Tal Memorial Rd3 – A round of sacrifices to win, draw, and lose

by ChessBase
6/10/2012 – It was a round of sacrifices all round with all the results possible. The first was McShane's brilliant exchange sacrifice that stranded Aronian's king with deadly effect. Then came Kramnik's exchange sacrifice to neutralize Radjabov, and hold the balance. Finally, it was Grischuk who went for broke against Morozevich in a crazy game, but lost. Round three report with GM commentary and video.

Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

Seventh Tal Memorial in Moscow

The event is a ten-player round robin event, is taking place from June 8th to 18th in the Pashkov House (Vozdvizhenka Street 3/5, p.1), Moscow, Russia. Rest days are June 11 and 15. Time control: 100 minutes for the first 40 moves, 50 minutes for the next 20 moves, and 15 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move one. Games start at 15:00h local time (last round 13:00h). Draw offers are not allowed until after the first time control. The participants are required to comment on their games in the press center after each round. The prize fund is 100,000 Euros.

Round 3: Sunday, June 10, 2012
Magnus Carlsen
½-½
Fabiano Caruana
Alexander Grischuk
0-1
Alex. Morozevich
Teimour Radjabov
½-½
Vladimir Kramnik
Levon Aronian
0-1
Luke McShane
Hikaru Nakamura
½-½
Ev. Tomashevsky

Round three

It was a fun and exciting round for those watching on Sunday, and sacrifices seemed to be on the minds of most of the players one way or the other. The only game that did not was Magnus Carlsen’s game against Fabiano Caruana, in which they drew after an uneventful game. At least this time, Magnus did not have to worry about digging himself out of trouble, even if he did not pose the Italian any real problems either.


Carlsen-Caruana: a tame draw

Hikaru Nakamura’s sacrifice came in the form of the King’s Gambit against Evgeny Tomashevsky, showing that the opening was not a one-of in his repertoire, but something others will have to be prepared for.


Hikaru Nakamura searches for inspiration

Still, it did not quite explode into the fireworks as some other games and the American was forced to accept the draw.

Vladimir Kramnik sacrificed an exchange in the Berlin, and neutralized Teimour Radjabov’s play quite effectively, though not more. They shook hands after 25 moves.

The biggest surprise was the hitherto luckless Luke McShane, who had looked crushed after his disaster the day before, who came back with an incredibly inspired win over Levon Aronian. Early in a Semi-Slav, the Englishman offered an exchange sacrifice of his own on a8, which the Armenian took, perhaps unwisely. White’s king was soon stuck in the center and McShane showed his great attacking talent once again, justifying the popular poll that brought him to the event. This time there was no late blunder, and Aronian had to resign before the time control.


This jovial smile was actually before the game started, so one can only take one's
hat off to such a good recovery
.

