Svitlana's Smart Moves - Magnus' Middlegame Madness

by Arne Kaehler
12/23/2024 – In this episode, Svitlana shows us a game between Magnus Carlsen and Anish Giri. Interesting games either have a spectacular opening, some sweet tactics, or a fabulous endgame. In this game, it is the middlegame, in which Magnus sacrifices a piece, to gain a never-ending control of the whole game. Even the engines were impressed!
The Leningrad Dutch Defence is a dynamic and aggressive opening choice for Black, perfect for players who want to add some adventure and spice to their repertoire.

Svitlana's Smart Moves - Episode 107

With Svitlana Demchenko and Arne Kaehler

Svitlana Demchenko is a 20-year-old, Canadian WIM and chess coach. Here and now, she will teach us plenty of smart moves on the board, ranging from tactics, strategies, openings, and everything else chess-related. In the process, I'm happy to be available as a student at club player level, and pester the Women's International Master with questions. Anyone who wants to strengthen their chess skills is welcome to watch, and actively replay the positions from the video on our chessboard.

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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 dxc4 7.Na3 Interesting sideline 7.Qc2 is the most popular. 7.Ne5 ideas are also common, eventually regaining the pawn. 7.Nbd2 is usually met with b5 7...Bxa3 8.bxa3= Bd7 8...b5 9.a4= 9.Ne5 Nd5 9.a4!? Preventing ...b5 9.Ne5 would still follow regular ideas. 9.Bb2? Bc6 10.Qc2 b5 9.Qc2= 9...Bc6 10.Ba3 Re8 11.Qc2 Nbd7 12.Rac1 Some typical Catalan ideas are being used, but the position is somewhat strange. White can get his pawn back by Qxc4, but only to immediately lose one back after the reply ...Nb6. a6 With a big threat of ...b5. 13.Qxc4 13.a5 b5 14.axb6 Nxb6 15.Ne5 Bxg2 16.Kxg2 Qxd4 17.Nxc4 13.Ne5 Bxg2 14.Kxg2 Nxe5 15.dxe5 Qd5+ 16.Kg1 Qxe5 13.Nd2 Bxg2 14.Kxg2 b5-+ 13...Nb6 14.Qc3!? Luring the knight to take on a4 instead of the bishop, getting black a bit more out of balance. Nxa4 15.Qb3 Qd5 Key moment in the game 16.Rxc6! 16.e4 Qxb3 17.axb3 Nb6 18.Ne5 Bxe4 19.Rxc7= 16.Qc2 Qa5 16.Ne5 Qxg2# 16.Nh4 worth consideration Ne4 16...Qxb3 17.axb3 Bxg2 18.Kxg2 Nb6 19.Rxc7= 17.Rxc6 Qxc6 18.Bxe4 Qxe4 19.Qxa4 Qxe2= 16...Qxc6 16...Qxb3? 17.axb3 bxc6 18.bxa4+- 16...bxc6? 17.Qxa4+- 17.Ne5 Qb5 18.Qc2! Black is a pawn and an exchange up, but the threat of 19.Rb1 still leaves him in a very critical situation. Nd5? 18...Reb8 19.Rb1 Qe8 20.Bxb7 Best was 18...Nb6! 19.Bxb7 Nc4! 20.Bxa8 Nxa3 where the tactics work out for black and 21.Qc6 Qxe2= 19.Rb1 Qa5 20.Bxd5?! Probably enough to keep a winning position, 20.Be4! was a much cleaner solution. The point being that after g6 20...f5 21.Bxd5± 20...Nf6 21.Bxb7+- 20...h6?? 21.Bh7+ Kh8 22.Nxf7# 21.Bxd5 White gets a much improved version of the game. The f6 square is weakened, but even more importantly so is the 7. rank! The main point being Qxd5 now can be met by 22.Qxc7+- b5 23.Qxf7+ Kh8 24.Rc1 20.e4? Nf6 Blocks White's pieces. 20.Nc4?? Qc3-+ 21.Qxa4 b5 would also give the initiative and advantage back to Black. 20.Rxb7? Qe1+ 21.Bf1 Nac3 would become an issue 20...exd5? 20...Qxd5 21.Qxa4! 21.Qxc7 b5! 22.Qxf7+ Kh8 leaves white without a clear attack. 21...f6 22.Nd3 Qxa2± 21.Rxb7 Black's position is worse than it may seem. Threats: Bb4, queen and knight are uncomfortable, and the weak 7th rank is the worst problem of all. c5? 21...Nc3 22.Bb4 Qxa2 23.Qxc3 Qb1+ 24.Kg2 Qe4+ 25.Nf3+- 22.Qf5 Rf8 23.Nxf7 Qd8 Defends the d5 pawn. 24.dxc5 24.Nxd8 Rxf5 25.Nc6 Rf7 26.Ne7+ Rxe7 27.Rxe7 c4± 24...Qf6!? 25.Qxf6! The only winning move! 25.Qxd5?? Nc3! turns the tables! White has to force the draw with 26.Nh6+ 26.Qc4 Rxf7 27.Rxf7 Nxe2+ 28.Qxe2 Qxf7= 26...Kh8 27.Nf7+ 25.Nh6+?? Qxh6 26.Qxd5+ Kh8 27.c6 Nc3 28.Qc4= 25...gxf6 26.Nh6+ 26.Nd6+- 26...Kh8 27.c6 Rfc8 28.c7 Black is doomed with passive pieces, while the white knight will calmly transfer to d6. Nc3 29.Bb2 d4 30.Nf7+ Kg7 31.Nd6 Kg6 31...Nxe2+ 32.Kf1 Nc3 33.Bxc3 dxc3 34.Ke2 32.Kf1 Nb5 33.Nxc8 Rxc8 34.a4 Nxc7 35.Bxd4 Ne6 36.Be3 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2865Giri,A27721–02022E05Tata Steel-A 84th2

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If you like Svitlana's Smart moves, you will certainly enjoy her video lectures about "Surprising your opponents with the Lazy Sicilian", her first Fritztrainer "Understanding Material Imbalances", and her brand new Fritztrainer "The Scotch Game". Her newest Entry is the "Leningrad Dutch Defence"!

In just 60 minutes, you will be well-equipped with a surprise weapon, which will take most of your opponents out of book right from the start.

This DVD focuses on several types of material imbalances, such as Rook vs 2 Pieces, Queen vs 2 Rooks, and Queen vs Pieces.

Besides in-depth theory and exciting tactical exercises in the Scotch Game, this video course also includes a bonus section on the Scotch Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Bc4), a lively variation often leading to very dynamic positions.

The Leningrad Dutch Defence is a dynamic and aggressive opening choice for Black, perfect for players who want to add some adventure and spice to their repertoire.

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Arne Kaehler, a creative mind who is passionate about board games in general, was born in Hamburg and learned to play chess at a young age. By teaching chess to youth teams and creating chess-related videos on YouTube, Arne was able to expand this passion and has even created an online course for anyone who wants to learn how to play chess. Arne writes for the English and German news sites, but focuses mainly on content for the ChessBase media channels.
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