can be understandable. But this seems to just make it easier for Black: 24.g3 is more logical, and Black is much better of course, but this seems more challenging. 24.Qd4+ what Magnus thought was critical, and is a better move: Qf6 25.Qxb6 Qe5 25...Rab8 26.Qxa5 Rxb2 27.Qd2 Rb1+ 28.Rf1 Qa1 29.Kg1 Re8 30.Qxd6 26.Qd4 Rae8! and Black wants to exchange queens followed by the strong Re4. And in general if Black manages to exchange rooks as well it makes it much harder for White to defend. 27.Bf1 Qxd4 28.Rxd4 Re4 24...Qf6 24...Qe7 25.gxf5 Qe5 26.Qf3 25.c3 25.Rxf5 Qxb2 would just be curtains with a clear exchange down and weak king. 25...Qe5 25...Rae8 26.Rxf5 Qg7 26.Qf1 Rae8 26...Rf6 27.gxf5 27.g5 Rff8 White will not win the f5-pawn anymore. 27...Raf8 28.Bd3 Rh6 Would have been easier. The white king is too weak. 27.gxf5 Rf6 28.Qf2 Qc5 29.Kg2 29.Qxc5 dxc5 Black improves his pawn structure and is rid of weak d-pawn. This is just winning after Black brings the king in. 29...Qc6+? gives White a great chance. 29...Ref8! Forces White to go passive: 30.Bd3 30.Be6? fails tactically: Rxe6! 31.fxe6 Qg5+!-+ 30...Rg8+ 31.Kf1 Qd5 30.Kh3?! 30.Kg3 It is hard for Black create anything with the rooks, as the bishop on c4 is doing a great job. d5 31.Bb5 Rg8+ 32.Kf3 Qd6 33.Qd4 was mentioned in the press conference is not too clear. White has a pawn and is active. Seems like great drawing chances. 30...Qc5 30...Re4 what Magnus wanted, but 31.Be6! Qxa4 32.Qxb6! Rfxe6 32...Rxf4?? 33.Qd8+ Kg7 34.Qe7+! and Black gets mated 33.fxe6 Rxf4 34.Qd8+ Kg7 35.Qg5+ will just lead to a perpetual. 31.Kg2 31.Qxc5 again White is never interested in taking as it helps Black's strucutre. bxc5 32.Kg4 Re1 31...Qxf2+ 32.Rxf2 Re4 This position is very hard to defend - especially against Magnus... 32...Re5 33.Be6 Kg7 34.Rd2 d5 35.Kg3 33.Be6 33.b3 Kg7 33...Rxa4 34.Kf3 34.Rd2! Re4 35.b3 seems like a better chance, as it is hard to defend the d6-pawn! 34...Kg7 34...Rf8 35.Rd2 Rd8 36.f6 Rh4 37.Bd5 Rh6 38.f7 Kg7 39.c4 with the pawn on f7 it will be hard to break through. 35.Rd2 Kh6 36.Rxd6 Kg5 37.Rd8 37.Rxb6? Rf4+ 38.Ke3 R4xf5!-+ 37...Rh6 38.Rg8+ Kf6 39.Rb8 Rxh2 39...Rh3+ 40.Kg2 Rah4 41.Rxb6 Rxh2+ 42.Kg3 R2h3+ 43.Kg2 Re3 44.Kf2 Re5 also good winning chances. 40.Rxb6 Kg5 41.f6 41.b4 Rh3+ 42.Kg2 Rxc3 43.f6 Raa3 41...Rf4+ 42.Kg3 Rhf2 43.Rb5+ Kxf6 44.Bg4 a4 Magnus is just playing this endgame extremely well and not giving his opponent any chance. It is hard to say what Navara exactly did wrong after they exchanged the queens. 45.c4 Kg6 46.c5 a3 Navara missed this completely. The point is that Black gets the c3 square for his rook in order to stop the c-pawn. 46...h5 47.Bxh5+ Kxh5 48.c6+ 47.bxa3 47.c6 Rxb2 48.c7 Rc4 47...h5 48.Rb4 48.Bxh5+ Kxh5 49.c6+ Kg6 50.c7 R4f3+ 51.Kg4 Rf8 52.Rb8 R2f4+ 53.Kg3 Rf3+ 54.Kg2 Rf2+ 55.Kg3 Kg5! 48...Rf8 48...Rxb4 49.axb4 Rb2 50.Be6 Kf6 49.Bd1 Rd2 50.Bf3 Rd3 51.Rf4 h4+ 52.Kg4 Rxf4+ 53.Kxf4 Rxa3 Its interesting that this position is actually a draw if the Black king is on h6. Because then it is further from the c-pawn. 54.c6 Rc3 55.Bd5 55.Kg4 h3 56.Kg3 h2! 55.Bh1 Kf6 56.Kg4 h3 57.c7 h2 58.c8Q Rxc8 59.Kg3 Rh8 This position is absolutely lost - as the bishop on h1 can never move 60.Kf2 Kg5 61.Kg3 Rh6 62.Kg2 Kg4 63.Kf2 Rb6-+ 55...h3 56.Ke5 Rc5! 57.Kd6 Rxd5+ 58.Kxd5 h2 59.Kd4 0–1
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Navara-Carlsen-0–12019B33Shamkir

