Showing posts with label anand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label anand. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP 2018 ROUND 5 – BHARATHAKOTI vs MAGHSOODLOO


The style of analysis in today’s game is the same as that used in my new book: Hidden Lessons From The 2018 Batumi Chess Olympiad.

The 2018 edition of the World Junior Championship has as top seed the phenomenally talented Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran. He has only just turned 18 and already has a live rating of 2667. Winning this tournament now is a massive opportunity as it is a direct seeded slot into the 2019 World Cup, which in turn is a gateway to the next Candidates cycle. In addition it will open the door to invitations to the lucrative super tournament circuit.

It might seem strange to many, but when I look at chess players I always take a close look at the physical condition of the player. This comes from my background in the health and fitness industry.

Physical fitness is a vital ingredient on the classical tournament circuit where it is possible to have consecutive days at the chess board of seven hours or longer. As chess players we know how physically draining long tournament games can be.

Remember how Peter Svidler lost a lot of weight before the Candidates in 2013? It made a huge difference to his performance over the final two rounds when tension was at an extreme level.

It is clear that Parham does not rate working on his fitness highly at all. During an interview Parham indicated that he works at least ten hours every day on his chess. From my perspective, if he took just 30 minutes a day from that schedule for physical training he would be able to absorb so much more during his study sessions.

Aspirant higher level players all realize that having a coach is an important step to improvement. It is just as important to have a coach or personal trainer for the physical aspect of your chess training as well.

Today’s game features a Bogo-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.


Harsha Bharathakoti (2474) - Maghsoodloo,Parham (2649)
World Junior U20 Open 2018 Gebze (5.1), 08.09.2018

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0–0 5.Bd2 b6 6.Nf3 Bb7 7.Bd3 a5 8.0–0 d5 E11: Bogo-Indian 
9.cxd5 exd5 10.Ne5 Nbd7 11.f4 c5 12.a3 Bxc3 13.Bxc3 c4 

XABCDEFGHY
8r+-wq-trk+(
7+l+n+pzpp'
6-zp-+-sn-+&
5zp-+psN-+-%
4-+pzP-zP-+$
3zP-vLLzP-+-#
2-zP-+-+PzP"
1tR-+Q+RmK-!
xabcdefghy

14.Bf5N [14.Bc2 b5 15.Rf3 Ra6 16.Rg3 1/2–1/2 (31) L'Ami,E (2628)-Anand,V (2810) Wijk aan Zee 2011 ] 
14...b5 15.Qe1 Nb8 16.Rd1 Ne8 17.Rf3 Nd6 18.Bc2 Ne4 19.Rh3 Bc8 20.g4 Ra7 [20...Ra6=] 
21.Bxe4² dxe4 

XABCDEFGHY
8-snlwq-trk+(
7tr-+-+pzpp'
6-+-+-+-+&
5zpp+-sN-+-%
4-+pzPpzPP+$
3zP-vL-zP-+R#
2-zP-+-+-zP"
1+-+RwQ-mK-!
xabcdefghy

22.d5 
Can you find an improvement for White?
00000
[White should play 22.f5!² ] 
22...f6!= 23.Nc6 Nxc6 24.dxc6 Qe8 25.Qh4 [Better is 25.Rd6² ] 
25...h6! 

XABCDEFGHY
8-+l+qtrk+(
7tr-+-+-zp-'
6-+P+-zp-zp&
5zpp+-+-+-%
4-+p+pzPPwQ$
3zP-vL-zP-+R#
2-zP-+-+-zP"
1+-+R+-mK-!
xabcdefghy

26.Rg3 
What is White's threat?
00000
Strongly threatening g5. 
26...Qxc6 27.g5 Hoping for gxf6. 
27...fxg5 28.fxg5 Rd7 29.gxh6 Rxd1+ 30.Kg2 g6! 31.h7+‚ White has some attack. 
31...Kf7 32.h8Q Rxh8 33.Qxh8 Bf5! 34.Qg7+ Ke8! 35.Qg8+ Kd7 36.Bxa5 Qd8+ is the strong threat. 
36...Qf6 

