4/24/2018 – Sam Shankland, after a big win Monday over Varuzhan Akobian, is in the sole lead with five rounds to go. Fabiano Caruana caught up with Wesley So after posting his third win of the tournament and the pair are in second place heading into the lone rest day. So drew his game with Zviad Izoria. Annie Wang is on | Photo: Lennart Ootes
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"I think we both completely deserved to lose"
It's halftime at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis! In the open championship the man to beat right now is none of the Elo favourites, but Sam Shankland. The 26-year-old defeated Varuzhan Akobian in yesterday's sixth round, with the black pieces.
Shankland chose to play in a classical version of the Nimzo-Indian defence with an early d5, followed by dxc4, and combined with the manoeuvre b6 and Ba6, which Garry Kasparov first essayed 20 years ago in a rapid match against Vladimir Kramnik. In recent years, the line has been used sporadically, although notably, Anand played it at the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Riyadh...against Akobian! This game must have caught Sam Shankland's eye as he prepared for Monday's game.
Akobian vs Shankland
Position after 10.Qc2
In contrast to predecessors, Shankland did not exchange queens here with 10...Qc6 the ladies, but prefered kingside prophylaxis: 10...h6, and Black received a very comfortable game.
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1.d4Nf62.c4e63.Nc3Bb44.Qc2d54...0-05.a3Bxc3+6.Qxc3b5!?
is suggested by GM Kasimdzhanov with in-depth analysis on his new DVD about
the Nimzo-Indian, which you can find it in the ChessBase Shop via the link below7.cxb5c64.Qc2 0-0-6.Qxc3 b5 main lines [Kasimdzhanov]5.a35.cxd5exd5main line5...Qxd5!?6.e36.Nf3Qf57.Qb3!?7.Qd1e5!7.Qxf5exf58.a3Be76...c56...e57.dxe5Qxe58.Nf3Qc59.Bd2Bf510.Bd37.Bd2Bxc38.Bxc38.bxc30-05.Nf3?!dxc4!0-1 (27)
Mamedyarov,S (2760)-Carlsen,M (2881) Shamkir 2014 CBM 160 [Ftacnik,L] Gusti5...Bxc3+6.Qxc3dxc4!?is the other main line6...Ne4was featured 2
days ago in Mamedyarov,S (2814)-Karjakin,S (2778) Shamkir 20187.Qc2c58.dxc58.e38...Nc69.Nf3!?9.e3Qa5+10.Bd21/2-1/2 (28) Kramnik,
V-Gelfand,B/Monte Carlo 1999/CBM 069 ext (28)9.cxd5exd5!9...Qa5+?10.Bd2Nxd211.Qxd2Qxd2+12.Kxd2±10.Nf3Bf511.b4d4!is a highly discussed tabiya in the past9...Qa5+10.Bd2!?10.Nd2?!Nd410...Qxc511.e3Nxd212.Nxd212.Qxd2dxc413.Qc313.Rc1?b5!14.a4a613...Qa5!14.Bxc4?!Qxc3+15.bxc3Bd7=12...dxc4According to Alex Yermolinksy: 'It's
just hard for White to get anything out of this position.'12...d4!?12...Bd713.b413.Nb3Qd613...Qe714.cxd5exd515.Qc5Qf615...Qe516.Bb5b617.Qc217.Qc10-018.Bxc6Rac819.Nd4Bxc620.Qd217...Qe418.Qxe4+dxe419.Nd2f520.Nc4Ke7=16.Bb514.cxd5exd515.Nc50-013.Bd3Ne514.0-0dxc413...Qd614.cxd514.Bd3Ne515.0-0dxc416.Be4f516...Qc717.f4Ng418.Qc3Nf619.Bf30-017.f414...exd513.0-0-0!?Shakh tries!13.Nxc40-014.Rd114.b4Qg515.Bd314...Ne513.b4Qf5So-Karjakin, Candidates 201813.Bxc40-014.b4Qe715.Bd3h6
Giri-Adams, 201513...Qf5The ever-cautious Karjakin seeks a queen trade.13...b514.Ne4Qb615.Nd6+Ke7looks OK for Black, but this means dealing
with computer-generated preparation, something that today's players aren't
keen to do.14.Ne40-015.Bxc4Ne516.g4!The only way for White to
continue.Nxg417.Rhg1Nf6Significantly more direct was17...b5!?