Endgames of the World Champions from Fischer to Carlsen

Let endgame expert Dr Karsten Müller show and explain the finesses of the world champions. Although they had different styles each and every one of them played the endgame exceptionally well, so take the opportunity to enjoy and learn from some of the best endgames in the history of chess.

V. Anand 1-0 S. Mamedyarov

A bitter defeat for Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. He had completely outplayed Vishy Anand and reached a winning position, but then, with little time left on the clock, he overlooked a tactical move that gave White chances to win, which Anand seized and converted without much difficulty.

Notes by GM Daniel Fernandez
 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 It is worth elaborating at least once on the differences between this move and ...Nf6. The text allows the sideline with c3 and d4, as well as (incidentally) the Evans Gambit. It also commits to playing ...d6 rather than . ..d5, at least initially. However, it does not allow Ng5- which is still, well into the 21st century, a genuine try for an advantage. 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d3 5.d4?! Bxd4 6.Nxd4 Nxd4 7.f4 d6 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Bg5 was one of the old gambit lines, but it was defanged a while ago. 5...d6 6.c3 a6 7.a4 Ba7 8.Na3 Ne7 This move isn't geared so much towards a kingside attack- those tend to need . ..g5 in the mix to be successful- but rather towards the simple ...c6, ...f5 plan. 8...h6 is more common, with the idea being that after 9.Nc2 0-0 Black is prepared to play ...Be6 next, and White lacks an obvious continuation that isn't 10.Be3 Bxe3 11.Nxe3 Be6 12.Bxe6 fxe6= Adams,M-Eljanov,P Shamkir 2017 9.Nc2 Ng6 10.Be3 Bxe3 11.Nxe3 0-0 12.Qc2 This allows Black to get ...d5 without fuss. The position being basically equal, there wasn't a whole lot that could be done, but one interesting option is suggested. The unstereotyped 12.Nd2!? merited attention, to try and leave Black with an isolated d-pawn in the event of ...d5. c6 12...Bd7 13.a5 Nf4 14.Re1 Qe7 15.d4 13.d4 exd4 13...d5?! 14.exd5 Nxd5 14...cxd5 15.dxe5 Nxe5 16.Be2 15.Bxd5 cxd5 16.dxe5 Nxe5 17.Nf3 14.cxd4 d5! 14...Qb6 15.Nc2 Re8 16.a5 Qd8 17.Re1 d5 18.exd5 Rxe1+ 19.Qxe1 Nxd5 20.Bxd5 cxd5 21.Nb3 and White is getting a nibble 15.exd5 cxd5 16.Bb3 Ne7! The knight returns. There was little prospect of a kingside attack and the c-file needs guarding. 17.Nf3 Nc6= Black seems fine, if only because of the b4-square. 