British Chess Magazine November 2016

Volume 136
NOVEMBER
2016
When Young
Titans Clash Carlsen vs Karjakin
How to play
Two
Knights
Defence
by Pete Tamburro
Chess Olympiad
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Carslen Karjakin Match in New York
Openings, ideas and Carlsens luck
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November 2016
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Carlsen defeats
Prepress Specialist defensive Karjakin
Milica Mitic in New York
by GM Aleksandar Colovic
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645 When titans clash
by Pete Tamburro
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Karjakin in New York
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Cover photography: Carlsen vs Karjakin
699 Problem world
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by Christopher Jones

November 2016
When
By Pete Tamburro titans
clash
But sport Set in the completely refurbished and repurposed Fulton
Fish Market (The American Billingsgate) which had been
doesnt build established in South Street Seaport in 1821, the site for
the chess centre of the world for two weeks emphasised
character the contrast of eras. The cobblestoned streets and old
brick shops that once saw millions of immigrants arrive
Sport reveals in America on boats from all over the globe now saw
thousands of chess fans and hundreds of journalists and
character. camera crews coming by jet, train and automobile to see
the computer ages match of champions.
As if to highlight this contrast of eras, a display of
Heywood Hale Broun, technology pervaded the venue. The players were sealed
American sportswriter, 1974 off in a sound-proof fish tank, and spectators had to
be satisfied with sitting on six foot long boxes watching
First day, just before the first move. Photo by Rob Kim

11/136
The audience paid between $75 and $1,200 a day to attend the event.
Photo by Jason Kempin
electronic screens showing close-ups of the However, the science of computer technology
players and a screen showing the progress of faded to the background as more and more
the game. You could purchase some virtual commentators on the panel kept bringing up
reality optical devices that allowed you to the psychological impact of the games on the
be in the room and able to walk in a 360 players.
degree stroll around the players. A panel of English IM Lawrence Trent, guest
commentators, highlighted by a superb Judith commentator in the booth, talked about
Polgar explaining the progress of the games, Carlsen during game nine, saying that he
had various guest stars of the chess world had never been under this pressure before.
dropping in on a regular basis to provide Well see what character hes got.
commentary mostly for home subscribers. Polgar chimed in with how the brain somewhat
A constant din in the spectating rooms shuts down or at least doesnt work properly
prevented most people from hearing what under time pressure and how mental solidity
they were saying over the speakers. The on- was critical. Should Carlsen offer a draw?
screen computer would constantly update the Was there a psychological effect if it were
percentage of expected victory by one side or rejected? Does the longer you think mean you
the other. It was amusing, as a footnote, to see may not choose the best move because you
people who paid for tickets completely ignore are less sure of your choice? If you go for the
the game on the screen as they immersed draw and later find out you had a win, will this
themselves in their own blitz games! affect your play?
The players themselves provided a contrast GM Maurice Ashley concluded that Sergey
as well. Carlsen, the champion, with his more had outplayed him psychologically.
outgoing personality, was a favourite. Karjakin, There was even advice for Carlsen after his
more reserved, yet easy with a smile, had disastrous loss. GM Yermolinsky on Chess Center
his supporters as well among the fans. The opined that Carlsen needed to have a nice dinner,
irresistible force vs. the immovable object plays some video games and calm down.
theme came up frequently, especially as the Were nerves going to decide the world
games progressed. The New York Times championship?
tried a Cold War angle on it, reminiscent There certainly was an ebb and flow to the
of Fischer-Spassky, but nobody was really match. If we may be allowed to extend
buying it. There was no good guy/bad guy a seafaring metaphor (considering the
here. These two were warriors of the Era of location), the match could actually be divided
the Chess Engine. into segments.
November 2016
Calm Seas The Calm Before the Storm

The first two games were smooth and Two weathered players spent three and a
relatively effortless sailing. Carlsen, starting half hours total on games six and seven with
off with a Trompowsky and Karjakin with a Carlsen surviving a miscalculation in game
Ruy Lopez managed slight advantages, but seven. Two more draws. Different from the
the defence of both players dealt with the previous three, but draws nonetheless. Would
situation quite well. this go on and on?
Angry Seas The Storm
Games three through five were tumultuous affairs. As quickly as things had calmed down, all
Karjakins Berllin Wall (there were suggestions hell broke loose in games eight through ten.
that it be outlawed!) seemed always on the verge As White, Carlsen essays the Colle-Zukertort
of capsizing, but after six hours and 78 moves, Opening, usually reserved for amateur play.
the immovable object lived up to his reputation. Karjakin, in the same spirit, went with C.J.S.
In game four, Magnus lets another advantage Purdys old All-Purpose Defence. Carlsen,
slip (94 moves 6 hours), leading many to according to conventional wisdom, felt
comment that Magnus was not in good form. obligated to press for a win as White. He
Others felt that Carlsens inability to bring pressed too hard, got a bad position, and
home his usual victories in those situations then Karjakin gave his opponent an escape
was reminiscent of Anderssens comment in route which was ignored by Carlsen, and
reply to well-wishers who told him he wasnt the champ soon lost. Visibly upset, Carlsen
playing up to his usual form: Morphy wont let stewed for two minutes, in what must have
me. In game five it was Karjakins advantage seemed like two hours, in the post-game
that slipped. These were titanic struggles that press room waiting for Karjakin to finish an
clearly expended both players energies. interview, and then bolted up from his chair
Photo by Max Avdeev

11/136
and disappeared. He had never gone that to score the point. In desperation, Karjakin
many games without a win, he admitted later. essayed the Najdorf in the final game with
As if things could not get worse, the next little effect, as Carlsen followed his plan of
game had Carlsen escaping with a draw in not playing for a draw in order to draw. He
a six hour, 74 move struggle. In this sudden later stated in the press conference that he
role reversal, Karjakin let a possible decisive just wanted to find good moves.
match win slip through his fingers. What then Another roar of applause and shouts of mate
had been a Carlsen disaster turned into a in two erupted with the last move of the match
Karjakin disaster, as in game ten Karjakin as the champions pseudo-sacrifice of the
missed a perpetual check on moves 20 and queen ended his voyage to defend his crown.
21. This time, Carlsen cashes in on his later
advantage and saves his champions title with Press Conference and
a 75 move, seven hour win. Post Mortem
With a standing room only crowd singing
Heading for Port Happy Birthday as Carlsen walked out for the
After all the drama and angst of the last three press conference, the questions poured forth.
games, the next two were draws seen before: A smiling Carlsen and a crestfallen Karjakin
game 11 had Carlsen playing with energy told you all you needed to know about who
and Karjakin defending with accuracy; game won. Questions about dealing with the impact
12 was a 35 minute interlude in the day. Both of game eight came up. Carlsen replied that
seemed to conclude that pressing too much he realized he had to focus on the processes
on the last day was not a good strategic that bring results for the remaining games,
decision, considering what had gone on though he admitted being in a dark place
before. The 12 game adventure where both after that game. Peter Doggers of chess.com
players seemed at sea had now come back asked him where his confidence for the rapid
to port. The struggle would continue on land play came from. Carlsen simply said it was
in rapid play, which brings us back to Polgars refreshing to play faster.
comment on brain function. Would the world Karjakin also had a confession. He found
championship be decided on whose brain himself forgetting his preparation and mixing
was less faulty in time pressure? up moves. The tension had gotten to him,
which made his defensive play seem even
Wow! more remarkable. When asked whether he
The rapid play-off would now (hopefully, as would enter the next cycle or take a break,
few wanted a blitz game to determine the he smiled: Yes, of course, that is my plan.
title) decide the match. The first game was a Great applause! He admitted that Carlsen had
proper and polite affair with no decisive result. several better positions during the match that
Game two will always be remembered for the the champ didnt cash in on, so it wasnt as
ingenious Houdini-like escape by Karjakin though one game took the match away from
as Carlsen had been slowly enveloping his him.
opponent. When Karjakin played h5, an Whether you loved or hated the match format
increasing crescendo of recognition came (Carlsen said there would be discussion with
over the spectators: Carlsen has the wrong FIDE about that.), this was an exciting match.
bishop for the passed h-pawn! The resulting It was announced that ten million people
stalemate seemed symbolic of the match followed the match live on the internet and ten
Carlsen attacking, Karjakin coming up with a thousand had come to the Fulton Market to
saving defence. see it in person. How this will affect the growth
There was a price to pay, though, as of chess remains to be seen. Both these
Karjakin, with the white pieces, never young men gave their all, were personable
seemed to come up with a plan in game and fine representatives of their countries. If
three, and Carlsen was at his dynamic best they met again, it would not be a surprise.

November 2016
Tight security checks even for the players. Photo by Max Avdeev
NEW YORK, XI 2016

FIDE World Chess Championship 2016
Time Control: 100 minutes for the first 40 moves, 50 minutes for the next 20 moves and then 15 minutes for
the rest of the game plus an additional 30 seconds per move starting from move 1.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
CARLSEN g 2853 0 1 6
KARJAKIN g 2772 1 0 6
Rapid Tie-break:
Time Control: 25 minutes + 10 seconds increment per move.
1 2 3 4
KARJAKIN g 2772 0 0 1
CARLSEN g 2853 1 1 3

11/136
Carlsen defeats
defensive Karjakin
in New York By GM Aleksandar Colovic
It was never going to be
easy and the going got
very tough for the reigning
World Champion, but
Carlsen showed that he, like
Fischer before him, believes
in strong moves and not
psychology.
The Openings
It was widely expected that Karjakin
will use his profound preparation to
pose problems to Carlsen, who generally
(and wrongly) is considered a player
who doesnt pay much attention to the
openings. The match showed a completely
different picture it was Carlsen who
was dominating the openings. Out of the
16 games in the match (12 classical and 4
rapid) only in one (Game 9) did Karjakin Aleksandar Colovic is a grandmaster from
Skopje and a member of the national
have a little something out of the opening team of Macedonia. He has been a chess
and it was because Carlsen forgot his professional for more than 20 years,
preparation and mixed up the move order. participated in more than 200 international
Carlsens opening strategy depended on chess tournaments around the world.
the colour he was playing with. With white
he was changing the openings in every
single game the only opening he repeated excellent preparation Game 6 was the
was the Italian Giuoco Piano, in Game 5 typical example, when he made a draw just
and the second rapid game. by following his preparation in the Anti-
So we had: the Trompowsky in Game 1, the Marshall line with 8 h3 b7 (this is not
symmetrical line in the Berlin in Game 3, an exception in Carlsens case, in Game 8
the Giuoco Piano in Game 5, the Zukertort against Anand in Sochi in 2014 he used his
System in Game 8, the Ruy Lopez with 4 preparation to draw in the Queens Gambit
d3 in Game 10 and the drawing line in the Declined). He tried the same approach in
symmetrical Berlin in Game 12. The rapids Game 9 (when he forgot his preparation)
saw another Giuoco Piano and a Sicilian. and Game 11, which he drew comfortably.
When playing black it is more difficult to Karjakin, on the other hand, was choosing
avoid theory or change the openings. So the most solid lines with both colours. He
Carlsen with black was ready to go down failed to pose problems with white and was
along deeply prepared lines and show his frequently suffering as black, so a question

November 2016
remains about the quality of

his preparation, which cost
It appeared as 42 e5+?! An inaccuracy,
based on a misevaluation of
$1 million and seemed non- if Karjakin had the position after the exchange
existent. of the d-pawns. This is the
Theoretically, the match pre-programmed moment when White had the
showed the infinite soundness himself to be cleanest win.
of the positions after 1 e4 e5, 42 b8+! e7 (42...f7
whether they arise from the the inferior side, 43 f3! with e5 or g5 to
Berlin, the Marshall or the
various other lines with d3.
the one that come) 43 e4 e1+ 44 d5
d1 45 f5+ f7 46 d4 d3
As Anand aptly put it, 1 d4 needs to defend 47 d8 and White should win,
refutes the Berlin Defence, the concentration of his forces
so perhaps a change in all the time in the centre will decide the
fashion can be expected soon. issue.
This tendency to vary a lot,
especially when playing white, is typical 42...f7 43 d5 xd3 44 xd7+ e8
of modern chess. With the aid of strong 45 d5 h3 46 e5+ f7 47 e2
computers, it is relatively easy to prepare probably this was the position Carlsen
any line and the versatility makes it difficult was aiming for, he has consolidated for
for the opponents to prepare, something the moment, but Black's active rook is still
Karjakin experienced in this match. causing him trouble.
47...g7 48 c6 threatening e7 or d8.

Carlsens Luck
The match started on a very positive trend 48...h5+ 49 g4 c5 50 d8+ 50 xb4
for Carlsen, but he uncharacteristically b5 ties White up along the b-file. 51 e4
failed to win two winning positions in a f6.
row, in Games 3 and 4.
The fact that Carlsen made a mistake in 50...g6 51 e6 h5+ 51...c3? Allows
evaluation of a technical position in Game 3 the White pawn to advance 52 f5+ f6
shows the sheer complexity of the problems 53 g5 h5+ 54 f4.
he had to solve and the resistance Karjakin
was putting. Positions that are difficult to 52 f3 c3+ 53 e4 threatening g2.
play produce mistakes.
53...f6 54 e3
Magnus Carlsen Sergey Karjakin XIIIIIIIIY
New York (3), 2016 9-+-+-+-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+kvl-+0 9-+-+Nvlk+0
9+-+p+-+p0 9+-+-+-+p0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-zp-+KzP-+0
9+R+-+K+-0 9+Ptr-tR-+-0
9-zp-sN-zP-+0 9-+-+-+-zP0
9+P+P+-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-zP0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+r+-+-0 54...h4 Pushing the pawn further up the
board, this eases counterplay especially
xiiiiiiiiy
11/136
XIIIIIIIIY
if Black somehow gets to the h2pawn. 9-+-+-+-+0
54...c2 is the computers suggestion. 9+-+-vl-+-0
55 h3 Securing the h-pawn (for the time 9-+-+-+-+0
being!). 55 f5+ f7 56 f4 g5. 9+-+-+k+K0
9-zp-+R+Nzp0
55...c1 55...f7 was suggested by 9+P+-+-trP0
Karjakin after the game. 9-+-+-+-+0
56 f8+ The knight curiously heads for 9+-+-+-+-0
c4. 56 f5+ f7 57 f4 f1+ 58 f3 g1. xiiiiiiiiy
67 e5+! This zwischenzug was missed by
56...f7 57 d7 e6 58 b6 d1 59 f5+ Karjakin 67...f4 68 xe7 xh3 (68...xb3
f7 60 c4 d4+ 61 f3 g5 For the 69 xh4) 69 f7+ g3 70 f2! h2
moment Black pushed White back, but now 71 e4+ h3 72 f3+ g2 73 f2+ g1
White comes back. 74 xh2 xh2 75 xh4 with an easy win.
62 e4 d3+ 63 g4 g3+ 64 h5 67 e6 threatening e5. Black loses the
e7? 64...f8 avoiding a check on hapless bishop and his only chance is to get
e5 is suggested by the computer. But rid of Whites pawns and use the passed
as with all the lines, this is extremely h-pawn as a decoy.
complicated endgame to analyse (let
alone play!) 65 e5 d8 as the bishop
is safer on d8 than on e7, as it will be 67...xh3 68 e5+ g7 69 xe7+ f6
seen in a few moves. 70 c6?! This seems to let the win slip.
70 e8 was an alternative, but for now
65 e5+ f6 66 g4+ f7 66...xf5 Carlsen still is winning 70...xf5 71 c6

November 2016
h1 72 d4+ f4 73 e2 h3 74 h4 h2 was the first turning point of the match as it

75 e6+ f3 76 b2 defending b3 just in highlighted Carlsens carelessness. Up to a
case 76...e4 (76...e3 77 g3) 77 c5+ point, things were going in typical Carlsen-
(77 g3 d5) 77...d4 78 a4 and with style after Karjakin panicked and switched to
the b-pawn safe White will destroy the h2 bunker-style early on from a perfectly normal
pawn 78...d3 79 g3 d4 80 xh2 b1 position. It appeared as if Karjakin had pre-
81 h4+. programmed himself to be the inferior side,
the one that needs to defend all the time.
70...xf5? 70...c3! 71 e6+ xf5
72 d4+ f4 73 xh4 d3! Its difficult
for White to coordinate his forces, the knight Sergey Karjakin Magnus Carlsen
and the pawn on b3 are under constant
attack 74 e2+ f3 75 c1 d1 76 c6 New York (4), Excerpt 1, 2016
e3 and it appears that Black draws here XIIIIIIIIY
77 c2 preventing ...d2 77...d2 78 c8
(78 c4 d4+) 78...d1. 9r+-+rvlk+0
9+lzpq+pzp-0
71 a5 h1
9p+nzp-sn-zp0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+p+-zp-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+-+P+-+0
9+-+-tR-+-0 9zPLzPP+-+P0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-zP-+-zPPsN0
9sN-+-+k+K0 9tR-vLQtRNmK-0
9-zp-+-+-zp0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+P+-+-+-0 14...d5! 15 f3 a5 16 a2 dxe4 17 dxe4
9-+-+-+-+0 c4 The knight is in time to block the a2.
9+-+-+-+r0 18 xh6
xiiiiiiiiy XIIIIIIIIY
72 b7? The final mistake. 72 f7+! e6
(72...e4 73 g4) 73.f2 h3 74 h4 h2 9r+-+rvlk+0
75 a2! preventing ...a1 and the h2pawn 9+lzpq+pzp-0
will fall.
9p+-+-sn-vL0
72...a1 The only move, but its enough. 9+p+-zp-+-0
72...h3 73 h4 f4 74 f7+! e3 9-+n+P+-+0
75 g3 wins for White 75...h2 76 f5 and
Black will lose the h2pawn. 9zP-zP-+Q+P0
9LzP-+-zPPsN0
73 b5+ f4 74 xb4+ g3 all of a sudden
the h-pawn, supported by the king saves Black. 9tR-+-tRNmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
75 g4+ f2 76 c4 76 b4 h3 is the same. Showing ambition, but nobody imagined
how short-lived that would be! 18 g4 was
76...h3 77 h4 g3 78 g4+ f2. an alternative and one preferred by Karjakin
after the game 18...xg4 (18...e6!?)
If finding the win in Game 3 was difficult, 19 hxg4 c8 20 e3 c6 21 f5 f6 and
the one in Game 4 was much less so. This White cannot do much on the kingside, but

