CARLSEN vs NAKAMURA – SINQUEFIELD CUP 2018 ROUND 9

Carlsen’s was the last game to finish in the tournament and came after hours and hours of relentless pressure.

This in itself created an interesting dilemma three players tied exactly for first place. The rules had some fairly comprehensive tie break clauses. However, these were not comprehensive enough. Clause one: take the score of the direct encounters between the players. That was three draws. Clause two: who had the most wins. All three had 2 wins each. Clause three: Who won the most games with the black pieces. None of the three had any wins with the black pieces.

The next step would be to determine the winner by means of a playoff match. This is where the problem arose. The rules state that the playoff may only take place between the top two players. If more than two players qualify for the playoff there shall be a drawing of lots to decide the players in the playoff. In other words, after 9 rounds of top level classical chess, the third place pay cheque will be determined by a “lucky draw”.

Understandably the three players put heads together and decided forego the unjust tiebreak system and instead agree to be co-champions and split the prize purse three ways.

Today’s game features a Queens Gambit Declined that includes some Q&A style annotations.

While playing through the game, scroll slowly so that when you get to the questions you can put some time on the clock (ten to fifteen minutes) and try and find the solution.

Carlsen,Magnus (2842) - Nakamura,Hikaru (2777)

6th Sinquefield Cup GCT 2018 Saint Louis (9), 27.08.2018

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 e6 3.c4 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 0–0 6.e3 b6 7.Bd3 dxc4 D37: Queen's Gambit Declined: 5 Bf4 
8.Bxc4 Ba6 9.Qe2 Bxc4 10.Qxc4 c5 11.dxc5 bxc5 12.0–0 Nc6 13.Rac1 

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xabcdefghy

13...Rc8N [13...Qa5 14.Rfd1 Rfd8 15.a3 1/2–1/2 (40) Dreev,A (2664)-Zherebukh,Y (2595) Las Vegas 2016] 
14.Ne5 Qb6 15.Nxc6 Rxc6 16.b3 h6 17.Rfd1 Qb7 18.h3 Rfc8 19.Na4 Nd7 20.Rd2 Nb6 21.Nxb6! Rxb6 22.Rcd1 Bf6 23.Rd7 Qa6 24.Qe4 Be5 is the strong threat. 
24...e5 25.Bxh6 Re8 26.Qg4 Black must now prevent e4. [26.Qd5?! Rf8³] 
26...Qxa2 27.e4 Hoping for R7d6. 
27...Qxb3 28.Be3 Rb7 29.R7d6 Threatens to win with Rxf6. 
29...Be7 30.R6d5 Bf8 31.Bxc5 Bxc5 32.Rxc5 Qe6 33.Qe2 Rd7 34.Rxd7 Qxd7² Endgame KQR-KQR 
35.Rd5 Qc7 36.Qd2 Ra8 37.Rd7 Qc4 38.f3 Qc5+ 39.Kh2 Qc6 40.Rd6 Qc5 41.Ra6 Qe7 42.Qe3 Kh7 43.Kg3 Qb7 44.Qa3 f6 45.Kh2 Qc7 46.Qa1 Qb7 47.Qa5 Qd7 48.Qa2 Qe7 49.Qf2 Qb7 50.Qa2 Qe7 51.Qd5 Rb8 52.Qa5 Rb7 53.Qe1 Qd7 54.Qh4+ Kg8 55.Qf2 Qf7 56.Qa2 Qxa2 57.Rxa2 KR-KR 
57...Kh7 58.Ra6 Kg6 59.h4 Kh5 60.Kh3 Rf7 61.g4+ Kh6 62.Kg3 g5 63.h5 Kg7 64.Kf2 Rb7 65.Ra3 Kh6 66.Ke3 

XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+-+(
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xabcdefghy

66...a5? 
Can you find an alternative for Black?

00000

[66...Rd7± might work better.] 
67.Rxa5+- Rb3+ 68.Kf2 Rb2+ 69.Kg3 Kg7 70.Ra7+ Kg8 71.Ra1 Kg7 72.Rf1 Ra2 73.Rf2 Ra3 74.Rd2 Ra7 75.Kf2 Kf7 76.Ke2 Rb7 77.Rd3 Ra7 78.Kd2 

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78...Ke6? 
What should Black have played instead?