12...c6 13.a5 13.d4 exd4 14.cxd4 is still technically possible but White's pieces are quite vulnerable to tactics after Re8 15.Ng5 15.Nd2 Qb6 15...d5 16.exd5 cxd5 13...d5 14.Bb3 Be6 14...Qd6 was more comfortable, but hindsight is a wonderful thing. Black could think about ...Ng4 soon. 15.exd5 cxd5 15...Nxd5 tends to lead to better static outcomes in the centre for Black, e.g. 16.d4 exd4 17.Nxd5 Bxd5 18.Bxd5 Qxd5 19.Rfd1 c5 20.cxd4 c4 16.d4 e4 17.Ne5 Qd6 18.f4 18.Nxg6 hxg6 19.Ra4= is interesting 18...exf3 19.Nxf3 Rae8 20.Rfe1 The position has stabilised. Black has reasonable chances, but he has to act quite quickly, or else the static disadvantages of his position (the b7- and d5-pawns) will tell sooner or later. Bd7! 20...Ne4 with the intention of ...f5 is another way to go; White should probably then break with 21.c4 dxc4 22.Nxc4 Bxc4 23.Bxc4 Qc6 with a level position 21.g3 h6 22.Qg2!? The point of this ambitious regrouping is to attack the d5-pawn as many times as possible. 22.Qd3 followed by c4 was safe equality 22...Re7! Black continues to react well. 22...b5!? was a slightly odd option that probably didn't occur to either player: after 23.axb6 Qxb6 24.Nd2 Bc6 Black obtains counterplay with ...Re6, ...Rb8 and probably ...a5-a4. 23.Nc2 Rfe8 24.Nb4 Bb5 25.Rxe7 Rxe7 26.Bd1?! At this moment White seems to suddenly realise he probably stands worse, and abandons ship. Thus, seemingly without making huge errors he ends up in a lost position. 26.Re1 Rxe1+ 27.Nxe1 Ne7 was consistent, when despite White's significant pressure on d5 and much 'better' bishop, it is his position which is at greater risk of crumbling as a result of some simple move like ...Qd8. 26...h5 27.Qh3 Bd7 28.Qg2 Bb5 29.Qh3 h4 30.Bc2 hxg3 30...Re3!-+ 31.Qxg3 Nf4 32.Kh1 Re3 33.Rg1 g6 34.Qf2 Re2 35.Qh4 Ne4? Now Black is no longer winning, and because of the pawn-structure, he also needs to worry about being worse. 35...N6h5-+ was called for, when White is practically in zugzwang. 36.Bxe4 dxe4 37.Ne5 Nd3 38.Qh8+ After Petrosian. Kxh8 39.Nxf7+ Kh7 40.Nxd6 Bd7? An unfortunate move-40 puts Black into the red zone: this bishop can now be forked. 40...Nxb4 41.Nxb5 Nc6 42.d5 Nxa5 43.Nd6 Kg7= 41.Nxe4 Bf5? Now White exchanges knights and is completely winning. 41...Nxb4 42.Nf6+ Kg7 43.Nxd7 Nd3 44.b4 and it transpires that the various tricks relating to White's poor king safety are enough only to recover one of the two pawns. 42.Ng5+ Kh6 43.Nxd3 Bxd3 44.Rg3 Re1+ 45.Kg2 Re2+ 46.Kg1 Re1+ 47.Kf2 Re2+ 48.Kf3 Rxb2 49.Kf4 Bf5 50.Ke5 50.h3 is also fine, making Black work a bit harder for material equality. 50...Rxh2 51.Nf7+ 51.Kf6!? 51...Kg7 52.Nd6 Re2+ 53.Kd5 Kf6 54.c4 Re7 55.Rf3 Rd7 56.c5 White intends to simply swap minor pieces at some stage and win with the d-pawn. Re7 57.Rf2 Rh7 58.Nxf5 gxf5 59.Kd6 Rh8 60.Rd2 f4 61.Kc7 Rh7+ 62.Kc8 f3 63.d5 A hard-fought game and one with which Mamedyarov will be deservedly very disappointed. 1–0
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Anand,V-Mamedyarov,S-1–02019C54Shamkir Chess3