11/136
the position remains more or less balanced. bishop pair, made his pawn on b2 hopelessly
weak and with the looming exchange of
18...c6! 18...xe4?! 19 xe4 xe4 20 xe4 queens faces a prospectless endgame. For
gxh6 21 g4 with excellent compensation, a long time the game follows the expected
was what Karjakin was hoping for. scenario of Carlsen improving his position
and getting a winning endgame. His play
19 xc4? A horrible move, and Karjakin perhaps was not always computer-precise,
certainly knew it, but what exactly forced but it was good enough to obtain a decisive
him to play it nevertheless? Missing advantage.
18...c6, disappointment with another
opening blank, fear...? 19 c1 Then Carlsen proceeded to increase his
XIIIIIIIIY advantage and here I would like to draw
9r+-+rvlk+0 your attention to the criticism some of his
moves attracted when compared to the
9+lzp-+pzp-0 moves of the engines. Please bear in mind
9p+q+-sn-+0 that this is a comparison to a chess-playing
9+p+-zp-+-0 program with the strength of 3500 rating
9-+n+P+-+0 points. These comparisons are pointless
9zP-zP-+Q+P0 since Carlsens play was more than enough
to obtain a winning position against one of
9LzP-+-zPPsN0 the most resilient defenders of our time.
9tR-vL-tRNmK-0 Comparing human and computer play
xiiiiiiiiy perhaps serves to obtain an absolute
It was the only move and the was still solution to a position, but that is for
perfectly OK for White 19...xe4 20 e3 analytical purposes only and it shouldnt
ed6 21 xc6 xc6 22 xc4 xc4 be abused to belittle the best players in the
23 g4 and while the c4 is still annoying world. Carlsens failure to win was due to
White has a playable position. his own limitations in thinking. He said
19...bxc4 20 e3 xe4 White gave the he didnt believe in fortresses but this
Sapace Oddisey presentor Neil

Famous faces at the match deGrasse Tyson. Photo by Max Avdeev
By Milan Dinic
Although the World Championship match
in New York did not attract the media frenzy
as chess once did, the event was visited by
several stars of stage and screen.
If you browse the internet you will come
across numerous lists of famous people
who allegedly play chess. Some of the
names which are found on those lists
include the actors Leonardo di Caprio
and Nicholas Cage, legends like Marilyn
Monroe and Frank Sinatra, as well as
Microsoft founder and billionaire Bill
Gates. In one of the following issues of BCM we will present to you our own research-based
analysis of famous people who love(d) chess.
While none of the above mentioned famous people (i.e. those who are alive) were seen during the
match in New York, the venue did attract some other celebrities. While the US media reported that
November 2016
meant that he didnt delve deep enough in 42 f2 g6 42...d5! was indicated by

the position to realise that in fact whites Caruana as winning for Black 43 g3 (43 f1
position after 45...f4? cannot be breached. f4 44 g3 f3 45 gxf4 g4!) 43...g4! with the
idea after 44 d1 f3+ 45 d2 xd1
46 xd1 g6 Black wins since all Whites
Sergey Karjakin - Magnus Carlsen pawns are on Black squares, hes basically
a pawn down, and creating a passed pawn
New York (4), Excerpt 2, 2016 on the queenside falls short 47 c2 f7
XIIIIIIIIY 48 b3 e6 49 f4 cxb3+ 50 xb3 f6! with
...e5 to come, winning the game 51 d2
9-+-vl-+-+0 e5 52 e1 d5 53 c4+ d4 54 a4 c7
9+-+-+lzp-0 and the g3pawn will fall.
9p+-vL-+-+0 43 g4 Karjakin sees that its useless to wait
9+-+-+p+k0 and sets up a small positional trap...
9-+p+-+-+0 43...b6 44 e5 a5 45 d1
9zP-zP-+-+N0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-zP-+K+P+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+-+l+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-vl-+-+k+0
41...g5 Its easy play for Black now. He 9zp-+-vLpzp-0
will create a passer on the kingside and
will either use it as a decoy to enter with
9-+p+-+P+0
his king on the queenside and take on b2, 9zP-zP-+-+-0
with the rest to follow, or will advance the 9-zP-+K+-+0
passer to force winning material. Thats the
principle of two weaknesses in action. 9+-+N+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and a slew of tech fund heads and money managers were riveted to
the championship, the list of VIP guests attending the event included actor Woody Harrelson, the
two-time Academy Award nominated director Bennett Miller, the actor Gbenga Akinnagbe, who has
appeared in many movies and television series,
including The Wire, The Good Wife, and 24,
as well as astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.
Actor Woody Harrelson (who famously
starred in the Milo Formans The People vs.
Larry Flynt, in which he played Larry Flynt,
publisher of Hustler magazine) played the first
move at the opening of the match and was
later pictured playing chess and analysing
games at the terrace of the Fulton Market
Building in Lower Manhattan. On the eight
day of the match the first move of the game
(which ended in victory for Karjakin) was
carried out by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse
Tyson who hosted the recent remake of the
original Cosmos series by Carl Sagan. Actor Woody Harrelson. Photo by Ilya Ivanov
11/136
These misses changed the inner dynamic

of the match. Carlsen lost his confidence
and patience and this immediately
showed in the next game when from a
comfortably better and safe position he
ended up in trouble. Note Karjakins
fine plan of kings evacuation to the
queenside followed by ...g5.
Magnus Carlsen - Sergey Karjakin

New York USA (5), 2016
XIIIIIIIIY
Photo by Jason Kempin
9-+-+-+k+0
9+p+-+rzp-0
9p+p+l+-zp0
45...f4? ...which unexpectedly worked! 9+-zPpzPq+-0
Carlsen said he thought he was winning
after this as he foresaw the king march go 9P+-wQ-+-+0
b3, but it was really sloppy of him not to 9+-+-vLP+P0
delve deeper in the position and see that
he cannot break through after it. He said 9-tR-+-+PmK0
he didnt believe in fortresses! 45...e6 9+-+-+-+-0
46 gxf5+ xf5 should have been a xiiiiiiiiy
rather straight-forward win 47 d6 f7 32 a5 f8!? the first sign that perhaps
48 e3+ e4 49 c2 h5+ 50 e1 d3 Karjakin considered something more
and White wont be able to hold against the ambitious.
threats to penetrate with the king to b2 and
advance the g-pawn. 33 c3 e8 34 b4 g5! 35 b2 d8
36 f2 c8 37 d4 g6 Black managed
46 d4! to improve his position and is not worse
XIIIIIIIIY anymore.
9-+-+-+-+0
38 g4?!
9+-+-+l+-0
9-vl-+-+k+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9zp-+-+-zp-0 9-+k+-+-+0
9-+pvL-zpP+0 9+p+-+r+-0
9zP-zP-+-+-0 9p+p+l+qzp0
9-zP-+K+-+0 9zP-zPpzP-zp-0
9+-+N+-+-0 9-+-wQ-+P+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+-vLP+P0
46...c7 47 f2 Now White can safely 9-+-+-tR-mK0
just sit and wait and the game ended in
draw after 94 moves.
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
November 2016
This prevents ...g4, but its the case of the 43...d5? 43...h8! would have allowed
cure being worse than the disease. Black to continue the attack 44 e4 h6
45 f1 d5 46 d3 h1+ 47 e2 a1
38...h5! 39.d2 g7 40.g3 40.g2 was 48 xg5 xe5+ 49 e3 a1 with threats
better if White wanted to go on g2, as he from all sides.
showed with his next move.
44 e6 The idea is to control h8.
40...g8
XIIIIIIIIY 44...xe6 45 g3 e7 45...b8 with the
idea to tuck away the king to a7 gives Black
9-+k+-+r+0 better chances chances as he can continue
9+p+-+-+-0 with the attack, although nothing concrete
is visible.
9p+p+l+q+0
9zP-zPpzP-zpp0 46 h2 White is safe now.
9-+-+-+P+0 46...f7 47 f4 gxf4+ 48 xf4 e7 49 h5
9+-+-vLPmKP0 f8 50 h7 xf4 51 xe7 e4
9-+-wQ-tR-+0
Starting from Game 5 a very peculiar
9+-+-+-+-0 phenomenon started to occur in the
xiiiiiiiiy games. It appears that Carlsen makes a
41 g2? Carlsens explanation is curious he mistake (41 g2? in the above example),
wasnt sure whether he had made move 40 so often it appears it is a losing mistake, but
he made another move quickly just to be sure! once you start to analyse (or calculate, in
41 d4 and White still had things under control Karjakins case) you realise that there is
41...h6 42 h2 h8 43 h4! being the point. a bottomless pit staring at you. The first
appearance is deceiving, the move is not
41...hxg4 42 hxg4 d4 Thematic and not losing and the variations are extremely
bad at all. 42...h6 was an alternative difficult to calculate and evaluate. A very
43 d4 h8 44 f1 f8 45 e2 f4 and frustrating feeling for Karjakin, who
its obvious White is suffering here. must have been upset that he couldnt
finish off his opponent. Frustrations
43 xd4 43 xd4 is better but the position take away energy, mental stability,
is very complex to calculate 43...h6 (with inner calm, patience. Does this mean
the idea of 44...h8) 44 g1 h3 45 e2 that Carlsen was lucky and Karjakin
f8, preventing h2 and White is under unlucky? Did Carlsen play moves that
serious pressure. brought him to the edge of the precipice
XIIIIIIIIY but thanks to his intuition still managed
to hold the balance? Undoubtedly
9-+k+-+r+0 Carlsen sees a lot, but in this match he
9+p+-+-+-0 also miscalculated on more than one
9p+p+l+q+0 occasion, thus he must have relied on
his intuition that was telling him that
9zP-zP-zP-zp-0 the move wasnt losing no matter how
9-+-wQ-+P+0 dangerous it looked. Strong players are
always lucky, Capablanca used to say,
9+-+-vLP+-0 but then what of Karjakin?
9-+-+-tRK+0
9+-+-+-+-0 Here are a couple of examples of Carlsens
luck:
xiiiiiiiiy
11/136
Sergey Karjakin - Magnus Carlsen trying to pose problems.

New York USA (7), 2016 32...g5 33 e4 c8
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0 Sergey Karjakin - Magnus Carlsen
9+l+-vlpzpp0
9p+-+p+-+0
9+p+-+-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-sn-+N+-+0 9-+-+-+k+0
9+P+-zPL+-0 9+-vlq+p+p0
9P+-+-zPPzP0 9-+-+-+p+0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0 9+-+n+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+LzP-+-tR0
16 a3 c8?! A lazy move, but with 9+-+Q+P+-0
harsh consequences it loses a pawn! 9-+-vL-zP-zP0
Luckily for Carlsen it leads to a position
with opposite-coloured bishops that is 9tr-+-+-+K0
rather easily drawn. 16...b8; 16...d5 xiiiiiiiiy
38 g2 e7 Perhaps the most
17 f6+ xf6 18 xb7 xa1 19 xb4 characteristic moment of Carlsens
both Blacks rooks are hanging. luck the big moment of the game
XIIIIIIIIY (and possibly
the match!). This
9-+rwq-trk+0 Undoubtedly looked like a
9+L+-+pzpp0 desperate move
9p+-+p+-+0 Carlsen sees a for me it is
9+p+-+-+-0 lot, but in this desirable to put the
knight on f5, but
9-vL-+-+-+0 match he also tactically it looks
9+P+-zP-+-0 miscalculated very However,
suspicious.
the
9P+-+-zPPzP0 on more than ensuing lines are
far from easy
9vl-+Q+RmK-0 one occasion to calculate and
xiiiiiiiiy Carlsens choice to
19...f6 20 xf8 xd1 21 xd1 risk it was justified.
xf8 22 xa6 b4 Thanks to this move, And the best argument for the move it
which fixes Whites queenside, Black doesnt lose. 38...d8 39 g4 (39 e4
is OK. Karjakin didnt even try to find f6 40 e5 c7) 39...g7 is what
a way to press in this position. the computer suggested, but White is
clearly on top here.
23 c1 g6 24 c2 a8 25 d3 d8
26 e2 f8 27 f1 a8 28 c4 c8 39 xf7+ Karjakin spent almost all his
29 e2 e7 30 f4 h6 31 f3 c7 remaining time on this - 26 minutes
32 g4 32 e4 with an idea of e5 looks more and 27 seconds! Yet, in spite of all his
promising, but I think Karjakin just didnt great calculations abilities, he failed
mind the draw at all so he wasnt even to see everything clearly. To make

November 2016
things worse, objectively the position the saving check on e2; 45 g4 g1+
isnt winning for White! 39 b3 was 46 f4 xd4) 45...xd4 46 g7 (46 c3
another alternative 39...f5 (39...e8 c1) 46...g1! (46...xf3 47 xg6+ f5
40.e4) 40 xf7+ 48 f6+!) 47 f4 f5 and Black should
A) 40...g7 41 h3 e7 probably draw this.
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0 39...xf7 40 c4+ 40.xh7+ g8
41 xg6+ xg6 42 xd7 f4 is a draw.
9+-vl-wqLmkp0
9-+-+-+p+0 40...g7 41 d5
9+-+-+n+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+Q+-+P+R0 9-+-+-+-+0
9-+-vL-zPKzP0 9+-vlqsn-mkp0
9tr-+-+-+-0 9-+-+-+p+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+P+-+-0
42 g8! This was missed by Karjakin 9-+Q+-+-tR0
(there is an alternative here 42 c3 a3
43 c1) 42...h5 43 d5 d4 44 c3 e5 9+-+-+P+-0
45 d6 g5+ 46 g3 xb3 47 xg5 xc3 9-+-vL-zPKzP0
48 xb3 the line has been far from easy or
obvious and yet again its not clear that this 9tr-+-+-+-0
is winning; xiiiiiiiiy
B) 40...xf7 This is the more human way 41...f5! This transposes to a drawn
to play 41 xf7+ xf7 42 xh7+ e6 endgame. 41...g5 was the crazy alternative,
43 xc7 not the way humans play 42 c3+ g6
B1) 43...xd4? 44 g7! Loses the g6pawn 43 d3+ (43 e4 xd5 44 xa1 f4+
44...d1 45 e3 f5 46 d7 loses the 45 xf4 xf4) 43...f5 44 e4 a4 45 d6
knight; xe4 46 fxe4 g4+ 47 h1 d8 48 dxe7
B2) 43...d1 may also be possible 44 g5 xe7 49 h3 and this is a better version for
(44 d5+) 44...xd4 45 f4 d3; White, his pawns are not doubled compared
B3) 43...h4+! to the game continuation.
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0 42 c3+ f8 43 xa1 xh4+ 44 xh4
xd5
9+-tR-+-+-0
9-+-+k+p+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+-+-+-0 9-+-+-mk-+0
9-+-zP-+-sn0 9+-vl-+-+p0
9+-+-+P+-0 9-+-+-+p+0
9-+-vL-zPKzP0 9+-+q+-+-0
9tr-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-+-+-wQ0
This is the best move. 44 g3 f5+ 9+-+-+P+-0
wherever the king goes it gives Black 9-+-+-zPKzP0
defensive options to latch onto 45 h3
now f3 is hanging after Black takes on d4 9vL-+-+-+-0
and also the g1square is available for the xiiiiiiiiy
rook (45 f4 xd4 and now Black has Black holds this endgame easily. The

11/136
Photo by Max Avdeev
h-pawn will go to h5 and then Black will the end, after Carlsen repeatedly avoided
just shuffle around. drawing continuations Karjakin found a
very beautiful way to win.
45 f6+ f7 46 d4 46 h8+ g8
47 d4 f7.
Magnus Carlsen - Sergey Karjakin
46...e8 47 e4+ e7 48 d5 48 f6
xe4 49 fxe4 f7 50 d4 e6 and ...h5 New York USA (8), 2016
next with a draw.
1 d4 f6 2 f3 A move that revealed that
48...d8 49 f1 f7 50 e4+ e7 Carlsen wasnt going for the main lines.
51 e5 e6 52 g2 e7 53 a8+ When White wants to transpose to the
f7 54 h8 h5 Black is finally safe, main lines after 2 f3, the knight move
he managed to put his pieces where he is played in order to avoid gambits and
wanted them. The game ended in draw on sharper lines after 2 c4 c5 or 2 c4 e5, but
move 74. these things are not serious enough for
this level hence White always would
play 2 c4 if he wanted to play the main
The Finish Line
lines, without limiting his options with the
After successfully navigating the two black premature 2 f3
pieces in a row in Games 6 and 7 Carlsen
was all out to win in Game 8. But ambition 2...d5 Another move that revealed much
coupled with careless play never leads to a of Karjakins preparation it appears
happy ending. Carlsen was very aggressive that he prepared the QGD via a Nimzo
and practically forced Karjakin to beat him move-order for the match. If he prepared
Karjakin had one notable moment when the Slav, he would have played 1...d5,
he could have showed ambition himself (on while playing 2...d5 means that his
move 19), but he remained faithful to his beloved QID was put aside for this
pre-match strategy of staying solid. And at match (otherwise he would have played

