[Event "8th London Chess Classic 2016"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.09"] [Round "1"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Adams, Michael"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2785"] [BlackElo "2748"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [Source "ChessBase"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. c3 d6 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 a6 8. Nbd2 Ba7 9. Bb3 Qe7 (9... g5 10. Bg3 Nh5 11. Nxe5 Nxg3 12. Bxf7+ Ke7 13. Ng6+ Kxf7 14. Nxh8+ Qxh8 15. hxg3 Qf6 16. Qe2 Kg7 17. Nc4 Bd7 18. Ne3 Rf8 19. Rf1 Ne7 20. O-O-O Qe6 21. Kb1 d5 22. f3 Bb5 23. Qd2 Rd8 24. f4 dxe4 25. f5 Bxe3 26. fxe6 Bxd2 27. c4 e3 28. Rxd2 exd2 29. cxb5 Rxd3 30. Kc2 d1=Q+ 31. Rxd1 Rxd1 { 0-1 (31) Herman,M (2394)-Kamsky,G (2744) Rockville 2012}) 10. Nc4 (10. Qe2 Nd8 11. d4 g5 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Bg3 Bg4 14. h3 Bh5 15. Nc4 Ne6 16. O-O-O Nf4 17. Bxf4 exf4 18. e5 Nd7 19. g4 fxg3 20. fxg3 O-O-O 21. g4 Bg6 22. Nd4 Nc5 23. Bc2 Bxc2 24. Kxc2 Ne6 25. Nf5 Qc5 26. Qe4 Qf2+ 27. Kb1 Nc5 28. Qc2 Qxc2+ 29. Kxc2 Rxd1 30. Rxd1 Ne4 31. Rd3 Nf2 32. Ne7+ Kb8 33. Rf3 Re8 34. Rxf7 Nxh3 35. Nf5 b5 36. Na5 Bb6 {1-0 (36) Al Modiahki,M (2571)-Nezad,H (2400) Abu Dhabi 2013}) 10... Be6 11. Ne3 g5 12. Bg3 O-O-O 13. Ba4 Nb8 14. Qc2 (14. Qe2 Nh5 15. Bb3 Nf4 16. Bxf4 exf4 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. Bxd5 c6 19. Bb3 Nd7 20. O-O-O d5 21. Rhe1 Rhe8 22. Qc2 dxe4 23. Rxe4 Qf6 24. d4 g4 25. Nd2 Bb8 26. Rde1 Rxe4 27. Qxe4 Qh4 28. Re2 Qxh2 29. Bxf7 f3 30. gxf3 gxf3 31. Nxf3 Qf4+ 32. Qxf4 Bxf4+ 33. Kc2 Rf8 34. Be6 Kc7 35. Nd2 {1-0 (35) Meier,A (2162)-Stetsko,L (2257) Krakow POL 2015}) 14... Bxe3 15. fxe3 Nh5 16. Bf2 f5 17. exf5 Bxf5 18. Qe2 Bxd3 $6 {Une idée hasardeuse...} 19. Qxd3 e4 20. Qd4 c5 21. Qd1 exf3 22. Qxf3 Nf6 23. Bc2 Nbd7 24. O-O-O Ne5 25. Qe2 Qe6 26. Bg3 Qxa2 $5 {Courageux ou inconscient ? Le résultat final de la partie répondra à cette question.} 27. Rhf1 Nd5 28. Bxe5 dxe5 29. Bb1 Qb3 {La machine n'insiste pas et répète la position, Levon Aronian en fera-t-il de même ?} 30. Bc2 Qa2 31. Qg4+ {Non, l'Arménien préfère continuer.} Kb8 32. Qe4 Nb6 33. Qxe5+ Ka8 $4 {En zeitnot, le joueur anglais gaffe !} ({Il était possible de maintenir l'équilibre par} 33... Ka7 $1 $11) 34. Rxd8+ Rxd8 35. Qf6 {[%cal Yf6d8,Yf6b6] L'attaque double gagne une pièce !} Nc4 36. Qxd8+ Ka7 37. Qd3 Nxb2 38. Qf5 Qa1+ 39. Kd2 Nc4+ 40. Ke2 Qxc3 41. Qxc5+ (41. Qxc5+ Nb6 (41... b6 42. Qe7+ Kb8 43. Rf8#) (41... Kb8 42. Rf8#) 42. Qxc3 $18) 1-0 [Event "8th London Chess Classic 2016"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.09"] [Round "1"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A21"] [WhiteElo "2823"] [BlackElo "2779"] [PlyCount "83"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [Source "ChessBase"] 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. Nd5 Bc5 4. Nf3 c6 5. Nc3 d6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 (7. d3 h6 8. Bg2 O-O 9. O-O a5 10. b3 Bg4 11. h3 Be6 12. Bb2 Nbd7 13. e3 Bb6 14. Ba3 Bc5 15. Bb2 Re8 16. d4 Bb4 17. Nd2 exd4 18. exd4 d5 19. a3 Bd6 20. Re1 Nf8 21. cxd5 Nxd5 {1/2-1/2 (44) Eingorn,V (2528)-Nisipeanu,L (2687) Bad Wiessee GER 2016}) 7... O-O 8. O-O Re8 9. d3 h6 10. Na4 Bb4 11. a3 Ba5 12. b4 Bc7 13. e4 Bg4 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Nbd7 16. Qd1 a6 17. Nc3 Bb6 18. Ne2 a5 19. Bb2 Qe7 20. Kh2 axb4 21. axb4 Rxa1 22. Qxa1 h5 23. Kh1 h4 24. g4 Nh7 25. f4 Be3 26. Bc3 c5 27. bxc5 Nxc5 28. Qb1 Ra8 29. d4 exd4 30. Nxd4 Bxd4 31. Bxd4 Rc8 32. Ba1 Nf6 33. e5 dxe5 34. Bxe5 Nfd7 35. Bc3 Qe3 36. Ba1 Re8 37. Qb2 Nf6 38. Qd4 b6 39. Qxe3 Rxe3 40. Bd4 Rd3 41. Bf2 {La paire de Fous suffira-t-elle pour l'emporter ?} Rc3 42. Bxh4 {Et la réponse de Fabiano Caruana est non !} ({Après} 42. Bxh4 Rxc4 43. Rb1 Rxf4 44. Rxb6 $11) 1/2-1/2 [Event "8th London Chess Classic 2016"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.09"] [Round "1"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Giri, Anish"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2804"] [BlackElo "2771"] [PlyCount "47"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [Source "ChessBase"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e5 7. Nde2 h5 8. g3 Be6 9. Bg2 b5 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Be3 Be7 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. exd5 Bf5 14. f4 Rc8 ( 14... Qc8 15. Rc1 O-O 16. b3 exf4 17. Bxf4 Qc5+ 18. Nd4 Bf6 19. Be3 Rfe8 20. Nxf5 Rxe3 21. Kh1 Re5 22. c4 b4 23. Qxh5 g6 24. Qg4 Rxf5 25. Rxf5 Ne5 26. Rxe5 Bxe5 {1/2-1/2 (42) Caruana,F (2805)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2723) Stavanger 2015}) 15. c3 Bh7 16. a4 O-O 17. axb5 axb5 18. Ra6 exf4 19. Nxf4 h4 20. Bd4 Ne5 21. Nh5 Bg6 22. Nf4 Bh7 23. Nh5 Bg6 24. Nf4 {D'un côté on pourrait penser que Maxime n'a pas profité d'une partie avec les Blancs, de l'autre, quand on voit la partie de Nakamura, on se dit qu'il vaut mieux prendre le temps de se mettre en route :)} 1/2-1/2 [Event "8th London Chess Classic 2016"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.09"] [Round "1"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D85"] [WhiteElo "2779"] [BlackElo "2794"] [PlyCount "58"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [Source "ChessBase"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8. Rc1 O-O 9. Qd2 e5 10. d5 Nd7 (10... Qd6 11. Nf3 f5 12. Qc2 Nd7 13. Nd2 Nb6 14. f3 Bd7 15. Be2 f4 16. Bf2 g5 17. h4 h6 18. hxg5 hxg5 19. g4 Rac8 20. Rb1 Rf6 21. Nc4 Nxc4 22. Bxc4 b6 23. Bb5 Bxb5 24. Rxb5 Rh6 25. Rxh6 Bxh6 {1/2-1/2 (45) Wang Hao (2710)-Radjabov,T (2734) Beijing CHN 2014}) 11. c4 f5 12. Bg5 Nf6 13. Ne2 $4 {A ce niveau c'est une véritable gaffe ! De toute évidence Hikaru Nakamura n'était pas encore concentré, ou alors il a fêté son 29e anniversaire un peu trop tôt.} Nxe4 14. Bxd8 Nxd2 15. Be7 Rf7 16. Bxc5 { Les Blancs ont récupéré leur pion, apparemment tout va bien, mais en fait tout va mal !} Nxf1 {Sur le streaming, Lawrence Trent a eu la confirmation de la part du secondant de Nakamura, Kris Littlejohn, que Hikaru a mélangé les coups de sa préparation de l'ouverture.