Vishy Anand early in the game | Photo: ShamkirChess.com

T. Radjabov ½-½ Ding Liren

Teimour Radjabov made another quick draw, this time with Ding Liren. They followed a game of Radjabov vs Aronian for 25 moves, and reached a balanced endgame. Another 28 moves later, only the two kings remained on board.

Notes by GM Daniel Fernandez
 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6 The Marshall hasn't been cool for a while, but nobody remembers quite why. Today, it seems Radjabov noticed that his opponent had a recent game in it, and decided to prepare something; for once, his opponent was happy to oblige. 12.d3 12.d4 Bd6 13.Re1 Qh4 14.g3 Qh3 This was the main position I remember going into detail in, back in the day when I was learning Marshall theory. (2009.) 15.Re4!? The most ambitious move. 15.Be3 Bg4 16.Qd3 Rae8 17.Nd2 Qh5! This move-order refinement came as a response to a tactical trick of White's. 17...Re6 18.Qf1 Qh5 19.f3 Nxe3 20.Qf2 18.a4 Re6 19.axb5 axb5 From this position White normally ended up giving up the bishop-pair and drawing some pawn-up ending, or else receiving a perpetual check such as: 20.Ne4 Bf5 21.Bd2 Rxe4 22.Rxe4 Qg6 23.f3 Bxg3 24.hxg3 Qxg3+ 25.Kh1 Qh3+= 15...g5! 16.Qf1 Qh5 17.Nd2 Bf5 18.f3 Rae8 19.a4!? 19.Rxe8 Rxe8 20.Ne4 Bxe4 21.fxe4 Rxe4 22.Bd1 g4 23.a4 Re6 24.axb5 axb5= White doesn't have enough targets to hit on the queenside. 19...Kg7!? It seems to me that a new move is called for against 19.a4, and this is likely it. 19...b4 20.Rxe8 Rxe8 21.Ne4 Bxe4 22.fxe4 Rxe4 23.Bd1 g4 24.Bd2 Re6 25.Bb3 By contrast to the line without a4, ...b4 included, White is gaining tempo off the a6-pawn, which can be used to play Re1- neutralising Black's initiative. Thereafter he can play around with the bishop pair. 19...Bxe4 20.Nxe4! 20.fxe4 f5 21.e5 f4 22.Qd1 f3 23.Nxf3 was a prep draw in So,W-Tomashevsky,E Tromsoe 2013 20...Re6 21.axb5 axb5 22.Nxg5 Rg6 23.Ne4 23.f4 is a known line leading to various forced draws, e.g. Bxf4 24.Bxf4 Nxf4 25.Nxf7 Nd5 26.Bd1 Qh4 27.Qg2 Qe7 28.Ne5 Nf4 29.Qf1 Qe6 30.Kh1 Nh3 31.Qg2 Nf2+= 23...Bb8 23...Re8 24.Ra7 Bb8 25.Rb7 Qf5 26.Bxd5 Qxd5 27.Qh3 White has an initiative which does not seem easy to boil down to a mere perpetual check. 24.f4 Qf5 25.Nc5 Since Black cannot take on f4, it seems that White will inevitably manage to consolidate with Qf2, Bc2, Nd3. 20.axb5 axb5 21.Rxe8 21.Qf2 Bxe4 22.Nxe4 Bb8 23.Nxg5 f6 24.Ne4 f5 25.Nc5 Rf7= 21...Rxe8 22.Ra7!?