November 2016
2...e6, keeping the option to transpose 11 c4 This allows a symmetrical

after 3 c4 b6). position, albeit with all the pieces on
the board.
3.e3 While watching the game on my mobile
XIIIIIIIIY at the airport, I was wondering whether
Carlsen wasnt aiming for his preferred
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0 3 vs 2 on the queenside after 11.e4 dxe4
9zppzp-zppzpp0 12 xe4 but Black is really fine after
12...e7 13 c4 c7 14 ad1 h6.
9-+-+-sn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0 11...dxc4 Karjakin could have kept the
9-+-zP-+-+0 tension, but the match has shown already
how he makes his choices about certain
9+-+-zPN+-0 moves - when possible, simplify! 11...e7;
9PzPP+-zPPzP0 11...c8.
9tRNvLQmKL+R0 12 xc4 e7 13 a3 Forcing a small
xiiiiiiiiy concession from Black as b4 is
Going off the usual beaten track, as threatened.
expected. 3 f4 is another popular way to
avoid main-stream theory, made popular by 13...a5
Kramnik and played by Carlsen himself. XIIIIIIIIY
Incidentally, he lost to Karjakin in this line
in a blitz game in 2015 3...e6 (3...c5 4 e3 9r+-+-trk+0
cxd4 5 exd4 c6 6.c3 Kramnik (2812) - 9+l+nwqpzpp0
Topalov (2761) Paris 2016) 4 e3 d6 5 c3
c5 6 g3 c6 7 bd2 00 8 b5 e7 9-zp-+psn-+0
(8...a6 9 xc6 bxc6 10 e5 c7 Carlsen 9zp-vl-+-+-0
(2850) - Karjakin (2762) Berlin 2015) 9-+N+-+-+0
9 dxc5 xc5 10 d3 b6 Kramnik (2801) -
Nakamura (2787) Zurich 2016. 9zPP+LzPN+-0
9-vL-+QzPPzP0
3...e6 4 d3 c5 5 b3 This is the Zukertort
System, while the lines where White 9tR-+-+RmK-0
plays 5 c3 are the Colle. This is usually xiiiiiiiiy
a club-players favourite, but as we will 14 d4 Eyeing b5 immediately. 14 e4 is
see Carlsen treats the position somewhat never really threatening with Blacks pieces
differently than the usual Zukertort so harmoniously placed 14...fd8 15 e5
scheme. d5 with f8 to come, defending Blacks
kingside.
5...e7 6 00 00 7 b2 b6 8 dxc5 This
is the unusual treatment. The Zukertort 14...fd8 15 fd1 ac8 16 ac1 Both
appeals to club players because it is sides finished development and with all the
usually played like this 8.e5 followed pieces on the board the battle lies ahead.
by f4, d2f3 and an attack on the But the symmetrical nature of the position
kingside. If Black knows what hes doing implies that major exchanges are likely.
though, there will be no attack and it is Carlsen does his utmost to avoid them
safe to presume that Karjakin would and stir up trouble by any means possible.
know what to do. 16 c2!?
This is a suggestion by Caruana which
8...xc5 9 bd2 b7 10 e2 bd7 I like very much. In a position where

11/136
little constructive things are visible, 19 h3 4e5 20 c3 (20 xe5 xe5

with this move, White actually threatens is more comfortable for Black already)
b4 in case Black follows up with his 20...h4 (20...f6) 21 e2 ef3+ 22 h1
intended plan of ...f8g6. A very f6 23 xd8+ xd8 and the knights look
good example of deep prophylactic uncomfortable in Whites throat.; 19 f3
thinking by Caruana! 16...e5 (16...f8? xf3 (19...xd1 20 xd1 h4 21 fe5
17 b4 axb4 18 axb4 xb4 19 xb4 xe5 22 xe5 g6 is still equal) 20 gxf3
xb4 20 a3 with strong initiative is h4 21 e2.
the justification of Whites idea) 17 e4
still with the idea of b4. 19...c6?! Karjakin keeps it solid and
the game continues to be balanced.
16...f8 A nice manoeuvre. The knight 19...g5! was the way to force White on
goes to g6 from where it also controls the defensive. The threat is ... f4 and just
e5, but it doesnt block the d-file. take a look all Blacks pieces (except
the rooks) are looking towards Whites
17 e1 An odd move, coupled with king! Perhaps Carlsen was trying to force
the next perhaps Carlsen was trying to Karjakin to go forward and then using the
provoke Karjakin into more aggressive fact that Karjakin is not used to doing that
actions. Its not easy to find a move in the match, expect some errors and strike
(or plan) for White here which does on the counter-attack. This proved correct
not involve exchanges. 17 b5 g6 to a certain extent, but Carlsen turned out
18 a7 a8 19 b5 ac8 is a curious to be fallible himself. 20 h3 (20 cd6? this
repetition; 17 b1 g6. loses 20...h4! 21 xb7 f3+ 22 gxf3
xd1 23 xd1 e5+ 24 h1 xf3 and
17...g6 18 f1 g4 and Karjakin White loses the queen) 20...4e5 21 xe5
goes for it (perhaps surprisingly?). xe5 22 xd8+ xd8 23 xe5 xe5
18...e8 with the idea of ... d6 was when White is obviously worse, having no
perhaps more in accordance with his compensation for Blacks bishop pair.
style in this match?!
20 a4 d5 21 d4
19 b5?! XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+rtr-+k+0
9-+rtr-+k+0 9+-+-wqpzpp0
9+l+-wqpzpp0 9-zp-+p+n+0
9-zp-+p+n+0 9zpNvll+-+-0
9zpNvl-+-+-0 9P+NvL-+n+0
9-+N+-+n+0 9+P+-zP-+-0
9zPP+-zP-+-0 9-+-+-zPPzP0
9-vL-+-zPPzP0 9+-tRRwQLmK-0
9+-tRRwQLmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy The exchange of the black-squared bishops
Sharpening things up and playing with fire. weakens b6.
The whole game is an illustration of what
happens when one player crosses the lines 21...xc4 Again Karjakin goes for
of acceptable risk because hes hell-bent simplifications at the first possible moment,
on avoiding a draw at all costs usually he keeps it controlled and defensible.
he succeeds, but at his own expense. 21...xd4 is more precise 22 xd4 (22 xd4

November 2016
XIIIIIIIIY
c7 23 g3 4e5 creates holes around 9-+-+-trk+0
Whites king, although the comp
confidently shows 0.00) 22...6e5 is equal, 9+-+n+pzp-0
as White cannot take on b6 23 xb6? xc1 9-zpN+psn-zp0
24 xc1 h4 mating for Black. 9zp-+-+-+-0
22 xc4 xd4 23 dxd4 23 cxd4 was 9P+PtR-zP-+0
possibly preferable, when White has the 9wq-+-zP-zPP0
visual initiative after 23...xd4 24 xd4
6e5 25 d2. 9-+-wQ-+L+0
9+-+-+-mK-0
23...xc4 24 bxc4 Another risky decision xiiiiiiiiy
by Carlsen, worsening his pawn structure,
but objectively the position remains equal. Still keeping the tension, but I feel this is
24 xc4 6e5 25 c7 d7 is equal. already a bit too much. Black establishes
a knight on the eternal c5square and
24...f6 25 d2 b8 26 g3 We now see White needs to start to be careful. This
Carlsens idea behind 24 bc4 the c4pawn change from being in control to being
controls the d5square, so the unopposed careful is very dangerous and difficult
g2 will reign supreme on the long to navigate. 31 xd7 was natural and
diagonal. would probably end in perpetual after
31...xd7 32 xd7 xe3+ 33 f1
26...e5 One of the knights wants to go to c1+ 34 f2 xc4.
d7 and c5.
31...c5! 31...xa4 32 b2 c5 33 xb6
27 g2 h6 28 f4 Pushing forward (this a3 34 h2 is unclear.
allows White to put a knight on c6), but
weakening his king a bit. Not important for 32 h2 xa4 Carlsen practically forced
the moment, as White controls the situation, Karjakin to take material and defend. Now
if his attack doesnt go through
he will be lost. Objectively,
Karjakins strategy to play for safety White is still OK.
and draws turned out to be successful 33 d8 White had other
but, it was Carlsen who was pushing options as well. 33 e4!? c5
34 e5 fe4 a curious tactic
in this match, he was the one who was (34...h5 is also possible
and simpler 35 f2 g6 with
making things happen, he was looking unclear position) 35 xe4
for chances (35 xe4 xe4 36 xe4
a4) 35...b3 36 c3 a2+
37 g1 xd4 38 xd4 a4 and
but when this control is lost (as it will the passed a-pawn together with the weak
happen later in the game) these weaknesses Kg1 give Black sufficient counterplay;
come back to haunt you. 33 g4!? b2 34 g5 xd2 35 xd2 also
gives White compensation thanks to his
28...ed7 29 a7 a3 Reminding central domination.
White of his weakened structure on the
queenside. 33...g6 33...h5 is given by the computer
as best 34 e5 (34 e4 xd8 35 xd8+
30 c6 f8 31 h3?! h7 36 e5 h4! the point behind 33...h5!

11/136
XIIIIIIIIY
37 gxh4 e3 with a big advantage for 9-+-+-+k+0
Black) 34...e7 35 d6 c7 36 d4
c5 37.c6 b8 and White still has 9+-+-+-+-0
some compensation after 38 b2 fd7 9-zp-+pwQpzp0
39 xd7 xd7 40 d4 c5 41 b2.
9+-sn-+-+-0
34 d4 There were two other moves that 9p+-+-zP-+0
were also good for White (in a sense that 9+-+qzP-zPP0
he wasnt ending up worse). 34 g4 c5
35 xf8+ xf8 36 d4; 34 e5 e7 9-+-+-+LmK0
35 d6 c7 36 c6 b8 37 a2 c5 9+-+-+-+-0
38 b1! this is very subtle, resembling
the line after 33...h5, but taking advantage xiiiiiiiiy
of the weakened g6square 38...fd7 41 e4! This was missed by Karjakin, but
39 xd7 xd7 40 xe6! with material it is the only way that keeps White in the
equality. game. Now it should be a draw, but Carlsen
pushes his luck... Again...
34...g7
XIIIIIIIIY 41...d7 42 xg6+ g7 43 e8+ f8
44 c6 44 g6+ h8 otherwise its a
9-+-tR-tr-+0 perpetual, but the open h8 saves White
9+-+-+pmk-0 in many lines 45 e5 (45 f1 leads to messy
positions that the comp gives as 0.00.
9-zpN+psnpzp0 45...a3 46 c4 e5!? 47 f5 xe4 48 xb6
9zp-+-+-+-0 d6 49 b5 d2+ 50 e2 f6) 45...a3
9n+PwQ-zP-+0 46 b1 e8 47 xb6 a2 48 a7 a4
49 xc5 a1 50 f8+ with a perpetual.
9wq-+-zP-zPP0
9-+-+-+LmK0 44...d8 45 f5 a3 The a-pawn is dangerous
and White needs to be careful. The weak
9+-+-+-+-0 Black king should always be the saving
xiiiiiiiiy resource though.
35 c5? This is already too much. Both
players were in time-trouble though 46 fxe6 Threatening e5.
and Carlsen loses objectivity first.
35 d7 kept the balance 35...c5 36 b7 46...g7 47 e7 47 b5 xe6 48 b3
xd4 37 exd4 and White isnt worse. d6 49 e5 xe5 50 xa3 is a draw.
35...xd8 35...bxc5? 36 d6 xd8 47...xe7 48 xb6 d3

XIIIIIIIIY
37 xd8 with the idea of e7 was his idea.
9-+-+-+-+0
36 xd8 xc5 37 d6 d3? Karjakin 9+-+-wq-mk-0
also errs in time-trouble, missing one detail
in the line that followed. 37...a4! 9-wQ-+-+-zp0
This move gives a winning advantage to 9+-+-+-+-0
Black. 38 xb6 (38 g4 g5 39 fxg5 hxg5 9-+-+P+-+0
40 e5 g6) 38...cd7 39 xe6+ fxe6
40 xe6 b4 41 e4 f8 should win for 9zp-+n+-zPP0
Black. 9-+-+-+LmK0
38 xe6+! fxe6 39 e7+ g8 40 xf6 a4 9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
November 2016
It is still tricky, the knight coming on e5 will 51...h5! 52 h4

effectively shut the g2 and cover the king. XIIIIIIIIY
49 a5? 9-+-+-+-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+-+-mk-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+-+Q+-+0
9+-+-wq-mk-0 9+-wq-sn-+p0
9-+-+-+-zp0 9-+-+P+-zP0
9wQ-+-+-+-0 9zp-+-+-zP-0
9-+-+P+-+0 9-+-+-+LmK0
9zp-+n+-zPP0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+LmK0 xiiiiiiiiy
52 a6 h4! 53 gxh4 c3 Threatening
9+-+-+-+-0 ...b2. Its instructive to note how the e5
xiiiiiiiiy defends the g7 so effectively 54 a7+
Even though a computer can probably save f7; 52 b3 h4! 53 gxh4 a5 54 a2
the position for White after this, from a c3.
human perspective this is a mistake. After
Blacks next move White is practically 52...a2! 52...a2 53 xa2 g4+ 54 h3
playing only with a queen the g2 g1 is a wonderful geometry, the g1
is a sorry sight. 49 h4 a2 (49...e5 covering a7 and after 55 b2+ g6 the
50 h3! activating the bishop 50...f3+ g1 covers b6, so there are no more checks
51 g2 xe4 52 c7+ with a perpetual) left for White. 01
50 d4+ f6 51 e5 xe5 52 a7+ f7
53 d4 is a computer draw; 49 e5 is the A shock for Carlsen, and the following
most human way to play, finally unleashing Game 9 (see above) showed he wasnt
the bishop 49...xe5 50 d5 and with such over it just yet. Still, saving Game 9 again
a powerful bishop White doesnt risk losing. shifted the trend in his favour and he was
back to his usual controlled self again.
49...c5! 50 a6 e5 51 e6?? However, things didnt go without a certain
XIIIIIIIIY amount of luck. And one more thing
puzzles me about this game is it possible
9-+-+-+-+0 that they prepared not the exact line, but the
9+-+-+-mk-0 position with a black knight on h3 (it can
happen from several lines), which could
9-+-+Q+-zp0 be unsettling for a classical player like
9+-wq-sn-+-0 Karjakin (playing with an offside knight
9-+-+P+-+0 that sometimes offers tactical chances and
sometimes is just bad)?
9zp-+-+-zPP0
9-+-+-+LmK0 Magnus Carlsen - Sergey Karjakin
9+-+-+-+-0 New York USA (10), 2016
xiiiiiiiiy
The final mistake and its all ends very 1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 f6 4 d3 This
suddenly. Things werent pleasant for seems to be a lucky variation for Carlsen. He
White. Though, 51 h4 h5 52 b7+ f6 not only beat Anand in the second game of
53 a8 e7 and Black can safely play on. their match in Sochi in 2014, but he has also

11/136
beaten almost all the leading players in it. but apparently Karjakin decided to keep
things as solid as possible.
4...c5
XIIIIIIIIY 13 g3 h3+ 14 h1 e7 15 c4 Black is
fine here, but the odd position of the ... h3
9r+lwqk+-tr0 introduces unusual elements and this forced
9zppzpp+pzpp0 the players to spend additional time - the
knight offers tactical opportunities but it
9-+n+-sn-+0 can also turn out to be offside.
9+Lvl-zp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0 15...c6 15...b5 looks interesting, but
theres nothing wrong with the game move
9+-+P+N+-0 16 xb5 b8 17 c4 xb2 18 g2
9PzPP+-zPPzP0 f4+!? with sharp play 19 gxf4 exf4
20 d5 xd5 21 xd5 g6+ 22 h1 g4.
9tRNvLQmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy 16 b3 g6 16...d5 was possible 17 e2
5 c3 5 xc6 was played by Carlsen quite (17 exd5 cxd5 18 xd5 xd5 19 xd5
recently 5...dxc6 6 e2 e7 7 bd2 d8 20 e4 g4 gives Black excellent
Carlsen (2855) - So (2770) Bilbao 2016; compensation) 17...d8.
5 00 d6 6.e1 00 7 xc6 bxc6 8 h3 was
a surprising treatment of the line back in 17 e2 a5 18 a4 e6 19 xe6 A
2014: Carlsen (2863) - Anand (2792) Sochi surprising move because it allows a tactical
m/2 2014. shot. Again like in the previous game,
Carlsen is lucky that he can take the draw
5...00 6 g5 This is rare, usually White if not willing to enter a murky position. But
waits for Black to play ...d6 before pinning as his 21st move shows, he probably missed
the knight. 6 00 d6 7 g5. something in the position.
6...h6 7 h4 e7 This is the reason why 19 d2 was probably best, keeping some
usually 6 g5 is considered premature, but slight edge, mainly thanks to the stranded
obviously, Carlsen had some ideas here. h3.
8 00 Carlsen faced this as Black five years 19...fxe6 20 d2 d5?! 20...xf2+!

ago: 8 bd2 d6 9 f1 b8 10 e3 g4 XIIIIIIIIY
11 g3 xe3 12 fxe3 d7 Shirov (2714) -
Carlsen (2821) Biel 2011. 9r+-+-trk+0
9+p+-+-zp-0
8...d6 9 bd2 h5 10 xe7 xe7 Black
should be fine here, but Karjakin was 9-+pzppwqnzp0
spending a lot of time already. 9zp-+-zp-+-0
11 c4 f4 11...f5 was a more aggressive
9P+-+P+-+0
way to treat the position, but weve seen 9+-zPPsN-zP-0
that in this match when given a choice 9-zP-sNQsn-zP0
Karjakin chooses the more solid one 12 e3
(12 fxe5 xe5 13 xh5 xd3 is OK for 9tR-+-+R+K0
Black) 12...fxe4 13 dxe4 f4 14 g3 h3+ xiiiiiiiiy
15 g2 e8 with the idea of ...g6. This was best. 21 g1 the only way to
continue the game (21 g2 was the safe
12 e3 f6 12...f5 again this was possible, option for White 21...h4+ 22 g1

November 2016
Photo by Rob Kim
h3+ 23 h1 f2+ is a perpetual check) h3+ 24 g2 xg5 and Black is a

21...h3+ 22 g2 hf4+ 23 gxf4 xf4+ pawn up) 22...f7! this was probably
24 xf4 exf4 25 c2 e5 26 g4 and this is missed by both players (22...f4+? is bad
very difficult to evaluate, both for humans 23 gxf4 xd3 24 fxe5 f4 25 h3) 23 e2
and computers. (23 g1 f6 is a repetition) 23...h4+
24 g1 (24 gxh4? g6+ forces White to
21 h5?! This move, however, allows return the piece 25 g4 xg4 winning for
a drawing combination. A better move Black) 24...h3+ 25 h1 f2+ with a
was 21 f3! It would have kept an edge for perpetual check.
White, the h3 is now a liability.
XIIIIIIIIY 22 h4 Forcing the endgame. White could
have kept the tension but in view of
9r+-+-trk+0 the imprecise calculations it was a wise
9+p+-+-zp-0 decision. 22 g1; 22 ae1
9-+p+pwqnzp0 22...f3 23 xf3 xf3+ 24 xf3 xf3
9zp-+pzp-+Q0 25 g2 f7 26 fe1 another lucky
9P+-+P+-+0 moment for Carlsen. Again it appears
that Karjakin has a favourable tactical
9+-zPPsN-zPn0 operation at his disposal but somehow
9-zP-sN-zP-zP0 there is always a way out for Carlsen.
26 g4 h5 27 h2 is the computers
9tR-+-+R+K0 suggestion.
xiiiiiiiiy
21...g5? after this Black ends up in a 26...h5 26...af8 27 e2 dxe4 (27...f4+
prospectless endgame. 21...xf2+! 22 g2 is another version of the same idea, but
(22 g1 g5! is another nice tactic 23 xg5 again it doesnt work 28 gxf4 exf4 29 f5!