Annotated game by GM Alejandro Ramirez

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,165,57054%2421---
1.d4946,47455%2434---
1.Nf3281,31256%2441---
1.c4181,93756%2442---
1.g319,68856%2427---
1.b314,23654%2427---
1.f45,88648%2377---
1.Nc33,79651%2384---
1.b41,75348%2380---
1.a31,19754%2403---
1.e31,06848%2408---
1.d394850%2378---
1.g466246%2361---
1.h444653%2374---
1.c342651%2425---
1.h327956%2416---
1.a410860%2468---
1.f39147%2431---
1.Nh38966%2508---
1.Na34262%2482---
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 a6 5.Bg5 White has tried basically every legal move in this position, but Bg5 has never been that popular. dxc4 5...Ne4 is more popular, but the move in the game scores far better. 6.a4 h6 7.Bh4 7.Bxf6 exf6 8.e3 regains the pawn but promises no advantage. 7...b5 This move is new in grandmaster games, but the idea behind it is common for this variation. 8.axb5 cxb5 9.Nxb5 9.e4 Bb7 10.e5 g5 11.Bg3 Ne4 12.e6 is very messy and quite unforced. 9...axb5 10.Rxa8 Bb7 11.Ra1 g5 12.Bg3 e6 The point of Black's exchange sacrifice is that there is no good way of meeting Bb4+. White is already forced to forego castling and that will make his development quite awkward. 13.e3 Bb4+ 14.Ke2 Nc6 15.Ne1 Na5 16.Be5 0-0 17.h4 White is trying to get as much activity as possible. If he untangles, he will win with his extra exchange, otherwise his position will be nothing but suffering. g4 18.Nc2 Be7 19.Ke1 Nb3 20.Ra2 h5 21.Be2?! This move is bad but I can't find alternatives. White went wrong somewhere before this but a deeper analysis is needed to realize where. 21.f3 gxf3 22.gxf3 Ng4 21...Bd6! A very strong move. Black eliminates that active bishop and emphasizes the weakness on g2. There was no need to take the pawn immediately, this is much stronger. After this Black is simply better. 22.f3 22.Bxf6 Qxf6 leaves White helpless against the threats on the kingside. 22.Bxd6 Qxd6 23.Kf1 Ne4 with a clear black initiative. 22.Ra7 was maybe the last chance to bail out, but Black doesn't have to cooperate. Bxg2 22...Be4! is better. 23.Rg1 Be4 24.Bxg4 Nxg4 25.Rxg4+ hxg4 26.Qxg4+ Bg6 27.h5 Bxe5 28.hxg6 Bg7 29.Qh3 and White seems to achieve a draw. 22...Nd5 22...Bxe5 23.dxe5 Nd5 24.fxg4 Qb6! transposes to the game, but was a more accurate move order. Wait for Chessbase Magazine for more variations! 23.fxg4 23.Ra7 Bc6 24.f4∞ 23...Bxe5 24.dxe5 Qb6 25.Bf3 Nxe3 26.Nxe3 Qxe3+ 26...Rd8! is even stronger but so, so inhuman. 27.Qe2 Qc1+ 28.Qd1 Qe3+ 29.Qe2 Qc1+ 30.Qd1 Bxf3 Black's attack is winning, no need to repeat again. The queens cannot be traded so the attack continues. 31.gxf3 Qe3+ 32.Qe2 Qc1+ 33.Qd1 Qe3+ 34.Qe2 Qf4 Once the rook joins the fray there will be no stopping Black. Aronian keeps hitting the queen but this game is over. 35.Qh2 Qxf3 36.Rf1 Qe4+ 37.Kf2 Nd2 38.Rg1 Qf3+ 38...Qf3+ 39.Ke1 Qe3+ 40.Kd1 Nb3 and mate will follow shortly after White's spite check. A very powerful and convincing show my McShane. As I said in the notes, I'm not even sure where Aronian went decisively wrong! 0–1
  • 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.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Aronian,L2825McShane,L27060–12012D15Tal Memorial 20123.3

That said, the greatest surprise was the crazy game between the two Alexanders, Grischuk and Morozevich. It was a strange game in which Morozevich declined to go for the bold g-pawn and h-pawn advances the computers suggested, allowing Grischuk to position his pieces menacingly around his king.


Whether this was a form of bait, is hard to say, but Grischuk was unable to resist and soon plunked a piece to try and overwhelm Morozevich. There was possibly enough compensation to hold the game, but somewhere he failed to find the best continuations, and the volatility blew up in his face as he found himself lost. Whatever the story (the post-game was spoken in Russian – and the writer here does not), Morozevich is now tied with Radjabov for first with 2.5/3.

Monday is a rest day.

Complete round three games

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,165,57054%2421---
1.d4946,47455%2434---
1.Nf3281,31256%2441---
1.c4181,93756%2442---
1.g319,68856%2427---
1.b314,23654%2427---
1.f45,88648%2377---
1.Nc33,79651%2384---
1.b41,75348%2380---
1.a31,19754%2403---
1.e31,06848%2408---
1.d394850%2378---
1.g466246%2361---
1.h444653%2374---
1.c342651%2425---
1.h327956%2416---
1.a410860%2468---
1.f39147%2431---
1.Nh38966%2508---
1.Na34262%2482---
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 a6 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.a4 h6 7.Bh4 b5 8.axb5 cxb5 9.Nxb5 axb5 10.Rxa8 Bb7 11.Ra1 g5 12.Bg3 e6 13.e3 Bb4+ 14.Ke2 Nc6 15.Ne1 Na5 16.Be5 0-0 17.h4 g4 18.Nc2 Be7 19.Ke1 Nb3 20.Ra2 h5 21.Be2 Bd6 22.f3 Nd5 23.fxg4 Bxe5 24.dxe5 Qb6 25.Bf3 Nxe3 26.Nxe3 Qxe3+ 27.Qe2 Qc1+ 28.Qd1 Qe3+ 29.Qe2 Qc1+ 30.Qd1 Bxf3 31.gxf3 Qe3+ 32.Qe2 Qc1+ 33.Qd1 Qe3+ 34.Qe2 Qf4 35.Qh2 Qxf3 36.Rf1 Qe4+ 37.Kf2 Nd2 38.Rg1 Qf3+ 0–1
  • 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.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Aronian,L2825McShane,L27060–12012D157th Mikhail Tal Memorial3
Grischuk,A2761Morozevich,A27690–12012A097th Mikhail Tal Memorial3
Carlsen,M2835Caruana,F2770½–½2012D857th Mikhail Tal Memorial3
Radjabov,T2784Kramnik,V2801½–½2012C657th Mikhail Tal Memorial3
Nakamura,H2775Tomashevsky,E2738½–½2012C367th Mikhail Tal Memorial3

