World Championship: Game 2 annotated by Luke McShane

by ChessBase
11/28/2021 – A remarkable battle between the protagonists of the 2021 World Championship match ended in a draw on Saturday. It was the second tense draw in a row, with both contenders showing deep theoretical preparation. Game 2 was a Catalan, and by no means was it a boring positional struggle. Grandmaster Luke McShanes analyses. | Photo: Niki Riga
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A fascinating game

By Luke McShane

Nepomniachtchi is known to favour the Grünfeld defence (with 2...g6). But Carlsen would certainly be well-prepared for that, so it is not a big surprise that we see a different second move. Carlsen steered the game toward a Catalan, which Nepomniachtchi has already faced a few times in 2021.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6  3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 dxc4 7.Qc2 b5

[7...a6 is Black’s most common move.]

8.Ne5

 
Carlsen vs. Nepomniachtchi

A rare choice from Carlsen.

[8.a4 is the most common move.]

8...c6 9.a4

White can win back the pawn immediately...

[...but after 9.Nxc6 Nxc6 10.Bxc6 Rb8 Black is very comfortable.]

9...Nd5

Blocking the diagonal of the Catalan bishop is the only reasonable option.

[9...Qxd4 10.Nxc6 Nxc6 11.Bxc6 Rb8 12.axb5 is very bad for Black. The queen will soon be chased away from d4.]

10.Nc3 f6 11.Nf3

One might consider keeping the diagonal open for the g2-bishop, but in fact...

[11.Ng4 would be a mistake, in view of 11...b4 which forces White’s knight back to a passive square, since 12.Ne4 f5 wins a piece]

11...Qd7

 

A sensible move, supporting the pawn on b5.

[11...b4 12.Ne4 transposes into a wild game Gelfand - Shirov, from 1992.]

12.e4 Nb4 13.Qe2 Nd3 14.e5

 

White has sacrificed a pawn, so it is natural that he  tries to create threats while Black is not yet fully developed.

14...Bb7 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.Ne4 Na6 17.Ne5

 

[17.Nxf6+ gxf6 18.Bh6 Rf7 is the computer’s first  choice, though by no means the only option. The position is very complex.] 

Replay the analysis in full on our interactive replayer below.