00000

[78...Rc7 79.Rd8 Kg7] 
79.Kc3 Ke7 80.Kc4 Rc7+ 81.Kb5 Rc1 82.Rb3 Kf7 83.Kb6 

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83...Rc2? 
There was a viable alternative for Black. What was it?

00000

[83...Kf8 84.Kb5 Kf7] 
84.Kb7 Rc1 85.Kb8 Kg8 86.Rb6 Kg7 87.Rb7+ Kg8 intending ...Rc3. 
88.Rc7 Rb1+ 89.Kc8 Rb3 90.Kd7 Rxf3 91.Ke6 Rf4 92.h6 Kh8 93.Rb7 Kg8 94.Rg7+ Kh8 

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What was White's next move closing the net on the Black King?

00000 

95.Kf7! Rxe4 

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White's next move forced Black's resignation within two moves. What was it?

00000

96.Kg6! 
Why would 96.Kxf8 have been an error?

00000

[Weaker is 96.Kxf6 Rxg4 97.Kg6 (97.Rxg5 Rxg5 98.Kxg5 Kh7=; 97.Kxe5 Rh4=) 97...Ra4=] 
96...Ra4 97.Rh7+ 1–0

ARONIAN vs GRISCHUK – SINQUEFIELD CUP 2018 ROUND 9

I certainly wasn’t expecting to see 18.Rxf7!! Even more impressive was the speed at which Aronian played the move. I may be wrong, but it looked like the f7 pawn was off the board before Grischuk had even pressed his clock.

The win gave Aronian a share of first place and confirmed his spot in the London series finale.

Today’s game features an Old Indian, Ukrainian variation that includes some Q&A style annotations.

While playing through the game, scroll slowly so that when you get to the questions you can put some time on the clock (ten to fifteen minutes) and try and find the solution.

Aronian,Levon (2767) - Grischuk,Alexander (2766)

6th Sinquefield Cup GCT 2018 Saint Louis (9), 27.08.2018

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d6 3.g3 Nbd7 4.Bg2 e5 5.c4 c6 6.Nc3 e4 7.Nh4 A54: Old Indian, Ukrainian variation 
7...d5 8.0–0 Bb4  9.cxd5 White is a little better. 
9...cxd5 

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10.f3N [10.Nf5 0–0 11.Qb3 Bxc3 12.Qxc3 Nb6 13.Ne3 Be6 14.b3 Qd7 0–1 (57) Kovalenko,I (2642)-Kabanov,N (2501) Moscow 2014] 
10...Bxc3 11.bxc3 0–0 12.Ba3 Black now has to pay attention to fxe4. 
12...Re8 13.Nf5 Nb6 14.Nd6 Nc4 15.Nxc4 dxc4 16.fxe4 Nxe4 17.Qc2 Qd5 

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Can you find White's killer blow in this position?

00000

18.Rxf7!  
18...Kxf7–+ 
How would you have responded if Black had replied with 18...Qxf7 instead?

00000

[Rather not 18...Qxf7 19.Bxe4 Qh5 20.Re1²] 
19.Rf1+ Bf5! 20.g4 g6 21.Qc1 

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21...Kg7 
Can you find a better option for Black instead of the move he played?

00000

[21...Re6!–+ 22.Qg5 (22.gxf5? gxf5 23.Qg5 Qxd4+ 24.cxd4 Nxg5µ) 22...Qxd4+! 23.cxd4 Nxg5] 
22.gxf5³ gxf5 Threatens Re6 
23.Bxe4 fxe4 [A no go is 23...Qxe4 24.Qg5+ Kh8 25.Qf6+ Kg8 26.Rxf5=] 
24.Qf4 

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What is Black's best option to fend off the looming attack?

00000

24...h6! 25.Qc7+ Kh8 [25...Kg6µ 26.Kf2 Rac8] 
26.Bd6!‚ White attacks. 
26...Rg8+ 27.Kf2! Rg6! 28.Be5+ Kg8 aims at ... Rf8 +. 
29.Ke3 

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29...Rd8?
What should Black have played instead?

