The Candidates
The 2016 Candidates Tournament, which determines the challenger for the men’s World Championship, will take place on March 16-31 in Moscow, Russia.
Invariably the strongest and richest selection tournament anywhere, the double round robin event has eight participants filtered by the following exacting requirements: 1. Loser of the 2014 World Championship Match: Viswanathan Anand (India) 46 years old 2. Two winners from the World Cup: Sergey Kariakin (Russia) 25 years old and Peter Svidler (Russia) 39 years old. 3. Two winners from the Grand Prix: Hikaru Nakamura (USA) 29 years old and Fabiano Caruana (USA) 23 years old. 4. Two highest rated players from Jan. 2015-Dec. 2015: Vaselin Topalov (Bulgaria) 40 years old and Anish Giri (Netherlands) 21 years old. 5. One nominated player by the organizer: Levon Aronian (Armenia) 33 years old.
***
A rare sideline which Nakamura must have studied and re-appraised helps him equalize early in the opening. For some time, the middle game is fraught with explosive possibilities. When chances may yet be in the balance, however, White incurs quick disaster through a premature exchange sacrifice. A fine performance by the winner. 2016 Zurich Chess Challenge W)
A. Shirov (Latvia)
B) H. Nakamura (USA) French Defense
1. e4 e6
The French Defense, though solid, has a rather undeserved reputation of somewhat cramped. Normally, Black obtains prospects on the Queen’s
wing, while White’s chances lie on the Kingside.
2. d4 d5
3. e5 c5
4. c3 ...
The Advanced Variation, popularized by Aron Nimzowitsch, a Latvian master and a very influential writer, who believed the variation is White’s strongest continuation. Other popular lines are the Rubinstein (4. Nc3) and the Tarrasch (4. Nbd2).
4... Nc6
The alternative 4...Qb6 leads to a slight edge for White after 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Be2 Bb5 7. 0-0 Bxe2 8. Qxe2 Qa6.
5. Nf3 Qb6
The standard continuation which aims to pressure White’s broad center and the b2 pawn as well.
6. a3 ...
Seems the most appropriate move here as it prepares the advance 7. b2b4, gaining ground on the Queenside. 6. Be2 and 6. Bd3 are fair alternatives.
6... Nh6!?
The text is a fairly usual move, which recently became popular in grandmaster play. The idea is to pressure White’s d4 after 7...cxd4 8. cxd4 Nf5. Also possible is 6...c4 and after 7. h3 Bd7 8. Bh3 Na5 9. Nbd2 Ne7 10. 0-0 h6 the game is about even.
7. b4 cxd4
8. Bxh6 gxh6
9. cxd4 Bd7
10. Ra2 Rg8
10...0-0-0 is for the safety-minded which awaits further testing.
11. h3 h5
12. g3 h4!?
13. g4 ...
13...gxh4 0-0-0 14. Nc3 Nxb4 15. axb4 Bxb4 16. Qd3 Kb8 is unclear, according to the computer.
13... Be7
14. Be2 f6
15. b5 Nd8
16. Qd3 Rg7
17. Nc3 Nf7
18. 0-0 h5
19. Na4 Qd8
20. exf6 Bxf6
This exchange is not likely to work out satisfactorily for White.
21. Nc5 hxg4
22. hxg4 b6
23. Nxd7 Qxd7
24. Kh1 Rc8
25. Rc2 Rxc2
26. Qxc2 Nd6
27. Ne5 ...
Of course, it is doubtful if a waiting policy can help in the long run. But 27. a4 or 27. Qc1 holds for the moment.
27... Nxe5
28. dxe5 Ne4
29. Kg2 Nc5
30. Rh1 Qe7
31. Qc1 Rh7
32. Qe3 ...
There may be other good moves here such as 32. f4, but they are of a more complicated nature.
32... Qg7
33. Rc1 Qf8
34. a4 Rf7
35. f3 Rf4
36. Rxc5? ...
This premature action costs White the game. The engine suggests 36. Rh1, with the following possibilities: 36...Qh6 37. Qf2 Rxa4 38. Rxh4 Qd2 39. Rh8ch Kf7 40. Bf1 Qxf2ch 41. Kxf2 Ra2ch 42. Kg3 Ra1 and the game is unclear.
36... bxc5
37. a5? ...
This move loses by force. White has little chance of survival anyhow: 37. Kh3 may put up a longer resistance, but also leads to a slower win for Black.
37... h3ch!
The decisive blow as the pawn is taboo, for after 38. Kxh3, Black wins with 38...Qh6ch 39. Kg3 Rxg4ch! 40. Kf2 Rg2ch.
38. Kg3 h2
The point. Black threatens to promote and capturing the pawn leads to the same result as in the above. 0:1
Solution to last week’s puzzle:
Black to move and win.
White: Kh1, Qd1, Rb5, Ne1, Pb2, Pd3, Pd5, Pg2, Ph2
Black: Kg8, Qa7, Re6, Nf6, Pb7, Pf7, Ph6,
Ph4
1... Qa4!
0:1
If 2. Qxa4 Rxe1 mate. Or 2. Rb3 Qxb3 3. Qxb3 Rxe1 mate and 2. Qc1 Rxe1ch 3. Qxe1 Qxb5 wins.