11/11/2018 – On Friday's seven-hour marathon Magnus Carlsen got the upper hand in the opening, and rather symmetrically Fabiano Caruana managed to surprise the World Champion with the black pieces in game two. Magnus decided to keep things safe to avoid falling prey to Caruana's preparation and happily settled for a draw in his first white game of the match. Therefore, the 2018 World Championship is still tied, but that does not mean there has been a lack of excitement. JAN-KRZYSZTOF DUDA analysed Saturday's game for us. | Photo: Nikolai Dunaevsky / World Chess
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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.
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In an interview with VG.no, Magnus Carlsen had declared that this match would have less to do with preparation than his previous three World Championships. However, that must be read as a statement that weighs the relative priority given to preparation by Anand, Karjakin and Caruana — i.e. it does not mean that Fabiano is not armed to the teeth! The slightest of edges might turn the tide in either direction.
Magnus came from missing a huge chance to start the match with a tour de force, and if we go by previous performances by the World Champion it is very likely that he was more than eager to "recover" quickly. Earlier this year, in a video produced by Inc.com, he had clearly stated what tends to be his attitude after a loss:
For me, I just need to somehow be able to strike back. I need to get a win right after a loss or a disappointing result because if these bad results linger it's just gonna take a lot of time to get your confidence again.
By the end of the month, we will know how these two games affected the current World Champion. Maybe he did not feel that missing his chance in the opener was a big deal, and instead, he really thinks that getting the upper hand with Black can actually be seen as a positive outcome — as he stated in Friday's press conference. We can only speculate...
Game 2 video summary
Report by GM Daniel King
It does not look like Caruana is feeling the pressure | Photo: Nikolai Dunaevsky / World Chess
In the game, a Queen's Gambit Declined position reached a turning point as early as move ten. After Fabiano's 10...Rd8, Carlsen took no less than 17 minutes to choose the cautious 11.Be2 instead of the principled 11.Nd2. During the press conference, Magnus confessed that he was shocked — it was clear that he spent time reflecting on whether to delve into a position where Caruana might have something deeply prepared or not. He took the practical choice and probably does not regret his decision.
Caruana was clearly in the driving seat and Magnus let an hour of his clock run down in the next six moves — the American spent over a minute on a single move only twice in the meantime. At that point, Magnus could have given up his knight temporarily, but once again chose the safer route. See if you can find the right continuations after 17.Nxf7 against the computer in the following diagram:
Scarcely any world champion has managed to captivate chess lovers to the extent Carlsen has. The enormously talented Norwegian hasn't been systematically trained within the structures of a major chess-playing nation such as Russia, the Ukraine or China.
Carlsen vs Caruana, Game 2
Position after 16...Nxd5
Carlsen played 17.Bf3 instead of going for the sacrifice. Later in the game, Caruana could have taken revenge for the torture of the previous day, but instead agreed to a draw on move 49.
Did you find the critical moves in the diagram? You can check your answers by going through the game with annotations by the 19th highest ranked player in the world, Jan-Krzysztof Duda:
"A relatively easy draw today by Fabiano Caruana. Perhaps the World Champion was frustrated a bit with yesterday's game, and decided to play a simple game today."
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1.e4
1,185,008
54%
2421
---
1.d4
959,510
55%
2434
---
1.Nf3
286,503
56%
2441
---
1.c4
184,834
56%
2442
---
1.g3
19,892
56%
2427
---
1.b3
14,600
54%
2428
---
1.f4
5,954
48%
2377
---
1.Nc3
3,911
50%
2384
---
1.b4
1,791
48%
2379
---
1.a3
1,250
54%
2406
---
1.e3
1,081
49%
2409
---
1.d3
969
50%
2378
---
1.g4
670
46%
2361
---
1.h4
466
54%
2382
---
1.c3
439
51%
2425
---
1.h3
289
56%
2420
---
1.a4
118
60%
2461
---
1.f3
100
47%
2427
---
1.Nh3
93
66%
2506
---
1.Na3
47
62%
2476
---
Please, wait...
1.d4Nf62.Nf3d53.c4e64.Nc3Be7The ever solid Queen's Gambit
Declined. Even though the Challenger recently played a lot of games in the
Vienna Game, the QGD must have been one of top piorities of Magnus' team.5.Bf40-06.e3c5This is a small surprise. It's the first time, when Fabiano
chooses this line in his life. In that way Nakamura drew quite recently 2
games against Carlsen, so it was kind of expected though. The real surprise
will come later6...Nbd7is the most common move, and the way Caruana
played before this game. Perhaps he wasn't keen facing7.c5where White is
enjoying some space advantage, and it might be kind of Carlsen-type position.