00000

[29...Re8=] 
Black's error exposes a vicious mating attack. Find the move.

00000

30.Qe7!+- b5 31.h4 a5 32.h5 Rg5 33.Rf6 Rxe5 34.Rg6+  1–0

CARUANA vs KARJAKIN – SINQUEFIELD CUP 2018 ROUND 6

Caruana’s crushing victory in round six left little doubt that he is coming into some excellent form ahead of his World Championship match.

In fact had Carlsen not managed to salvage the draw against Grischuk, Caruana would have been the new number one ranked player on the live rating list. As is the rating difference between the two has reduced to just 7.4, something that can be erased should Caruana somehow beat Carlsen with Black in Round 7. Carlsen has been World number one since the middle of 2011, so this is a potential big deal.

The Carlsen versus Caruana game in round 7 will be the last time that the two players face each other before their match in London – so be sure not to miss that one.

Today’s game features a Nimzo-Indian that includes some Q&A style annotations.

While playing through the game, scroll slowly so that when you get to the questions you can put some time on the clock (ten to fifteen minutes) and try and find the solution.

Caruana,Fabiano (2822) - Karjakin,Sergey (2773)

6th Sinquefield Cup GCT 2018 Saint Louis (6), 24.08.2018

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.g3 0–0 5.Bg2 d5 6.Nf3 dxc4 7.0–0 Nc6 8.Qa4 E20: Nimzo-Indian: 4 g3 and 4 f3 
8...Bd7 9.Bg5 [9.Qc2 Be7 10.e4 Nb4 11.Qe2 Nd3 12.Be3 b5 13.Ne1 Nxe1 14.Rfxe1 c6 15.Rad1 Rc8 0–1 (41) So,W (2780)-Anand,V (2768) Saint Louis 2018] 
9...a5 

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10.Bxf6N White has an edge. [10.Rfd1 Nxd4 11.Rxd4 Bxc3 12.Rxd7 Qxd7 13.Qxd7 Nxd7 14.bxc3 f6 15.Be3 Rab8 16.Nd4 Kf7 17.Nb5 1–0 (17) Lenderman,A (2600)-Gretarsson,H (2567) Reykjavik 2018] 
10...Qxf6 11.a3 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Qd8 13.Qxc4 a4 14.Nd2 Na5 15.Qb4 Ra7 16.Rab1 b6 17.e3 Bc6 18.Bxc6 Nxc6 19.Qb5 Qa8 20.c4 Rd8 21.Rfc1 e5 [21...h6= remains equal.] 
22.d5± Nb8 23.c5 Ra5 

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Now that White has the space advantage, the time has come to open the position and launch the attack. Find the move.

00000

24.Qb2! Qxd5 25.cxb6 cxb6 26.Nc4 Rc5 27.Qxb6 

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27...f6?
Can you find an improvement on Black's decisive error?

00000

[27...Rcc8±] 
White's next move exploits the error and forced Black to resign within three moves. What was it?

00000

28.Rd1 White is clearly winning. 
28...Qxd1+ 29.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 30.Kg2  1–0

CARUANA vs NAKAMURA – SINQUEFIELD CUP 2018 ROUND 4

After two days featuring decisive games lasting almost 7 hours, it was a pleasant change to have one that finished in just over four hours. We now have half the field tried for the lead on plus one. Nakamura languished in last place on minus two.

Caruana hasn’t lost a classical game to Nakamura in the last three years. The opening novelty that lead to victory is what Nigel Short referred to during his match against Kasparov as a condom opening – something to use once, then discard. In this instance it was castling queenside out of a Catalan positional structure. Caruana prepared the line a few months back with the view to perhaps use it in a rapid game.

During the post-game interview, Caruana noted that Nakamura had played completely logical moves. They were just not the best moves in the highly unusual position.

Today’s game features a Catalan Opening that includes some Q&A style annotations.