∞ The position remains very complicated and warrants further investigation. My guess is that a detailed study of these lines are the main reason Black players have recently rejected the Marshall. 12...Bd6 13.Re1 Bf5 14.Qf3 Qh4 By contrast to the d4-lines, Black doesn't need to be in any great hurry to prove compensation here. It's possible, for instance, to just play ...Qf6-g6. But swapping isn't good: 14...Re8 15.Rxe8+ Qxe8 16.Nd2 Qe1+ 17.Nf1 Bg6 18.g3! and White will unravel, e.g. Re8 19.Bd1 Qe6 20.Bd2 15.g3 Qh3 16.Nd2 Rae8 17.Ne4 Bg4 18.Qg2 Qxg2+ 19.Kxg2 f5 20.h3N A novelty, but it comes to nothing. 20.Bf4 was the predecessor game: Bxf4 21.gxf4 fxe4 22.dxe4 Bf3+ 23.Kxf3 Rxf4+ 24.Kg3 Rfxe4 25.Rxe4 Rxe4 26.a4 26.f3!? is marginally more ambitious: Re5 26...Re2! 27.c4 bxc4 28.Bxc4 Rxb2 29.Bxa6 g5 is like the game 27.c4 bxc4 28.Bxc4 a5 29.h4 Kf7 30.Bd3 Maybe White can try and prove something here. 26...Re2 27.axb5 axb5 28.Rd1 Rxb2 29.Bxd5+ cxd5 30.Rxd5 Rb3 31.f3 Rxc3 32.Rxb5 There is nothing left on the board for either player to try and win with, so a draw was agreed in Naroditsky,D-Ding,L chess.com INT 2019 20...Bh5 21.Bf4 Bxf4 22.gxf4 fxe4 23.dxe4 Bf3+ 24.Kxf3 Rxf4+ 25.Kg3 Rfxe4 26.Rxe4 Rxe4 27.f3!? As in the note above. Re2 Now this is more strongly demanded than in the case without h3. Now sitting tight with 27...Re5 is not such a great plan because White's king is closer to the rook and so Black can't ever repeat moves with ...Rg5+, ...Rh5. 28.c4 bxc4 29.Bxc4 a5 30.Rc1 Rg5+ 31.Kf2 Kf8 31...Rh5 32.Bb3± 32.Bd3 Ne7 33.Be4 Rh5 34.Kg3 Rg5+ 35.Kf4 Rh5 36.Kg4! This is what h3 was played for, 13 moves ago! Rb5 37.a4 Rxb2 38.Rc5 Kf7 39.Rxa5 h6 And the game continues, with miniscule winning chances for White. 28.c4 bxc4 29.Bxc4 Rxb2 30.Bxa6 g5 31.Bc4 Kg7 32.Bxd5 cxd5 33.a4 h5 34.h4 34.a5!? This is more adventurous, but all the adventures are forced. h4+ 35.Kg4 Kg6 36.f4 Rb4 37.Kf3 Rxf4+ 38.Ke3 Re4+ 39.Kd3 Kh5 40.a6 Re8 41.a7 Ra8 42.Kd4 g4 43.hxg4+ Kxg4 44.Kxd5 h3 45.Kc6 h2 46.Kb7 Rxa7+ 47.Kxa7 Kg3 48.Kb6 Kg2 49.Kc5 h1Q 50.Rxh1 Kxh1 34...Kg6 35.a5 Rb7 36.a6 Ra7 37.hxg5 Kxg5 38.Ra5 h4+ 39.Kh3 Kf4 40.Rxd5 Rxa6 41.Kxh4 Rh6+ 42.Rh5 Rxh5+ 43.Kxh5 Kxf3 ½–½
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Radjabov,T-Ding,L-½–½2019C89Shamkir Chess3

Teimour Radjabov: "Wait, I know that position?" | Photo: Shamkir

A. Grischuk ½-½ A. Giri

A quick draw was also seen in the game between Alexander Grischuk and Anish Giri. Grischuk sacrificed a pawn early in the opening, but Giri gave it back quickly, and the players then repeated moves.