One computer-approved line18.Bd3Ne519.Rg5Nxd3+20.Qxd3Qf321.Rg3
AlexYermo: 'ends, like many of those do, in a draw by move repetition.'21.Qd4f621...Qf522.Rg522.Rdg1g622...Qf323.Rg3ends, like many of
those do, in a draw by move repetition.18.Bd3Nxe419.Bxe4Qh520.f4f5!?Karjakin finds a radical way of dealing with White's initiative.21.Bh1Qf722.Kb1e5!There will be no kingside attack, as Black is about to
complete his development.23.fxe5Be624.Rd6Rac825.Qd2Rc526.Bxb7Rxe527.Qd4Ba2+28.Ka1Re729.Bc6Bb330.Rc1f4=31.exf4Qxf432.Bd5+Bxd533.Qxd5+Kh834.Qd2h635.Ka21/2-1/2 (39) Mamedyarov,S (2814)-Karjakin,S
(2778) Shamkir 2018 [AlexYermo]Qf7+36.Ka1Qf437.Ka2Qf7+38.Ka1Qf439.Ka21/2-1/2 (39) Mamedyarov,S (2814)-Karjakin,S (2778) Shamkir 2018
[AlexYermo]7.Qxc4b68.Nf3Ba69.Qa4+Qd710.Qc2h611.g3Bb712.Bg2Be413.Qd1Nc614.0-0Rd815.Be30-016.Rc1Qd517.Qa4Ng417...a5!?
GM Chirilia18.Rfd1?would be a big blunderb5-+18.Rc3Nxe319.fxe3Qd620.Nh4?!20.Rfc1!Ne721.Rxc7Nd522.R7c6Qb823.Ne1Bxg224.Nxg2±20...Bxg221.Nxg2Ne722.Qxa7Nd523.Rc2Ra824.Qb7c525.dxc525.Rxf7Shankland mentioned he
didn't notice this move during the game which explains why was quite
critical about his performance after the game.Rxf726.Qxa8+Rf827.Qa4
was a try for White as well25.Kh1is what Shankland thought about,
threatening ...e4f525...bxc526.Qb5?!Shankland: "now I thought
only Black can be better and he was low on time as well."26.Rxf7!Rxf727.Qxa8+Rf828.Qa5Qe529.Qd2Qf630.Qe130.Rc1??Qf2+31.Kh1Qf1+30...c4was given by GM Maurice Ashley - there
is compensation for the two pawns in a practical game for sure.26...Rfb827.Qd3Qe5∞28.Rxc5?Qxb229.Rfc1Rd830.Qe4?!30.R5c2Qxa331.Qxa3Rxa332.Kf2g530...Qxe231.R5c2Qb532.Nf4Nf633.Qb4Qe534.Qc5?White collapses, his position was hard to play anyway, even more so
because Akobian was quite short on timeQxc535.Rxc5g5-+35...Rxa3-+36.Ne2Rxa337.Rc8Rxc838.Rxc8+Kg739.Rc3Ra1+40.Kg2Ra241.Kf1Ne442.Rd3g443.Rd4f544.Rd3Kf645.Rd8Ng546.Rh8Ra1+47.Kg2Nh348.Rb8Re149.Rb2Ke550.Ra2Ke451.Ra4+Kxe352.Ra3+Ke453.Ra2Ke554.Rb2Kf655.Ra2e556.Ra6+Kg557.Ra2Kh558.Rb2f459.gxf4Rxe2+0–1
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.
Shankland talking to Maurice Ashley on the live webcast | CCSCSL on YouTube
Sam Shankland, who's fighting a cold, was happy with his result but very critical about his chess. "If I play the rest of the tournament as today I don't think I will stay at the top for very long. I mean I think this game was absolutely disgraceful".
Trying to stay objective about his play and focused on the upcoming games, Shankland was nevertheless being unnecessarily hard on himself. As Maurice pointed out besides not seeing ...Rxf7 it was a pretty good game, which is obviously true.
Fabiano is back in the hunt and showed great form with a nice victory in his beloved Petroff Defence against Ray Robson. Caruana showed superb understanding and preparation in the early stages of the game. Throughout the opening he could be seen strolling around the playing hall, checking out the other boards and enjoying a smoothie while seemingly very comfortable and relaxed.
