Caruana underscores strength
Fabiano Caruana rallied from a slow start to win the sixth Norway Chess Classic in Stavanger, scoring three wins and two draws in the last five rounds, for a half point victory over Magnus Carlsen and two others.
Caruana, the official world title challenger, closed with five points, after a thrilling final round victory over compatriot Wesley So, for his third major victory this year. The 25-year-old American also won the Candidates and the strong Grenke Chess Classic.
Carlsen, the reigning world champion, had an early draw and finished with 4.5 points, along with American Hikaru
Nakamura and former world champion Vishy Anand of India.
Wesley So of the USA, and Levon Aronian of Armenia, were one point further back at 4.0 apiece. So, who inflicted Carlsen’s only defeat in the tourney, and in front of his countrymen, earlier won convincingly, the Blitz edition of the chessfest.
Other scores read Azeri Shakriyar Mamedyarov, 3.5, Frenchman Maxime Vacier-Lagrave and Russian Sergey Kariakin at 3.0 each.
* * * In the following game, White essayed a lesser known line of the English, played probably for surprise value. Black is taken
aback in the opening and did not recover his composure in time for the middle game.
The main alternative is 4. g3, and White obtains a slight edge after 4...Bb4 5. Bg2 0-0 6. 0-0 e4 7. Ng5 Bxc3 8. bxc3 Re8 9. f3 exf3 10. Nxf3 d5 11. d4!? (Kasparov).
7. a3 a5 8. b3 d5 9. d4 exd4 10. Nxd4 Nxd4 11. Qxd4, is about even, e.g., 11...c5 12. Qb2 0-0 13. cxd5 Nxd5 14. Be2 Bf5 and the game hangs in the balance (Karpov).
10...Ne4 and 10...d5 are fair alternatives, with chances wide open for both sides.
Not a good choice as it opens up the center for White’s bishops. A much better alternative according to the engine is 12... Ne4 with a good chance to equalize after 13. Qc2 Nc5 14. d3 d6 15. Qc3 Qf6.
Desperately seeking counterplay, but the Queen is badly placed here as soon appears. The engine’s 15...Rad8 should have been played, though White retains the advantage after 16. f3!
This only activates White’s major pieces along the half open f file, but after 16...Qh4, White secures splendid piece play with 17. Bb5.
Now the position is replete with dangerous possibilities, which favors White.
The text leads to an unappetizing game for Black as he will be forced to defend a shattered King side pawn
formation. 19...Re7, which avoids the drawback of a doubled f pawn, is preferable.
Obviously 23...Nxb4? fails after 24. Qb3! Nd5 25. Nd4.
26...Nxc4 is forced in order to hold out longer.
Black will soon run out of reasonable moves.
This leads to a quick finish. 34...Re8 could have offered a stubborn defense, though White is still winning.
Desperation, but there’s nothing better. 35...Bd7 is met by 36. Bf5! and White wins easily.
Solution to last week’s puzzle: White to play and win.
white=Kh1, Qe8, Rg6, Rg1, Pa2, Pb2, d4, Pe3, Ph4
black=Kh7, Qd6, Rf7, Rg7, Pa7, Pc6, Pd5, Pe5, Pf6
The threat of 2. Rxg7ch Rxg7 3. Rh5 mate is indefensible.
* * *