Executing an attack

MOST of us can, at least from time to time, build a positional advantage through the opening and middlegame. But I, for one, can find it hard to find the correct ideas in a given situation to successfully execute an attack. Today’s game is greatly instructive in this area. The world champion, Magnus Carlsen, gives some superb practical tips on how to go about building up and executing an attack. The game was played in the 13th round of the December 2018 World Blitz Championship (3+2), held in St Petersburg, Russia. Carlsen (2954 blitz) had the white pieces against fellow superGM Anish Giri (2770 blitz).

1 c4

The English Opening. Carlsen is known for both his broad opening preparation and general ability to quickly and accurately assess positions.

1—e5

2 Nc3 Nf6

3 Nf3 Nc6

The Four Knights Variation.

4 e4

White chooses the somewhat underwhelming Nimzowitsch Variation.

4 — Bc5?!

This is already considered an inaccuracy by the engine.

5 Nxe5 Nxe5

6 d4 Bb4

7 dxe5 Nxe4

8 Qf3!

I really liked this move in Today’s puzzle is a mate in 3 for White, arising from the game’s ending position after 25 Rb8+ Kd7, 26 Qa4+ Rc6, 27 Bxc6 Kc7, 28 Qxa5+ Kxc6. retrospect, especially at this time control. White doesn’t mind his pawns being doubled in exchange for good piece play.

8 — Nxc3

9 bxc3 Be7

Better was the unintuitive

9 — Ba5 to tie down the white queen to the c3 pawn.

10 Qg3 g6

If 10 — OO? Then 11 Bh6 g6, 12 Bxf8 Bxf8 wins the exchange. 11 Bh6 d6

12 Be2 Be6

13 Rd1 Qd7

14 exd6 cxd6

Black’s centre is weak and is clearly in some serious heat. 15 OO OOO

16 Be3!

White forces Black to castle opposite to him into an already weakened king position.

16 — Qa4

17 Qf3

White angles his queen towards Black’s king.

17 — Qc6

Trying to neutralise White’s attack.

18 Qf4 b6

19 a4

White’s plan is clear — to break open Black’s king position with his pawns and checkmate him.

19 — Rd7

20 a5 bxa5

White doesn’t need his queenside pawns; much more valuable than the pawns are open files for the rooks.

21 Rb1 Rc7

This isn’t good for Black. Among alternative tactics is 22 Bxa7!

(22 — Rb7, 23 Bf3 skewering or

22 — Kd7, 23 c5 Rxa7, 24 Bb5 winning the queen) Rxa7, 23 Qd4 forking the hanging rooks.

22 c5 dxc5

White opens the dfile as well.

23 Bf3??

White errs here. Black can play 23 — g5, 24 Bxc6 (24 Qe5 f6!, trapping the queen in the centre of the board!) gxf4, 25 Bxf4 Rxc6, 26 Rb8+ Kd7, 27 Rxh8, where Black can probably hold. Also, 23 — Bd5, 24 Bxd5 Qxd5, 25 Rfd1 Qc6 and Black can fight on.

23 — Qd6??

24 Qe4 Rd8

The White pieces cut through Black’s camp like butter. White has mate in 12, starting with

25 Rb8+ Kd7, 26 Qa4+.

10

Black loses on time.

Solution: 29 Qa4+! Kc7

(29 — Kd5, 30 Rd1+ Ke5, 31 Qf4#), 30 Qxa7+ Kc6, 31 Qb7#. This mate is a great illustration of using the pieces well to take advantage of squares blocked by the opponent’s own pieces.