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


37.Bc3? 
This was the critical error of the game. What should White have played instead?
00000
[37.Qh7+= Ke6 38.Qg8+ Kd7 39.Qh7+ Ke6 40.Qg8+ Kd7] 
Find a way to punish the error that White made.
00000
37...Bh3+! 38.Kxh3 Qf5+  0–1

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

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 

XABCDEFGHY
8r+lwqk+-tr(
7zpp+n+pzpp'
6-+-+-sn-+&
5+-+p+-+-%
4-vl-zPp+-sN$
3+-sN-+-zP-#
2PzP-+PzPLzP"
1tR-vLQ+RmK-!
xabcdefghy

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 

XABCDEFGHY
8r+l+r+k+(
7zpp+-+pzpp'
6-+-+-+-+&
5+-+q+-+-%
4-+pzPn+-+$
3vL-zP-+-zP-#
2P+Q+P+LzP"
1tR-+-+RmK-!
xabcdefghy

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 

XABCDEFGHY
8r+-+r+-+(
7zpp+-+k+p'
6-+-+-+p+&
5+-+q+l+-%
4-+pzPn+P+$
3vL-zP-+-+-#
2P+-+P+LzP"
1+-wQ-+RmK-!
xabcdefghy

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 

XABCDEFGHY
8r+-+r+-+(
7zpp+-+-mkp'
6-+-+-+-+&
5+-+q+-+-%
4-+pzPpwQ-+$
3vL-zP-+-+-#
2P+-+P+-zP"
1+-+-+RmK-!
xabcdefghy

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 

XABCDEFGHY
8r+-+-+k+(
7zppwQ-+-+-'
6-+-+-+rzp&
5+-+qvL-+-%
4-+pzPp+-+$
3+-zP-mK-+-#
2P+-+P+-zP"
1+-+-+R+-!
xabcdefghy


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

Saturday, August 25, 2018

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 

XABCDEFGHY
8r+-wq-trk+(
7+pzpl+pzpp'
6-+n+psn-+&
5zp-+-+-vL-%
4QvlpzP-+-+$
3+-sN-+NzP-#
2PzP-+PzPLzP"
1tR-+-+RmK-!
xabcdefghy

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 

XABCDEFGHY
8qsn-tr-+k+(
7+-zp-+pzpp'
6-zp-+-+-+&
5trQzPPzp-+-%
4p+-+-+-+$
3zP-+-zP-zP-#
2-+-sN-zP-zP"
1+RtR-+-mK-!
xabcdefghy

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 

XABCDEFGHY
8-sn-tr-+k+(
7+-+-+pzpp'
6-wQ-+-+-+&
5+-trqzp-+-%
4p+N+-+-+$
3zP-+-zP-zP-#
2-+-+-zP-zP"
1+RtR-+-mK-!
xabcdefghy


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

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

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 

XABCDEFGHY
8r+l+-trk+(
7zp-wq-+pzpp'
6-+-+psn-+&
5+-+-+-+-%
4Q+p+-+-+$
3+-sN-vL-zP-#
2PzP-+PzP-zP"
1tR-+-mK-+R!
xabcdefghy

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 

XABCDEFGHY
8ltrr+-+k+(
7+-wq-+pzp-'
6-+-+p+-zp&
5zp-+-+-+-%
4-+p+P+-+$
3+-sN-+-zP-#
2PzP-tRPwQ-zP"
1mK-+R+-+-!
xabcdefghy

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 

XABCDEFGHY
8-+r+l+-+(
7+R+-+-+-'
6-+-+p+kzp&
5zp-+-trpzP-%
4-+p+P+-+$
3+-sN-+-zP-#
2PzP-mKP+-+"
1+-+-+R+-!
xabcdefghy

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
8-+r+-+-+(
7+-+-tR-+-'
6-+l+-mk-zp&
5zp-+-+-tr-%
4-+p+p+-+$
3+-sN-mK-zP-#
2PzP-+P+-+"
1+-+R+-+-!
xabcdefghy