} 17. Rxf1 b6 {Le pion c4 est faible, et donc d5 aussi. Le Roi blanc est coincé au centre, et comme si ça ne suffisait pas, les Noirs possèdent la paire de Fous !} 18. Bb4 Ba6 19. f4 Rc8 20. fxe5 $6 {« à Dieu vat ! »} Bxe5 21. Rf3 Bxc4 22. Re3 Bg7 23. Nf4 Rd7 24. a4 Bh6 25. g3 Bxf4 26. gxf4 Rxd5 {Il reste encore un espoir à Hikaru; échanger les Tours !} 27. Re7 Rd4 28. Bd2 Kf8 29. Bb4 Re8 $19 {Et les Blancs ont abandonné ! Un début de tournoi catastrophique pour Hikaru !} (29... Re8 30. Rxe8+ Kxe8 {[%csl Rf4]} 31. Bd2 Re4+ 32. Kf2 (32. Kd1 $2 Bb3+ 33. Rc2 Rc4 $19) 32... Re2+ $19 {[%csl Rd2,Rf2][%cal Ye2d2,Ye2f2]}) 0-1 [Event "8th London Chess Classic 2016"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.09"] [Round "1"] [White "Kramnik, Vladimir"] [Black "Topalov, Veselin"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A06"] [WhiteElo "2809"] [BlackElo "2760"] [PlyCount "55"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [Source "ChessBase"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 c5 7. dxc5 dxc4 8. Na3 c3 9. Nb5 (9. Nd4 Nfd7 10. bxc3 Nxc5 11. Bg5 Nba6 12. Rb1 Re8 13. Nc4 h6 14. Be3 Bg4 15. Qc1 e5 16. h3 exd4 17. cxd4 Bxe2 18. dxc5 Bxf1 19. Qxf1 Rxe3 20. Nxe3 Nxc5 21. Bxb7 Nxb7 22. Rxb7 {1/2-1/2 (73) Kramnik,V (2812)-Giri,A (2782) Leuven BEL 2016}) 9... cxb2 10. Bxb2 Bd7 11. Qb3 Bc6 12. Rfd1 Qc8 13. Rac1 Nbd7 14. Nbd4 Bd5 15. Qa3 Re8 16. c6 $1 Nb6 17. c7 {C'est une épine... c'est un pieu ! Que dis-je, c'est une poutre !} Nc4 18. Qb4 Nxb2 19. Qxb2 b6 { Objectivement la partie est perdue pour les Noirs.} 20. Qa3 $5 (20. Ne5 $5 Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Qb7+ 22. Kg1 $16) 20... e6 $2 21. Nb5 $1 {Vise immédiatement la case d6, abandonnée par le dernier coup noir.} Bf8 22. Qb2 Bg7 23. Qd2 Qd7 24. a4 Ne4 25. Qf4 a6 26. Qxe4 axb5 27. Qd3 {Avec la menace 28.e4.} f5 $6 {Radical ! sans doute un peu trop.} 28. Ng5 $1 {Les Noirs ne perdent qu'un pion pour l'instant, mais la position est trop mauvaise pour continuer.} (28. Ng5 Rac8 29. Nxe6 Bxe6 30. Qxd7 Bxd7 31. Rxd7 $18 {[%csl Rc8][%cal Yg2b7,Yb7c8,Yc7c8]}) 1-0 [Event "8th London Classic 2016"] [Site "London ENG"] [Date "2016.12.09"] [Round "1.1"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D85"] [WhiteElo "2779"] [BlackElo "2794"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "58"] [EventDate "2016.12.09"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8. Rc1 O-O 9. Qd2 e5 10. d5 Nd7 (10... Qd6 {as in Wang Hao-Radjabov SportAccord blitz, 2014}) 11. c4 f5 12. Bg5 Nf6 13. Ne2 $2 (13. Bd3 {is the most solid continuation.}) 13... Nxe4 (13... h6 {So also considered this move, which is the only reason he spent so long on the text. Ultimately the move played in the game is much better.}) 14. Bxd8 Nxd2 {After the short, forcing sequence, Nakamura spent a while trying to atone, but Black's bishops and center pawns are simply better in all variations. White also has trouble connecting his rooks.} 15. Be7 Rf7 16. Bxc5 Nxf1 17. Rxf1 b6 18. Bb4 Ba6 {With all of Black's moves being so obvious, it's not clear what Nakamura missed.} 19. f4 Rc8 20. fxe5 Bxe5 21. Rf3 Bxc4 (21... Rxc4 {was cleaner. The pin was avoidable.}) 22. Re3 Bg7 23. Nf4 Rd7 24. a4 Bh6 25. g3 Bxf4 26. gxf4 Rxd5 {There seemed to be some hope for White with the opposite-color bishops, but that ends quickly.} 27. Re7 Rd4 28. Bd2 Kf8 29. Bb4 Re8 0-1 [Event "8th London Classic 2016"] [Site "London ENG"] [Date "2016.12.09"] [Round "1.5"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Adams, Michael"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C54"] [WhiteElo "2785"] [BlackElo "2748"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2016.12.09"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. c3 d6 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 a6 8. Nbd2 Ba7 9. Bb3 Qe7 10. Nc4 Be6 11. Ne3 g5 12. Bg3 O-O-O 13. Ba4 Nb8 14. Qc2 Bxe3 15. fxe3 Nh5 16. Bf2 f5 17. exf5 Bxf5 18. Qe2 Bxd3 19. Qxd3 e4 20. Qd4 c5 21. Qd1 exf3 22. Qxf3 Nf6 23. Bc2 Nbd7 24. O-O-O Ne5 25. Qe2 Qe6 26. Bg3 Qxa2 27. Rhf1 Nd5 28. Bxe5 dxe5 29. Bb1 Qb3 30. Bc2 Qa2 31. Qg4+ Kb8 32. Qe4 Nb6 33. Qxe5+ {Black is offering two pawns to get his knight to c4 to continue to attack, but that can't happen before the correct king move.} Ka8 $4 (33... Ka7 34. Qxc5 Rxd1+ 35. Rxd1 Rc8 {and it's more fun to play Black, but White can hold with proper defense.}) 34. Rxd8+ Rxd8 35. Qf6 (35. Qc7 {is the same. It is odd that Adams missed both moves.}) 35... Nc4 36. Qxd8+ Ka7 37. Qd3 Nxb2 38. Qf5 Qa1+ 39. Kd2 Nc4+ 40. Ke2 Qxc3 41. Qxc5+ 1-0 [Event "London Chess Classic"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.12.09"] [Round "1.3"] [White "Kramnik, Vladimir"] [Black "Topalov, Veselin"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D77"] [WhiteElo "2809"] [BlackElo "2760"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "55"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:12:33"] [BlackClock "0:19:04"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 c5 7. dxc5 (7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. e4 Nf6 9. e5 Nfd7 10. e6 fxe6 11. Nc3 Nc6 12. Be3 Rxf3 13. d5 Rxe3 { 0-1 (32) Ghaem Maghami,E (2596)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2705) Berlin 2015}) 7... dxc4 8. Na3 c3 9. Nb5 (9. Nd4 Nfd7 10. bxc3 Nxc5 11. Bg5 Nba6 12. Rb1 {Kramnik,V (2812)-Giri,A (2782) Leuven 2016 ?-?