Of course it's just a beginning of far-advanced theory.7.dxc5Bxc58.Qc2
This is the main move, but White also may wish to play against Isolani with:8.cxd5Nxd59.Nxd5exd510.Bd3Bb4+11.Nd2Nc6This is one of tabiyas in
QGD with 6...c5. Usually Black gets enough counterplay for his Isolani, for
example Vishy Anand drew all three of his games with Black in this position in the
Sinquefield Cup this year. In 2017, Carlsen was about outplaying Nakamura in this
line, but the American managed to save himself. Now it's obvious to everyone
that Caruana had some improvements, awaiting their hour8...Nc69.a3Qa510.Rd1Again, one of the tabiyas, known since infamous '78 Karpov-Korchnoi
match. In contrast to10.0-0-0line which is slightly more popular, but
can lead to an amazing mess, where either side can collapse easily, White is
playing purely positionally. He just wants to develop with Be2 and 0-0,
and is asking Black what he is going to do with his poor c8-bishop. Now Black
has many choices, but what Caruana played was hardly predictible10...Rd8!?Some time ago, this was considered dubious, because it isn't in any way
preparing the freeing move e5. But of course computers change modern opening theory,
also the effect of surprise these days is something everyone is trying for.
The other lines are:10...Re8!?is having a boost of popularity, the
position can quickly become quite complicated:11.Nd2e512.Bg5Nd413.Qb113.Qc1was basically a draw offer:Bf514.Bxf6Nc2+15.Ke2Nd4+16.Ke1Nc2+17.Ke2Nd4+18.Ke1Nc2+1/2 (18) Carlsen,M (2827)-Nakamura,H (2781)
Douglas ENG 201713...Bf514.Bd3Bxd314...e4?was played in the
famous 21st game in aforementioned K-K match. White is better after both15.Bc2(the
game continuation. Even stronger is15.Bf1!where objectively Black is
lost15...Nxc2+16.Qxc2Qa617.Bxf6Qxf618.Nb3Bd619.Rxd5!±
1-0 (60) Kortschnoj,V (2665)-Karpov,A (2725) Baguio City 197815.Qxd3Ne4
where as far as I am concerned Black is doing fine after both16.Nxd5and16.Ncxe410...Ne4?!is probably wrong. After11.cxd5Nxc312.bxc3exd513.Ng5!g614.Rxd5Qxa315.Bc4White develops dangerous
initiative10...Be7is the classical main line. After11.Be2Ne411...dxc412.cxd5Nxc313.Qxc3Qxc3+14.bxc3exd515.Rxd5Bxa316.Nd4
White has initiative 1/2 (95) Carlsen,M (2853)-Nakamura,H (2814) Saint Louis
USA 201511.Be211.Nd2is the most popular, with the idea to harass
Black's queen. But this is the first thing Fabiano's team had a look at, so the
Norwegian decides to deviated4might be something like what the American prepared. The
position is a mess after11...dxc412.Nxc4Rxd1+13.Qxd1Qd814.Qxd8+Nxd815.Be212.Nb3Qb613.Na4Bb4+14.axb4Qxb4+15.Nd2∞but the
computer not surprisingly is keen on White11...Ne4Now, where the d5-pawn
is not hanging, this exchange maneouvre should gradually equalise the position12.0-012.Nd2!?Nxc313.Nb3Qa414.Qxc3Be715.cxd5exd516.Nc5Bxc517.Qxc5Be618.0-0Rac812...Nxc313.bxc3h6Defending against any Ng514.a4Ne7=I think Black equalised. Now not to become worse with his
shaky queenside, the World Champion has to play actively15.Ne5Bd615...f616.Ng6e517.Bg3Be6is one of the favourite's of the engine, but in such cases,
when the game is at stake, players tend to avoid such commital decisions. The
move Caruana played is fine.16.cxd5from now on, there will be many
exchanges, when Black gets developed finally, but White is too active to have
any real issuesNxd517.Bf3 White goes the route of interesting
possibility, which looks risky but gets my approval.17.Nxf7!?Kxf718.Bxd618.Bh5+Kg819.Bxd6Rxd6is the same thing18...Rxd619.Bh5+Kg820.e420.c4It seems that White has to play precisely to
hold the positionBd720...Rc620...Nb420...Qc721.cxd5Bxa422.Qa2Rxd523.Bg4Rxd124.Rxd1Qb425.Bxe6+Kh826.Rb1Rd8∞20...Bd720...Nf4!?is a winning try21.Rxd6Qxh522.Rd8+Kf723.Rfd1e5∞
with unclear, but roughly equal position21.exd5Qxa4one of many
possibilities22.Qb1Rxd523.Qxb7Qc6=17...Nxf4the simplest17...Qc718.c4Nxf419.exf4can only create difficulties for Black18.exf4Bxe519.Rxd8+Qxd820.fxe5Qc720...Bd7!?Black has the luxury of not being
afraid of losing b7-pawn21.Bxb7Rb822.Bf3Qa5and Black recaptures the
missing pawn with equality21.Rb1Rb822.Qd3Bd722...b6!?was a nice
try for Black, I think23.a5!otherwise White may be worse with his bad
pawn structureBb723...Qxe524.a6!is a key, White must have
foreseen beforehand24.axb6axb625.Bxb7Rxb726.Qd4=with a drawn
position23.a5Bc624.Qd6White knows that the best he can do is
exchange everything and make a draw -- not very pleasing when the onus is on
White to score, but that's lifeQxd625.exd6Bxf326.gxf3Kf827.c4Ke828.a6!From the human viewpoint the simplest. White exchanges all pawns on the
queenside, and defends in a 3 vs 4 on the same wing rook endgameb629.c5Kd730.cxb6axb631.a7Ra832.Rxb6Rxa733.Kg2e534.Rb4f535.Rb6Ke636.d7+Kxd737.Rb5=The endgame is dead drawn. The doubled pawns are
actually a strengh here, because Black is unable to create a passed pawn. Now