Caruana going for a walk in round four | Photo: Austin Fuller
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1.e4e52.Nf3Nf6The Petroff, Fabiano's pet line currently3.Nxe5d64.Nf3Nxe45.Nc3Nxc36.dxc3Be77.Be30-07...Nc68.Qd2Be69.0-0-0Qd79...Bf610.Kb1Qd711.h40-0-012.Nd4Nxd413.Bxd4Be514.Qe3Qa415.b3Bxd416.Rxd4Qc617.Be2Qc518.Bf3h519.Re1Rhe820.Qd2g621.Kb2Kb822.a4a523.g3Qb624.Rde4Qc525.R4e3Rg826.R3e2Qf527.Bg2Qf628.Bd5Bg429.Re4Bf530.R4e3c631.Bg2Be632.Rd3Kc733.Kb1Rge834.Rde3Bd735.Rf3Rxe1+36.Qxe1Qe637.Re3Qf638.Re7Kc839.Re3d540.Re5Qd641.Re3Bf542.Qc1d443.cxd4Qxd444.Bf1Qd245.Be2Qb446.Bc4Rd247.Qb2Rxc248.Qh8+Kc749.Qe5+Kb650.Qd4+Kc751.Qe5+Qd652.Qxa5+Kd753.Qxf5+gxf554.Kxc2Qc555.Kd2f456.Rf3fxg357.fxg3f658.Ke2Qg159.Bd3Ke660.Kd2Qg2+61.Be2Ke562.Kd1Ke463.Rc3Qg1+64.Kd2Qd4+65.Kc2Qf266.Kd2Qg267.Kd1Kd468.Rd3+Ke469.Rc3Qg1+70.Kd2Qf271.Kd1Qd4+72.Kc2Qe573.Rd3Kf574.Bxh5Qc5+75.Kd2Qb4+76.Kc2Qc5+77.Kd2Ke5
1/2-1/2 (77) Vidit,S (2707)-Wei,Y (2734) Liaocheng 201810.a3a611.Nd4Nxd412.Bxd4Rg813.Bd3h614.Bh7Rh815.Be4Kf816.Bxb7Rb817.Bxa6Qa418.Be2d519.Qe3Rxb220.Kxb2Bxa3+21.Kb1Ke722.Bc5+Kd723.Rxd5+Bxd524.Qe7+Kc625.Bxa3Rb8+26.Kc1Qa527.Bb4Qa728.Qe3Qa1+29.Kd2Qxh130.Qc5+Kb731.Qxd5+c632.Qd7+1-0 (32) Bacrot,E (2718)-Li,C (2732)
Liaocheng 20188.Qd2Nd79.0-0-0Caruana has some resent experience here
alreadyc69...Nf6 was played by Fabiano just two weeks ago at
the Grenke Chess Classic (Karlsruhe, Germany)10.h3c511.Bf4Be612.a3d513.Ng5Bd714.g4Bc615.Bg2Re816.Qd3Bd617.Qg3Bxf4+18.Qxf4h619.Nf3Qb820.Qxb8Raxb821.Nd2Re222.Rhf1b623.Rde1Rbe824.Rxe2Rxe2=1/2-1/2 (98) Caruana,F (2784)-Hou,Y (2654) Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden 201810.Kb1d511.c4Nb612.cxd5Nxd513.Bc4Fabiano explained to GM Maurice
Ashley that he knew about this position. He remembered that both bishop moves
to e6 or f5 are possible and going to f5 is interesting...Bf513...Be614.Rhe1is equal according to CaruanaBb414...Re815.Bg5Bf616.Bxf6Qxf617.Nd41-0 (61) Zhigalko,S (2625)-Sychev,K (2529) Moscow 201814...Bf615.Bd4b5∞0-1 (37) Von Bahr,O (2431)-Antonsen,M (2445) Sweden 201715.c3Be716.Bb3Qa517.Nd4Bd718.Bc2Rfe819.Nb3Qc720.Bc5Bxc521.Nxc5Rxe122.Rxe1Re823.Rxe8+Bxe824.Qe2Kf825.g3Nf626.Qe3b6
1/2-1/2 (26) Vachier Lagrave,M (2744)-Giri,A (2793) Baku 201514.Bxd5cxd515.Qxd5Qc8Fabiano played so fast the commentators wondered if he might be
still in preparation...White is a pawn up - but Black has the bishop pair) which gives him some compensation - will it be enough though?16.Nd4Bg617.Ka117.h4is a critical move according to Fabianoh5
was what Fabiano knew about the position, his engine claimed the position is
equal - here his home-preparation ended, as he mentioned quite frankly after the
game.18.f4!?18.Ka118...Bf619.f5Bxd420.fxg6?!20.Bxd4Qxf521.Qxf5Bxf5=20.Rxd4Bxf5=20...Bxe321.gxf7+21.Qxh5fxg621...Rxf722.Rhf1Qc7was what Fabiano was
calculating during the game - mentioning "this could be completely incorrect"
- it is quite good for Black actually, White should not allow this according
to my engine.17...Re818.Rhe1Bf618...Bb419.c319.Re219...Bxc318...Bf819.Bf4!19.c3Re520.Qb3a621.Bf4Rxe122.Rxe1Qd723.Be5Re824.f4Bd825.a4?!