}) 9... cxb2 (9... Ne4 10. Qxd8 Rxd8 11. Nc7 cxb2 12. Bxb2 Bxb2 13. Rad1 Rf8 14. Nxa8 Na6 15. Nd4 Nexc5 16. Nb5 Bg4 17. f3 Bd7 18. Nac7 Nxc7 19. Nxc7 e6 20. Rb1 Bd4+ 21. Kh1 a6) 10. Bxb2 Bd7 ({ Predecessor (2):} 10... Na6 11. Rc1 Bd7 12. Nfd4 e5 13. c6 $1 {Llanes Luno,P (2240)-Gimeno Oteo,M (2155) Aragon 1998}) 11. Qb3 Bc6 12. Rfd1 Qc8 13. Rac1 Nbd7 14. Nbd4 Bd5 (14... Re8 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Qa4) 15. Qa3 Re8 16. c6 Nb6 ( 16... bxc6 17. Nxc6 Qb7 (17... Bxc6 18. Nd4) 18. Nfe5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Nxe5 20. Bxe5 Ng4 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. f3) 17. c7 Nc4 18. Qb4 Nxb2 19. Qxb2 b6 20. Qa3 e6 ( 20... Qb7 21. Bh3 e6 22. Ng5 h6 23. e4 Nxe4 (23... hxg5 24. exd5 Nxd5 25. Bg2) 24. Nxe4 Bxe4 25. Nb5 Bf8 26. Nd6 Bd5 27. Rxd5 exd5 28. Nxb7 Bxa3 29. c8=Q) 21. Nb5 {[%csl Rd6]} Bf8 22. Qb2 Bg7 23. Qd2 Qd7 24. a4 Ne4 25. Qf4 a6 26. Qxe4 axb5 27. Qd3 f5 28. Ng5 (28. Ng5 Rac8 29. Nxe6 Bxe6 30. Qxd7 Bxd7 31. Rxd7 bxa4 32. Bb7 Bf6 33. Rc6 (33. Bxc8 Rxc8)) 1-0 [Event "8th London Chess Classic 2016"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.09"] [Round "1"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D85"] [WhiteElo "2779"] [BlackElo "2794"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "58"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [TimeControl "40/7200:3600+30"] {Wesley So began with a win against Nakamura in the Sinquefield cup and won the event. Maybe he will repeat this feat at the London Chess Classic!} 1. d4 { [%emt 0:00:06]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} g6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:19]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:05] Wesley goes for the Grunfeld.} 4. cxd5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 5. e4 {[%emt 0:00:26]} Nxc3 { [%emt 0:00:05]} 6. bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 7. Be3 {[%emt 0: 00:11]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 8. Rc1 {[%emt 0:00:06]} (8. Qd2 {is the main line here.} O-O 9. Nf3 {is what Karpov used to play.}) 8... O-O {[%emt 0:00:33]} 9. Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:05] This particuar idea with Qd2 and Rc1 has become quite popular recently.} e5 $5 {[%emt 0:00:45] You can bank on Wesley to know what he is doing in the opening. This was the same move that MVL used to beat Peter Svidler in the Biel rapid in July 2016.} 10. d5 {[%emt 0:00:14] This looks the most logical. Getting a protected passed pawn can never be so bad.} (10. dxe5 Qxd2+ 11. Kxd2 Rd8+ 12. Kc2 Bd7 {When Black had decent compensation for the pawn.}) 10... Nd7 {[%emt 0:02:14]} 11. c4 {[%emt 0:06:00]} f5 $1 {[%emt 0:01: 45] Black has the lead in development and must strike in the center.} 12. Bg5 { [%emt 0:00:08]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:03:18]} 13. Ne2 $2 {[%emt 0:00:25][%cal Gg1e2] Played after just 25 seconds of thought! Something had definitely gone wrong with Nakamura.} (13. Bd3 $1 {was surely preferable as after} fxe4 14. Bb1 $14 { White will sooner or later regain the e4 pawn and have a fine position.}) (13. f3 $2 fxe4 14. fxe4 Nxe4 $19) 13... Nxe4 {[%emt 0:15:26] Wesley took his time. 15 minutes before making this move. It is clear that Black is already close to winning!} 14. Bxd8 {[%emt 0:00:24]} Nxd2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 15. Be7 {[%emt 0:10: 15] White tries to regain the pawn, but in vain.} Rf7 {[%emt 0:00:26]} 16. Bxc5 {[%emt 0:19:33]} Nxf1 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 17. Rxf1 {[%emt 0:25:06] 25 minutes! Wonder what Naka was thinking. He must been livid with himself for getting into this position after just 17 moves. The material is even but let's discuss the situation in two moves from now.} b6 $1 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 18. Bb4 {[%emt 0: 03:32]} Ba6 $19 {[%emt 0:00:22][%csl Ga6,Ge5,Gf5,Gg7][%cal Ga8c8] Let's take stock. Black has the bishop pair, beautiful central pawn majority and rooks that will be activated down the central file. White on the other hand has no co-ordination, the c4 pawn is weak, the knight is without an occupation and overall completely lost position. The only good thing is the material is even, but that too won't last for long!} 19. f4 {[%emt 0:00:31]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:04:46]} 20. fxe5 {[%emt 0:01:46]} Bxe5 {[%emt 0:04:38]} 21. Rf3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Bxc4 { [%emt 0:07:22]} (21... Rxc4 {looked more natural not to get into a pin down the c-file but Wesley's move was well calculated.}) 22. Re3 {[%emt 0:02:27]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:02:03]} 23. Nf4 {[%emt 0:02:02]} Rd7 {[%emt 0:10:17]} 24. a4 { [%emt 0:11:21]} Bh6 {[%emt 0:21:47]} 25. g3 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Bxf4 {[%emt 0:04: 50]} 26. gxf4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Rxd5 {[%emt 0:00:04] Picking up the second pawn. In spite of the opposite coloured bishop position we are nowhere close to a draw.} 27. Re7 {[%emt 0:06:28]} Rd4 {[%emt 0:02:04]} 28. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} ( 28. Rxa7 Rxf4 $19) 28... Kf8 {[%emt 0:04:54]} 29. Bb4 {[%emt 0:00:08]} (29. Rxa7 Re8+ 30. Kd1 Bb3+ $19) 29... Re8 $1 {[%emt 0:01:06] Such games at the top level are not seen often where one side blunders and the game is instantly over right out of the opening.} 0-1 [Event "8th London Chess Classic 2016"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.09"] [Round "1"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A21"] [WhiteElo "2823"] [BlackElo "2779"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "83"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [TimeControl "40/7200:3600+30"] 1. c4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 2. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Bb4 { [%emt 0:00:10] It seems as if Anand has prepared this system in depth and is not shy of using it. He has already played it thrice in the last six months.} 3. Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 4. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:08]} c6 { [%emt 0:00:14]} 5. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 6. g3 {[%emt 0:00: 07]} (6. d4 exd4 7. Nxd4 Nf6 {leads to different type of positions, one where I think White has a slight edge.}) 6... Nf6 {[%emt 0:03:49]} 7. Bg2 {[%emt 0: 00:17]} O-O {[%emt 0:01:54]} 8. O-O {[%emt 0:00:14]} Re8 {[%emt 0:10:27]} 9. d3 {[%emt 0:00:14] Caruana decides to play it slow.} (9. d4 exd4 (9... Bb6 $5 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Qxd8 Bxd8 $11) 10. Nxd4 $14 {was another way to play.