World Championship Game 2: Preparation counterpunch

by Antonio Pereira
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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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: 

 
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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MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,186,70654%2421---
1.d4960,56055%2434---
1.Nf3286,91356%2440---
1.c4185,11556%2442---
1.g319,90256%2427---
1.b314,60954%2428---
1.f45,95948%2376---
1.Nc33,91950%2383---
1.b41,79148%2379---
1.a31,25254%2406---
1.e31,08149%2409---
1.d396950%2378---
1.g467046%2361---
1.h446654%2382---
1.c343951%2425---
1.h328956%2420---
1.a411860%2461---
1.f310047%2427---
1.Nh39366%2506---
1.Na34762%2476---
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Be7 The 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.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 c5 This 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 later 6...Nbd7 is the most common move, and the way Caruana played before this game. Perhaps he wasn't keen facing 7.c5 where 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.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Qc2 This is the main move, but White also may wish to play against Isolani with: 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Nxd5 exd5 10.Bd3 Bb4+ 11.Nd2 Nc6 This 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 hour 8...Nc6 9.a3 Qa5 10.Rd1 Again, one of the tabiyas, known since infamous '78 Karpov-Korchnoi match. In contrast to 10.0-0-0 line 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 predictible 10...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.Nd2 e5 12.Bg5 Nd4 13.Qb1 13.Qc1 was basically a draw offer: Bf5 14.Bxf6 Nc2+ 15.Ke2 Nd4+ 16.Ke1 Nc2+ 17.Ke2 Nd4+ 18.Ke1 Nc2+ 1/2 (18) Carlsen,M (2827)-Nakamura,H (2781) Douglas ENG 2017 13...Bf5 14.Bd3 Bxd3 14...e4? was played in the famous 21st game in aforementioned K-K match. White is better after both 15.Bc2 (the game continuation. Even stronger is 15.Bf1! where objectively Black is lost 15...Nxc2+ 16.Qxc2 Qa6 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Nb3 Bd6 19.Rxd5!± 1-0 (60) Kortschnoj,V (2665)-Karpov,A (2725) Baguio City 1978 15.Qxd3 Ne4 where as far as I am concerned Black is doing fine after both 16.Nxd5 and 16.Ncxe4 10...Ne4?! is probably wrong. After 11.cxd5 Nxc3 12.bxc3 exd5 13.Ng5! g6 14.Rxd5 Qxa3 15.Bc4 White develops dangerous initiative 10...Be7 is the classical main line. After 11.Be2 Ne4 11...dxc4 12.cxd5 Nxc3 13.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 14.bxc3 exd5 15.Rxd5 Bxa3 16.Nd4 White has initiative 1/2 (95) Carlsen,M (2853)-Nakamura,H (2814) Saint Louis USA 2015 11.Be2 11.Nd2 is 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 deviate d4 might be something like what the American prepared. The position is a mess after 11...dxc4 12.Nxc4 Rxd1+ 13.Qxd1 Qd8 14.Qxd8+ Nxd8 15.Be2 12.Nb3 Qb6 13.Na4 Bb4+ 14.axb4 Qxb4+ 15.Nd2∞ but the computer not surprisingly is keen on White 11...Ne4 Now, where the d5-pawn is not hanging, this exchange maneouvre should gradually equalise the position 12.0-0 12.Nd2!? Nxc3 13.Nb3 Qa4 14.Qxc3 Be7 15.cxd5 exd5 16.Nc5 Bxc5 17.Qxc5 Be6 18.0-0 Rac8 12...Nxc3 13.bxc3 h6 Defending against any Ng5 14.a4 Ne7= I think Black equalised. Now not to become worse with his shaky queenside, the World Champion has to play actively 15.Ne5 Bd6 15...f6 16.Ng6 e5 17.Bg3 Be6 is 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.cxd5 from now on, there will be many exchanges, when Black gets developed finally, but White is too active to have any real issues Nxd5 17.Bf3 White goes the route of interesting possibility, which looks risky but gets my approval. 17.Nxf7!? Kxf7 18.Bxd6 18.Bh5+ Kg8 19.Bxd6 Rxd6 is the same thing 18...Rxd6 19.Bh5+ Kg8 20.e4 20.c4 It seems that White has to play precisely to hold the position Bd7 20...Rc6 20...Nb4 20...Qc7 21.cxd5 Bxa4 22.Qa2 Rxd5 23.Bg4 Rxd1 24.Rxd1 Qb4 25.Bxe6+ Kh8 26.Rb1 Rd8∞ 20...Bd7 20...Nf4!? is a winning try 21.Rxd6 Qxh5 22.Rd8+ Kf7 23.Rfd1 e5∞ with unclear, but roughly equal position 21.exd5 Qxa4 one of many possibilities 22.Qb1 Rxd5 23.Qxb7 Qc6= 17...Nxf4 the simplest 17...Qc7 18.c4 Nxf4 19.exf4 can only create difficulties for Black 18.exf4 Bxe5 19.Rxd8+ Qxd8 20.fxe5 Qc7 20...Bd7!? Black has the luxury of not being afraid of losing b7-pawn 21.Bxb7 Rb8 22.Bf3 Qa5 and Black recaptures the missing pawn with equality 21.Rb1 Rb8 22.Qd3 Bd7 22...b6!? was a nice try for Black, I think 23.a5! otherwise White may be worse with his bad pawn structure Bb7 23...Qxe5 24.a6! is a key, White must have foreseen beforehand 24.axb6 axb6 25.Bxb7 Rxb7 26.Qd4= with a drawn position 23.a5 Bc6 24.Qd6 White 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 life Qxd6 25.exd6 Bxf3 26.gxf3 Kf8 27.c4 Ke8 28.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 endgame b6 29.c5 Kd7 30.cxb6 axb6 31.a7 Ra8 32.Rxb6 Rxa7 33.Kg2 e5 34.Rb4 f5 35.Rb6 Ke6 36.d7+ Kxd7 37.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 available Ke6 38.Rb6+ Kf7 39.Rb5 Kf6 40.Rb6+ Kg5 41.Rb5 Kf4 42.Rb4+ e4 43.fxe4 fxe4 44.h3 Funny, 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 :) Ra5 45.Rb7 Rg5+ 46.Kf1 Rg6 47.Rb4 Rg5 48.Rb7 Rg6 49.Rb4 So, 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
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M-Caruana,F-½–½2018D37World Championship 20182

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".

Game 2 press conference

Round-up show

GM Yannick Pelletier analyses Game 2

Match standings

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Antonio 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.

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