Fabiano didn't liked this moveh6!?25...b526.axb5axb527.f5!Bh428.Bg3Ra8+29.Kb1Bxg330.hxg3Bxf5+31.Nxf5Qxf5+32.Qc2Qd5Fabiano -
probably a draw26.Rd1Qg426...b527.Nxb5Qb7!28.Nd4Qxb329.Nxb3Bc230.Rxd8Rxd831.Ka227.Rd2b5!?28.axb5axb529.Qd1?a mistakebetter was29.Qxb5!±f630.Bd6Re1+31.Ka2Qc831...Be732.Bxe7Rxe733.f5Bf7+34.Ne6±32.Qc6!+-is a winning edge32.Qc5Qa6+33.Qa3Qf1-+
Fabiano32.c4 Maurice Ashley/Fabiano Caruana29...Qd730.f5Bg5!31.Rd331.fxg6Bxd232.gxf7+Qxf733.Qxd2Qf1+34.Ka2Rxe5-+31...Bxf532.Nxf5Qxf533.Bg3?!33.Bc7Qf2-+is hopeless in the long
run as well33...Ra8+34.Kb1Rd835.Kc2b436.cxb436.Qf3Qxd3+37.Qxd3b3+!-+36...Rc8+37.Kb3Qe6+38.Rd5Rd839.Kc4Qc6+39...Qc6+40.Rc5Qe4+-+0–1
The great popularity of the Petroff Defence at the highest level has attracted general attention as strong players employ this opening with great success and with both colours. Unfortunately, the opinion of the Petroff as a sterile drawish opening seems to be firmly implanted in many minds. The author tries to dispel these myths and examines the most popular lines and provides a large number of ideas that will enable you to play Petroff successfully, with either colour.
Robson has lost three of his last four games. Caruana has white against Akobian next.
Robson also lost with white to Caruana in the 2017 US Championship | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Nakamura missed a good opportunity to catch up, not showing his best by, in his words, "missing some tactics somehow" in his game with Jeffery Xiong.
In the Vienna game, White was doing well. In diagrammed position, Nakamura gave up the advantage with 19.Rxb4.
Old fashioned? Certainly! Infrequent ? Definitely! Underestimated ? Without doubt! Dangerous? You must draw your own conclusions...... The Vienna Game deserves a place in the repertoire of all players. With 2 Nc3 White prevents the freeing thrust ...d7-d5 and keeps open the option of f2-f4, hoping to transpose to a superior King’s Gambit For the Grandmaster, the Vienna can be used as a surprise weapon.
Nakamura vs Xiong
Position after 18....Bd5
After, for instance, 19.Nb3 Bxb7 20.Bxb7 Nc6 21.Nxa5 Nxa5 White would stand better.
"Somehow I just missed this move...it skipped my mind somehow — I should see that move", Nakamura admitted after the game.
Wesley So could not beat Zviad Izoria's unusual opening (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 a6 !?). The games Zherebukh vs Lendermann and Onischuk vs Liang also ended in draws.
Today is a rest day, in the upcoming round on Wednesday, Sam Shankland will have the white pieces and facing the defending US Champion Wesley So. That should be an exciting game as So looks to add to his 2-0 lifetime record against the tournament leader.
Setting the pace on the women's side is 15-year-old Annie Wang. Yesterday she defeated Dorsa Derakshani, celebrating her fourth full point win in the tournament. Nazi Paikidze kept up with Wang for a while but in round six she dropped half a point to Maggie Feng. In third place is Irina Krush, who won with black against Anna Zatonskih, her former long-time rival in the fight for the title. Tatev Abrahamyan won against Akshita Gorti, Anna Sharevich prevailed over Sabina Foisor and Jennifer Yu scored a full point against Rusudan Goletiani.
Annie Wang is in the clear lead | Photo: Lennart Ootes
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Videos by Nico Zwirs: Nimzo-Indian with 4.e3 b6 and Robert Ris: French Advance Variation with 6.Na3. Alexander Donchenko analyses his winning game against Fabiano Caruana from the Saint Louis Masters 2024. “Lucky bag" with another 43 analyses by Edouard,
The Black Sniper is back – sharper and deadlier than ever! This dynamic system (1...g6, 2...Bg7, 3...c5 against 1.e4, 1.d4 and 1.c4) creates unpredictable, high-pressure positions, leaving opponents struggling to adapt.
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