While playing through the game, scroll slowly so that when you get to the questions you can put some time on the clock (ten to fifteen minutes) and try and find the solution.

Caruana,Fabiano (2822) - Nakamura,Hikaru (2777)

6th Sinquefield Cup GCT 2018 Saint Louis (4), 21.08.2018

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.g3 dxc4 6.Bg2 0–0 7.Ne5 Nc6 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.Nxc6 Qe8 10.Nxe7+ Qxe7 11.Qa4 c5 12.dxc5 E06: Catalan 
12...Qxc5 13.Be3 Qc7 

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14.0–0–0N The position is balanced. [14.0–0 Nd5 15.Bd4 Bd7 16.Qa3 a5 17.Rad1 Nb4 18.Bc5 Qxc5 19.Rxd7 Rab8 1/2–1/2 (46) Svidler,P (2763)-Nakamura,H (2780) Palma de Mallorca 2017] 
14...Ng4 15.Rd2 Nxe3 16.fxe3 Rb8 17.Rhd1 a5 18.Kb1 h6 19.Ka1 Rb4 20.Qc2 Rb8 21.Qe4 Bb7 22.Qd4 Ba8 23.e4 Rfc8 24.Qf2 

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Black now has to pay attention to Rd7. 
24...Bc6 25.Qc5 Be8 26.Qxc7 Rxc7 27.Rd6 Kf8 28.Ra6 Rc5 29.Ra7 Rbc8 30.Kb1 Rh5 31.h4 Re5 32.Kc2 g5 33.Rf1 Kg7 34.Rb7 Kg6 35.Kd2 f5 36.hxg5 

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36...fxe4 
Can you find and improvement on what Black played?

00000

[Rather 36...Kxg5² 37.exf5 exf5] 
37.Ke3 
There is a better move available for White. What is it?

00000

[Better is 37.gxh6± e3+ 38.Kc1 Kxh6 39.Rh1+ Rh5 40.Rxh5+ Bxh5 41.Rb6] 
37...Bc6 38.Re7ƒ aiming for gxh6 Black is under heavy pressure. 
38...Rxg5 39.Rxe6+ [39.Nxe4?! Bxe4 40.Rxe6+ (40.Kxe4 Rc6=) 40...Kg7=] 
39...Kg7 40.Re7+ [40.Nxe4?! Bxe4 41.Re7+ (41.Rxe4 Rxg3+ 42.Kd4 c3=; 41.Kxe4 Rb5=) 41...Kg6=] 
40...Kg6 41.Rd1 [41.Nxe4?! Bxe4 42.Re6+ (42.Rxe4 Rxg3+ 43.Kd4 c3=; 42.Kxe4 Rb5=) 42...Kg7=] 
41...Kf6 

XABCDEFGHY
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Find the best continuation for White.

00000

42.Ra7! Ke6 

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43.Rh1 
What would have been wrong with 43.Nxe4?

00000

[Much worse is 43.Nxe4?! Bxe4 44.Kxe4 Re5+ 45.Kf4 Rf8+ 46.Kg4 h5+ 47.Kh3 Rxe2=] 
43...h5 44.g4! [However not 44.Nxe4?! Re5=] 
44...Be8? [44...Rh8±] 
45.gxh5+- Bxh5 [45...Rxh5 is probably better. 46.Rxh5 Bxh5 47.Rxa5 Be8] 
46.Nxe4 White is clearly winning. [Weaker is 46.Ra6+ Kf7+-] 
46...Rf5 47.Ra6+ Ke7 48.Nd6 Re5+ 49.Kd4  1–0

NAKAMURA vs GRISCHUK – SINQUEFIELD CUP 2018 ROUND 3

For the second day in a row Central European time meant that I was already asleep when the only decisive game of the day finished. Just like round 2, this was also 6.5 hours – although 89 moves compared to Carlsen’s 88 mover. Grischuk leveraged his space advantage to win three pawns, creating a won end game.

Today’s game features a Two Knights Defense that includes some Q&A style annotations.

While playing through the game, scroll slowly so that when you get to the questions you can put some time on the clock (ten to fifteen minutes) and try and find the solution.