11/136
exf5 30 exd5 cxd5 31 h5 with a clear 37...d7 38 f3 continuing the plan to

advantage) 28 c4!! An amasing resource come to f6, but it is somewhat fruitless
(28 dxe4 f4+ works now for Black) as the rook can be chased away. 38 e2;
28...exd3 29 d2. White is two pawns down 38 b4.
now, but he will start picking up Blacks
pawns soon enough 29...d7 30 xa5 e4 38...h6 39 f6 g7 40 b4 White is
31 e1 and White will take on e4 and most dominating, but its not easy to break
probably d3 as well. through.
27 f1 the knight starts the journey to g5. 40...axb4 41 cxb4 g8 42 f3 h6 43 a5

f5 44 b3 White can now only hope
27...f8 28 d2 e7 29 e2 preparing to break through on the queenside, but if
f3. 29 f3? af8. Black is careful then this is not easy to
achieve under favourable circumstances.
29...d6 30 f3 af8 31 g5 e7 32 ae1
Carlsens plan is to play in the centre. 32 b1 44...c7 45 c5 b8 46 b1 a7 47 d3
was a good option, preparing b4 and c7 48 a3 There is no immediate break
opening the lines on the queenside. so White manoeuvres.
32...fe8 Karjakin decides to sit still. 32...d4 48...d4 49 d1 f5 50 h3 This

33 c2; 32...c5. prepares f3 and g4, but it is not dangerous
XIIIIIIIIY for Black as it can be parried.
9-+-+-tr-+0 50...h6 51 f3 f7 52 d4 52 g4? xf3+
9+p+-tr-zp-0 is an easy tactic.
9-+-mkp+n+0 52...f5 53 d2 h7 54 b3 ee7 This
9zp-zppzp-sNp0 allows b5, but Black can probably survive
9P+-+P+-zP0 it.
9+-zPP+-zP-0 55 dd3 Covering e3. 55 b5 cxb5 56 xb5
9-zP-+RzPK+0 e3 57 db2 c4 58 2b3 hf7.
9+-+-tR-+-0 55...h8 56 b1 hh7?
xiiiiiiiiy XIIIIIIIIY
33 f3 33 d2 d4 was an interesting
option. 33 b4! cxb4 34 cxb4 axb4 35 b1 9-+-+-+-+0
9mkp+-tr-+r0
33...h8 with the idea to come to f7, from
where it covers e5 and g5. 33...f8 34 b4. 9-+p+p+p+0
9zP-sNpzPn+p0
34 d4 34 b4 this play on the queenside 9-zP-+-+-zP0
is preferred by the computer, but Carlsen
follows up with his central strategy. 9+-+R+PzPK0
9-+-+-+-+0
34...exd4 35 xd4 g6 36 e3 introducing
ideas like f3f6 and e2f4. 36 e5+ c7 9+R+-+-+-0
37 b4 is similar to the game. xiiiiiiiiy
The final mistake. 56...h6 and the game
36...f7 37 e5+ 37 e2 doesnt work goes on 57 b5 cxb5 58 xb5 c8 is
37...h6 38 f4 e5. Blacks defence against b5.

November 2016
57 b5! White is winning now. xe5 71 f3 f5+ 72 e4 b5 73 a6

bxa6 74 xa6 and Black will lose the h5
57...cxb5 58 xb5 Threatening b6 and pawn.
Black cannot counterattack with ... c8 as
in the line 56... h6 69 e6 c7 70 xd4 xe6 71 d5 h6
72 f3 b8 73 f4 a7 74 g5 h8
58...d4 59 b6 c7 60 xe6 c3 Black 75 f6 10
tries a desperate counterattack, but it
doesnt work (as is the case with most A huge load was lifted from Carlsens
desperate counterattacks). shoulders and he showed his characteristic
confidence in Game 11. Note Blacks
61 f4 hc7 moves 18, 19 and 24 as an example of this.
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0 Sergey Karjakin - Magnus Carlsen
9mkptr-+-+-0
9-tR-+-+p+0
9zP-+-zPn+p0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-zp-sN-zP0 9-+-+rtrk+0
9+-trR+PzPK0 9+-+q+-zpp0
9-+-+-+-+0 9p+-zppvl-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+p+-+P+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+pzpP+Q+0
62 d5 this also wins. 62 xg6! was more 9zP-+P+-+-0
forcing 62...xd3 63 xd3 c3 64 f6 9-zPPvL-+PzP0
e3 65 f4.
9tR-+-+RmK-0
62...xd3 63 xc7 b8 64 b5 c8 xiiiiiiiiy
65 xg6 White will exchange knights on d6 18 h3 Defending the queen in advance, but
and transpose to a winning rook endgame. somewhat inconspicuously White falls back
in development and Black immediately
65...xf3 66 g2 b3 67 d6+ xd6 jumps at the opportunity. 18.fxe6 xe6
68 xd6 19 xe6+ xe6 20 b4 d8 21 f5 e5
XIIIIIIIIY is equal again, the e5 cements Blacks
position and Black will open the c-file for
9-+k+-+-+0 counterplay at an appropriate moment;
9+p+-+-+-0 18.ae1.
9-+-tR-+-+0 18...c3! This, and especially the next move
9zP-+-zP-+p0 show a confident Carlsen, who even though
9-+-zp-+-zP0 in general content with a draw (shown
by his opening choice), tries to squeeze
9+r+-+-zP-0 something out of this position, even if that is
9-+-+-+K+0 a psychological initiative. 18...e5; 18...d5
19.b4 is Whites idea how to counter
9+-+-+-+-0 ...d5, hence the game move; 18...e5 was
xiiiiiiiiy suggested by Giri, and it was played by
68...e3 68...c7 69 xd4 b5 70 a4 Caruana in a similar position (see above

11/136
14 g4 Leko-Caruana 2013), so perhaps 23 xf1 xe6 24 cxd4

isnt as bad as it looks at first sight (putting XIIIIIIIIY
more pawns on the same colour as the
f6). 9-+-+r+k+0
9+-+-+-zpp0
19 bxc3
9p+-+q+-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+p+-+-wQ-0
9-+-+rtrk+0 9-+-zPp+-+0
9+-+q+-zpp0 9zP-+P+-+P0
9p+-zppvl-+0 9-+P+-+P+0
9+p+-+P+-0 9+-+-+RmK-0
9-+-zpP+Q+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9zP-zPP+-+P0 24...e3! Another small psychological point
9-+PvL-+P+0 for Carlsen, who shows that he wants to
draw from a position of strength. 24...
9tR-+-+RmK-0 exd3 was natural and leads to a draw after
xiiiiiiiiy 25 cxd3 e3+ 26 xe3 xe3 27 d1 e2
19...d5! this forces White to start calculating 28 d5 (28 c1 a2) 28...f7 29 c1 d2.
precisely. Black is better centralised and
takes the initiative in the centre. 19...dxc3 25 e1 h6 26 h5 e2 27 f3 a5 28 c3
20 e3 a2 Once the queen leaves the rook
undefended White starts attacking it and
20 g5 Karjakin was happy with this this leads to a draw. The position was
move, obviously he wasnt too content drawn anyway, whats notable is that even
with his position and was getting scared. here Carlsen tries to impose his will and
The computer cooly suggests several demonstrate that he is the one pressing. His
other moves that also lead to equality. 18th, 19th and 24th move clearly show this
20.c4 was probably too complicated for tendency of his.
Karjakin 20...dxe4 (20...dxc4 21 b4 f7
22 fxe6 xe6 23 xe6 xe6 24 f5 e5) 29 c6 e6 30 c8+ h7
21 xe4 (21 cxb5 e3 22 b4 f7 23 bxa6 XIIIIIIIIY
c6 is pretty sharp and definitely not
what Karjakin was looking for) 21...exf5 9-+Q+-+-+0
22 xf5 xf5 23 xf5 bxc4 is around 9+-+-+-zpk0
equal, but White should be a bit careful
here; 20 exd5?! is not so good after 9-+-+r+-zp0
20...dxc3 21 e3 exf5 22 f3 e5 White 9zpp+-+-+-0
runs the risk of losing the d5pawn; 9-+-zP-+-+0
20 fxe6 is equal after the forced 20...xe6
21 xe6+ xe6 22 exd5 e2 23 f2 xf2 9zP-zPP+-+P0
24 xf2 dxc3 25 e1 the only move, 9q+-+p+P+0
perhaps this is what Karjakin didnt like,
it does look awkward for White, but the 9+-+-tR-mK-0
position is actually a solid 0.00. 25...d8 xiiiiiiiiy
(25...d4+ 26 e2 e8+ 27 d1 d8) 31 c4 d2 32 xe6 xe1+ 33 h2 f2
26 f3 xd5 27 f2. 34 e4+
20...xg5 21 xg5 dxe4 22 fxe6 xf1+ Game 12 turned out to be decisive for the

November 2016
outcome of the tie-break. As he confessed although it will take some time. For the
afterwards, Carlsen decided to play tie- time being Carlsen plays well and reaches a
breaks after the draw in Game 11 and drew position when he can obtain a strong attack,
quickly the last game. This attracted a lot but then changes his mind.
of criticism from the public, which was
expecting a full-blooded fight in the last 27...d8 28 b3 b8 29 a2 h6 30 d5
game of the match (perhaps still fresh in 30 c4 c8 31 b3 b8 32 g3; 30 g3.
the collective memory was the last game
of the Topalov - Anand match in 2010).
With his decision Carlsen secured himself
of three (before Game 12, the day of Game Eventually, as Fischer would
12 and the day after Game 12) more rest
days to prepare for the rapid tie-breaks and
have certainly liked, the match
in retrospect this was a genius move. Of was decided by strong moves
course, only because he won.
and not psychology
The Tie-Breaks
Carlsen clearly dominated the tie-breaks, 30...e7 30...d8 31 e4; 30...d8 31 e4
his play was fresh and he handled the d1 32 g3.
clock much more practically, having a time
advantage in all the games. 31 e4 31 c4 d8 32 e4.
After a calm draw in Game 1, the defining
moment was Carlsens yet another missed 31...f6 Better is 31...b4.
technical win in Game 2 and his reaction to XIIIIIIIIY
it in Game 3.
After imperceptibly outplaying Karjakin 9-tr-+-+k+0
in the Giuoco Piano Carlsen obtained a 9+-+-+pzp-0
winning position and a time advantage of 10
minutes to 1 (plus the 10-second increments). 9-+-+-wqnzp0
Amazing as it may sound, he didnt win. 9+-+-zp-+-0
9-+-+Q+-+0
Magnus Carlsen - Sergey Karjakin 9+-+-vLN+P0
9-+-+-zPP+0
Rapid TB 2016 New York USA (2), 2016
9+-+-+LmK-0
XIIIIIIIIY xiiiiiiiiy
9-tr-+-+k+0
9+-wq-+pzpp0 32 g3 32 h4! was more forcing, with h5
to come, creating constant threats against
9-+-+-+n+0 the g8.
9+Q+-zp-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0 32...c8 33 d3 33 h4 c6 34 xc6
(34 g4) 34...xc6 35 h5 f8 36 xe5.
9+-+-vLN+P0
9-+-+-zPP+0 33...c6 34 f5 e8 35 e4 35 h4 f8
(35...xh4 36 h7+ f8 37 e4 c4
9+-+-+LmK-0 38 gxh4) 36 e4 e6 37 f3; 35 h4
xiiiiiiiiy d5 (35...e4 36 d4 c8 37 xc8 xc8
27 d5 This is winning for White, 38 xe4; 35...e6 36 e4) 36 h5.

11/136
35...e6 36 h5 e7 Carlsen spent some a7 55 e6 Now the king heads to g6.

time here but failed to find a forced win and
entered the endgame. There was no forced 55...b7 56 f5 d7 57 c2 b7
win, but the alternative was much more XIIIIIIIIY
promising. 36...f8
9-+-+-+k+0
37 xe5 37 g5! 9+r+-+-zp-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-+-zp-zp0
9-+-+r+k+0
9+-+-snpzp-0 9+-+-+K+-0
9-+-+q+-zp0 9-+-+-vL-zP0
9+-+-zp-sNQ0 9+-+-+-zP-0
9-+-+L+-+0 9-+L+-zP-+0
9+-+-vL-zPP0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-zP-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+-+-mK-0 58 g6! Sacrificing the pawn on f2
xiiiiiiiiy but his intuition correctly told him
This move allowed the attack to continue that White must be winning after Black
with queens on board, something that takes it. Unfortunately, Carlsen couldnt
favours White 37...c4 (37...hxg5 38 h7+ prove his intuition right with precise
f8 39 h8+ g8 40 c5+) 38 h7+ calculation.
f8 (38...h8 39 xf7+ xh7 40 g5+
drops the e8) 39 e4 e6 40 c5 and 58...b2 59 f5! xf2 60 e6+ h8
Black is all tied-up. This is still not winning 61 d6 e2 62 g4?? missing the win.
by force, but this was a much better option Carlsens whole play was aimed at kings
than the endgame. invasion of f7 yet he stumbles at the last
hurdle. 62 f7!
37...xe5 38 xe5 g6 39 xg6 xe5 XIIIIIIIIY
40 d3 now this may objectively be drawn, 9-+-+-+-mk0
as Black has no weaknesses (although he
creates a hole with his next move, which 9+-+-+Kzp-0
was probably better to avoid). Carlsen 9-+-vLLzp-zp0
probably again didnt believe in fortresses 9+-+-+-+-0
when entering here. 9-+-+-+-zP0
9+-+-+-zP-0
40...f6?! This creates a hole on g6 and White
will use this to his advantage. 40...a5 just 9-+-+r+-+0
waiting is probably preferable. 9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
41 g2 h8 42 f3 d5 43 g6! First This was the natural continuation 62...b2
the bishop. 63 f8 b7+ 64 g6 f7 64...f5 the only
move, but now the bishop can come to
43...a5 44 e4 b5 45 h4 e5+ 46 d4 d4 and then f7 will follow 65 c5 c7
a5 47 c4 e5 48 d4 White cuts the 66 d4 with the decisive zugzwang 66...h5
rook off and then crosses the 5th rank with (66...b7 67 f7; 66...e7 67 f7) 67 xf5
the king. c6+ 68 xh5.
48...a5 49 c5 g8 50 d5 b5 51 d6 62...e8 Now its a draw, but in mutual

a5 52 e3 e5 53 f4 a5 54 d3 time-trouble Black will allow one more

November 2016
Photo by Max Avdeev
chance of the same winning mechanism. h5 76 f6 gxf6 77 f7 with mate to follow.