Notes by GM Daniel Fernandez
 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.e3 7.Qb3 has always seemed a better way to try for an advantage. c5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.e3 0-0 10.dxc5 Bxc3+ 10...Nc6 11.Bb5 d4 12.Bxc6 dxc3 13.Qxb4 cxb2 14.Rb1 a5 15.Qd4 11.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 12.bxc3 Be6 13.Nd4 Rc8 14.Kd2 Nd7 15.Bd3 Nxc5 16.f3 This is equal, but White has a few ideas. 7...0-0 8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 c5 10.g4!? This seems to be a novelty, the product of Grischuk's legendary creativity. In view of the slightly favourable endings that may arise, this could easily get tried again, and probably Black will find a reaction that avoids them, such as ...Qd8. cxd4 10...Qd8!? 11.h4 11.Rg1 Nc6 12.g5 h5 11...Qa5 12.Qd2 dxc4 was a more 'Gruenfeldian' way to try and make White look over-extended. However, if you play in this way you might get mated. 13.g5 13.Bxc4 b6 14.g5 Bb7 15.Be2 cxd4 16.gxh6 Qxc3 17.Rc1 Qxd2+ 18.Kxd2 Nd7 19.Rc7 Bxf3 20.Bxf3 Rad8 13...cxd4 14.cxd4 c3 15.Qd3 h5 16.Rc1 16.Be2 b6 16...c2+ 17.Qd2 Qxa3 18.Rxc2 Nc6 Black has decent chances to consolidate. 11.cxd4 dxc4 12.Bxc4 b6 13.g5! Not giving Black time to play ...Bb7 in the way he wants. hxg5 14.Rg1 Ba6! Good, precise defence. White is closer to landing a knockout blow, but his king is also susceptible to perpetual checks, as we soon see. 14...Nd7 15.Nxg5 Bb7∞ was vaguely possible as well, challenging White to give mate before Black develops with ...Rac8-c3 or something, but this would have been very hard to steel oneself to play. 15.Bxa6 Nxa6 16.Nxg5 Qf5 17.e4 After the very English 17.Qb1!? , trying to win a long ending by virtue of having more central pawns, there might follow the principled Nc7! 18.Qxf5 exf5 19.Kd2 Nd5= and White will, in general, need to undouble the f-pawns in order to make progress. Meanwhile Black is playing ...Rfc8 and ...f6. 17...Qa5+ 18.Kf1 Qb5+ 19.Ke1 19.Qe2 doesn't have quite the same feel to it as Qb1 before, since d4 is now unprotected. It shouldn't be too hard for Black to liquidate, e.g. Qxe2+ 20.Kxe2 Rfd8 21.Nf3 Nc7 22.a4 Rac8 23.Rgc1 Ne8!= and soon he will solve his major problems with ...Nd6 and ...f5. 19...Qa5+ 20.Kf1 Qb5+ 21.Ke1 Qa5+ 22.Kf1 "The players agreed to perpetual check", as a well-known American IM once wrote. ½–½
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Grischuk,A-Giri,A-½–½2019D38Shamkir Chess3

A lifetime repertoire: Play the Nimzo Indian

This DVD provides everything you need to know to be able to play one of the most classical openings with Black, the Nimzo-Indian, arising after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4. Nearly every World Championship and top tournament features the Nimzo-Indian.

S. Karjakin ½-½ V. Topalov

Sergey Karjakin and Veselin Topalov opted for peace as well, although both made a keen start to the game: Karjakin attacked on the kingside, Topalov on the queenside — but when both had their pieces in position, the game ended quickly with a draw by repetition.

