World Championship: Game 1 annotated by Michael Adams

by ChessBase
11/27/2021 – The 2021 World Championship match kicked off on Friday, with a fighting draw. English star Michael Adams annotates the first game of the confrontation between Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi. Adams concludes: “An interesting opening encounter, it will be intriguing to see if Magnus repeats his opening choice in game 3”. | Photo: Eric Rosen
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Well-armed contenders

By Michael Adams

After a lot of build up, everyone was eager for the match to start, and this fighting game bodes well for the spectators.

An interesting opening encounter. Magnus edged the preparation battle, although clearly both participants are well armed there. Carlsen got the type of position he would probably be happy to see in this match, but Ian got back on track after drifting earlier in the endgame. The  Marshall also proved a tough nut to crack for Nepomniachtchi’s compatriot Sergey Karjakin in their match. With no free day before game 3, it will be intriguing to see if Magnus repeats his opening choice then.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.h3 Na5

I was happy to see an  opening I have some experience with, but I was completely unaware of this pretty rare move. Like a lot of valuable new concepts, in retrospect, it doesn’t seem that surprising.

 
Nepomniachtchi vs. Carlsen

[Another major line that was debated in the Karjakin-Carlsen WC Match continues 8...Bb7 9.d3 d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nxe5 Nd4 when Black will acquire the bishop pair and a lead in development to compensate for the pawn. In the game, events develop in similar fashion.]

9.Nxe5 Nxb3

[9...d6? 10.Nf3 c5 11.d3 doesn’t give enough.]

10.axb3 Bb7 11.d3 d5

The forcing play continues.

 

12.exd5 Qxd5

[It’s tempting to try 12...Nxd5 but 13.d4! is a good response. The knight might drop back to d3 whilst his colleague goes to f3 to consolidate matters.]

13.Qf3

[13.Nf3 Rae8 gives Black plenty of compensation. Swapping queens is clearly preferable.]

13...Bd6 14.Kf1

 

[A subtle finesse. Not 14.Nc3? Qxe5 15.Rxe5 Bxf3-+; 
14.Qxd5 Nxd5 15.Bd2 gives Black a better version of the  game.]

14...Rfb8 The players were rather substantially better informed than me, as Nepo confirmed at the press conference that this position was also in his preparation, whilst Carlsen was still playing quickly.

[14...Rfe8? 15.Nc3! Qxe5 16.Rxe5 Bxf3 17.Rxe8+± is exactly what White wants.] 

Replay the analysis in full on our interactive replayer below.