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 Nepomniachtchi is known to favour the Grünfeld defence (with 2...g6). But Carlsen would certainly be well prepared for that, so it is not a big surprise that we see a different second move. Carlsen now steers the game toward a Catalan, which Nepomniachtchi has already faced a few times in 2021. 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 dxc4 7.Qc2 b5 7...a6 is Black's most common move. 8.Ne5 A rare choice from Carlsen. 8.a4 is the most common move. 8...c6 9.a4 White can win back the pawn immediately, but after 9.Nxc6 Nxc6 10.Bxc6 Rb8 Black is very comfortable. 9...Nd5 Blocking the diagonal of the Catalan bishop is the only reasonable option. 9...Qxd4 10.Nxc6 Nxc6 11.Bxc6 Rb8 12.axb5 is very bad for Black. The queen will soon be chased away from d4. 10.Nc3 f6 11.Nf3 One might consider keeping the diagonal open for the g2-bishop. But in fact 11.Ng4 would be a mistake, in view of b4 which forces White's knight back to a passive square, since 12.Ne4 f5 wins a piece 11...Qd7 A sensible move, supporting the pawn on b5. 11...b4 12.Ne4 transposes into a wild game Gelfand - Shirov, from 1992. Ba6 13.Bh3 f5 14.Neg5 b3 15.Qd1 Rf6 16.e4 Nb4 17.exf5 exf5 18.Re1 Nc2 19.Nxh7 Kxh7 20.Ng5+ Kg6 21.Ne6 Qh8 22.Bxf5+ Kxf5 23.Qf3+ Kg6 24.Qe4+ Kf7 25.Ng5+ Kg8 26.Qxe7 Qh5 27.Ne6 Rxe6 28.Rxe6 Nxa1 29.Bh6 Qf7 30.Qg5 Kh7 31.Bxg7 Qxe6 32.Be5 Qg6 33.Qd8 Nd7 34.Qxd7+ Kg8 35.f4 c3 36.f5 cxb2 Gelfand, Boris - Shirov, Alexei, 0-1, Paris Immopar rapid, 1992, https://lichess.org/STJ34wVf 12.e4 Nb4 13.Qe2 Nd3 14.e5 White has sacrificed a pawn, so it is natural that he tries to create threats while Black is not yet fully developed. Bb7 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.Ne4 Na6 17.Ne5 17.Nxf6+ gxf6 18.Bh6 Rf7 is the computer's first choice, though by no means the only option. The position is very complex. 17...Bxe5 17...Qxd4 doesn't work: 18.Nxf6+ Rxf6 19.axb5 is very bad for Black. 18.dxe5 Nac5 During the press conference, Carlsen admitted that he had overlooked this possibility. However, his exchange sacrifice is a good response to the situation. 19.Nd6 Nb3 20.Rb1 White had two ways to sacrifice the exchange. Carlsen (characteristically, perhaps) opts for the strategically 'clean' version, where both the Black knights get exchanged off. However, the 'messy' version was also interesting. 20.Be3 is the messy version, and well worth considering. Nxa1 21.Rxa1 leaves one dangerous knight on d3, but there are two pluses from White's point of view. The pair of bishops is an asset, and secondly a later b2-b3 may undermine the knight on d3. One possible continuation is Nxe5 22.Bc5 Nd3 23.Nxb7 Qxb7 24.Bxf8 Rxf8 25.axb5 Qxb5 26.Qxe6+ Kh8 27.Rxa7 with equality probably not far off. 20...Nbxc1 As an alternative, Anand mentioned a fascinating counter-sacrifice of the exchange. 20...Rab8 21.Be3 c5 22.Nxb7 Rxb7 23.Bxb7 Qxb7 when the powerful pair of knights would give Black good prospects. However, White could also consider declining the sacrifice. 21.Rbxc1 Nxc1 22.Rxc1 A fascinating situation has arisen. White has knight for rook and pawn, but what a beautiful knight on d6! The computer shows a preference for Black's position, but in practical play it is much easier to handle the White side. Rab8 23.Rd1 It is important to realise that White's compensation has a long-term character. There is no rush to recover the material. 23.axb5 is significantly weaker: cxb5 24.Nxb7 Rxb7 25.Bxb7 Qxb7 leaves White a clear pawn down. 23...Ba8 It is very natural to tuck this bishop away and open the file for the b8-rook. But, ugly as it looks, the immediate 23...bxa4 was perhaps stronger. 24.Be4 g6 25.Qxc4 c5 is an important idea, using the pin on the d-file to exchange bishops. After, for example 26.Rd2 Kh8 27.Qxc5 Bxe4 28.Nxe4 Qb7 Black stands better, but there is a tough fight ahead. 24.Be4 A powerful move, which reveals a new dimension to White's compensation. There are serious chances of a mating attack on the kingside. Instead 24.Nxb5 Qb7 gives Black counterplay on the b-file. 24...c3 At first sight, this move is hard to comprehend. Why give up a pawn? The purpose of this move is to open the b-file, to accelerate Black's counterplay in case White plays for mate on the kingside. Compare with the alternative: 24...bxa4 25.Bxh7+ Kxh7 26.Qh5+ Kg8 27.Rd4 Rxb2 27...Qe7 is better: 28.Rh4 Qxh4 29.Qxh4 with wild complications. 28.Rh4 Rb1+ 29.Kg2 c5+ 30.Kh3 and Black is lost, since he must give up the queen to avoid being mated. 25.Qc2 25.bxc3 bxa4 and now, if White plays for mate, the purpose of 24...c3 becomes clear: 26.Rd4 c5 27.Bxh7+ Kxh7 28.Rh4+ Kg8 29.Qh5 29.Qc2 is little better: Rf5 wins 29...Rb1+ mate! 25...g6 This weakens the seventh rank, and leaves a hole on f6 which the knight might later exploit. But 25...h6 has its own drawbacks, e.g. 26.Qxc3 bxa4 27.Bc2 and White is teeing up for Qc3-d3-h7 mate. 26.bxc3 bxa4 26...Qg7 27.f4 g5 was interesting, and the computer favours Black. But who would willingly blow open the kingside, with all their pieces sitting passively on the back rank? 27.Qxa4 Rfd8 Defending the queen to allow the freeing move c6-c5. 28.Ra1 c5 29.Qc4 Bxe4 30.Nxe4 30.Qxe4 Rb2 and White has nothing better than returning the queen to c4. Carlsen's recapture with the knight is more accurate, since the threat of Ne4-f6+ forces Black to make a king move, instead of this more active rook move. 30...Kh8 31.Nd6 Rb6 32.Qxc5 Rdb8 33.Kg2 a6 A patient move. Since sacrificing the exchange, Carlsen has collected two pawns, and at this point certainly has full compensation. But Nepomniachtchi has succeed in exchanging bishops and the rooks have gained in scope. The knight on d6 remains a powerful piece, but there is no obvious way for Carlsen to improve his position. 33...Qc6+ would be too hurried: 34.Qxc6 Rxc6 35.Rxa7 Rxc3 36.Nf7+ Kg8 37.Ng5 sees White collect a second pawn on the kingside. Black will not achieve a draw easily. 34.Kh3 Rc6 35.Qd4 Kg8 36.c4 Qc7 37.Qg4 This allows a liquidation, to a position where White has just a nominal advantage. That's an understandable decision since there was no obvious way to improve White's position. Rxd6 38.exd6 Qxd6 39.c5 Qxc5 40.Qxe6+ Kg7 41.Rxa6 Rf8 41...Qxf2 would be a terrible blunder: 42.Qe5+ Kh6 43.Qxb8 Qf1+ 44.Kh4 Qxa6 45.Qf8# 42.f4 Qf5+ 43.Qxf5 Rxf5 44.Ra7+ Kg8 With all the pawns on the kingside, the extra pawn is not sufficient to win, as both players knew well. The final moves were played fairly quickly. 45.Kg4 Rb5 46.Re7 Ra5 47.Re5 Ra7 48.h4 Kg7 49.h5 Kh6 49...gxh5+ 50.Kxh5 is still drawn, but Nepomniachtchi's move is safer. 50.Kh4 Ra1 51.g4 Rh1+ 52.Kg3 gxh5 53.Re6+ Kg7 54.g5 Rg1+ 55.Kf2 Ra1 56.Rh6 Ra4 57.Kf3 57.Kg3 Ra3+ 58.Kh4 Ra4 59.Rf6 h6 is the simplest 60.Kxh5 hxg5 61.Kxg5 with a trivial draw 57...Ra3+ 58.Kf2 Ra4 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Magnus Carlsen2855Ian Nepomniachtchi2782½–½2021E06Game 2: Magnus Carlsen - Ian Nepomniacht

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