Find the best continuation for White.
00000
42.Ra7! Ke6 

XABCDEFGHY
8-+r+-+-+(
7tR-+-+-+-'
6-+l+k+-zp&
5zp-+-+-tr-%
4-+p+p+-+$
3+-sN-mK-zP-#
2PzP-+P+-+"
1+-+R+-+-!
xabcdefghy


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

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

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 

XABCDEFGHY
8r+-wqr+k+(
7+-zp-+lzpp'
6psnpvl-zp-+&
5+-+-zp-+-%
4-+-+-+-+$
3+-zPPvLNsNP#
2PzP-+-zPP+"
1tR-+QtR-mK-!
xabcdefghy

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 

XABCDEFGHY
8r+-+rvlk+(
7+-zpq+-zpp'
6-sn-+-zpl+&
5+-zp-zp-+-%
4-+P+-+-+$
3+P+PvLPsNP#
2-+-+R+P+"
1+N+RwQ-mK-!
xabcdefghy

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
8-+-trrvlk+(
7+-+-+-+l'
6-+pwq-+-zp&
5+-zp-zppzpn%
4-+P+-+-+$
3+PsNP+PsNP#
2-vL-+-wQP+"
1+R+R+-+K!
xabcdefghy

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 

XABCDEFGHY
8-tr-+-+k+(
7tR-+-+-vl-'
6-+p+q+lzp&
5+-zp-zppzp-%
4-+P+-+-+$
3+-vL-+PsNP#
2-+-+Q+P+"
1+-+-+-+K!
xabcdefghy

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
8-+-+-+k+(
7+-+-wqlvl-'
6-+p+-+-zp&
5+-zp-zp-+-%
4-+P+Nzp-zp$
3+-vL-+P+-#
2-+-+Q+PmK"
1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy

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
8-+-+-+-mk(
7+-+-+lvl-'
6-+p+q+-zp&
5+-zp-zp-+-%
4-+P+Nzp-+$
3+-vL-+P+P#
2-wQ-+-+-mK"
1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy

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

Monday, August 20, 2018

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
8r+l+-trk+(
7zp-+-wqpzpp'
6-+-+psn-+&
5+-zp-+-+-%
4Q+pzP-+-+$
3zP-sN-+-zP-#
2-zP-+PzP-zP"
1tR-vL-mK-+R!
xabcdefghy

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 

XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+r+k+(
7zp-+rwqpzpp'
6-+-+-+-+&
5+-+p+-+-%
4-+ptR-+-+$
3zP-vL-+-zPl#
2-zPQ+PzP-zP"
1+-+-tR-mK-!
xabcdefghy

22...Qg5 [22...h6 with more complications. 23.e4 Qd8 24.f3 dxe4 25.Rexe4 Rxd4 26.Bxd4 Re6] 
23.Qd2 

XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+r+k+(
7zp-+r+pzpp'
6-+-+-+-+&
5+-+p+-wq-%
4-+ptR-+-+$
3zP-vL-+-zPl#
2-zP-wQPzP-zP"
1+-+-tR-mK-!
xabcdefghy

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+-#
2-zP-+PmK-+"
1+-+-+-tr-!
xabcdefghy

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
8-+-+r+-+(
7+-+-tr-zp-'
6p+-+-zp-mk&
5zP-+-+P+-%
4-+R+PmKP+$
3+-vL-+-+-#
2-zP-+-+-+"
1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy

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+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy

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+-+-'
6p+-+-+-+&
5zP-vL-zP-+R%
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+-!
xabcdefghy

[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

Saturday, August 18, 2018

MAMEDYAROV vs SO – SINQUEFIELD CUP 2018 ROUND 1


The 2018 Sinquefield Cup in Saint Louis started on Saturday 18 August. The first decisive game of the tournament was won by Mamedyarov.

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.



Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar (2801) - So,Wesley (2780)
6th Sinquefield Cup GCT 2018 Saint Louis (1), 18.08.2018
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 0–0 6.Qc2 D30: Queen's Gambit Declined: Systems without Nc3 
6...h6 7.Bxf6 Bxf6 8.h4 g6 9.Nc3 

XABCDEFGHY
8rsnlwq-trk+(
7zppzp-+p+-'
6-+-+pvlpzp&
5+-+p+-+-%
4-+PzP-+-zP$
3+-sN-zPN+-#
2PzPQ+-zPP+"
1tR-+-mKL+R!
xabcdefghy

9...c5N [9...c6 10.0–0–0 Nd7 11.Kb1 Bg7 12.Bd3 a6 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.e4 dxe4 15.Bxe4 Qb6 16.g4 Rd8 17.Na4 Qa5 18.g5 h5 0–1 (58) Jakovenko,D (2738)-Bacrot,E (2704) Montpellier 2015] 
10.dxc5 dxc4 11.h5 g5 12.Bxc4 Qa5 13.Rc1 [Better is 13.Nd2² ] 
13...Nd7 14.0–0 Bxc3 15.Qxc3 Qxc3 16.Rxc3 Nxc5 17.Ne5 b6 18.f4 Ne4 19.Rd3 Ng3 

XABCDEFGHY
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6-zp-+p+-zp&
5+-+-sN-zpP%
4-+L+-zP-+$
3+-+RzP-sn-#
2PzP-+-+P+"
1+-+-+RmK-!
xabcdefghy

What is White's best move in this position?
00000
20.Rf3! Ne4 21.Rd4 Bb7 22.f5 Nf6 23.Rf1 Rae8 24.fxe6 fxe6 25.Ng6 Rf7 26.Ne5 Rff8 27.Rd6 Bd5 

XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+rtrk+(
7zp-+-+-+-'
6-zp-tRpsn-zp&
5+-+lsN-zpP%
4-+L+-+-+$
3+-+-zP-+-#
2PzP-+-+P+"
1+-+-+RmK-!
xabcdefghy

Keep the attack rolling with the next move for White. What is it?
00000
28.Rxf6! Rxf6 29.Bxd5 exd5 30.Rxf6 Rxe5 31.Rxh6 Rxe3 32.Rg6+ Kh7 33.Rxg5 [33.Kf2+- Rd3 34.g4 (34.Rxg5 Rd2+ 35.Kf3 Rxb2±) ] 
33...Re2! 34.Rxd5 Rxb2 35.Kh2 Rxa2 36.Kh3 

XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+-+(
7zp-+-+-+k'
6-zp-+-+-+&
5+-+R+-+P%
4-+-+-+-+$
3+-+-+-+K#
2r+-+-+P+"
1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy

36...a5? 
What was the better option for Black here?
00000
[36...Kh6=] 
37.g4 a4 

XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+-+-+k'
6-zp-+-+-+&
5+-+R+-+P%
4p+-+-+P+$
3+-+-+-+K#
2r+-+-+-+"
1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy

Find the next move for White.
00000
38.g5! a3 39.Rd7+? Kg8 

XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+k+(
7+-+R+-+-'
6-zp-+-+-+&
5+-+-+-zPP%
4-+-+-+-+$
3zp-+-+-+K#
2r+-+-+-+"
1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy

40.Rd8+?
Could you have found a better move for White?
00000
[40.h6!+- Ra1 41.Kg4] 
40...Kh7! 41.Rd7+ Kg8 42.Rd8+ Kh7 

XABCDEFGHY
8-+-tR-+-+(
7+-+-+-+k'
6-zp-+-+-+&
5+-+-+-zPP%
4-+-+-+-+$
3zp-+-+-+K#
2r+-+-+-+"
1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy


Find the killer blow for White.
00000
43.g6+! Kh6 44.Rh8+ [¹44.Rd7 Rc2 45.Rh7+ Kg5 46.g7 Rc3+ 47.Kg2 Rc2+ 48.Kf3 Rc3+ 49.Ke4 Rc4+ 50.Kd5 (50.Kd3) ] 
44...Kg7 45.Rh7+ Kg8 46.Ra7 Ra1 47.Kg2 Rc1 48.h6 [Weaker is 48.Rxa3 Rc5±] 
48...Rc8 49.Rxa3 b5 50.Ra7 Rb8 51.Kg3+- 1–0