}) 9... h6 { [%emt 0:00:50]} 10. Na4 {[%emt 0:01:18]} Bb4 {[%emt 0:02:36]} 11. a3 {[%emt 0: 00:07]} Ba5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 12. b4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Bc7 {[%emt 0:00:06] It seems as if Black has lost a lot of time, but it was important to save the bishop. We see a similar manoeuvre in the Giuoco Piano. The bishop is well placed on c7 and Black can think about central expansion with d6-d5.} 13. e4 { [%emt 0:02:27]} Bg4 $1 {[%emt 0:06:06] The d4 square has been softened up, and it makes sense to exchange the bishop for the knight.} (13... d5 $6 14. exd5 cxd5 15. cxd5 Nxd5 16. Bb2 {With Re1 coming up, Black's lack of development really starts to tell.}) 14. h3 {[%emt 0:09:08]} Bxf3 {[%emt 0:00:56]} 15. Qxf3 {[%emt 0:00:22]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:01:10]} 16. Qd1 {[%emt 0:19:02] Fabiano prepares to strike the center with f4.} a6 {[%emt 0:05:54]} 17. Nc3 {[%emt 0: 17:42]} Bb6 {[%emt 0:08:10]} 18. Ne2 {[%emt 0:01:12]} (18. Kh2 Bd4 19. Bb2 b5 $15) 18... a5 {[%emt 0:05:52]} 19. Bb2 {[%emt 0:05:13]} Qe7 {[%emt 0:09:04]} 20. Kh2 {[%emt 0:14:12] White is now well placed for the f4 break.} axb4 { [%emt 0:04:25]} 21. axb4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Rxa1 {[%emt 0:00:52]} 22. Qxa1 { [%emt 0:03:51]} (22. Bxa1 Ra8 {is not something that Fabi wanted.}) 22... h5 $1 {[%emt 0:04:40][%cal Gh6h5] Typical Vishy Anand! He finds the best resources in the position. The exchange on a1 forced the white queen away from the kingside and now with the move h5 he tries to tell White that look you may the center and the f4 related ideas, but with ...h5 I am going to start my own counterplay.} 23. Kh1 {[%emt 0:12:29]} (23. f4 $6 h4 $1 (23... Ng4+ 24. hxg4 hxg4 25. Qc1 $1 Qf6 26. fxe5 $18) 24. g4 exf4 25. Nxf4 Be3 26. Ne2 Ne5 $15 { Black has excellent control on the dark squares and is better.}) 23... h4 { [%emt 0:06:24]} 24. g4 {[%emt 0:07:05]} Nh7 $1 {[%emt 0:05:26] The knight will be well placed on g5 in the future.} 25. f4 {[%emt 0:03:50]} Be3 {[%emt 0:02: 18]} 26. Bc3 {[%emt 0:07:28]} c5 $6 {[%emt 0:07:54]} (26... exf4 $1 27. Nxf4 ( 27. Bxg7 $2 Ne5 $1 28. Bh6 (28. Bxe5 dxe5 $19) 28... f3 $1 29. Bxe3 fxg2+ 30. Kxg2 Nxd3 $17) 27... Ne5 $15) 27. bxc5 {[%emt 0:02:29]} Nxc5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 28. Qb1 $1 {[%emt 0:00:00] Rf3 is going to trap the bishop now.} (28. Rf3 exf4 29. Nxf4 Bxf4 30. Rxf4 Nxd3 $17) 28... Ra8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 29. d4 {[%emt 0:00: 00]} exd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 30. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 31. Bxd4 {[%emt 0:00:00] White has the brilliant centre and bishop pair, but Black king is safe, the knight on c5 is well placed and the white king on h1 is not the happiest of people in the world. Hence, Black is not worse by a huge margin.} Rc8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 32. Ba1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} (32. e5 $5 dxe5 33. Bxe5 $14) 32... Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 33. e5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} dxe5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 34. Bxe5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} (34. fxe5 Nh7 {followed by Ng5-e6 gives Black a fine position.}) 34... Nfd7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 35. Bc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qe3 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} 36. Ba1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Re8 $11 {[%emt 0:00:00] Anand has co-ordinated his position excellent and is not worse anymore.} 37. Qb2 { [%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 38. Qd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} (38. g5 Nh5 39. Bf3 Nd3 40. Qc3 Ng3+ 41. Kh2 Nxf1+ $19) 38... b6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 39. Qxe3 { [%emt 0:00:00]} Rxe3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 40. Bd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rd3 {[%emt 1:00: 30]} 41. Bf2 {[%emt 1:00:30]} Rc3 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 42. Bxh4 {[%emt 0:00:30] The players agreed to a draw. After...Rxc4 White may have a theoretical edge. But it is nothing substantial.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "London Chess Classic 2016"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.12.09"] [Round "1.2"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A21"] [WhiteElo "2823"] [BlackElo "2779"] [Annotator "Aditya Mittal"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] [WhiteClock "0:30:05"] [BlackClock "0:10:32"] 1. c4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {Vishy almost always plays like this against 1.c4} 2. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bb4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} (2... Nf6 {is more classical}) 3. Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 4. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} c6 {[%emt 0:00: 00]} 5. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d6 {Also a very popular line, with Anand having used it a lot} 6. g3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 7. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00: 00]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:00]} 8. O-O {[%emt 0:00:00]} Re8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 9. d3 { The game has started as a slow, theoretical and normal opening} h6 {[%emt 0:00: 00]} (9... a5 {might be better cementing the bishop and gaining space}) 10. Na4 $1 {[%emt 0:00:00] Now Fabiano takes aim at Vishy's bishop} Bb4 {[%emt 0:00:00] } 11. a3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Ba5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 12. b4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bc7 { Black is being pushed but there is nothing wrong with his position White has got only a slight edge} 13. e4 {Fabiano is trying his best to expand and limit the Black pieces However this can also allow d5 sometimes} Bg4 {[%emt 0:03:50]} (13... d5 {was possible here also for example} 14. cxd5 cxd5 15. exd5 Nxd5 16. Bb2 b6 $14) 14. h3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bxf3 {[%emt 0:01:26]} 15. Qxf3 {[%emt 0:00: 00]} Nbd7 {Till here Fabiano was playing quickly but now he goes into the tank} 16. Qd1 {[%emt 0:11:51]} a6 {A passive move but a good one} (16... a5 {also interesting} 17. b5 cxb5 18. cxb5 Nb6 19. Nc3 $13 Nbd7 20. Na4 Nb6 21. Nc3 { is one way to draw}) 17. Nc3 {[%emt 0:18:12]} Bb6 {[%emt 0:16:44]} 18. Ne2 { [%emt 0:01:42]} a5 $1 {Anand finally plays a5! He has chosen the right moment} 19. Bb2 {[%emt 0:05:43]} Qe7 {At 11.45 pm IST this position was reached and I slept thinking it would be a peaceful draw Well....