 
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1.e4 After a lot of build up everyone was eager for the match to start, and this fighting game bodes well for the spectators. e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.h3 Na5 I was happy to see an opening I have some experience with, but I was completely unaware of this pretty rare move. Like a lot of valuable new concepts, in retrospect, it doesn't seem that surprising. Another major line that was debated in the Karjakin-Carlsen WC Match continues 8...Bb7 9.d3 d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nxe5 Nd4 when Black will acquire the bishop pair and a lead in development to compensate for the pawn. In the game, events develop in similar fashion. 9.Nxe5 Nxb3 9...d6? 10.Nf3 c5 11.d3 doesn't give enough. 10.axb3 Bb7 11.d3 d5 The forcing play continues. 12.exd5 Qxd5 It's tempting to try 12...Nxd5 but 13.d4! is a good response. The knight might drop back to d3 whilst his colleague goes to f3 to consolidate matters. 13.Qf3 13.Nf3 Rae8 gives Black plenty of compensation. Swapping queens is clearly preferable. 13...Bd6 14.Kf1 A subtle finesse. Not 14.Nc3? Qxe5 15.Rxe5 Bxf3-+ 14.Qxd5 Nxd5 15.Bd2 gives Black a better version of the game. 14...Rfb8 The players were rather substantially better informed than me, as Nepo confirmed at the press conference that this position was also in his preparation, whilst Carlsen was still playing quickly. 14...Rfe8? 15.Nc3! Qxe5 16.Rxe5 Bxf3 17.Rxe8+± is exactly what White wants. For those of you who were hoping the queens would have stayed on the board a bit longer, I can recommend investigating the very interesting 14...Qxe5!? Here are some preliminary lines: 15.Qxb7 Qh2 The Black queen can't be evicted, and although there aren't immediate threats matters are quite complicated 16.Nc3 A real computer move 16.Be3 c6! 17.Qxc6 Rac8 18.Qf3 Rxc2 is ok for Black. 16.Qf3 Rae8 17.Be3 Nh5! A great move clearing a path for the f-pawn. 18.Qxh5 f5 19.f4! Bxf4 20.Qf3 Bxe3 20...Qh1+ 21.Kf2 Qxe1+ 22.Kxe1 Rxe3+ 23.Qxe3 Bxe3 24.Rxa6 21.Rxe3 Qh1+ 21...f4 looks rather scary 22.Re4! Rxe4 23.Qxe4 23.dxe4 Rd8! 23...f3 24.gxf3 Qxc2 25.Qe6+ Kh8 26.Qe2 Qc1+ 27.Kg2 Black is worse here. 22.Kf2 f4 23.Re4 Qc1 24.Ke2 Qxb2 25.Rxa6 Qxb1 26.Kd2 The material is regained, but White's king has now found a safe home in the middle. 16...Rfe8 16...Rae8 17.Be3 b4 18.Ne2 Qh1+ 19.Ng1 Bh2 19...Nh5 20.Qf3 Bh2 21.Ke2 Nf4+ 22.Kd2 20.Ke2 17.Be3 c6 18.Qxc6 Rac8 19.Qf3 b4 20.Ne2 Rxc2 21.g4 Rxb2 22.Bd4 with a wild position where White is apparently doing well. 15.Qxd5 Nxd5 16.Bd2 White wants to keep the c3 square for his pieces, and 16.c3 c5 also makes the pawn on d3 vulnerable. 16.Nc3? Nb4 16...c5 Black will rely on the greater space, activity and the long term potential of the bishops to maintain the balance. 17.Nf3 More subtle than 17.Nc3 Nb4 18.Rac1 Rd8 I thought stacking the knights on e3 and e2 could be good here. 19.Ng4 h5 20.Ne3 Bf8! 21.Ne2 g6! is a sound response, the bishop can profitably emerge on g7 or h6. 17...Rd8 17...Nb4!? 18.Bxb4 18.Rc1 is similar to the game 18...cxb4 I once had a game with David Howell with this structure, although queens remained on the board in that game. One oddity of this pawn formation is that despite the preponderance of White pawns on the queenside, the fact that Black's pawns are all towards the edge of the board means that creating a passed a-pawn is a real possibility in the long term. 19.c4 19.Nbd2 Rc8! 