Its apparent both players didnt see it,
otherwise Black wouldnt have allowed it. 73...h8 73...b6.
63 f5 g8 64 c2 e3 65 b1 h8 74 f8 g8 75 a3?! 75 c5 is given as
66 f7 b3 67 e4 e3 68 f5 c3 winning, but this is far from the straight-
69 g4 c6 70 f8 c7+ 71 g6 g8 forward win on moves 73 and 62 75...b8
72 b4 b7?? 72...c6; 72...h8 76 e6+ h8 77 h5 a8
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0 9r+-+-+-mk0
9+-+-+-zp-0
9+r+-+-zp-0 9-+-+LzpKzp0
9-+-+-zpKzp0 9+-vL-+-+P0
9+-+-+L+-0 9-+-+-+P+0
9-vL-+-+PzP0 9+-+-+-+-0
9+-+-+-+-0 9-+-+-+-+0
9-+-+-+-+0 9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+-+-+-0 78 g5! this is impossible to see and play
xiiiiiiiiy in a rapid game playing on increment time
of 10 seconds per move. 78...a5 (78...fxg5
73 d6?? 73 e6+! h8 74 f8 is the 79 d4; 78...hxg5 79 h6 gxh6 80 e7)
same idea as on move 62 74...f5 75 gxf5 79 gxf6 gxf6 80 e7 g5+ 81 xh6 g7

11/136
82 d8 h7+ 83 g6 g7+ 84 xf6 shell, played passively and when one

g6+ 85 f5 g1 86 b6 but this still player doesnt go forward the other one
needs some work. will. In spite of his shaken state of mind
Carlsen just played strong moves and the
75...h8 76 e6 b6 77 f7 b7+ 78 e7 quality of his moves was much higher
XIIIIIIIIY than Karjakins. Eventually, as Fischer
would have certainly liked, the match
9-+-+-+-mk0 was decided by strong moves and not
9+r+-vLKzp-0 psychology.
9-+-+Lzp-zp0
9+-+-+-+-0 Sergey Karjakin - Magnus Carlsen
9-+-+-+PzP0 Rapid TB 2016 New York USA (3), 2016
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0 1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 a6 4 a4
f6 5 00 e7 6 d3 b5 7 b3 d6 8 a3 00
9+-+-+-+-0 9 c3 a5 9...b8 was Carlsens choice
xiiiiiiiiy in the first game of the tie-break.
78...h5! With little time left Karjakin finds
the immediate draw. 10 a2 e6 11 b4
79 gxh5 f5! 80 xf5

XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-wq-trk+0
9-+-+-+-mk0 9+-zp-vlpzpp0
9+r+-vLKzp-0 9p+-zplsn-+0
9-+-+-+-+0 9snp+-zp-+-0
9+-+-+L+P0 9-zP-+P+-+0
9-+-+-+-zP0 9zP-sNP+N+-0
9+-+-+-+-0 9L+P+-zPPzP0
9-+-+-+-+0 9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
9+-+-+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
Karjakin varies from their Game 2. 11 d4
xiiiiiiiiy xa2 12 xa2 e8 was played in Game 2.
80...xe7+! The bishop is of the wrong
square. 11...c6 a new move. 11...xa2 12 xa2
c6 13 g5 d7 14 xf6 xf6 15 d5
81 xe7 g8 82 d3 h8 83 f8 g5 d8 (15...a5 16 xf6+ gxf6 17 b2
84 hxg6 Dominguez (2751) - Tomashevsky (2701)
Baku 2014) 16 a4 e7 17 e3 b8 Anand
I thought that this would change the trend (2785) - Aronian (2804) Bilbao 2014.
in Karjakins favour wins were difficult
to achieve in this match and we saw that 12 d5 d4 13 g5 This forces Black
setbacks can affect Carlsen. Now it was to give up the bishop pair, but in return he
time for Karjakin to strike, while Carlsen gets play on the kingside. 13 xd4 exd4
was still reeling from the missed win. 14 xe7+ xe7 15 d2 c5 should be OK
And yet something completely different for Black since Carlsen must have prepared
happened. Karjakin went back to his it, but it was possible to play like this for

November 2016
Photo by Rob Kim
White 16 f4 xa2 17 xa2 c7. 18...e8 19 b3 19 g4 keeping the queen

on the kingside prevents possible attacks,
13...xd5 Practically forced. 13...d7?! but Black can also play on the queenside
14 c3 e6 15 xf6+ xf6 16 xe6 xe6 19...a5!? (19...b6; 19...g5 20 b3 h5
17 xe6 fxe6 18 a4 d7 19 c4 with an 21 d1 g4 22 a4 is unclear as Black would
initiative for White. prefer to attack with pieces rather than pawns).
14 exd5 d7 14...a5 15 c3 f5. 19...g6 19...a5.
15 e4 f5 16 d2 16 c3!? was maybe 20 f3 A blunt and committal decision,

better, as it doesnt give Black such an weakening e3 and the dark squares. 20 a4
easy play on the kingside as in the game a5; 20 h1 with idea g1 keeps the
16...fxe4 17 cxd4 exd3 18 dxe5 xe5 kingside more fluid for White, avoiding
19 b1 d7 (19...f6 20 a2) 20 a2 and weaknesses for the time being.
here White has good perspectives, either
by taking on d3 immediately or playing 20...h4! immediately taking advantage of
b2e5 and taking on d3. Whites last move. 20...b6; 20...a5.
16...f4 Black has easy play but his 21 a4 f6 22 e2 22 a2 h5.

weaknesses on the White squares can
become important. 22...a5! Impressive play by Carlsen, who
demonstrates the Black is better on the
17 c3 f5 18 e4 18 e1 b6. whole board.

11/136
23 axb5 23 bxa5 xa5 24 d2 fa8. for dark-square domination after his next
move. 29...gxf6! was very strong, with the
23...axb4 idea of ...g8, but Carlsens choice reveals
XIIIIIIIIY his classical outlook on chess.
9r+-+-trk+0 30 a3
9+-zp-+-zpp0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-zp-snq+0 9-+-+qtr-mk0
9+P+Pzpn+-0 9+-zp-+-zpp0
9-zp-+Nzp-vl0 9-+-zp-vl-+0
9+LzPP+P+-0 9+P+Pzp-+-0
9-+-+Q+PzP0 9-+L+-zp-+0
9tR-vL-+RmK-0 9tR-vLPsnP+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-+Q+PzP0
24 d2 24 xa8 xa8 25 cxb4.
A) 25...xe4 leads to messy complications 9+-+-+-mK-0
26 dxe4 (26 fxe4? d4) 26...g3 27 hxg3 xiiiiiiiiy
xg3 28 c4 h6 29 d1 h2+ 30 f1 30...e4! 31 dxe4 xc3 32 xc3 e5 Black
h5 and Black will take on g2 and f3 and dominates and this is incredibly difficult to
his h-pawn will roll (30...h1+ 31 e2 play for White, especially in a rapid game.
xg2+ 32 d3 f2);
B) 25...d4 26 b2 xb5 is a more 33 c1 a8 34 h3 h6 34...d4 35 h2.
human way to play here.
35 h2 d4 36 e1? There was no need
24...bxc3 25 xc3 e3 25...h8 26 a6 to let Black occupy the second rank. White
ab8 27 c4 e3; 25...ab8 26 c4 e3. is hopelessly passive after this. 36 d3
a3 37 b1.
26 fc1 xa1 27 xa1 e8 28 c4 h8 XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-+-+-mk0
9-+-+qtr-mk0 9+-zp-+-zp-0
9+-zp-+-zpp0 9-+-zp-+-zp0
9-+-zp-sn-+0 9+P+P+-+-0
9+P+Pzp-+-0 9-+LwqPzp-+0
9-+L+Nzp-vl0 9+-+-snP+P0
9+-vLPsnP+-0 9-+-+-+PmK0
9-+-+Q+PzP0 9+-tR-wQ-+-0
9tR-+-+-mK-0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy 36...b2! 36...xc4? 37 b4.
The pawn on d5 is hanging and Karjakin
panics. 37 f1 a2 38 xc7 loses on the spot,
but White was lost anyway. 38 b1 was the
29 xf6? 29 a2; 29 b6. only move 38...f6 39 e2 again the only
move 39...h7 and now its difficult to
29...xf6 Keeping his structure and playing suggest something for White other than sit

November 2016
Photo by Max Avdeev
and wait, but that should still lose 40 f2 again, fully aware that Karjakin must have
(40 h1 g6 41 f2 xd5) 40...d2 prepared heavily for his favourite weapon.
41 e1 c3 42 f2 g5 43 e1 c2
44 c1 b2 this is more precise as it keeps 3...cxd4 4 xd4 f6 5 f3
the c7pawn alive. (44...xe2 45 xc2 XIIIIIIIIY
xe1 46 xc7+ g6) 45 b1 xe2!
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0
38...a1 01 9zpp+-zppzpp0
With one game to go and in a must-win 9-+-zp-sn-+0
situation with black Karjakin had nowhere 9+-+-+-+-0
to hide so he essayed the Sicilian. Karjakin 9-+-sNP+-+0
is no stranger to impossible comebacks, he
came back from 0-2 and beat Svidler in 9+-+-+P+-0
the final of the Baku World Cup in 2015. 9PzPP+-+PzP0
But there was no stopping for Carlsen, who
controlled the situation and produced one of 9tRNvLQmKL+R0
the finest moments in World Championship xiiiiiiiiy
history with the last move of the match. Heres Carlsens surprise. White aims for a
Maroczy bind and although there are lines
Magnus Carlsen - Sergey Karjakin where Black equalises (for example by playing
...e6 and ...d5) these lead to a draw and that is
Rapid TB 2016 New York USA (4), 2016 what Karjakin is forced to avoid at all costs.
1 e4 c5 2 f3 d6 3 d4 3.b5+ is the line 5...e5 5...e6 6 c4 leads to a Hedgehog.

that Carlsen resurrected and transformed Perhaps it was preferable to play like this,
from a drawing line to a line where White not aim to push ...d5 too soon and keep the
can try and play for a win. But now he varies tension. Blacks moves are automatic in the

11/136
Hedgehog but surely Carlsen also would 18 b4 c6 19 fd1 continuing to

have played his prepared moves and got a improve the position. Its very difficult for
safe position anyway. Black to create something here and his next
move is basically the only active idea he
6 b3 e7 7 c4 a5 8 e3 a4 9 c1 has 19 bd5.
9 3d2 is more common.
19...h5 If possible, hell play ...h4, ... h5
9...00 10 c3 a5 10...a3 11 b3. and ... g5.
11 d2 Preventing ...a3 ideas. 11 e2 a3

XIIIIIIIIY
12 b1! with idea axb2 13 b3; 11 d3 a3 9r+rwq-+k+0
12 d2 axb2 13 xb2 e6=. 9+p+-vlpzp-0
11...a6?! This looks out of place, the 9-+lzpnsn-+0
knight belongs to c6 in these positions and 9+-+-zp-+p0
not on c5 11...a3? 12 b4! xb4 13 b1+; 9-sNP+P+-+0
11...c6
XIIIIIIIIY 9+PsN-vLP+-0
9r+l+-trk+0 9-+-wQL+PzP0
9+p+-vlpzpp0 9+R+R+-mK-0
9-+nzp-sn-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9wq-+-zp-+-0
9p+P+P+-+0 20 f1 20.bd5 was possible and more
9+-sN-vLP+-0 forcing 20... xd5 21 exd5 (21 xd5?!
xd5 22 xd5?! g5) 21...d4 22 xd4
9PzP-wQ-+PzP0 exd4 23 xd4 d7 24 e3 Black has
9tR-sN-mKL+R0 some black-squared compensation, but this
xiiiiiiiiy is maximum for equality.
This is the normal way to play. 12 b1
e6 13 b4! axb3 14 xb3 seems to 20...h4 21 f2 d7 21...h5 22 cd5.
be slightly better for White 14...a3
(14...d8 15 e2 h6 16 00 e8 17 b2 22 g3 controlling f4 and intending to
g5 18 f2 h5 19 fd1 Kokarev (2636) - activate the f1 by h3. The weakening
Oparin (2617) Novosibirsk 2016) 15 e2 of the king cannot be felt for the time being.
fc8 16 00 d7 17 b2.
22...a3 22...g5 23 c2 xe3 24 xe3;
12 e2 c5 13 00 d7 14 b1 Whites 22...d4 23 h3.
play is easy and again Carlsen was ahead
on the clock. 14 d1. 23 h3 23 c2.
14...fc8 15 b4 Typical plan in these 23...ca8 24 c2 3a6 25 b4 a5

structures. Unfortunately Black cannot repeat, even
though hed very much like to since his
15...axb3 16 axb3 16 xb3 was an position is rather bad.
alternative 16...xb3 17 axb3.
26 c2 b6 27 d2 White had many
16...d8 17 d3 e6 Keeping more options at his disposal, he chooses
pieces on the board, but the d3 now one that calmly improves the position
comes to b4 eyeing d5. 17...xd3 18 xd3 and this is very uncomfortable for
with idea fd1 (18 xd3 with idea fd1). an opponent who needs to create

November 2016
xc6 34 exd5 g6+ 35 g2 c5+

36 h1.
33 xc6 xc6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-vlk+0
9+-+-+pzp-0
9-zpqzp-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+P+Pzp-zP0
9trPsN-+P+-0
9-+-tR-wQ-zP0
9+-+R+-mK-0
Photo by Max Avdeev xiiiiiiiiy
34 b5 xb3 sacrificing exchange, but
Black is doomed because of the passive
something. Karjakin spent quite some f8, he practically plays without a
time on his next move and again ended piece. 34...a1 35 h1; 34...d5 35.exd5
up in time-trouble. 27 b4 b7 28 b5 f6 36 xa3 c5 37 d4 xa3
(28 cd5); 27 h1. 38 b4 xd4 39 xd4 xh4 40 a1
xa1+ 41 xa1 and Black is probably
27...c7 27...g6 28 bd1. lost here.
28 bd1 f8 29 gxh4 Finally forcing 35 d4 xc4 36 xb3 xb3 37 e2

matters, White has everything under 37 g2 e7 38 d3.
control. 29.f5
37...e7 38 g2 First the queen and now
29...f4 30 xf4 exf4 31 xd7 xd7 the king get away from the dark squares.
31...xd7 32 d5 38 h5.
XIIIIIIIIY 38...e6 39 h5 a3 40 d3 Repeating
9r+-+-vlk+0 moves wins the match for Carlsen, so
9+-+q+pzp-0 Karjakin again must concede ground.
40 d5.
9-zplzp-+-+0
9tr-+-+-+-0 40...a2 40...c4 41 1d2 a5 42 d5.
9-+P+Pzp-zP0 41 3d2 41 1d2.
9+PsN-+P+-0
9-+NtR-wQ-zP0 41...a3 42 d3 a7 43 d5 c7 44 d2
the f4pawn is doomed.
9+-+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy 44...f6 45 f5 h4 46 c1 going for the
32 b4 32 xb6 was also very good, but final very beautiful combination. 46 xf4
Carlsen aims to kill Blacks good bishop. c2+ 47 h1; 46 f2 forced the exchange
of queens, but the game move is of course
32...a3 32...d5 doesnt work 33 xc6 much better.

11/136
46...a7 Karjakins strategy to play for safety

XIIIIIIIIY and draws turned out to be successful
only because Carlsen didnt manage to
9-+-+-+k+0 win at least one of the winning positions
9tr-+-vlpzp-0 in Games 3 and 4. This made Carlsen
nervous and led to him overextending
9-zp-zp-+-+0 and forcing Karjakin to beat him in Game
9+-+-+R+P0 8. But it was Carlsen who was pushing
9-+-+Pzp-wq0 in this match, he was the one who was
making things happen, he was looking
9+-+-+P+-0 for chances. He was the only player who
9-+-wQ-+KzP0 tried to win games. And eventually, this
positive approach triumphed.
9+-tR-+-+-0 There have been examples in sports
xiiiiiiiiy history when a defensive and negative
47 xf4! a2+ 48 h1 f2 49 c8+ approach brought victories, luckily this
h7 49...f8 50 xf8+ xf8 51 xf7+ didnt happen in New York. There were
also mates 51...e8 52 f8+ d7 occasions in the match when Karjakin
53 f7+ c6 54 c8+ b5 55 c4+ willingly chose not to attack even when
a5 56 a8#. it was very promising. But you dont win
games like this, you dont win matches
50 h6+ A final position that will be like this, you dont become World
remembered for a very long time. 10 Champion like this.
Carlsen won and his era continues. For at
The better player won the match. least two more years.
Photo by Max Avdeev

November 2016
find
the way in these positions taken from the
Womens Olympiad held in Baku (September 2016).
to win
Solutions on page 700
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tR-+-+0 9-tr-+q+k+0 9-+-tr-+-+0
9zpp+-+-+k0 9+QtR-+p+p0 9+k+-wq-+-0
9-+-+-sn-zp0 9pzP-+r+pzP0 9-zpp+P+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+-zp-zP-0 9+-zp-+Lzpp0
9-+-vL-+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0 9-+P+N+P+0
9+-+-zp-+q0 9+-+-+P+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9PzP-+-zP-+0 9PzP-+-+-+0 9-vL-+-zP-zP0
9+-+-mK-tR-0 9+KtR-+-+-0 9+-+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy Xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
1) P. Cramling M. Calzetta Ruiz 2) K. Havlikova K. Abdulla 3) Z. Tan A. Biryukov
Sweden v Spain Czech Republic v Azerbaijan 2 China v Luxembourg
White to play White to play White to play
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-tR0 9r+l+ktr-+0 9r+l+k+-tr0
9zp-mk-wqr+-0 9+-+p+pwQp0 9zpp+-+qvl-0
9-zppvl-+-+0 9-+p+-+-vL0 9-+-vL-+Qzp0
9+-+p+-+-0 9zp-vl-zP-+-0 9+N+Pzpp+-0
9-+-sN-+-+0 9-+P+q+-+0 9-+n+nsN-zP0
9+P+KzP-zpQ0 9zp-+-+-zP-0 9+-+-zP-+-0
9P+-vLn+-+0 9KzP-tR-+-zP0 9PzPP+-zPP+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9tR-+-+L+-0 9+-mKR+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
4) X. Zhao - T. M. H guyen 5) P. Papp J. Bengtsson 6) S. Tsolakidou V. Cmilyte
China v Vietnam Hungary v Sweden Greece v Lithuania
Black to play White to play Black to play
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-wq-+-+-mk0 9-+-+-+rmk0 9r+-wqr+k+0
9+-+-+-zp-0 9+-+-+-wqp0 9+l+-vl-+p0
9-+Q+-zp-zp0 9-+p+p+-+0 9n+-zp-zppzP0
9+-+-zp-+-0 9+-zP-zPp+-0 9zp-zpP+-+-0
9-trLvlP+-+0 9-zp-vLpzP-+0 9-zp-+NvL-+0
9+-+-+P+P0 9+l+-+-+Q0 9+P+-+-zP-0
9-+-tR-+P+0 9-+-+P+-zP0 9PwQ-+PzPL+0
9+-+-+-+K0 9+-+-+-tRK0 9tR-+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
7) ) T. Vidic I. Bulmaga 8) J. Frayna - T. T. Hoang 9) O. Girya J. Bosch
Slovenia v Romania Philippines v Hungary Russia v Ecuador
Black to play Black to play White to play