} 20. Kh2 {[%emt 0:14:42]} axb4 {[%emt 0:20:51]} 21. axb4 {[%emt 0:00:36]} Rxa1 {[%emt 0:01:22]} 22. Qxa1 {Anand has played brilliant against the potential candidate for the World no.1 and has equalised But.... this is where he starts to get ambitious} h5 { [%emt 0:05:10]} 23. Kh1 {[%emt 0:17:20]} h4 {[%emt 0:06:54]} 24. g4 {[%emt 0: 07:35]} Nh7 {[%emt 0:05:56]} 25. f4 $1 {Now it i clear. Fabiano wanted to punish Vishy for h5-h4} Be3 {[%emt 0:02:48]} 26. Bc3 {[%emt 0:12:18]} c5 $6 { The first inaccuracy} (26... exf4 {was better} 27. Nxf4 Ne5 $13) 27. bxc5 { [%emt 0:02:59]} Nxc5 {[%emt 0:08:54]} 28. Qb1 {[%emt 0:00:30]} Ra8 $6 {Another inaccuracy but Fabiano was low on time} 29. d4 {[%emt 0:00:30]} exd4 {[%emt 0: 01:00]} 30. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:30]} Bxd4 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 31. Bxd4 {[%emt 0:00: 30]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 32. Ba1 $6 {[%emt 0:00:30]} (32. e5 {would have resulted in a clear advantage} dxe5 33. Bxe5 {the same position is reached as in the game but here Black's knight is on h7}) 32... Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 33. e5 {[%emt 0:00:30]} dxe5 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 34. Bxe5 {[%emt 0:00:30]} Nfd7 { [%emt 0:00:30]} 35. Bc3 {[%emt 0:00:30]} (35. Bd4 {was better}) 35... Qe3 { [%emt 0:00:30]} 36. Ba1 {[%emt 0:00:30]} Re8 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 37. Qb2 {The game has again become equal} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 38. Qd4 {[%emt 0:01:00]} b6 { [%emt 0:00:30]} 39. Qxe3 {[%emt 0:00:30]} Rxe3 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 40. Bd4 { [%emt 0:00:30]} Rd3 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 41. Bf2 {[%emt 0:00:30]} Rc3 {[%emt 0:00: 30]} 42. Bxh4 {The position is drawn after rxc4} Rd3 {I don't know if this really played It makes no sense probably the digital board went wrong} 43. Bf2 (43. f5 $16 {White is clearly better but as I said it might be an error}) 43... Rc3 44. Bh4 1/2-1/2 [Event "8th London Chess Classic 2016"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.09"] [Round "1"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Adams, Michael"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2785"] [BlackElo "2748"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [TimeControl "40/7200:3600+30"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Nc6 { [%emt 0:00:05]} 3. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 4. d3 {[%emt 0:00: 17]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:42]} 5. c3 {[%emt 0:00:31]} d6 {[%emt 0:01:47]} 6. Bg5 { [%emt 0:00:06] We have been taught that playing the move Bg5 before Black has castled is not a good idea because then Black can always break the pin with h6 and g5. But top players like to bend the rules and all that Levon wants is a relatively fresh position to play with.} h6 {[%emt 0:11:00]} 7. Bh4 {[%emt 0: 00:05]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 8. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Ba7 {[%emt 0:00:56]} 9. Bb3 {[%emt 0:01:43]} Qe7 {[%emt 0:01:56]} 10. Nc4 {[%emt 0:11:22]} Be6 { [%emt 0:09:00]} 11. Ne3 {[%emt 0:05:18]} g5 {[%emt 0:09:24]} 12. Bg3 {[%emt 0: 00:05]} O-O-O {[%emt 0:02:41] Overall Michael Adams has played the opening really well and has a great position.} 13. Ba4 {[%emt 0:06:48]} Nb8 $5 { [%emt 0:04:08] The Breyer ideas never get old!} 14. Qc2 {[%emt 0:06:36]} Bxe3 { [%emt 0:09:12]} 15. fxe3 {[%emt 0:00:35]} Nh5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 16. Bf2 { [%emt 0:06:18]} f5 {[%emt 0:01:55]} 17. exf5 {[%emt 0:00:52]} Bxf5 $15 { [%emt 0:00:09]} 18. Qe2 {[%emt 0:02:26]} Bxd3 $5 {[%emt 0:20:45][%cal Gf5d3]} ( 18... e4 $5 19. Nh4 (19. Nd4 Bg6 $15) 19... gxh4 20. Qxh5 Qg5 21. Qxg5 (21. Qxh4 exd3 $17) 21... hxg5 22. d4 Rdf8 $15) 19. Qxd3 {[%emt 0:00:11]} e4 { [%emt 0:00:03]} 20. Qd4 {[%emt 0:02:52]} c5 {[%emt 0:03:46]} (20... exf3 21. Qg4+ Nd7 22. Qxh5 $16) 21. Qd1 {[%emt 0:03:00]} exf3 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 22. Qxf3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:01:10]} 23. Bc2 {[%emt 0:00:15] One more game in the day where we see two knights versus two bishops. Black has the better structure but White should hold the balance.} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:09:32]} 24. O-O-O { [%emt 0:03:35]} Ne5 {[%emt 0:00:39]} 25. Qe2 {[%emt 0:04:23]} Qe6 {[%emt 0:05: 15]} 26. Bg3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Qxa2 $6 {[%emt 0:08:32]} (26... d5 $1 27. Rhf1 Ne4 $11) 27. Rhf1 $6 {[%emt 0:15:57]} (27. Bxe5 dxe5 28. Qf3 $14 {was a better way to play. The knight on f6 doesn't have too many good squares to go to.} Qa1+ 29. Bb1 Nd7 30. Qg4 h5 31. Qe6 $36) 27... Nd5 $1 {[%emt 0:01:07]} 28. Bxe5 {[%emt 0:01:39]} (28. Bb1 Nxc3 $1 $19) 28... dxe5 {[%emt 0:00:39]} 29. Bb1 { [%emt 0:05:07]} Qb3 {[%emt 0:04:25]} (29... Nxc3 30. Qg4+ $18) 30. Bc2 { [%emt 0:03:54]} Qa2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 31. Qg4+ {[%emt 0:01:20] Aronian is in an ambitious mood and shuns the draw.} Kb8 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 32. Qe4 {[%emt 0:00: 19]} Nb6 {[%emt 0:05:03]} 33. Qxe5+ {[%emt 0:03:41][%cal Gb8a8,Gb8a7] The question is where to move your king. One is correct, the other is wrong.