19...Bxf3 20.gxf3 Bf4∞ 18.Nc3 Nb4 19.Rec1 An interesting decision. The other rook can be useful on the a-file sometimes, and as all the entry squares on the e-file are well protected, it isn't so influential there. The position is quite tense and not that easy to play. Often releasing the tension is a mistake. The next few moves see both players move the same minor piece on consecutive moves as White tries to untangle. Rac8 Hoping to push c4 one day. 19...f6 20.Ne2 Kf7 looked like a good alternative. 20.Ne2 The forcing 20.Ne4 Bf8 is less impressive 21.Bxb4 21.Ng3 Bxf3 22.gxf3 g6! 21...cxb4 22.Ne1 g6 and Black will fianchetto another bishop to great effect. 20...Nc6 A surprising retreat. If 20...Bf8 21.Bxb4 The cautious 21.Ne1!? or 21.Bc3!? are more challenging. 21...cxb4 22.d4 g6 23.c3 Bh6 24.Rd1 Bd5 is ok for Black. 20...f6!? still seems sensible. 21.Be3 White would like to push d4 here - all his pieces are set for this advance, and this further reinforces that idea. However, I think 21.Bf4! made sense here, as Black's pieces are a bit disorganised for the moment. Bf8 21...Be7 22.Bg5! f6 23.Be3 Nb4 24.d4 22.Rd1 Ne7 23.d4 21...Ne7! Another knight move, but a good decision. It will find another good post on f5. 21...Nb4?! 22.d4! 22.Bf4?! A critical moment. Ian forces exchanges, although this now forces a bishop swap. It isn't good - more patient play was more practical and precise. 22.Rd1 Nf5 23.Bd2 f6 isn't that impressive. I like 22.Ng3! the most. After Nd5 Black's play doesn't make a convincing impression, having taken three moves to transfer the knight to d5 from b4. All those jumps had their points, and interfered with White's plans, but 22...f5 23.Re1! 23.Bd2 is the kind of position White should aim for. 22.Nc3!? Nf5 23.Ne4 White's knight has taken the scenic route to e4. Be7 24.Bd2 24.Bf4 c4! 24...f6 24...c4 25.bxc4 bxc4 26.Ba5 The direct 22.d4 Nf5 23.c3 or 23.Rd1 also have some merit. 22...Bxf3 23.gxf3 Bxf4 24.Nxf4 Rc6! The position has clarified, and this move is very strong - the pawn on a6 is secured, and now the White rook on a1 becomes peripheral to the action. Black's rook can also be active along the third rank, in particular probing White's shattered kingside pawns. 25.Re1 25.Ra5 g6 26.Rca1 Rdd6 leaves White's rooks up a blind alley. 25...Nf5 26.c3 The knight is kept away from d4, but now there are lots of weaklings. Nh4 27.Re3 Kf8 A strange decision. 27...g6 gets rid of back rank issues, and Black might well regain the pawn with a much more compact position. 28.Ke2 28.Ng2? Nf5 28...h6!? would be a little unpleasant to meet - the knight on f4 is not secure, and has no flight squares. 28...Kf8 is a better version of the game 28...Rf6 29.Re4 28.Ng2 Now after 28.Ke2 g5 or 28...Rf6 are good for Black. 28...Nf5 29.Re5 g6 30.Ne1 A passive place for the knight, although it does protect two of the weak pawns. 30.Ke2! leaves White's rook without many squares, but it isn't easy to exploit this. Ng7! looks best, but it is a much better version of the game for White. 30...f6 31.Re4 Nd6 32.Rh4! and White's rook is not as short of room as it looks. 32.Re3 Kf7! leaves White without an obvious move. 32...Nf5 33.Re4 repeats. 32...h5 32...Rd7 33.Ne3 33.b4 33.Ne3 g5? 34.Rxh5 Kg7 35.Rg1! Kg6 36.Rh4+- 33...g5 34.Rxh5 Kg7 35.bxc5 Kg6 36.Rh4± 30...Ng7 31.Re4 31.f4!? Ne6 32.f5 Nf4 33.fxg6 hxg6 34.Re3 at least swaps one of the weak pawns. 31...f5! The rook should be driven backwards 31...Ne6?! 32.b4! is much more what White is looking for f5 After 32...Ng5 the amusing 33.bxc5 33.Rh4 is a simpler option. 33...Nxe4 34.fxe4 Rxc5 35.Rxa6 is fun. 32...cxb4 33.Rxb4 g5 33.Rxe6 Rxe6 34.bxc5 is dangerous only for Black Rde8 35.d4 Re2 36.Nd3 Rd2 37.Ne5 32.Re3 Ne6 33.Ng2 It is clear Black's knight is dominating its adversary. b4! Black could have improved the king first with 33...Kf7 but this would give White's own king more time to reinforce the queenside - playing this directly maximises the pressure. 