11/136
Openings
for Amateurs
Two
Knights
We will be taking a look at some important
Two Knights Defence lines for several
reasons. The Italian Game is still very popular
in amateur play. It is also the worst played!
Players seem only to know the basic lines,
completely unaware of the complexity of
play for both sides. We're starting with 4 d4
because it, in opposition to 4 g5, is the most
principled move, and White players dislike the
discomfort of Black's various attacks after 4 by Pete Tamburro
g5, nor do they handle them well.
O. Ruster - Dr. Ed. Dyckhoff should survive, but the trail along the way
from 6 c3 is a rocky road, so you had better
Das Grosse Fernturnier Des IFSB, 1932 know this.
We have a correspondence game played in 6...d5 7 xd5 There is also Canal's move
1932 (!) as our example because it covers a which caused quite a stir in the 1920s: 7 c3
rare, and safe, Black line and because the dxc3 8 xd5 e6 (There is also the
game itself is stunning. Its most important mildly insane move that guarantees White
teaching lesson is the timing of the pawn at least a draw should Black play precisely:
push d3 by Black. It also pops up in several 8...f5 9 g5 f6 10 xe4 fxe4 11 xe4 d4
of the notes. Both sides need to study that 12 h5+ g6 13 f3 e7 14 g5 cxb2
single idea in this opening because it often 15 f6+ f7 16 d7+ e8 17 f6+) 9 xe4
decides the game. I have the tournament xd1 10 xd1 cxb2 11 xb2 f6 and the best
book in German and can recommend to White could hope for is to fight for a draw.
collectors that it is a gem in any collection.
7...xd5 8 c3
1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 c4 f6 4 d4 exd4
XIIIIIIIIY
5 00 xe4 6 e1 6 xd4 d5 7 b5 d7 9r+l+kvl-tr0
does well for Black, but Black had better 9zppzp-+pzpp0
have his attacking brain in the on-position
for 8 e1 d6 9 f3 h4 10 fxe4 xd4 9-+n+-+-+0
11 xd7+ xd7 12 e5 c5. 9+-+q+-+-0
There is also the rare move introduced by the
Russian R. Nahmanson that can put Black in
9-+-zpn+-+0
an uncomfortable role reversal: 6 c3 dxc3 9+-sN-+N+-0
7 xf7+ xf7 8 d5+ e8 9 e1 f6 9PzPP+-zPPzP0
10 xe4+ e7 11 g5 f7 12 d3 d5!
13 xe7+! xe7 14 e1 e6 and Black 9tR-vLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
November 2016
8...a5 There are other playable alternatives. Open in Chicago in 1994. I was fortunate to
Black players who want to surprise someone be playing nearby, so I got to see some of
may try: 8...h5 9 xe4 e6 10 g5 d6 it in person: 13 e2 d6 (The centralising
(10...h6 11.f6) 11 xd6+ cxd6 12 f4 13...d5; and the logical follow-up
c5; 8...d8 9 xe4+ e7 10 xd4 f5 for h6, 13...g5 are both good alternate
A) 11 h6 fxe4! 12 xg7 and now either routes.) 14 d2 h5 15 e1 d3! 16 e4
12...f8 (or 12...f7 are seen.) ; hf8 (16...dxc2) 17 cxd3 xf3! 18 gxf3?
B) 11.f4 00 12 xc6 xd1+ 13 xd1 (18.xd6! xd6 19.gxf3 g6+ 20.h1
bxc6. e5!) 18...xh2+ 19 f1 h3+ 20 e2
(20.g1 h2+) 20...d4+! 21 xd4
9.xe4 Sometimes, one of the hardest xe6+ 22 d1 xa2 23 g4+ b8
things to do in chess is to refute a bad move. 24 xg7 b1+ 25 e2 e8+ 26 e3
Are you ready to play with the brilliance c2+ 27 f1 xd3+ 28 g2 b6 29 h1
of Richard Reti against Max Euwe in xe3! 30 fxe3 e2+ 31 g1 xe3+
their 1922 match? It went: 9 xd4? xd4 32 g2 e2+ 33 g1 c5+ The 12...e7
10 xd4 f5 11 g5 c5!! 12 d8+ f7 move was suggested by A. Rubinstein in the
13 xe4 fxe4 14 ad1 d6! 15 xh8 xg5 Larobok I Schack in the 1920s. Tartakower
16 f4 h4 17 xe4 h3! 18 xa8 c5+ beat Tarrasch in this line and both players
19 h1 xg2+ 20 xg2 g4+ 01.Got that? analysed it in their respective books, The
Hypermodern Game of Chess and the
9...e6 10 eg5 10 d2 f5! 11 eg5 Game of Chess. Both are translated into
(11 g5 h6 12.h4 c5) 11...000 12 xe6 English, the former being one of the great
fxe6 13 e2 e5 14 xe5 e8! 15 f4 xe5 books of chess.
16 e4 (16.fxe5 d6) 16...xe4 17 xe4 The idea is sound: put the bishop on f6 to
c5 18 fxe5 hf8. support the d-pawn and bear down on b2.
It protects e7 and g5 as well. An eventual d3
10...000 11 xe6 fxe6 12 xe6 pawn push will always be on White's mind
XIIIIIIIIY as we shall see in the game. In any event,
it often comes as a surpise to White, and,
9-+ktr-vl-tr0 at amateur levels, leads to White having to
9zppzp-+-zpp0 come up with his own ideas, which is often
beneficial to a well-prepared Black.
9-+n+R+-+0
9wq-+-+-+-0 13.e5 Opinion is divided on the best move
9-+-zp-+-+0 here. Pinski (The Two Knights Defence,
Everyman) praises it as a good alternative
9+-+-+N+-0 to the others. 13.e2 f6 14.h3 (14.f4
9PzPP+-zPPzP0 b4) 14...hf8 with that nasty d3 threat
again is fine for Black.
9tR-vLQ+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy 13...xe5 14 xe7 d7 Also playable
12...e7 For many years the main line because of the d3 threat is 14...he8
has been 12...d6 13 g5 (13 e2 h5 15 d2 (15 xe8 xe8 16 d2 b6)
14.g5 d3!) 13...de8 14 e2 xe6 15...b6 16 xg7 d3! 17 c3 d2.
15 xe6+ b8 and White's control of
the e-file demands active play by Black.; 15 b4 An interesting move by White. He
To avoid the g5 move, there is 12...h6 uses a tempo win to have the option of
A favorite of US master John Curdo, an putting his bishop on the other diagonal.
attacking player who has several GM scalps White could promptly exchange on d7 with
on his belt, who, as Black used sacrifice all sorts of intriguing possibilities. I played
after sacrifce to defeat Bachler at the US with one line all the way out to move 47 for

11/136
pure enjoyment and it was! There is some If you like unbalanced positions, this is perfect.
lively chess in the endgame without even
considering the variations. You had better 24 e5 d1+ 25 h2 b5?! Easier was
know how to play endgames! 15 xd7 25...f7 26 e3 (26 c5 f4+ 27 g3 b6)
xd7 16 h3 (16 f4 b4 17 b1 e8 18 h3 26...xc2 27 d4 c6=.
e4 19 g3 c4 20 b3 e2 21 f3 e7
22 xd4 xc2 23 e1 xe1+ 24 xe1 26 e3 xc2 27 xa7 a4 Better was
c5 25 f2 xd4 26 xd4 g6 27 f2 c5 27...dc6 28 c5 xf2.
28 g7 c7 29 e3 d6 30 e4 b5 31 c3
b4 32 g7 b6 33 f8+ c6 34 f4 a5 28.xa4 28 c5 d6 29 a3 xc5 30 xc5
35 g4 a4 36 bxa4 xa4 37 f5 gxf5+ 38 gxf5 g6 31 e5 xa3 32 xb5 c6.
c3+ 39 e5 xa2 40 xc5 c1 41 xb4
d3+ 42 e6 xb4 43 f6 d3 44 f7 28...bxa4 29 c5 c6 30 a3 g6 31 f4 b7
f4+ 45 f6 g6 46 h4 d6 47 h5 32 c1!? 32 e5.
f8) 16...f6 17 f4 e8 18 xd4 e4
19 d2 xd2 20 xd2 e2 21 c3 32...h5 33 g1 h4 34 h2 -
xc2 22 e1 d7 23 g4 h6 24 a4 a6.
This was a great correspondence fight
15...d5 16 xd7 xd7 17 b2 d8 and a highly instructive one. Dr Dyckhoff
18 e2 came in second in the tournament, a half-
XIIIIIIIIY point behind Hans Muller and a full point
ahead of Erik Eliskases. It also had a sad
9-+ktr-+-+0 and poignant moment. Dutch master and
9zppzpq+-zpp0 medical doctor Dr. A. Olland died in the
middle of it while playing in the 1933
9-+-+-+-+0 Dutch Championship at The Hague.
9+-+-sn-+-0
9-zP-zp-+-+0 If youre a Two Knights devotee, you now
realize there may be more to prepare for than
9+-+-+-+-0 you imagined. As far as the line presented
9PvLP+QzPPzP0 here, e7 is a fine weapon to use against
a stronger player as you equalize fairly
9tR-+-+-mK-0 easily; however, if you need to play for a
xiiiiiiiiy win against someone your own strength
18...d3!! And here it is! What Dr. Dyckhoff or lower, then you might give Curdos
figured out was quite ingenious. approach a try. Other than the crucial d3
idea, one other item you may have noticed:
19.xe5 d2 20 d1 e8 21 c3 e1+ there are a lot of long moves in these
22 xe1 d1 23 h3 1d5 lines. Queens, rooks and bishops can
XIIIIIIIIY suddenly emerge from far away and greatly
9-+k+-+-+0 impact a position on the other side of the
9zppzpq+-zpp0 board. Black, no matter what line above, is
definitely in the game with chances to win.
9-+-+-+-+0 This is one of the reasons that, in recent
9+-+q+-+-0 years, 5.e5 had come to the fore.
9-zP-+-+-+0
9+-wQ-+-+P0
9PvLP+-zPP+0
9+-+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
November 2016
QUOTES AND QUERIES

by Alan Smith
6072 The first world champion, Wilhelm 21 f7! g4 Black has no choice but to
Steinitz, was a fan of the Kings Gambit continue with his plan 21...e8 22 xg7!
through most of his tournament and match xg7 23 h6+ h8 24 f6 mate.
career, from games with Valentine Green and XIIIIIIIIY
James Robey at London 1862 to his encounter
with Jackson Showalter at Nuremberg 1896. 9r+q+-+-mk0
9zppzp-+Rvlp0
As a rule, he preferred the main lines of the
Kieseritzky, but did also try his hand at the 9-+-+-+n+0
Salvio Gambit. He essayed this four times 9+-+-+-vLQ0
in his 1866 match with Anderssen, scoring 9-+LzpP+lzP0
+3 1, and when he was struggling in the
early rounds at Vienna 1882 he dusted off 9+-+N+-+-0
his old standby to defeat Chigorin and used 9PzPP+-+P+0
it again to defeat Hruby in a later round.
9+-+-+-mK-0
Here are two forgotten games by Steinitz xiiiiiiiiy
which have escaped the anthologies and the 22 h6! g8 To reinforce g7 and h7.
databases. The first features some dashing Accepting the sacrifice loses 22...xh6?
play and a queen sacrifice. allows 23 f6+ g8 24 g7+ f8
25 g8# or 23...g7 24 xg7+ g8
W. STEINITZ J.O.H. TAYLOR 25 d7+! e6 26 xe6 mate.
Divan 1865 23 f6 xf6 24 xf6 xc4 24...g7 is

met by 25 g5 when Blacks only answer
1 e4 e5 2 f4 exf4 3 f3 g5 4 h4 g4 5 e5 to the threats of 26 xg4 and 26 f7 is
g7 6 xg4 d5 This sets a trap. 25...f8. In that case White has 26 xg7+
xg7 27 f7+ winning a second pawn.
7 f2 The reflex 7 exd5? loses quickly to
7...e7+ 8 f2 d4+ 9 f3 xg4+. 25 xg6 g8
7...e7 7...dxe4 is stronger.

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+rmk0
8 d300 9 c3 d4 10 e2 f5 11 xf4 fxe4 9zppzp-+-+p0
12 dxe4 d6 13 c4+ h8 14 00 g6
The column explains that Black did not like 9-+-+-+RwQ0
the look of 14...xf4 15 xf4 xf4. White 9+-+-+-+-0
can continue with 16 h5 with enduring 9-+qzpP+lzP0
pressure along the f-file.
9+-+N+-+-0
15 2d3 c6 16 h5 ce5 17 xg6+ xg6 9PzPP+-+P+0
The alternative capture loses 17...xg6??
18 xf8+ xf8 19 xe5+. 9+-+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
18 xf8+ xf8 19 g5 d7 20 f1 c8 26 e5! xa225...xg6 27 xg6+ g8

11/136
28 f8 mate. 19...f3 19...e3 is not as good 20 xh5

exd2+ 21 xd2 e5 22 f3.
27 xg4! xg4 28 f8+! g8 28...g8
29 f7 mate. 20 g5+ d7 21 b5+ c6 22 dxc6+
bxc6 23 0-0-0+ c7 24 c4 e3 25 f7
29 g6+! hxg6 30 h6 mate. f8 26 xh5 exf3 27 gxf3 e6 28 f2
a629 e2 f5 30 e7+ b6 31 e3+
Newcastle Daily Journal 22 November 1865. a5 32 b7 10
W. STEINITZ - R. SHORT If 32...fd8 then 33 xd8 xd8 34 d2+

a4 35 f7 winning.
Montreal Chess Club 1893
Montreal Gazette16 November 1893.
1 e4 e5 2 f4 exf4 3 f3 g5 4 h4 g4 5 e5
f6 6 c4 d5 7 exd5 d6 8 d4 h5 This game was discovered by John Hilbert
9 c3 g3 10 h2 10 xf4 xh1 11 g3! and published by him in Quarterly for
is the critical test of Blacks play. Chess History12, pages 35-36.
10...h5 11 xg4
6073 William Albert Fairhurst was one of
XIIIIIIIIY the most successful British players of the
9rsnlwqk+-tr0 20th century.
9zppzp-+p+p0 Born in Alderley Edge in 1903 he won
9-+-vl-+-+0 the championships of Cheshire and the
9+-+P+-+n0 Manchester Chess Club before he was
twenty years old.
9-+LzP-zpNzP0
9+-sN-+-+-0 He won both titles four times, then
moved on to fresh challenges. He made
9PzPP+-+PtR0 his British Championship debut in 1924
9tR-vLQmK-+-0 and played in his first international
xiiiiiiiiy event in 1927, when he was invited to
11...e7+ Missing a chance to mix it up Scarborough. He tied for second place
11...f3!? 12 e5 fxg2 13 f2 g8 14 g1. with Yates, behind Colle, and defeated
both Colle and Bogoljubow.
12 e5 xe5 13 dxe5 xe5+ 14 e2 f6
15 e4 d8 16 f2 e8 17 xe5 fxe5
18 d2 e4 19 e2 W. FAIRHURST - E. BOGOLJUBOW
XIIIIIIIIY Scarborough 1927
9rsnlmkr+-+0
9zppzp-+-+p0 1 d4 f6 2 f3 e6 3 c4 b4+ 4 d2
xd2+ Black has alternatives in 4...e7,
9-+-+-+-+0 4...e7, 4...a5 and 4...c5.
9+-+P+-+n0
9-+-+pzp-zP0 5 bxd2 00 6 g3 d6 7 g2 c6 8 00
e5 9 d5 e7 10 h4 g6 11 xg6 hxg6
9+-+-+-+-0 12 e4 d7 13 b4 a5 The Field suggested
9PzPPvLLsNPtR0 13...c8 intending ...h3.
9tR-+-mK-+-0 14 a3 b8 15 b3 a4 16 c1 a7 17 c2
xiiiiiiiiy
November 2016
fc8 18 d1 b5 19 c5 Chess Club. Only once did he fail to occupy

XIIIIIIIIY first place. An international event held at
Glasgow in 1953, Penrose was first with
9r+r+-+k+0 +3 =4, Fairhurst tied for second place with
9wq-zpl+pzp-0 Golombek, Wade and Yanofsky, just half a
point behind.
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+pzPPzp-+-0 In 1937 he prepared for the British
9pzP-+P+-+0 Championship by playing a 6 game match
with James Aitken. He won +2 =3 1
9zP-+-+-zP-0 and went on to show his best form at
9-+Q+-zPLzP0 Blackpool 1937 and securing the British
Championship at the sixth attempt with a
9tR-sNR+-mK-0 score of +7 =4, including a win against
xiiiiiiiiy 9-time champion H.E.Atkins.
19...c6? This is too ambitious, Black is
unable to open lines and he has weakened After winning his tenth Scottish title at
his e-pawn, he also has no effective way of Aberdeen in 1949, Fairhurst played less
contesting control of the c5 square. often, as the demands of his profession
took up more of his time. There were still
20 dxc6 xc6 21 d3! e6 22 b2 d7 occasional flashes of his best. He won an
23 cxd6 b3 24 dc1 xd6 25 xe5 unofficial Commonwealth championship at
xe5 26 xe5 Black has little for his Oxford 1951 ahead of Yanofsky and Wade
pawn.
Playing top board for Scotland at the
26...d2 27 c5! ad8 28 f1 d7 Moscow Olympiad in 1956 he scored
29 xb5 h3 30 f1 a2 31 e7 dd2? +7 =3 4, including a win against the
In the search for counterplay, Blacks winner of the prize for the best score on
pieces desert their defensive chores. But that board, Bent Larsen.
31...f8 32 d7 h6 33 b5 is no better.
He played in one last Scottish championship
32 e8+ h7 33 c8 xc8 34 xc8 e6 in 1962 and won his eleventh title. A record
35 c5 xa3 36 c1 aa2 37 f1 a3 which still stands. The following year he
38 b5 g5 39 b6 ab2 40 xa3 xf2 41 b7 won first prize at Southend ahead of Peter
10 Clarke and Barry Wood.
Western Daily Press 13 June 1927
The next decade saw a gradual improvement.