} Ka8 $2 {[%emt 0:00:07][%cal Gb8a8]} (33... Ka7 $1 34. Qxc5 Rxd1+ 35. Rxd1 Rc8 $11) 34. Rxd8+ {[%emt 0:03:18]} Rxd8 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 35. Qf6 $1 {[%emt 0:00:52] A double attack on the knight on b6 and the rook on d8 and Black has to resign. Well, Mickey made a few more moves but it was just to get out of the suicidal mind frame and getting ready for the next game.} Nc4 {[%emt 0:02:32]} 36. Qxd8+ {[%emt 0:00:05]} Ka7 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 37. Qd3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Nxb2 {[%emt 0: 01:44]} 38. Qf5 {[%emt 0:01:15]} Qa1+ {[%emt 0:00:19]} 39. Kd2 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Nc4+ {[%emt 0:00:04]} 40. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qxc3 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 41. Qxc5+ {[%emt 0:00:00] A heartbreaking loss for the wild card entrant.} 1-0 [Event "8th London Chess Classic 2016"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.09"] [Round "1"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Giri, Anish"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2804"] [BlackElo "2771"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "47"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [TimeControl "40/7200:3600+30"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} d6 {[%emt 0: 00:02]} 3. d4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 4. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 5. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:03][%cal Ga7a6] Many people watching the game thought that Giri had gone crazy! To play the Najdorf against the biggest expert of Najdorf is not a great idea! However, it is also possible that Anish wanted to know what's MVL's preferred way of meeting his favourite opening.} 6. h3 {[%emt 0:00:27] MVL thinks that h3 is the best way to respond to the Najdorf.} e5 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 7. Nde2 {[%emt 0: 00:04]} h5 {[%emt 0:00:05] As has been known quite well, it is not a good idea to allow White to play g4 followed by Bg2 and Ng3. Hence, h5 is a logical move stifling the g-pawn.} 8. g3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Be6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 9. Bg2 { [%emt 0:00:26]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 10. O-O {[%emt 0:00:45]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:00: 42] It's funny that this position that has arisen has been played by Giri on the white side against Wojtaszek and by MVL from the black side against Caruana!} 11. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:30]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:26]} 12. Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:08] } Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:43]} (12... Bxd5 {The usual way to take on d5 in the Najdorf is not the best here.} 13. exd5 O-O 14. f4 $14) 13. exd5 {[%emt 0:00: 04]} Bf5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 14. f4 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:00:11]} (14... Qc8 $5 15. c3 O-O {The bishop on f5 remains defended and there is latent pressure on h3.}) 15. c3 {[%emt 0:01:06]} Bh7 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 16. a4 {[%emt 0: 13:16]} (16. fxe5 dxe5 $1 (16... Nxe5 17. Nd4 $1 $16 {The knight is coming into c6 and is not so great for Black.}) 17. d6 Bg5 18. Bxg5 Qxg5 $11) 16... O-O {[%emt 0:02:36]} 17. axb5 {[%emt 0:01:35]} axb5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 18. Ra6 { [%emt 0:08:26]} (18. fxe5 $5 dxe5 $1 (18... Nxe5 $5 19. Nd4 Bg5 $11) 19. d6 Bg5 20. Bf2 (20. Qd2 Bxe3+ 21. Qxe3 Qb6 22. Qxb6 Nxb6 $11) 20... h4 21. g4 Nf6 $11) 18... exf4 {[%emt 0:21:30]} 19. Nxf4 {[%emt 0:05:59]} h4 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 20. Bd4 {[%emt 0:08:46]} Ne5 {[%emt 0:08:26]} 21. Nh5 {[%emt 0:03:30]} Bg6 { [%emt 0:02:42]} (21... hxg3 22. Nxg3 $11) 22. Nf4 {[%emt 0:07:22]} Bh7 { [%emt 0:02:13]} 23. Nh5 {[%emt 0:02:08]} Bg6 {[%emt 0:00:46]} 24. Nf4 {[%emt 0: 04:45] It can be said that the Najdorf turned out to be a huge success for Anish as MVL couldn't find a way to get any advantage with white.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "London Chess Classic 2016"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.10"] [Round "?"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2779"] [BlackElo "2804"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] {Notes by Krikor Mekhitarian -} 1. e4 $1 {By far Anand's #1 choice} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 {It is always exciting seeing such a confrontation - Anand, known for his extremely deep and ambitious opening preparation, continuously finding new ideas and putting problems to his opponents. In the other side, we have one of the world's top specialist in the Najdorf variation (as white and black) - current number 4 in the world, having an amazing 2016 year, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave or simply MVL. Both players have drawn their first round games, meaning a higher chance they would both seek a very tense battle.} 6. h3 $5 {The Adams attack has become a fashionable idea against the Najdorf, leading to extremely complicated positions. I always found it weird to have it called after Michael Adams, who is such a positional genius (he indeed played it 5 times), but I have just come to realize it is named after the american master Weaver Adams, who started playing it back in the 1940s! Black has some options here, e5 being the most common.} e5 (6... Qc7 {was tried in the very first game of this variation against Mr. Weaver in 1948} 7. g4 e6 8. Bg2 Nc6 9. Be3 Na5 10. Qe2 Bd7 11. Rd1 h6 12. Bc1 $1 Be7 13. f4 O-O-O 14. O-O $36 {a very odd situation to have white to castle K-side and black to castle Q-side in an open sicilian. White went on to win it in 29 moves!: 1-0 (29) Adams,W-Pavey,M Baltimore 1948}) 7. Nb3 {Anand has played this 7.Nb3 only once before (in 2014, against Nepomniachtchi). White's idea is to play something like an english attack (with Be3, f4 ideas, or even f4 right away, normally connected with castling on the Q-side).