34.Ke2 A sad move to make, but as the c3 pawn must stay in place to keep d4 covered there are no other promising options. Rb8 35.Kd2! Giving back the pawn on his own terms 35.Rb1? a5! 36.Kd2 bxc3+ 37.bxc3 a4 is already very serious 38.Kc2? axb3+ 39.Rxb3 Nd4+-+ 35...bxc3+ 36.bxc3 Rxb3 37.Kc2 37.Ra2 Rb1 38.Re1 Rxe1 39.Nxe1 Nf4 is also not desirable. 37...Rb7 37...Rcb6? 38.Rxe6!+- 38.h4 Kf7 38...Nd4+ 39.Kd1 doesn't lead anywhere. However, Magnus could use this tactical idea to play 38...a5! as 39.Rxa5? 39.Ree1! Rcb6 40.Ra2 a4 41.Ne3 Ra6 42.Rea1 Rba7 is no fun for White - the a-pawn is now much more useful. The direct 33...b4! was well timed, but here Carlsen was not quite urgent enough. 39...Nd4+ isn't possible. 38...Rcb6!? was also better than the move played. 39.Ree1! Suddenly White's co-ordination has returned, and now the knight that has had a hard life recently has a route to freedom via e3 and c4.The b5 pawn's disappearance created this new potential. Kf6 40.Ne3 After 40.Ra2 f4 leaves the knight on g2 looking silly again. This may not be so bad, but it is not easy to allow. 40...Rd7 40...Nf4! looked rather obvious and sets a small trap 41.Nc4 41.Ra4? Rb2+! 42.Kxb2 Nxd3+-+ 41...Re7 is still not completely dead 42.Rxe7 42.Re3!? 42...Kxe7 43.Ra4 Ng2! and White must be more careful. 41.Nc4 White could even play 41.Ra4!? as proposed by Judit Polgar. Rd8 41...h5?! 42.Nc4 42.Rea1 Rcd6 43.Rd1 is likely to lead to the same result. The players head for a repetition instead. 41...Re7 42.Ne5 Even the 'oversight' 42.Ra4 Nd4+ 43.cxd4 Rxe1 44.d5 Rc8 45.Rxa6+ Kg7 46.Ra7+ leads to a draw. 42...Rd6 43.Nc4 Rc6 44.Ne5 Rd6 45.Nc4 An interesting opening encounter. Magnus edged the preparation battle, although clearly both particpants are well armed there. Carlsen got the type of position he would probably be happy to see in this match, but Ian got back on track after drifting earlier in the endgame. The Marshall also proved a tough nut to crack for Nepomniachtchi's compatriot Sergey Karjakin in their match. With no free day before game 3, it will be intriguing to see if Magnus repeats his opening choice then. ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Nepomniachtchi,I2782Carlsen,M2855½–½2021C88WCh 20211

Let our authors show you how Carlsen tailored his openings to be able to outplay his opponents strategically in the middlegame or to obtain an enduring advantage into the endgame.

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fjpv fjpv 12/3/2021 04:32
Link for PGN is broken
rakerchess rakerchess 11/28/2021 02:24
I analyzed this game with my HP Z8 G4 workstation (3 GHz, 2 Intel Xeon processors, 48 cores, & 192 GB RAM) and Fat Fritz 2 (1 minute per move, Syzygy endgame table bases enabled, opening book turned off). Usually, when I analyze famous games from "best game" collections with this system, I find that they are chock full of mistakes and blunders completely overlooked (or passed over in silence) by commentators (even those using the help of a chess program). In this case, I found no mistakes or blunders whatsoever. It was as close to a "perfect" game as I've seen. Impressive start to the match by both players! The only "niggles" noted by the program were 20....Nc6, where the program recommended instead 20....Be7 21 Ne1 Rc7 22 Be3 Nd5= and 22 Bf4, where the program recommended instead 22 Ng3 Nd5 23 Bd2 Nb4+=. Probably not worth mentioning in this context.
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