Nakamura,Hikaru (2777) - Grischuk,Alexander (2766)

6th Sinquefield Cup GCT 2018 Saint Louis (3), 20.08.2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.0–0 0–0 6.c3 d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.Re1 Bg4 9.Nbd2 Nb6 10.Bb5 Bd6 11.h3 Bh5 12.Ne4 C55: Two Knights: 4 d3, 4 d4 exd4 5 e5 and Max Lange Attack 
12...Re8 13.Bg5 f6 Threatens to win with ...Bxf3. 
14.Be3 The position is equal. 
14...a6 15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.Ng3 Bf7 

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17.c4N Hoping for c5. [17.d4 Nc4 18.dxe5 Bxe5 19.Nxe5 Rxe5 1/2–1/2 (43) Carlsen,M (2855)-Aronian,L (2792) Leuven 2016] 
17...Bb4 18.Re2 Bf8 19.b3 c5 20.Qe1 a5 21.Rd1 a4 22.Nd2 Qd7 23.Nb1 axb3 24.axb3 Bg6 25.f3 

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25...Rad8 
What would have been wrong with 25...Bxd3 instead of the move that was played?

00000

[Don't go for 25...Bxd3? 26.Red2+-] 
26.Qf2 Qc6 27.Red2 Nd7 28.Nc3 h6 29.Kh1 Kh8 30.Nb5 Bh7 31.Ra2 f5! 32.Bc1 Nf6 33.Nc3 Qb7 34.Rb2 g5 35.Rb1 Qc6 36.Bb2 Kg8 37.Nf1 Nh5 38.Nd5 Qd6 39.Ng3 c6 40.Nc3? 

XABCDEFGHY
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Can you find an improvement for White instead of 40.Nc3?

00000 

[40.Nxh5µ cxd5 41.g4] 
Find the move that punishes White's error.

00000

40...Nf4!–+ 41.Qf1 Nxd3 42.Nce2 Qe6 43.Bc3 Rd6 44.Rd2 Red8 45.Rbd1 Bg6 46.Nc1 Nxc1 47.Rxd6 Bxd6 [Resist 47...Rxd6 48.Rxc1 e4 49.fxe4–+] 
48.Rxc1 Rb8 49.Ra1 [49.Qe2 was necessary.] 
49...Rxb3 50.Ra8+ Rb8 51.Ra6 Bf8 52.Qe2 Bg7 [¹52...e4 ...Rb3 is the strong threat. 53.Kg1 e3] 
53.Ra7 

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Can you see the immediate threat posed by White?

00000

And now Rxg7+! would win. 
53...Re8 54.h4 [54.Nf1 is a better defense.] 
54...gxh4 55.Nf1 f4 56.Nd2 Re7 57.Rxe7 Qxe7 58.Ne4 Bf7 59.Kh2 

XABCDEFGHY
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1+-+-+-+-!
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Black has a powerful continuation here. What is it?

00000

59...h3! 60.gxh3 Qe6 61.Qg2 Kh7 62.Qc2 White wants to mate with Nf6+. 
62...Kh8 63.Qb2 

XABCDEFGHY
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63...Kh7 
What would have been wrong with 63...Qxc4 in this position?

00000

[Don't play 63...Qxc4 64.Bxe5 Bxe5 65.Qxe5+ Kh7 66.Qxf4=] 
64.Qc2! 
What is White's unpleasant threat?

00000

White threatens Nf6+ and mate. 
64...Qg6 65.Qe2 Be6 66.Qf1 Bf5 67.Qe2 Qh5 68.Nf2 [¹68.Qf1] 
68...Qh4 69.Ne4 [¹69.Kg1] 
69...Qxh3+ 70.Kg1 Qh5 Black is clearly winning. 
71.Be1 [¹71.Nd2 Qg6+ 72.Kh1] 
71...Bxe4 72.Qxe4+ Qg6+ 73.Kh2 Qxe4 74.fxe4 Endgame KB-KB 
74...Kg6 75.Kh3 Kh5 76.Bh4 f3 77.Bf2 Bf6 78.Be1 Bg5 79.Bf2 Be7 80.Be1 Bd8 81.Bg3 Kg5 82.Bxe5 Bf6 83.Bd6 f2 84.Kg2 Bd4 85.Kf1 Kg4 86.Ke2 h5 87.Kf1 h4 88.Bh2 h3 89.Ke2 

XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+-+-+-'
6-+p+-+-+&
5+-zp-+-+-%
4-+PvlP+k+$
3+-+-+-+p#
2-+-+Kzp-vL"
1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy

Blacks next move caused White to resign immediately. What was it?