} (7. Nde2 {is the most common move, aiming for g4-Ng3} h5 {black normally stops white's K-side expansion with this move, and white develops with either g3 or Bg5 now, and even the creative Ng1 followed by Nf3 and Ng5 is possible.}) 7... Be6 8. f4 Nbd7 9. g4 $5 {A very interesting move, preparing f5 under better conditions. Now g5 is a threat. There are two important games that have similarities to this one:} (9. Qf3 Rc8 10. f5 Bxb3 11. axb3 d5 $5 {is a typical pawn sacrifice that probably led MVL to an important decision later in this game, as you will see.} 12. exd5 e4 $5 (12... Bb4 $5) 13. Qg3 Nh5 $13 {with an unclear position: 0-1 (57) Gormally,D (2488)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2757) Douglas 2014}) (9. f5 Bxb3 10. axb3 d5 $1 {right away!} 11. exd5 Bb4 12. Bd2 (12. g4 $2 {now fails drastically} Ne4 $1 $17) 12... O-O 13. Qe2 Bxc3 14. bxc3 e4 $44 {1-0 (34) Sutovsky,E (2635)-Shirov,A (2712) Poikovsky 2015} (14... Nxd5 $5)) 9... Rc8 $146 (9... b5 {has been played in 2014} 10. Bg2 (10. g5 $6 b4 $1 $132) 10... Nb6 11. g5 Nfd7 12. f5 Bc4 13. Na5 Rc8 $13 {with complex play. 0-1 (32) Khismatullin,D (2714)-Duda,J (2563) Yerevan 2014}) 10. f5 (10. g5 $2 {would be a very bad mistake} Rxc3 $1 11. bxc3 (11. gxf6 Rc8 $17 {since white can not take on g7 because of Qh4+}) 11... Nxe4 $17) 10... Bxb3 (10... Bc4 $6 11. Bxc4 Rxc4 12. Qd3 $16 {the light-squared B exchange is positionally good for white}) 11. axb3 {It is clear that white's position is threatening, g5 looks very annoying and Vachier-Lagrave has to do something, and here he follows a very important advice - meet a flank attack with a center counterattack!} d5 $5 { Black decided to go for a pawn sacrifice, to open up the position while white wants to create a wing attack (with g5). It goes to reinforce the idea that MVL is a very brave player, that doesn't shy away from complications, even when it is clear that his opponent is in his preparation.} (11... Rxc3 $5 { was a critical moment - the typical exchange sacrifice also follows the golden counterattack rule and looks very attractive, specially because black creates a devastating threat of Qh4+ now:} 12. bxc3 Nxe4 13. h4 Qb6 (13... Be7 $5 { is a similar version} 14. g5 Qb6 15. Qf3 d5 $44 {now black has a strong h6! threat, trying to open up even more lines against the white king.}) 14. Qf3 d5 $44 {as MVL himself mentioned after the game, was something he was seriously considering and has to be at least very interesting.}) 12. exd5 Bb4 13. Bg2 Qb6 $2 {natural, but from now on black faces a difficult position because of this move.} (13... Rxc3 $1 {would get the pawn back and achieve a complex middlegame position after:} 14. bxc3 Bxc3+ 15. Bd2 Bxa1 16. Qxa1 O-O {white has the pure bishop pair, but in the other hand he also has many weaknesses around his king and after:} 17. O-O Qb6+ $132 {followed by either e4 or Rc8 shows that black's activity could become very dangerous.}) 14. Bd2 e4 15. Qe2 O-O 16. O-O-O Nc5 17. Kb1 Rfd8 {The last moves were kind of expected and now the game surrounds about the moment when black will release the pressure to get the d5-P back, and for many moves, white's g5 move will need to be analysed.} 18. Rhe1 {a strong move, bringing the last piece into play, but it was already possible to think about clearing the dust with the aforementioned g5.} (18. g5 $5 Bxc3 19. Bxc3 Nxd5 20. Bd4 $1 (20. Bxe4 $2 Nxc3+ 21. bxc3 Rxd1+ 22. Rxd1 Na4 $1 $19 {and suddenly white loses!}) 20... Nf4 21. Qf2 Nxg2 22. Bxc5 Qc6 23. Qxg2 Qxc5 24. Qxe4 $16 {with a promising endgame}) 18... a5 (18... Bxc3 $2 {is simply a worse version compared to the last move analysis.} 19. Bxc3 Nxd5 20. Bd4 $18 {with an additional Rhe1 already played, black has to be in deep trouble.}) 19. Qf2 $6 (19. d6 $1 {a very counterintuitive and difficult move, worsening the black's R position before inserting g5.} Rxd6 20. g5 $1 {is much stronger now:} Bxc3 21. Bxc3 Nd5 22. Be5 $1 {this is the key, white wins a very important tempo.} Rdd8 23. Bxe4 Nxe4 24. Qxe4 $18 {with a winning position.}) 19... Qc7 (19... Bxc3 $1 20. Bxc3 Nxd5 21. Bd4 a4 $1 { probably underestimated by both players, since apparently black doesn't have time for such a move. A sample line could go like this:} 22. bxa4 Qb4 $1 { threatening Nxa4} 23. Qg3 (23. Bxc5 $2 Nc3+ $1 24. Kc1 Nxd1 $1 25. Bxb4 Nxf2 $17) 23... Qxa4 {now Nb4 is a serious threat} 24. Qa3 Qxa3 25. bxa3 $11 { and black has every reason to feel relieved winning the pawn back, and ruining white's structure on the Q-side.}) 20. Bf4 (20. g5 $5 {it was the last chance to play this move, but the complications were too scary.} Nxd5 (20... Bxc3 21. Bxc3 Nxd5 22. Bd4 $16) 21. Nxe4 Nd3 $1 22. cxd3 Qc2+ 23. Ka1 Qxb3 {threatening Rc2} 24. Rc1 Bxd2 25. Qxd2 (25. Nxd2 $2 Qa4+ 26. Kb1 Nb4 27. Bd5 Nxd5 $17) 25... Nb4 26. Nc3 {All of this was amazingly mentioned by Anand in the post-game interview (and I'm sure MVL had similar calculations), showing how good these guys are. He said he wasn't sure of the evaluation, which is totally understandable, since it involves a serious risk against your own king! And he is correct, after a4! the position remains totally unclear.} a4 $1 $40 (26... Rxd3 $2 27. Qe2 $1 $18 {threatening mate and following with Be4-Bc2} )) 20... Qb6 21. Be5 a4 $1 22. bxa4 Bxc3 23. Bxc3 Nxd5 24. Rxd5 $1 {a good practical decision, maintaining excellent chances on the following position with the strong bishop pair and many strong pawns on the Q-side} (24. Bd4 Qb4 $1 $132 {-- 19...Bxc3}) 24... Rxd5 25. Bxe4 Rd6 26. a5 Qb5 27. Qe2 $1 Qxe2 28. Rxe2 {now it was urgent for black to eliminate one of white's strong bishops.} Rd1+ (28... Nxe4 $1 29. Rxe4 Rdc6 30. Ka2 $13 {the pawn majority on the Q-side may be decisive, and white should have the better prospects, but there is a lot to be played, it is not too easy to advance those pawns.