Pictures by Eteri Kublashvili

Standings after three rounds

Tal Memorial 2012 Round 3 Play of the day by Daniel King: Aronian - McShane


Every day, GM Daniel King will be selecting a "play of the day" that he will analyze

Video stream of the round

Once again the Russian organisers are providing unprecedented coverage,
with HD video stream of the action and commentary by grandmasters.
In addition there is excellent commentary by GM Ian Rogers from Sydney.

Schedule and Results

Round 1: Friday, June 8, 2012
Alex. Morozevich
1-0
Fabiano Caruana
Magnus Carlsen
½-½
Vladimir Kramnik 
Alexander Grischuk
1-0
Luke McShane
Teimour Radjabov
1-0
Ev. Tomashevsky
Levon Aronian
1-0
Hikaru Nakamura
Round 2: Saturday, June 9, 2012
Fabiano Caruana
½-½
Hikaru Nakamura
Ev. Tomashevsky
½-½
Levon Aronian
Luke McShane
0-1
Teimour Radjabov
Vladimir Kramnik
1-0
Alexander Grischuk
Alex. Morozevich
½-½
Magnus Carlsen
Round 3: Sunday, June 10, 2012
Magnus Carlsen
½-½
Fabiano Caruana
Alexander Grischuk
0-1
Alex. Morozevich
Teimour Radjabov
½-½
Vladimir Kramnik
Levon Aronian
0-1
Luke McShane
Hikaru Nakamura
½-½
Ev. Tomashevsky
Round 4: Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Fabiano Caruana
  Ev. Tomashevsky
Luke McShane
  Hikaru Nakamura
Vladimir Kramnik
  Levon Aronian
Alex. Morozevich
  Teimour Radjabov
Magnus Carlsen
  Alexander Grischuk
Round 5: Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Alexander Grischuk
  Fabiano Caruana
Teimour Radjabov
  Magnus Carlsen
Levon Aronian
  Alex. Morozevich
Hikaru Nakamura
  Vladimir Kramnik
Ev. Tomashevsky
  Luke McShane
Round 6: Thursday, June 14, 2012
Fabiano Caruana
  Luke McShane
Vladimir Kramnik
  Ev. Tomashevsky
Alex. Morozevich
  Hikaru Nakamura
Magnus Carlsen
  Levon Aronian
Alexander Grischuk
  Teimour Radjabov
Round 7: Saturday, June 16, 2012
Teimour Radjabov
  Fabiano Caruana
Levon Aronian
  Alexander Grischuk
Hikaru Nakamura
  Magnus Carlsen
Ev. Tomashevsky
  Alex. Morozevich
Luke McShane
  Vladimir Kramnik
Round 8: Sunday, June 17, 2012
Fabiano Caruana
  Vladimir Kramnik
Alex. Morozevich
  Luke McShane
Magnus Carlsen
  Ev. Tomashevsky
Alexander Grischuk
  Hikaru Nakamura
Teimour Radjabov
  Levon Aronian
Round 9: Monday, June 18, 2012
Levon Aronian
  Fabiano Caruana
Hikaru Nakamura
  Teimour Radjabov
Ev. Tomashevsky
  Alexander Grischuk
Luke McShane
  Magnus Carlsen
Vladimir Kramnik
  Alex. Morozevich

Playchess live commentary plan for the Tal Memorial 2012

11.06.2012 Free Day  
12.06.2012 Round 4 Daniel King
13.06.2012 Round 5 Robert Ris
14.06.2012 Round 6 Robert Ris
15.06.2012 Free Day  
16.06.2012 Round 7 Lawrence Trent
17.06.2012 Round 8 Daniel King
18.06.2012 Round 9 Yasser Seirawan

Links

The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase 11 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.

Copyright ChessBase


Reports about chess: tournaments, championships, portraits, interviews, World Championships, product launches and more.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.