00000

89...Be3!  0–1

CARLSEN vs KARJAKIN – SINQUEFIELD CUP 2018 ROUND 2

I must admit that at 6.5 hours this game lasted longer than I did last night. Central European Time is 6 hours ahead of Saint Lewis. So when I went to bed at 1:30am the position was still dead equal and Karjakin’s defense was holding well.

However when the position opens up during the final seconds at the end of the game it vastly increases the number of variations that the defender needs to consider. As Carlsen stated, as soon as he got Karjakin down to the final seconds it would be very, very hard not to blunder. The strategy worked.

Today’s game features an English Opening that includes some Q&A style annotations.

While playing through the game, scroll slowly so that when you get to the questions you can put some time on the clock (ten to fifteen minutes) and try and find the solution.

Carlsen,Magnus (2842) - Karjakin,Sergey (2773)

6th Sinquefield Cup GCT 2018 Saint Louis (2), 19.08.2018

1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 0–0 5.Nf3 d5 6.a3 Be7 7.d4 dxc4 8.Ne5 Nc6 A17: English Opening: 1...Nf6 with ...Bb4 
9.Bxc6 bxc6 10.Nxc6 Qe8 11.Nxe7+ Qxe7 12.Qa4 c5 

XABCDEFGHY
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5+-zp-+-+-%
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3zP-sN-+-zP-#
2-zP-+PzP-zP"
1tR-vL-mK-+R!
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13.dxc5N [13.Qxc4 cxd4 14.Qxd4 e5 15.Qh4 Qe6 16.0–0 1/2–1/2 (51) Moiseenko,A (2648)-Karjakin,S (2774) Almaty 2016] 
13...Qxc5 14.Be3 Qc7 15.Rd1 Nd5 16.Bd4 Rd8 17.Nxd5 exd5 18.Qc2 Qe7 19.0–0 Bh3 20.Rfe1 Rd7 21.Bc3 Re8 22.Rd4 

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6-+-+-+-+&
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1+-+-tR-mK-!
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22...Qg5 [22...h6 with more complications. 23.e4 Qd8 24.f3 dxe4 25.Rexe4 Rxd4 26.Bxd4 Re6] 
23.Qd2 

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4-+ptR-+-+$
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23...Qxd2 [23...Qd8 seems wilder. 24.Qf4 Be6 25.e4 dxe4 26.Rdxe4 Rd1] 
24.Rxd2 Be6 25.Red1 Rde7 26.f3 h5 27.Kf2 f6 28.Rd4 Kh7 29.R1d2 Bf7 30.h3 a6 31.Rf4 Kg8 32.Bd4 Kh7 33.Bc3 Kg8 34.g4 hxg4 35.hxg4 Kh7 36.Rf5 Rb7 37.Rfxd5 Bxd5 38.Rxd5² Endgame KRR-KRB 
38...Kg6 39.Rc5 Rh8 40.Kg3 Rb6 41.Rxc4 Rh1 42.Rc7 Rc1 With the idea ...Rxb2! 
43.Rd7 Rc6 44.a4 Rg1+ 45.Kf2 

XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+R+-zp-'
6p+r+-zpk+&
5+-+-+-+-%
4P+-+-+P+$
3+-vL-+P+-#
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1+-+-+-tr-!
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45...Ra1 [45...Rh1= remains equal.] 
46.a5!± Ra4 47.Kg3 Rac4 48.Ra7 Re6 49.e4 Rc8 50.Rd7 Rec6 51.f4 R8c7 52.f5+ Kh7 53.Rd8 Rc8 54.Rd3 Re8 55.Rd4 Rc7 56.Kf4 Rce7 [Black should play 56...Rec8!² ] 
57.Rc4 Kh6 

XABCDEFGHY
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5zP-+-+P+-%
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3+-vL-+-+-#
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1+-+-+-+-!
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58.Kf3
What is the threat with this move?