4th equal in the British Championship at
Tenby 1928, a convincing victory in the
Major Open at Scarborough 1930, followed
by 2nd equal in the British at Chester 1934.
Meanwhile, his career as a structural

engineer took him to Scotland in 1931.
His domination of Scottish chess events is

impressive 11 times national champion,
16 times champion of the West of Scotland www.ACMchess.com
and 18 times champion of the Glasgow

11/136
Endgame Studies Solutions on page 701
by Ian Watson ian@irwatson.demon.co.uk
1 2 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-tR-+-+-0
9-+-+-sn-sN0
9+-+L+-+-0
9K+-+-+-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-sn-+-+-+0
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9q+-+p+K+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9-+-+-+-mk0
9kl+-+-+-0 9+-+-wQ-sn-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
3 4
A. Manvelian V. Kalyagin
Kasparian MT 1997 Kasparian MT 1997
Draw Draw
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+-+N+-tR0
9zp-sN-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+P0
9-+ktr-+-+0 9-+-+-+-tr0
9+-+-+-tR-0 9+-+-+K+-0
9l+-+-+-+0 9-+-+-vL-mk0
9+-+p+-+L0 9+-+n+-+p0
9-+-mKp+-+0 9-vl-+-zpP+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
V. Bron B. Olimpiev
Magyar Sakkelet 1962 Kozlov MT 1985
draw Win

November 2016
The World Cup
Many sports now have a World Cup and disheartened if you find them difficult! The
chess solving has one too. Ours is a year- first of the four studies is the hardest: 4 of
round event, in which competitorsscores the 20 competitors at Minsk got this study
from major solving competitions are added all correct, but 17 of them got the second
up to decide the winner for the year. Its a one all correct. At the Warsaw GP, 15 of the
bit like the tennis World Tour, although ours 21 competitors got the full 5 points for the
has no final so maybe you should compare it third study and 17 of the 21 got the full 5 for
instead with Formula 1. The Andy Murray, the last study. Those are world class solvers.
or the Nico Rosberg, of chess solving for
2015/16 was the Belgian Solving GM Eddy In case youre wondering about the
van Beers. Our 2016/17 World Cup is well publication details next to each study,
under way; the leader at mid-November solving competitions like to use
is the Russian Dmitri Pletnev. Its early unpublished compositions if such are
days, however the competition runs from available, but in practice they mainly use
September to August. previously-published problems and studies.
So, if youre very lucky you may recognise
Here are four studies from the two most one (and if youre even luckier, remember
recent solving events in the World Cup, the solution). There have, however, been at
both held in early November, one in Minsk least 100,000 endgame studies published,
in Belarus and one near Warsaw. The first so when I say lucky I mean it!
two studies are from the Belarus Albino
Cup, won by Evgeny Viktorov, and the
other two are from the Warsaw Grand
Prix, won by former World Chess Solving
Champion Piotr Murdzia. Solvers in these
competitions are required to solve a mix
of types of problems, including endgame
studies, and they do so against the clock,
so to compare yourself with the World Cup
competitors, give yourself a total of 2
hours for these studies. You should use a
chess set to help you.
As usual, there are five points for each

study, and with the solutions Ill show you
how the points were allocated. You need
to find the composers main line; you can
also write down sidelines if youre not sure
what the main line is, but only the main
line moves earn points. So look for the
most artistic, elegant line.
These studies are meant to be hard enough

to challenge even top solvers, so dont be

11/136
Going for Chess Olympiad Baku 2016

gold or glory!
The Olympiad is a tournament like no other:
By GM Alejandro Ramirez
the sheer number of teams participating,
and the strength of all the players, is truly
unparalleled. The Olympiad represents
an incredible opportunity for many of the
participants to shine: not only are the top
teams playing for the gold medal, many of
the lesser known squads are participating
for glory, norm opportunities, and their
own class and board medals. If one
thing is true about the Olympiad, it is that
everyone is out for blood over the board,
and with the extra pressure exerted by the
team format, it is very important to be very
wary at all times! The examples I selected
here encompass a series of players
overlooking their opponents resources,
and swiftly being punished for it:
The first example comes from my former

team of Costa Rica! Interestingly, when I
played in the Olympiad in 2002, we also
had this match in the second round, in
which I lost to Anand. Here we have a
classic example of a player cracking up
after a long defence:
Baskaran Adhiban
Sergio Minero Pineda
Round 2, Baku Olympiad 2016
XIIIIIIIIY Black has done well to reach this position
9-+-vl-tr-+0 against a much higher rated opponent.
9tr-+-+-mk-0 Minero, from Costa Rica, is the last man
standing in the match as India has taken all
9-+-+-zppzp0 three of the games. He is close to saving an
9+-zpP+PzP-0 honourable half point, but it isnt over yet.
9-+-+-tR-+0 37 h4 hxg5 38 hxg5 h8+ 38...gxf5 39 xf5
g6 40 f2 h7+ 41 g2 xg5 seems
9+-+-+-+-0 way, way easier.
9-+-+-+-zP0 39 g1 h5 40 g4 If grandmasters
specialise in something, it is keeping the
9vL-+-tR-+K0 game going. This move doesnt win by any
xiiiiiiiiy
November 2016
means, but it doesnt draw immediately: it being so close to the pawn.

gives Black room to err. 40 gxf6+ xf6 47...xf6 48 a6+ 10
41 xf6+ xf6 can be drawn by any club Tactics are always at the service of strategy,
player. and in this case the teenage wunderkind
40...gxf5 The time control is reached, Black Jan Krzysztof Duda has achieved a great
still has everything under control. position against Cuban GM Lazaro Bruzon,
41 gxf6+ f8 42 e8+ xe8 43 g8+ but the game is still far from over:
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-vlk+R+0 Jan Krzysztof Duda
Lazaro Bruzon Batista
9tr-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-zP-+0
9+-zpP+p+r0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+rwqr+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+l+n+pvlk0
9-+-+-+-+0 9p+p+n+pzp0
9vL-+-+-mK-0 9+pzP-zp-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9PzP-+P+-+0
43...d7?! Why step out of the path of the 9+-+-+NsNP0
pawn? 43...f7 44 g7+ f8 45 xa7 9-+QvL-zPP+0
f4! is forced but sufficient, Here Black
threatens xd5 and the game should be 9+R+-tRLmK-0
drawn soon. xiiiiiiiiy
44 g7+ d6 45 xa7 f4?! 45...xf6 These kinds of positions are certainly
46 xf6 xd5 is a draw, of course, but unpleasant. White has more space and the
Black doesnt want to have to endure this black bishop is quite simply stuck on b7.
endgame. The most important thing for Black is not
46 f7 to allow White to penetrate, as his position
XIIIIIIIIY is still very solid. That usually means: dont
allow your opponent to sacrifice!
9-+-vl-+-+0 26...c7?! 26...g8 keeps Black well in
9tR-+-+P+-0 the game, even if it is better for White.
27 f5! Duda wastes no time.
9-+-mk-+-+0 27...f8 27...gxf5 28 exf5 d4 29 d4
9+-zpP+-+r0 exd4 30 f6+ is immediately lost.
9-+-+-zp-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+-+-+-0 9-+r+r+-+0
9-+-+-+-+0 9+lwqn+pvlk0
9vL-+-+-mK-0 9p+p+n+pzp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+pzP-zp-+-0
46...f5? The decisive, careless mistake. 9PzP-+P+-+0
46...e7 47 f6 f8 48 a8 d5 49 xf8
e6 50 e5!? also leads to a bishop + rook 9+-+-+NsNP0
vs. rook position. 9-+QvL-zPP+0
47 f6! Study-like. None of Blacks pieces
can defend against the promotion, despite 9+R+-tRLmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
11/136
28 bd1! This is the point. White does Andrei Volokitin Daniel Fridman
not retreat, and now an invasion on d6 is
threatened. Round 3, Baku Olympiad 2016
28...gxf5 What else? 28...f6 29 d6 xd6 XIIIIIIIIY
30 cxd6 xd6 31 c1 e7 32 d2+
wins, as h6 and d7 are under attack. 9r+-wqkvl-tr0
29 exf5 f4 30 xf4 exf4 31 f6+ g8 9+p+-snpzpp0
XIIIIIIIIY 9p+n+p+l+0
9-+r+rvlk+0 9+L+PzP-+-0
9+lwqn+p+-0 9-+-sN-+-+0
9p+p+-zP-zp0 9+-+-vL-+-0
9+pzP-+-+-0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9PzP-+-zp-+0 9tRN+Q+RmK-0
9+-+-+N+P0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+Q+-zPP+0 11...xd5? The final mistake. 11...axb5
will doubtless see some theoretical
9+-+RtRLmK-0 discussion in the future, but I have no faith
xiiiiiiiiy in Blacks position.
32 f5 A quiet but decisive move. There is 12 c3 xe5 13 a4 c8 14 c1 f5
no way to defend the knight on d7. What else? Black has to develop somehow.
32...xf6 32...ed8 33 e7!; 32...b8 15 xc6 bxc6
33 d3 and mate on h7; 32...xe1 XIIIIIIIIY
33 d7+.
33 xf6 The even material includes that 9-+r+kvl-tr0
big pawn on b7, so Black is completely lost. 9+-+-+pzpp0
33...g7 34 f5 ed8 35 d3 d5
36 h7+ f8 37 h4 d8 38 f5 f6 9p+p+p+l+0
39 e7 10 9+-+-wqn+-0
Already, in the third round, some of the
9L+-+-+-+0
battles were of incredible importance. 9+-sN-vL-+-0
The Ukraine vs Germany match decided 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
the fate for both teams for what seemed
the rest of the tournament! Ukraine 9+-tRQ+RmK-0
won and was at the top of the entire xiiiiiiiiy
tournament, while Germany never really 16 e2!! What a lovely move. Quiet, but
recovered. deadly. It seems so counter-intuitive to
allow Black to take on e3, which liberates
When you face some opponents, such as the bishop on g6, but everything has been
Volokitin, every single move that you crisply calculated.
make in the opening could be the decisive 16...xe3 16...e4 is better, but after 17 b6
mistake. Volokitin was a powerhouse for Black is still in serious trouble.
Ukraine and made us completely forget 17 xc6! e7 17...xd1 18 xe6+ d8
that they did not have Ivanchuk in their 19 xe5! and there is no way to defend
side for this Olympiad. His massive score the knight from b2, as it has the important
was a combination of brilliance and great job of ...guarding c1! (19 xd1+ d6
opening preparation. This game was a 20 dxd6+ d6 21 xd6+ e7 doesnt
mixture of both. work.) 19...d6 (19...xb2 20 e8+ c7

November 2016
21...e5 21...xe2 22 b4+ d8 23 b8+

e7 24 c7#; 21...f5 cuts out the
influence of the rook from f1. 22 g3+.
Now d1 is more than a mildly unpleasant
threat.
22 d1! xe2 23 b4!+ A lovely
checkmate: 23...e6 24 d7 f6 25 h4#.
10
Of course, openings are quite nice, but it is

not only in this part of the game that you
have to be careful! The following game
is a rather large upset, as the player from
Kosovo is facing a strong Egyptian GM. In
the Olympiad, norms count as double, and
everyone is eager to get their hands on a
few grandmaster scalps:
Nderim Saraci Bassem Amin

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
Andrei Volokitin. Photo by A. Kontokanis
9+-+-+-mk-0
21 c1+ and White picks up the rook on 9p+-zpr+pzp0
c8.) 20 xd1 c7 21 ed5 is perhaps not 9+-zp-+-+-0
a lost endgame, but being down a pawn 9-+P+PtR-+0
and having a weak king makes it definitely
close to that. 9+-+-mK-zP-0
18 fxe3 xe3+?! 18...xc6 19 xc6 f5! 9P+-+-+-zP0
20 d4 looks horrendous for Black, but its
nevertheless the best in the circumstances. 9+-+-+-+-0
19 h1 xc6 20 xc6 d3 21 a4 xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY This endgame looks innocuous. Black is an
experienced GM and is certainly trying to
9-+-+-vl-tr0 play for a win, but he underestimates the
9+-+-mkpzpp0 resources in the position, as it still contains
a bit of venom!
9p+L+p+l+0 33...e7?! 33...f6 holds, as resulting
9+-+-+-+-0 pawn endgames are mostly drawn: 34 xf6
9Q+-+-+-+0 xf6 35 h4= or 34 h3 xf4=.
34 f2! This rook transfer is very powerful.
9+-+q+-+-0 It seems that White is heading for the open
9PzP-+N+PzP0 b-file, but that isnt the case!
34...b7?! 34...d7 35 b2 f6 36 b6
9+-+-+R+K0 a5 37 a6 e5 38 xa5 b7 should still
xiiiiiiiiy be okay for Black.
Black is in an unusual long distance mating net. 35 d2! b6

11/136
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0 Saharan countries are also on the rise. Here
we see that Kayonde, from Zambia, can
9+-+-+-mk-0 teach Djukic, from Montenegro, a little
9ptr-zp-+pzp0 something about greed:
9+-zp-+-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0 Andrew Kayonde Nikola Djukic
9+-+-mK-zP-0 Round 10, Baku Olympiad 2016
9P+-tR-+-zP0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+-+-+-0 9rsnlwqr+k+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9zp-+-+pzpp0
Black has the only open file, but that is not
a winning condition in chess. 9-+-+-sn-+0
36 e5! dxe5 37 e4! The king penetrates. 9+Nzpp+-+-0
Black might still be able to save the game 9-+-zP-+-+0
with precise play, but its incredibly
difficult to do so. 9zP-+-zP-zP-0
37...f6 38 d5 e7 39 xc5 f6 40 b2! 9-+-+LzPP+0
f3 41 d5! Nice technique from the
lower rated player. 9tR-vLQmK-+R0
41...f6 42 d2 f5 42...c3 43.c5 e7 xiiiiiiiiy
offers better chances but it is difficult to White has played a very happy-go-lucky
play in such a passive, grovelling way. game so far, foregoing development for
43 c5 e4 prospects on open files. Nevertheless Black
XIIIIIIIIY should have everything under control.
13...e4? Black thinks it is time to strike,
9-+-+-+-+0 but underestimates Whites resources.
9+-+-+-+-0 13...c4 14 c3 c6 looks pretty awful for
White, as the black bishop is coming to f5
9p+-+-+pzp0 with total domination.
9+-zPK+k+-0 14 dc5! Sometimes the game of chess calls
9-+-+p+-+0 for true bravery. It seems that this move
should lose instantly, but that is not the
9+-+-+rzP-0 case!
9P+-tR-+-zP0 14...f6 15 00 xa1 16 xd5 White is
down a rook for two pawns, but it is not
9+-+-+-+-0 possible to defend the rook on a8, and it is
xiiiiiiiiy also not possible to create any real threats
44 c6 The rest is easy. for Black.
44...c3 45 f2+ g5 46 f4 e3 47 h4+ 16...g4 17 xg4 a6 18 d6 xd6
h5 48 e4 g5 49 d6 d3+ 50 c5 19 cxd6 The smoke has more or less
d2 51 e3 a2 52 hg5 c2 53 b6 hg5 cleared. White emerges with the material
54 e5 g4 55 c7 b2+ 56 a6 a2+ imbalance of a bishop and two pawns for
57 b6 10 a rook, but the fact that his position is
completely winning is beyond doubt.
Even though Egypt has surged as a chess 19...e5 20 xe5 20 c6 was easier, but
powerhouse in Africa, with several the trade of queens is fine.
grandmasters representing the country, 20...xe5 21 f4 ee8 22 e4 xe4 23 f3
it is worth noting that some of the sub- f5 24 xe4 fxe4 25 e3+-

November 2016
The following game has a bit of everything!

A true David vs. Goliath game, in which
a lowly 1500 from Somalia is facing a
grandmaster from Costa Rica.
Kassim Fidow Bernal Gonzalez Acosta

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9zp-+-mk-+p0
9-zp-wq-+-+0
9+-zp-+p+-0
9P+-+p+-+0
9+-+-zPnzP-0
9-+-trNtR-zP0
9+-+-+Q+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
It is no little surprise that the grandmaster
Andrew Kayonde. Photo by A. Kontokanis
has outplayed his 1500 Elo rated opponent
convincingly, but that doesnt change one
XIIIIIIIIY of chesss oldest maxims: the game isnt
over until it is over.
9r+-+-+k+0 42 h3 Setting one last trap. Truly, most of
9zp-+-+-zpp0 Blacks moves win.
42...xe2? But not this one!
9n+-zP-+-+0 43 xh7+ 43 xe2 d1+ is the tactical
9+-+-+-+-0 justification for Blacks last move, but
9-+-+pzP-+0 things arent that simple.
43...d8 44 g8+ c7 45 f7+
9zP-+-vL-zP-0
9-+-+-+P+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+-+RmK-0 9-+-+-+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9zp-mk-+Q+-0
White went on to convert without problems. 9-zp-wq-+-+0
25...b8 26 c1 d7 27 c7 d8 28 a7 9+-zp-+p+-0
f6 29 c5 c8 30 c7 d8 31 e7 c8
32 d4 c1+ 33 h2 e3 34 xf6 gxf6
9P+-+p+-+0
35 xe3 d1 36 e6 f7 37 f5 h5 38 a4 9+-+-zPnzP-0
d5 39 e7+ f8 40 h7 xd6 41 xh5 9-+-+rtR-zP0
d5 42 g4 a5 43 h6 f7 44 g6 xa4
45 g5 fxg5 46 xg5 f6 47 h5 a3 9+-+-+-+K0
48 h3 a7 49 f3 h7+ 50 h3 a7 xiiiiiiiiy
51 h5 a3 52 g4 e5 53 h3 a2+ Around here it must have dawned on Black
54 g3 a8 55 h1 f6 56 h6+ 10 that his king has no hiding place on the

