Carlsen makes right moves
Cote d’Ivoire is a country located on the South Coast of West Africa. It is well known for its beach resorts, rain forests, religious ethnic harmony and a French colonial legacy. Its largest city Abidjan is the country’s major urban center.
Last Wednesday, the former French territory and Abidjan, played host to 10 elite GMs participating in the first leg of the Grand Chess Tour. The tour had eight combined classical, rapid and blitz events, spread over seven cities and four continents, culminating in the year-ending London grand finals in December.
The single round robin at Abidjan had nine rounds of rapid and 18 rounds of blitz. When the dust cleared, world champion Magnus Carlsen, added another porcupine quill to his fearsome reputation by copping the rapid event in dominant fashion. He scored 7.5/9.0 on six wins and three draws without loss record.
American Hikaru Nakamura, the GCT defending champion, finished second with six points, followed by compatriot Wesley So and Frenchman Maxime Vachier Lagrave, at 5.5 apiece. Other scores read Ding Liren of China, 5.0, Wei Yi (China), 4.5, Vaselin Topalov (Bulgaria) and Sergey Kariakin (Russia), 3.0 each, Amin Bassem (Egypt) and Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russia), 2.5 apiece.
Carlsen’s strength is his ability to find tremendous squares for his pieces. The following game is another example where the world champion excels in piece play.
Grand Chess Tour 2019 W) S. Kariakin (RUS) B) M. Carlsen (NOR) Sicilian Defense 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 Be7 5.. d3 d6 6. Nd2 Nf6 7. Nf1 Nd7
Both players followed the game SvidlerCarlsen, 2019 Grenke chess classic. 8. a3 .... And here’s White’s improvement from the above-mentioned game, which went 8. Nd5 Nb6 9. Nxb6 axb6 10. c3 0-0, with Black having no opening problem.
8 .... Nb6 9. Ba2 O-O 10. Ne3 Be6 11. Ncd5 Bg5 12. O-O Bxe3 13. fxe3 Ne7 14. c4 f5 15. Bd2 Bxd5 16. exd5 Nd7 17. b4 b6 18. Bb3 Ng6 19. Ba4 Qe7 20. Bc6 Rad8 21. Qa4 Nf6 22. bxc5 bxc5 23. Rxf5? ....
White’s last is a premature action. It creates sharp complications, but to White’s detriment. Most natural is 23. Rab1. 23 .... e4!
This sharp Pawn stab nets Black the upper hand. Also good, according to the engine, is 23...Ng4, e.g., 24. Raf1 Rxf5 25. Rxf5 Nh4 26. Rf1 e4, Black has strong pressure.
24. Qc2 Ng4 25. Raf1 Rxf5 26. Rxf5 Qh4 27. h3 Nxe3 28. Bxe3 Qe1ch 29. Kh2 ....
After 29. Rf1 Qxe3ch 30. Qf2 Qxf2ch 31. Kxf2 Rf8ch 31. Ke1 Rxf1ch 32. Kxf1 exd3, Black clearly has a big endgame advantage.
29 .... Qxe3 30. dxe4 Nf4 31. Qb2? ....
Defending the e Pawn with 31. Qb1 is much better.
31 .... Qxe4 32. Bd7? ....
This move loses material. 32. Rg5 may put up a longer resistance, though Black’s positional advantage is huge.
32 .... g6 33. Rf6 Nd3 34. Qc3 Rxd7 35. Re6 Qf4ch 0-1
Solution to last week puzzle White to move and win. White=Kh2, Re3, Bb5, Pa2, Pb3, Pd7, Pf2, Pg2
Black=Kf8, Rd6, Ne7, Pa7, Pd4, Pf5, Pg6, Pg5
1. Re6! Rd5 2. Rf6ch Kg7 If 2 .... Kg8 3. Bc4. 3. Rf7ch! Kxf7 4. Bc4 1-0 If 4...Nc6 5. Bxd5ch followed by 6. Bxc6.