00000

Strongly threatening e5! 
58...Rd7 [58...Rd8²] 
59.Bd4 [59.e5!±] 
59...Kh7² 60.b4 Rd6 61.Ke3 Kh6 

XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+r+-+(
7+-+-+-zp-'
6p+-tr-zp-mk&
5zP-+-+P+-%
4-zPRvLP+P+$
3+-+-mK-+-#
2-+-+-+-+"
1+-+-+-+-!
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62.Rc1 
Another massive threat. What is it?

00000

Threatening mate with Rh1+. 
62...Kh7! 63.Bb6 Rd7 64.Bc5 [64.Rc6±] 
64...Red8 [64...Kg8=] 
65.Rh1+ [Better is 65.g5!± ] 
65...Kg8= 66.Kf4 Re8 67.Re1 g5+ 68.fxg6 Kg7 69.g5 Threatens to win with Rh1. 
69...Kxg6 70.gxf6 Kxf6 71.Rh1 Rf7 72.Ke3 Rh6+ is the strong threat. 
72...Ke6 73.Rh4 Rf6 74.Rh7 aiming for Ra7. 
74...Rf7 75.Rh5 Kd7 76.e5 Rf1 77.Ke4 

XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+r+-+(
7+-+k+-+-'
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4-zP-+K+-+$
3+-+-+-+-#
2-+-+-+-+"
1+-+-+r+-!
xabcdefghy

And now Rh7+ would win. 
77...Kc6? 
Can you find the correct defense in place of Black's move?

00000

[77...Re1+= and Black is okay. 78.Kd5 Rd1+ 79.Kc4 Rc1+ 80.Kd4 Rd1+ 81.Kc3 Re6] 
78.Rh6++- White is clearly winning. 
78...Kb5 

XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+r+-+(
7+-+-+-+-'
6p+-+-+-tR&
5zPkvL-zP-+-%
4-zP-+K+-+$
3+-+-+-+-#
2-+-+-+-+"
1+-+-+r+-!
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[¹78...Kc7 79.Rxa6 Re1+ 80.Kf3 Kd7] 
Find the super strong reply for White.

00000

79.Rb6+! Kc4 80.e6 Re1+ 81.Kf5 Rf1+ 

XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+r+-+(
7+-+-+-+-'
6ptR-+P+-+&
5zP-vL-+K+-%
4-zPk+-+-+$
3+-+-+-+-#
2-+-+-+-+"
1+-+-+r+-!
xabcdefghy

White's next move sets up the sequence that ended with Black resigning in 6 moves. What is it?

00000

82.Ke5! Re1+ 83.Kf6 Rf1+ 84.Kg7 Ra8 85.e7 Re1 86.Kf7 Re4 87.Rd6 Rh8 88.Rxa6  1–0

ARONIAN vs KARJAKIN – SINQUEFIELD CUP 2018 ROUND 1

Aronian switched to 1.e4 for the opening round of the Sinquefield Cup. This resulted in him facing the Berlin Defence, an opening that he plays as Black. Playing the opposite colour for one of your openings can prove useful to see new possibilities and ideas from the other side of the board.

During the post-game interview Aronian said: “My Year so far is pretty dreadful. It can’t get any worse. I might as well try something new to get myself hyped up.”

Today’s game features a Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense that includes some Q&A style annotations.

While playing through the game, scroll slowly so that when you get to the questions you can put some time on the clock (ten to fifteen minutes) and try and find the solution.