Notes by GM Daniel Fernandez
 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb6 9.Nc3 0-0 10.Be3 Ba5 In this system, Black generally has to be quite willing to part with the bishop pair. However, considering the prospectless (though not worse!) position Black ended up in after a few moves, I think I prefer offering the other bishop first! 10...Bg4 was picked in a European Championship game from last week. 11.h3 Bh5 12.Qc2 Ba5 13.Be2 13.0-0 Nxc3 14.bxc3 Bxf3 15.gxf3∞ 13...f6! Black was definitely not worse in Kovalenko,I-Esipenko,A European Championship 2019 Black could also consider going after the central pawn wedge immediately with 10...Nxc3 11.bxc3 f6= 11.Qb3 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Na5 13.Qb4 b6 14.0-0 Bf5 15.Rfc1 Rc8 16.Ba6 Rb8 17.Bd3 Re8 18.h3 c6 18...c5 was playable, but comes closer to opening up the position for the bishop-pair. 19.Bf4 Rb7 20.Qb2 b5 20...Nd6?! 21.exd6 Bxd3 22.Re1 21.Qe2 Nc4 22.Ng5 White didn't have the appetite to allow Black a queenside passed pawn with something double-edged like 22.a4 a5 23.axb5 cxb5 24.Ng5 Nxg5 25.Bxf5 Ne6 26.Be3∞ 22...Nxg5 23.Bxf5 Ne6 24.Bg3 b4 25.Qg4 Qb8 26.h4 a5 27.h5 Qa7 28.Rab1 Nd2 28...Na3 29.Rb2 Nb5 is suggested by the engine, but after the calm 30.cxb4! Nbxd4 31.Bxe6 Nxe6 32.Rxc6 Rxb4 33.Rxb4 axb4 34.h6 it might be White who has practical chances 29.Rb2 Nc4 29...bxc3 30.Rxb7 Qxb7 31.Rxc3 Qb2 32.Rxc6 Nxd4 is the obvious way to try and play against White's centre, but as so often, winning those pawns just ends up clearing space for the bishop-pair behind them. So Black's main way of continuing here will be to rid the world of that bishop-pair first. The following is of course computer analysis and I'm not sure it's wise to try and play this way over the board. 33.Rc7 33.h6 g6 34.Bxg6 hxg6 35.Rxg6+ Kh8 36.Rb6 Qc1+ 37.Kh2 Rg8∞ is just a mess, but Black is okay 33.Rc5 Qa1+ 34.Kh2 Nf1+ 35.Kh3 Nxg3 36.Kxg3 Nxf5+ 37.Qxf5 Qxa2 38.f3! Qe2! 39.Rc8!= 33...Qa1+ 34.Kh2 Nf1+ 35.Kh3 Nxg3 36.Kxg3 Ne6! 37.Bxe6 Qxe5+ 38.Qf4 Qxe6 39.Ra7 h6 40.Rxa5 Qd7 Black is somewhat trying to win here, though it is tenuous. 30.Rb3 White, in his turn, has an option to keep the game going with 30.Re2 bxc3 31.Bxe6 fxe6! 32.Rxc3 but it seems like he is worse after c5 when all the Black pieces do just about the optimal amount of work. 30...Nd2 31.Rb2 Nc4 32.Rb3 Nd2 ½–½
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Karjakin,S-Topalov,V-½–½2019C54Shamkir Chess3

Standings after Round 3

Rg. Tit. Name Land Elo 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pkt.
1 GM Magnus Carlsen
 
 2845       1 ½         1 2.5
2 GM Liren Ding
 
 2809     ½   ½       1   2.0
3 GM Sergey Karjakin
 
 2743   ½       ½ 1       2.0
4 GM Viswanathan Anand
 
 2774 0             1   ½ 1.5
5 GM Teimour Radjabov
 
 2756 ½ ½           ½     1.5
6 GM Veselin Topalov
 
 2740     ½       ½     ½ 1.5
7 GM Anish Giri
 
 2797     0     ½     ½   1.0
8 GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
 
 2793       0 ½       ½   1.0
9 GM Alexander Grischuk
 
 2771   0         ½ ½     1.0
10 GM David Navara
 
 2733 0     ½   ½         1.0

All games and Round 3 commentary webcast

 
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Commentary by GM Arkadij Naiditsch

Translation from German: Macauley Peterson

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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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