White can just do nothing and marks time. Black has no meaningful plan availableKe638.Rb6+Kf739.Rb5Kf640.Rb6+Kg541.Rb5Kf442.Rb4+e443.fxe4fxe444.h3Funny, another 3 vs 2 rook endgame, but now Fabiano is a one with the pawn
up. This means the game will last 60 moves shorter :)Ra545.Rb7Rg5+46.Kf1Rg647.Rb4Rg548.Rb7Rg649.Rb4So, a relatively easy draw today by Fabiano
Caruana. Perhaps the World Champion was frustrated a bit with yesterday's game,
and decided to play a simple game today. My guess is that day after tomorrow
we will have quite a tense game in the 'Spanish torture', unless the
challenger changes his first move. Of course, it's just a shot in dark, but sometimes you are happy when you guess the right opening.½–½
Garry Kasparov took to the Queen’s Gambit at a relatively late stage of his chess career, but then had the best training anyone could imagine: in his first match for the world championship against Anatoly Karpov, this opening appeared on the board no less than 19 times. Now he shares his knowledge with you.
Danny King and the players during round two press conference | Photo: Nikolai Dunaevsky / World Chess
"I am not happy about this, but it's better than losing"
During the post-game press conference, Magnus talked about how he "went on full grovel", but he was also able to see the bright side of the situation and summed up his feelings this way: "I was surprised in the opening...I miscalculated something. Then I had to beg for a draw, but that went without problems".
This DVD offers a complete repertoire for handling this solid opening, often featuring a dynamic approach to pose the opponent more practical problems. Both of the main continuations 3...Nf6 and 3...Be7 are covered in two separate parts.
Antonio PereiraAntonio is a freelance writer and a philologist. He is mainly interested in the links between chess and culture, primarily literature. In chess games, he skews towards endgames and positional play.
I took the challenge on this page of seeing what I would play against the computer after the hypothetical sacrifice 17. Nxf7 and arrived to a draw, but a bit differently than indicated in the game analysis which also envisages that possibility. It went like this. 17...KxNd7 18. Bxd6...Rxd6
Up to there, same as Mr. Duda. Then it differs.
19.e4...Qxc3 20.Qxc3..Nxc3 21.Rxc6...Ne2+ 22.Kh1…Nc3 23.Rd8...Nxe4 24.f3...Nc3 25.Rc1...Ke7 26.Rg8...Kf7 and then repetition... 27.Rd8...Ke7 26.Rg8...Kf7
truthadjustr 11/12/2018 02:20
I like the chess motif for this 2018 World match. Who designed it and what it's called?
Petrarlsen 11/12/2018 12:45
@ decredico: Besides sparing us your explanations, you could also spare us your posts; perhaps it would be very beneficial for us; who knows!!!
Petrarlsen 11/12/2018 12:43
@ Abernathy: "Translation: I am incapable of providing a reasoned argument to support my absurd rant, so instead will just resort to calling others "ignorant" if they don't agree with me."
Quite!!
As some say, when you say too much that it is obvious, then, precisely it musn't be obvious! Otherwise, you would give some sort of an explanation...
Abernathy 11/11/2018 07:43
decredico: "Dumping this farce would be seriously beneficial. If one cannot on their own accord see how and why then no explanation would get through that ignorance .... so none will be supplied."
Translation: I am incapable of providing a reasoned argument to support my absurd rant, so instead will just resort to calling others "ignorant" if they don't agree with me.
adbennet 11/11/2018 07:38
Dear Chessbase, Please make decredico go away. It should be obvious why. Thanks in advance.
decredico 11/11/2018 06:48
Chess should go the route of other big money sports like Tennis and Golf and get rid of the World Championship because it's a joke. It's nothing more than a circle jerk at this stage.
Carlsen is correct that being the #1 raked player is a more significant achievement.
Dumping this farce would be seriously beneficial. If one cannot on their own accord see how and why then no explanation would get through that ignorance .... so none will be supplied.
mvh999 11/11/2018 06:40
Nice coverage and compilation of material. Thank you!
Glad to see they are having post game press conferences, but disappointing they are not more readily accessible to the public. The same goes for the lack of a live stream feed (+delay of course) without paying for it. Since the 2nd match with Anand, the non-paying chess public has not been able to view the match on video. Of course, the pen and ink caricatures are superbly done, but it's just not the same. Does Magnus have any say in this decision or is it all FIDE, Agon, and worldchess.com (Ilya Merenzon) that seem to have privatized this important aspect of chess over the past several years?
Thank you for your excellent coverage.
benavas3 11/11/2018 12:21
Shouldn't there be a table with games and results at the end of this page?
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