11/136
entire board. The queen cannot interpose as for energy and form to carry over to the
the rook on e2 would be left hanging. Black next round; maybe this is all part of the
should take a perpetual, but decides to play psychological game of chess, as winning
for a win because, well, there is a 900 point by luck sometimes allows a player/team
difference... to progress further and be inspired, winning
45...d7 45...c8 46 e8+ c7 47 f7+ several matches in a row. Canada got lucky
c8 48 e8+ b7 49 f7+ a6 in this decisive game, since the match score
50 c4+=. on the other boards was tied 11 at the
46 xd7+ xd7 47 xe2 The endgame is end. In the following position, Zhigalko
winning for White is clearly winning with an extra exchange
47...a6 48 b2 c6 49 h4 and no obvious threats coming from his
XIIIIIIIIY opponent.
9-+-+-+-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+-+-+-0 9-+r+r+-+0
9pzpk+-+-+0 9+l+k+-zp-0
9+-zp-+p+-0 9p+-zppvl-zp0
9P+-+p+-zP0 9+-+-+-+P0
9+-+-zPnzP-0 9-wq-sNP+Q+0
9-tR-+-+-+0 9+-+-vL-+-0
9+-+-+-+K0 9-zPP+NzP-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+K+-+-tR-0
49...b5?! 49...c4! forces White to still find xiiiiiiiiy
some good moves. 27...c7?? 27...b8 28 c1 a8 and
50 h5 c4 51 g2? c5? 52 h6 g5 53 f2 Black has more material and is in complete
White is completely winning, of course, but control.
the player from Somalia decided to take the 28 e5! Hansen pounces. Horror for Black:
safe route and seal the draw. he cannot deal with the e5 pawn and the
threat of a knight check on e6, which
But its not only the medal finishers that simultaneously attacks the queen on b4.
had their heroes! Canadas performance 28...d7 28...xe5 29 xe6+ xe6
was truly historic in this tournament, and 30 xb4 is just completely over.
this was mainly due to the results of Hansen 29 exf6 gxf6 A free bishop is simply too
on board four and Kovalyov on board two. much. Now White can easily crash through.
Here is the popular online commentator 30 g7+ e7 31 xf6 d5 32 f4 b8
facing Andey Zhigalko: XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+-+-+0
Eric Hansen Andrey Zhigalko 9+-+ktr-+-0
9p+-zppwQ-zp0
9+-+l+-+P0
Here we see one of the most costly mistakes 9-wq-sN-sN-+0
in Baku. The game features Eric Hansen,
one of Canadas brightest hopes and a star 9+-+-vL-+-0
player in the most northerly American 9-zPP+-zP-+0
countrys historic all-time best Olympiad 9+K+-+-tR-0
performance. It is common in tournaments
xiiiiiiiiy
November 2016
33 xe7+ It is fitting that the finishing 16 c2 xc3 Black is collecting pawn

touch involves problems with both the king after pawn.
and the queen. 17 xh7+ xh7 18 c2+
33...xe7 34 xd5+ 34...ed5 35 c6+ XIIIIIIIIY
d7 36 xb4 xb4 is a free piece. 10
9r+-+-tr-+0
Upcoming youth was best represented by the 9+l+qvlpzpk0
Iranian team. It seemed like a bunch of kids
were playing on the top stage consistently! 9p+-zp-+-+0
And we can understand why, as their most 9+p+Pzp-+-0
promising player takes full advantage of a 9-zPp+-+-+0
slight mistake by his opponent:
9sN-sn-vLN+-0
9-+Q+-zPPzP0
Rodrigo Vasquez Schroeder 9tR-+-tR-mK-0
Parham Maghsoodloo
xiiiiiiiiy
Round 11, Baku Olympiad 2016 18...g8?! 18...e4 would have won
materal, leaving Black with extra pawns,
White has certainly outplayed his opponent, though the game continuation was not fun
obtaining a typically comfortable slight for White either.
advantage in the Spanish. The pressure on 19 xc3 xd5 20 b6 b7 21 a5 f5
b5 is unpleasant, and keeping it alive with XIIIIIIIIY
a move like 14 d2 or 14 e2 can only be
good. However, White wants results, fast, 9r+-+-trk+0
and this will lead to disaster... 9+q+-vl-zp-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9p+-zp-+-+0
9r+-+-trk+0 9vLp+lzpp+-0
9+l+qvlpzpp0 9-zPp+-+-+0
9psn-zp-sn-+0 9sN-wQ-+N+-0
9+p+Pzp-+-0 9-+-+-zPPzP0
9PzPp+P+-+0 9tR-+-tR-mK-0
9sN-zP-+N+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+L+-zPPzP0 It doesnt take a Capablanca to realize that
the pair of bishops, the three pawns and the
9tR-vLQtR-mK-0 pressure on the diagonal leave White with
xiiiiiiiiy a lost position.
14 e3? xa4 The young Iranian has been 22.ed1 f6 23.c2 g6 24.ce1 e8
on a roll recently. Irans teenage crowd was 25.a2 f4 26.h3 e6 27.h2 c6 28.c2
always around the top boards, and their f8 29.ef3 e4 30.e2 d5 31.g4
play was powerful and free-spirited. This f5 32.e1 d4 33.gh2 d3 34.c1 d5
move emphatically punishes Whites idea, 35.a3 f6 36.d1 e4 37.h4 xh4
for a very specific reason. 38 g4 xf2+ 39 xf2 e3+ 40 g1 d2
15 xa4 White surely was expecting the 41 aa1 f7 01
immediate recapture, but those exist only
in checkers.
15...xe4! 15...ba4 16 d2 is strategically
lost for Black.

Problem
11/136
World
by Christopher Jones
cjajones1@yahoo.co.uk
Grandmaster of Chess Composition
1 2
Solutions are given on page 702
9-+-mK-+-+0 9qvL-tR-+ntr0
9+Q+P+-+-0 9+-+QzPp+P0
9-+-+-sn-vL0 9-vlp+-zPp+0
9zp-zPp+R+-0 9+-zP-sN-mK-0
9-+-+k+P+0 9-sNpzpk+p+0
9wq-vlR+-+-0 9+n+-+p+l0
9-zp-+L+l+0 9-+-zP-tRP+0
3 4
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
John Rice (Surbiton) Barry Barnes (Halling)
Mate in 2 Mate in 2
ORIGINAL ORIGINAL
9-vL-+-+-+0 9-vL-mK-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-zp-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9mK-+-tRP+-0 9+-+-tR-+-0
9-+-+r+-+0 9-+p+rmk-+0
9+-+-tRpmk-0 9+-+-tRP+-0
9-+-+r+P+0 9-+p+rvl-+0
9+-vl-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
Michael McDowell (Westcliff on Sea) Michael McDowell (Westcliff on Sea)
Helpmate in 2 Helpmate in 2
after J.E.Funk and M.Persson after J.E.Funk
ORIGINAL ORIGINAL

November 2016

11/136
Solutions to (See page 681)

Find The Way To Win
1
1 h8+! 10 Because after 1...xh8 g1+ More precise than 3...g1+ 4 g3
2 xf6+ h7 3 g7+ h8 4 g3+ e1+ 5 g4 h5+! (5...xd2 allows a
h7, 5 xh3 wins. 1 xf6 fails to perpetual check: 6 c8+ h7 7 f5+ g6
1...exf2+ 2 xf2 f5+. 8 d7+ etc.) 6 xh5 g3! 7 c8+ h7
8 f5+ g6+, which also wins but with more
2
1 xb8! Not 1 c8?? xb7 when difficulty. 4 g3 or 4 h1 f2+ mates.
it is Black who wins. 1...xb8 4...e1+ 5 g4 xd2 Now the important
2 c8+ e8 3 xb8 xb8 4 b7! 10 d7 square is covered. 6 c8+ or 6 f5
xg2. 6...h7 7 f5+ g6 8 xf6 What
3
1 d7+! White proves that three else? 8...xg2+ 9 h4 f2 mate 01
well-coordinated pieces are superior
8
to a queen. 1...xd7 2 exd7 hxg4 1...xg1+! White must not have
3 f6 10 expected this! Its better than 1...e3
because of 2 g3! vacating the g1
4
White threatens 1 c8 mate square for the king. 2 xg1 e3!
but it is Black who forces mate After 3 xe3 (or 3 xe3 d5+ 4 f3
instead. 1...e4+! 2 xe2 f2+ xf3+ 5 exf3 xg1+ 6 xg1 b3 wins)
3 d1 b1+ 4 c1 d3+ Black wins with 3...d5+ 4 f3 xf3+
5 d2 or 5 e1 b4+ 6 d2 xd2 5 exf3 b3 6 c1 d8 7 g2 d1 8 a3
mate. 5...xd2 mate 01 a1 9 b2 a2. 01
5 9
1 d6! d8 If 1...xd6 2 exd6 and Black is vulnerable on the a1-h8
not even 2...e7 will avoid mate after diagonal, especially on f6 and g7.
3 e1! 2 xf8+ c7 3 xd7+ After 1 xd6! Diverting the bishop from
3...xd7 4 xa8 axb2 5 b1! leaves f6. 1...xd6 Refusal of the piece leads
White a rook up. 3...b6 4 d8+! Mate also to an eventual loss e.g. (a) 1...f8 2 xe7
follows after the spectacular 4 xc5+! a6 xe7 3 d6 f7 4 xf6+ xf6 (4...h8
(4...xc5 5 f8+ b6 6 c5 mate) 5 a7+ 5 d5+ g8 6 e7+) 5 xf6 xf6 6 xb7
xa7 6 c5+ etc. 4...a6 5 d2 10 Black a7 7 ad1 xb7 8 d7 wins. (b) 1...a4 (The
cant prevent mate for if 5...xd7 (5...b6 idea is 2...a3 driving the queen off the long
6 c5+ mates) 6 xa8+ a7 (6...b6 7 xa5 diagonal.) 2 xe7 xe7 3 xf6+ f8 4 d6
mate) 7 c5+ etc. mates next move. xd6 5 xb7 xb7 6 d7+ e7 7 g7+
e6 8 f8+ wins. 2 xf6+ f7 3 xe8
6
White threatens ...c7+ winning the xe8 or 3...xe8 4 g7 mate. 4 h8+
black queen but Black chooses to d7 5 xh7+ e7 After 5...c8 6 xg6,
ignore it! 1...exf4! 2 c7+ 2 xf7+ White will have a rook and four pawns for two
xf7 will leave White two pieces pieces. Note that all of the black chessmen
down for three pawns. 2...d8 3 xf7 have taken refuge on the north-west side of
xb2+ 4 b1 c3 mate 01 the board! 6 xg6 f8 If 6...h8 7 e4 e5
8 ad1 and a later f4 and e5 etc. 7 ad1 c7
7
With oppositecoloured bishops on 8 e4 f6 9 g4+ d8 10 e5! Black has no
the board the position looks level defence against the march of the central white
except for 1...xc4! This is decisive pawns. 10...c8 11 exf6 xe1+If 11...xg4
as White now succumbs to an attack then 12 fxe7+ xe7 13 d6 wins. 12 xe1 On
on the dark-squares. 2 xc4 b1+ 3 h2 12...xg4 13 h7 wins easily. 10

November 2016
Endgame Studies (See page 688)

The moves in bold are what you had to give. You get each point if you have given
everything up to there correctly.
1 3
Manvelian: Bron:
1 b3 a2+ 2 a3 (1 point) 1 d5 (1 point) xd5 2 g2
xd5 3 c1+ b1 4 f5 d2 e1+ 3 xe1 d2+ 4 f2 (+1=2)
5 d4 (+1=2) c4+ 6 xc4 d1 d1 5 xd5 xd5 6 e1 (+2=4)
7 c2 (+1=3), and Black has c5 7 xd5 xd5 8 d2 c4
two possibilities: 9 c1 b3 10 b1 (+1=5).
4
7...xc2 8 b3+ b1 9 d2+ c1
10 b3+ xb3 (+1=4), and Olimpiev:
7...xc2 8 xc2+ xc2 (+=5). 1 g3+ (1 point) h5 2 g8 (+1=2)
Not 1 b5? xd5 2 a7+ a2 3 g4 d2. xh7 3 g5+ h6 4 g6+
2
(+=2) h5 5 g7+ (+1=3)
Kalyagin: xg7 6 g5+ h6 7 g4 (+1=4)
1 g3+ (1 point) h1 2 xe3 xf4 8 h5+ xh5 9 g5 mate (+=5).
(+1=2) d1+ 3 f4 (+1=3) This study has an alternative move sequence
f3+ 4 xf3+ exf3 5 g3 at the end, so you could also get your final
(+2=5). 1 points if you gave 6 g4 f6 7 h4+
Not 3 g3? f3+ wins. xh4 8 g4 mate.

11/136
Solutions to Problems (See page 698)

This month we feature three of Britains 2 xg4/xd4/f4, but we have no mate
best composers. Johns 2-mover should be a after 1...xg2!. Well, maybe 1 xf3
particularly enjoyable one to solve; Barrys, (threat 2 d2) then? No its fine after
enjoyable also, features a task achievement 1...gxf3/xg2/c1 2 gxf3/xg4/xd4, but
(as youll find when exploring possible not fine after the saving move 1...d3!. And
key moves for White); and Michaels two finally, we look at 1 xc4, threatening 2 d3.
companion pieces, almost (but not quite) Now the various defensive moves of the b3
close enough to be presented as a single, are met by 2 xd4, and the defence 1...d3
twinned problem, are mind-stretching to now fails against 2 xd3 (yet another new
solve. Once you solve one, youll be in the mate by the mighty queen!) and we do
right frame of mind to solve the other. indeed have the key move! This task 6
black pawn captures by a white knight, with
Nice try... 6 different threats, and 5 different refutations
After some probing, you may come to the as Barry puts it is achieved with the use of
conclusion that its likely that the key move an extraordinarily felicitous matrix in which
in Johns 2-mover is a capture of the d5 pawn. there are many defensive resources that
That wont threaten a battery mate (because provide a refutation after one try but fail in
of the f6) but battery play may ensue after a variety of ways in the other phases of play.
black defences. So lets try 1 fxd5. This Its well worth studying, and admiring, how
threatens 2 e3. Various defences fail, in the whole mechanism works.
some cases activating that battery, as follows:
1...d4/e5/xg4 2 3xd4/5d4 (double Two problems
check!)/h5 (only square that works!); but ...though my response when trying to work
there is a successful defence 1...xc5!. So out how the 4 Rooks would collaborate to
now we look at 1 dxd5. This time the threat achieve mate in each of Michaels helpmates
is 2 d3. There are plenty of ways to defend was more along the lines of Grrrr...! These
this threat, but White has an answer to them two problems will be enjoyed all the more
all: 1...d4/e5/b1/f1/xd5 2 de5 if you spend a few minutes trying to solve
(double check!)/fxe5/xb1/f3/xd5. them. Single-solution 2-move helpmates are a
So 1 dxd5 is indeed the key! Do note the rarity these days, and are justified only if the
changed white responses to...d4 and...e5 play is very striking which is the case with
showing each of the white rooks alternately Michaels idea (building on the work of two
going to the same square. There is a pleasing forerunner composers) showing unexpected
symmetry in this aspect of the play amidst synchronised formation play of the rooks. And
the attractive diversity of the other elements. so to the solutions... In the first one (remember:
Black plays first) we have 1 e1 e2 2 e3
The key is obviously 1 x e4! And in the second we have 1 d2+ d3
Yes, that is definitely true of Barrys 2-mover 2 d4+ d5. To force the black rooks to go
but which Pawn?! 1 xc6 threatens 2 d5, these particular squares in the two solutions
and we meet defences 1...xc6/xe7 by is a fine achievement, using comparatively
2 xc6/xe7, but 1...xf6! refutes. Or few plugs to prevent other moves. The
1 xf7, threatening 2 e6. Now we have construction is excellent and its not surprising
1...xb8/xc5/g3 2 xc6/xd4/gxf3, but that the effort couldnt be pushed still further
1...c7! refutes. Or 1 xg6, threatening to achieve a single position (or a position with
2 f5. Now in response to 1...g3/fxg6/xe7 acceptable twinning) that would show both
we play 2 gxf3/e6/xe7, but we have no solutions soundly. If you doubt this you may
answer to 1...h6!. So we go on to 1 xg4, like to have a go at it but dont waste too
which has the threat 2 gxf3. Now we much time on it; if Michael couldnt do it its
can meet 1...xg4/xd2/fxg2 with very unlikely that it can be done!
Since 1966
Sam Shankland IrIna kruSh Jeffery XIong VaSSIly IVanchuk

BorIS gulko Joel BenJamIn mackenzIe molner Baadur JoBaVa
andreI VolokItIn daVId Smerdon erIc hanSen Pentala harIkrIShna
PIotr murdzIa mIkhael mchedlIShVIlI VladImIr georgIeV IVan SokoloV
maurIcIo floreS rIoS carSten hanSen Jon edwardS danny renSch

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Volume 136

GM Bassem Amin, Chess Olympiad 2016

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Chairman Shaun Taulbut

ISSN 0007-0440 681 FIND THE WAY TO WIN

Postal correspondence: 685 QUOTES AND QUERIES

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Calm Seas The Calm Before the Storm

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NEW YORK, XI 2016

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remains about the quality of

47...g7 48 c6 threatening e7 or d8.

652 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

h1 72 d4+ f4 73 e2 h3 74 h4 h2 was the first turning point of the match as it

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 653

Sapace Oddisey presentor Neil

meant that he didnt delve deep enough in 42 f2 g6 42...d5! was indicated by

These misses changed the inner dynamic

Magnus Carlsen - Sergey Karjakin

Sergey Karjakin - Magnus Carlsen trying to pose problems.

658 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 659

Photo by Max Avdeev

660 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

2...e6, keeping the option to transpose 11 c4 This allows a symmetrical

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 661

little constructive things are visible, 19 h3 4e5 20 c3 (20 xe5 xe5

662 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 663

35...xd8 35...bxc5? 36 d6 xd8 47...xe7 48 xb6 d3

It is still tricky, the knight coming on e5 will 51...h5! 52 h4

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 665

8 00 Carlsen faced this as Black five years 19...fxe6 20 d2 d5?! 20...xf2+!

666 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

Photo by Rob Kim

h3+ 23 h1 f2+ is a perpetual check) h3+ 24 g2 xg5 and Black is a

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 667

exf5 30 exd5 cxd5 31 h5 with a clear 37...d7 38 f3 continuing the plan to

27 f1 the knight starts the journey to g5. 40...axb4 41 cxb4 g8 42 f3 h6 43 a5

32...fe8 Karjakin decides to sit still. 32...d4 48...d4 49 d1 f5 50 h3 This

668 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

57 b5! White is winning now. xe5 71 f3 f5+ 72 e4 b5 73 a6

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 669

14 g4 Leko-Caruana 2013), so perhaps 23 xf1 xe6 24 cxd4

670 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 671

35...e6 36 h5 e7 Carlsen spent some a7 55 e6 Now the king heads to g6.

48...a5 49 c5 g8 50 d5 b5 51 d6 62...e8 Now its a draw, but in mutual

672 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

Photo by Max Avdeev

chance of the same winning mechanism. h5 76 f6 gxf6 77 f7 with mate to follow.

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 673

82 d8 h7+ 83 g6 g7+ 84 xf6 shell, played passively and when one

79 gxh5 f5! 80 xf5

674 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

Photo by Rob Kim

White 16 f4 xa2 17 xa2 c7. 18...e8 19 b3 19 g4 keeping the queen