Aronian,Levon (2767) - Karjakin,Sergey (2773)

6th Sinquefield Cup GCT 2018 Saint Louis (1), 18.08.2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0–0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nc3 Ke8 10.h3 h5 C67: Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defence: 4 0–0 Nxe4 
11.Bg5 [11.Bf4 Be7 12.Rad1 Be6 13.Ng5 Rh6 14.Rfe1 Bb4 15.a3 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Rd8 17.Rxd8+ Kxd8 18.g4 hxg4 19.hxg4 1/2–1/2 (37) Vachier Lagrave,M (2779)-Karjakin,S (2773) Saint Louis 2018] 
11...Be6 12.Rfd1 Be7 13.Rd2 Rd8 And now ...Bxg5 would win. 
14.Rxd8+ Kxd8 15.Rd1+ Ke8 16.b3 h4 17.Bc1 

XABCDEFGHY
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1+-vLR+-mK-!
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17...a5N [17...b6 18.Ne2 1/2–1/2 (56) Sjugirov,S (2647) -Georgescu,T (2492) Iasi 2014] 
18.Ne2 Bd5 19.Ne1 Be6 20.Nf4 Bc8 21.Nf3 Rh6 22.Nh2 Rh8 23.Ng4 Nh6 24.Ne3 Nf5 25.Nc4 g5 26.Ne2 b6 27.Nd2 Ng7 28.Ne4 Ne6 29.Nf6+ Bxf6! 30.exf6 Rg8 31.f3 Rg6 32.Bb2 Bd7 33.Nc1 c5 34.Be5 [34.Nd3² Nd4 35.c3] 
34...Kd8 [34...Nd4!=] 
35.Nd3!² Kc8 

XABCDEFGHY
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36.Bb2 aiming for Ne5. 
36...Be8 37.Re1 Rg8 38.Re4 Kd8 39.Kf2 Nf8 40.Ne5 Nh7 [Black should try 40...Ne6 ] 
41.f4 Rh8 [41...gxf4± 42.Rxf4 Kc8] 
42.Nf3+- gxf4 43.Rxf4 Nf8 44.Rxh4 Rxh4 45.Nxh4± Endgame KBN-KBN 
45...Bc6 46.Ke3 Kd7 47.g4 Ng6 48.Nxg6 fxg6+- KB-KB 
49.Be5 b5 50.Bxc7 a4 51.Bb6 

XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+k+-+-'
6-vLl+-zPp+&
5+pzp-+-+-%
4p+-+-+P+$
3+P+-mK-+P#
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1+-+-+-+-!
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51...axb3? 
Can you find an improvement on the move Black played?

00000

[51...g5 52.f7 (52.Bxc5 Ke6+-) 52...Ke7 53.Bd8+ (53.Bxc5+ Kxf7 54.Kf2 Be4±) 53...Kxf7 54.Bxg5 b4] 
52.cxb3 g5? [52...c4 53.bxc4 bxc4] 
53.Bxc5 

XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+k+-+-'
6-+l+-zP-+&
5+pvL-+-zp-%
4-+-+-+P+$
3+P+-mK-+P#
2P+-+-+-+"
1+-+-+-+-!
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If it were White's move now, can you find the killer blow?

00000

f7 would kill now.White is clearly winning. 
53...Ke6 54.Bd4 Bg2 

XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+-+-+-'
6-+-+kzP-+&
5+p+-+-zp-%
4-+-vL-+P+$
3+P+-mK-+P#
2P+-+-+l+"
1+-+-+-+-!
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See if you can find the next powerful attacking move for White.

00000

55.h4! gxh4 56.Kf4 Kf7 57.g5 h3 58.Kg3 Kg6 59.Be3 [¹59.a4 bxa4 60.bxa4] 
59...Kf7 60.Bd2 [¹60.a4 bxa4 61.bxa4] 
60...Kg6 61.a4 bxa4 62.bxa4 Kf7 63.a5 Bf1 64.Bf4 Kg6 65.Kg4 Kf7 66.Kf5 Bd3+ 

XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+-+k+-'
6-+-+-zP-+&
5zP-+-+KzP-%
4-+-+-vL-+$
3+-+l+-+p#
2-+-+-+-+"
1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy

Instead of just trying to find the next move for White, because there is only one legal move; try rather to see why it forced Black to resign in three moves...

00000

67.Ke5! Be2 68.Kd6 Bd3 69.Kc5  1–0