Magnus great again

The yearly Qatar Masters Open, Asia’s strongest and richest Swiss event, opens today at the Aspire Dome in the tiny Kingdom’s capital city of Doha.

The field is headed by world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway, winner of the recently concluded London Chess Classic and Chess Grand Tour overall.

*** By winning the London Chess Classic, Carlsen has regained the former height he held after retaining the world title. The bitter pill of dropping 16 rating points at Reykjavic seems to have cured his haziness. And he marched to victory in London with an unblemished performances. Below is a specimen of his amazing run. 2015 London Chess Classic W) M. Carlsen (Norway) B) A. Grischuk (Russia) Sicilian Defense 1. Nf3 c5 2. e4 d6 3. Bb5ch ...

This anti-Sicilan line, which debuted in the early 70s and for some time neglected by theory, has gained much attention lately.

3... Nd7

3...Bd7 and 3...Nc6 are Black’s promising alternatives.

4. 0-0 ...

4. d4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 is the main continuation, while 4. c3 a6 5. Bd3, which leads to a Ruy Lopez formation, is another interesting variation. 4... a6 5. Bd3!? ... Carlsen’s latest preference.

5... Ngf6 6. Re1 b5 7. c4 ! ... A good move to fight for initiative. 7. c3 is normal here but after 7...Bb7 8. Bc2 Qc7 9. a4 b4 10. d3 g6 11. Nbd7 bxc3 12. bxc3 Bg7 13. a5 0-0, Black has equalized, Wojtaszek-Gunguly, Dubai 2014.

7... g5!?

An interesting pawn sacrifice, which Topalov introduced in the 2015 Sinquefield Cup. Other attempts probably give White a slight edge. For instance 7...Ne5 8. Bf1 Nxc4 9. a4 Bd7 10. d4 cxd4 11. Nxd4 e5 12. axb5, White is better, BaloghGajevsky, Budapest 2014.

8. Nxg5 Ne5 9. Be2 bxc4

So far, the players followed the game CarlsenTopalov, 2015 Sinquefield Cup.

10. Nc3!? ...

Here the world champion deviates from the above-mentioned game, which went 10. Na3 Rg8 11. Nxc4 Nxc4 12. d4?! Nb6 13. Bh5 Nxh5 14. Qxh5 Rg7 15. Nxh7 Qd7 16. dxc5 dxc5 17. e5 Qc6! 18. f3 Qg6 19. Nf6ch Kd8 and Black won in 40 moves.

10... Rb8

10...Qd7 is also possible. 10...Nd3? 11. Qa4ch! favors White.

11. Rf1!? ...

Part of Carlsen’s home preparation. It anticipates Black’s next four moves.

11.. h6 12. Nf3 Nd3 13. Ne1 Nxb2 14. Bxb2 Rxb2 15. Bxc4 Rb4 16. Qe2 Bg7 17. Nc2 Rb6 18. Rab1 ...

White, who now commands more space, has obtained a slight edge in the opening.

18... 0-0 19. Rxb6 Qxb6 20. Ne3 e6 21. f4 Kh8 22. f5 a5 22...Rg8 has probably more merit.

23. a4 Qd8 After the text, it is clear that Black’s plan is to bring his pieces to war on the Kingside.

24. h3 ...

24. g3!, which forestalls further action by Black on the King’s wing, is the engine’s suggestion.

24... Qe7 25. Ba6 Bxa6 26. Qxa6 Nh5!?

A good move which paved the way for Black’s other pieces. At this point, however, Grischuk is in time trouble.

27. Rf3 ...

The computer gives 27. Qxa5 with the following possibilities: 27...Rg8 28. Ne2 Be5 29. fxe6 fxe6 30. Nc4 Qg5 31. Rf2 Ng5 32. Nxe5 Nxe2ch 33. Rxe2 Qxe5 34. Qc3 with a slight advantage for White. The text leads to time-consuming complications which obviously favor the player ahead on time..

27... Rg8 28. Nb5?! ...

Seems premature. Either 28. fxe6 or 28. Qf1 is safer.

28... Be5!

Suddenly Black’s Kingside action came to life.

29. Ng4!? ...

Seems the only defensive resource. 29. Qxa5 Nf4 30. Qc7 Qh4 31. Nxd6 Qe1ch 32. Rf1 Ne2ch 33. Kh1 Ng3ch probably favors Black.

29... Qh4 30. fxe6 ...

If 30. Nxe5 Qe1ch 31. Rf1 Rxg2ch 32. Kxg2 Qg3ch leads to a draw by perpetual check.

30... fxe6?!

30...Rxg4! 31. hxg4 Qh2ch 32. Kf2 Nf4 33. Rg3 Ne6 as the engine recommends, leads to unclear consequences. Black is OK, but under time trouble, a player’s judgment falters. This is why Carlsen continues to complicate matters.

31. Nxe5 dxe5?!

Another mistake in time trouble. Black secures a draw after 31...Qe1ch 32. Rf1 Rxg2ch 33. Kxg2 Qg3ch 34. Kh1 Qxh3ch 35. Kg1 Qg3ch.

32. Qxe6 Qe1ch? 32...Qg5 and the game continues.

33. Rf1! Rxg2ch 34. Kxg2 Qxd2ch? The fatal error. 34...Qe2ch prolongs the game.

35. Kg1 Qe3ch 36. Rf2 Qe1ch 37. Kg2 1:0 After 38...Nf4 39. Rxf4 exf4 40. Qxh6ch simply clinches matters for White.

Solution to last week puzzle: White to play and win. White= Kh4, Qc5, Be3, Pb2, Pg5, Ph6

Black= Ka6, Qg6, Bc2,

Pa4

1. Qb6ch! Qxb6 2. Bxb6 Bg6

If 2...Kxb6 3. Kh5 (Threatening 4. g6) 3... Bd1ch 4. Kg6 followed by 5. Kg7 and 6. h7.

3. Kg4! Kxb6 4. Kf4 Kc5 5. Ke5 Kb4 6. Kf6 Be4 7. g6 1:0