}) 29. Ka2 Re8 $2 { a huge mistake, not only because of the way the game continued, but because black will not be able to deal with these strong bishops} (29... Nxe4 {was again forced, achieving a similar version of the last move, but having lost an important tempo.}) 30. Bf3 $1 Rxe2 31. Bxe2 Rc1 32. Bf3 Rxc2 33. Bxb7 $1 { Maxime resigned since the a-P is unstoppable. A brilliant presentation from the legendary world champion Vishy Anand, showing hard work with a deep opening preparation, strong dynamic play and impressive calculations. Vachier-Lagrave put up a strong resistance after being surprised in the opening, and could have defended the endgame, if it wasn't fo the final mistake on move 29. Now Anand joins the 2nd place with three other players at 1,5/2, but for now the man to watch for is Wesley So, with a perfect 2/2 score and a newly acquired ticket into the 2800 club!} (33. Bxb7 $1 Nxb7 34. a6 { followed by a7, if the N leaves.} Re2 {the rook is also not in time:} 35. axb7 Re8 36. Be5 $1 $18) 1-0 [Event "8th London Classic 2016"] [Site "London ENG"] [Date "2016.12.10"] [Round "2"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Adams, Michael"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E05"] [WhiteElo "2794"] [BlackElo "2748"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "2016.12.07"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bg5 a5 11. Nc3 Ra6 12. Qd3 Rb6 13. Qc2 h6 14. Bd2 Bb4 15. Rfe1 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Nc6 17. e3 e5 18. Bxc6 exd4 19. Bf3 dxc3 20. bxc3 Bc5 21. Rab1 Rd6 22. Red1 b6 23. c4 Qe7 24. Bc3 Rfd8 25. Bb2 Qe6 26. Rxd6 Rxd6 27. Rd1 Rxd1+ 28. Qxd1 Bd6 29. Qd4 Qe8 30. Bd1 Qc6 31. Bc2 Kf8 32. e4 Bc5 33. Qd8+ Ne8 34. Qd5 Qg6 35. Kg2 Ke7 36. f4 c6 37. Qd3 Nc7 $2 {The knight selects a most unfortunate square.} 38. f5 $1 Qg5 39. Be5 $1 {The knight simply has no good square available.} Ne6 ({A beautiful point is that} 39... Ne8 40. Bf4 $1 { traps the queen.}) 40. fxe6 {Adams resigned since capturing the bishop on e5 leads to mate in four after 41.Qd7+} 1-0 [Event "London Chess Classic"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.12.10"] [Round "2"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2779"] [BlackElo "2804"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:12:11"] [BlackClock "0:22:24"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f4 ( {More common is} 8. Be3 Be7 9. f4 Nc6 10. f5 Bxb3 11. axb3 Nb4 12. g3 d5 { with equality in Mamedov,R (2655)-Karjakin,S (2779) Shamkir 2016}) 8... Nbd7 9. g4 Rc8 {Previously:} (9... b5 {has been tested, and Black did well after} 10. Bg2 ({However one wonders what would he have played in case of} 10. f5 $1 Bxb3 11. axb3 b4 12. Nd5 $1 {with the idea of} Nxe4 13. Qf3 Qh4+ 14. Ke2 Ng3+ 15. Kd1 Nxh1 16. Nc7+ {and White has a decisive attack.}) 10... Nb6 11. g5 Nfd7 12. f5 Bc4 13. Na5 Rc8 14. Qd2 b4 {Khismatullin,D (2714)-Duda,J (2563) Yerevan 2014 }) 10. f5 Bxb3 {The alternative is not good:} (10... Bc4 $6 11. Bxc4 Rxc4 12. Qe2 {followed by g4-g5, and White establishes firm control over the vital d5-square.}) 11. axb3 d5 {Many strong GMs considered the typical exchange sacrifice:} (11... Rxc3 {critical. It indeed is, and the position after} 12. bxc3 Nxe4 13. h4 Qb6 14. Qf3 d5 {is obviously in Anand's preparation file.}) 12. exd5 Bb4 13. Bg2 Qb6 14. Bd2 e4 15. Qe2 O-O 16. O-O-O {White is better as his opponent will need time to take the pawn on d5.} Nc5 17. Kb1 Rfd8 (17... Bxc3 18. Bxc3 {is premature as the d5-pawn is not hanging.}) 18. Rhe1 {Brings the rook into the game and targets the e4-pawn.} (18. g5 Bxc3 19. Bxc3 Nxd5) 18... a5 $1 {Strong counter-play by Vachier.} 19. Qf2 {Perhaps objectively better was the brave} (19. Nxe4 $5 Ncxe4 20. Bxe4 Re8 21. Qd3 Bxd2 22. Rxd2 { It is not clear how Black can make use of the pin on the e-file.}) 19... Qc7 20. Bf4 {Anand did not like the folowing sharp line:} (20. g5 Nxd5 21. Nxe4 Nd3 $1 22. cxd3 Qc2+ 23. Ka1 Qxb3 24. Rc1 Bxd2 25. Qxd2 Nb4 26. Nc3 a4 {with the idea a4-a3 when the white king is too exposed.} (26... Rxd3 {can be met with} 27. Qe2 {when} g6 {does not help due to} 28. Qe8+ Rxe8 29. Rxe8+ Kg7 30. f6#)) 20... Qb6 21. Be5 {Another way to sacrifice the exchange was:} (21. Nxe4 Bxe1 22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. Rxe1) 21... a4 22. bxa4 Bxc3 23. Bxc3 Nxd5 24. Rxd5 { The only move: After} (24. Bd4 Qb4 $1 {Black takes over the initiative.}) 24... Rxd5 25. Bxe4 Rd6 26. a5 Qb5 (26... Qd8 27. Bf3 {is a clear edge for White as well.}) 27. Qe2 $1 {After the queen swap, a bishop and two pawns are clearly better than a rook in the endgame.} Qxe2 28. Rxe2 Rd1+ {A blunder. The French GM tries to avoid the gloomy endgame after:} (28... Nxe4 29. Rxe4 Rdc6 30. Ka2 Rc4 31. Re7 R4c7 32. Rxc7 Rxc7 33. Kb3 {when if White can put the bishop on d4 and the pawn on c3, he is technically winning (Vachier). But the move in the game leads to a quick disaster.}) 29. Ka2 Re8 30. Bf3 Rxe2 31. Bxe2 Rc1 32. Bf3 Rxc2 33. Bxb7 $1 {Black resigned, not waiting to see the line:} (33. Bxb7 Nxb7 34. a6 Re2 35. axb7 Re8 36. Be5) 1-0 [Event "8th London Classic 2016"] [Site "London ENG"] [Date "2016.12.10"] [Round "2"] [White "Topalov, Veselin"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C02"] [WhiteElo "2760"] [BlackElo "2823"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "76"] [EventDate "2016.12.07"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Be2 Nge7 7. h4 Qb6 8. Na3 cxd4 9. cxd4 Nb4 10. h5 h6 11. Bd2 a6 12. Bc3 Nec6 13. Rh3 O-O-O 14. Kf1 Kb8 15. Qd2 f6 16. exf6 gxf6 17. Rg3 Be8 18. Nh4 Bd6 19. Rg7 e5 20. dxe5 fxe5 21. Ng6 Bxg6 22. hxg6 e4 23. Rf7 Rhg8 24. g7 Ka7 25. Qxh6 Nd3 26. Bxd3 exd3 27. Re1 Bc5 28. Re6 Rc8 29. Qg5 Bd4 30. Re1 Bxc3 (30... Rxg7 $3 {This beautiful move would be almost impossible to see in time trouble. It's much better for Caruana, but the game is not over.} 31. Bxd4 (31. Rxg7 $2 Rh8 {the point! Black threatens ...Rh1#} 32. g3 Bxc3 33. bxc3 Rh1+ 34. Kg2 Rxe1 {wins.}) 31... Rxg5 32. Bxb6+ Kxb6 {is much better for Black who is better coordinated and has strong d-pawns.}) 31. bxc3 Qb2 32. Nb1 Rce8 33. Qd2 Rxe1+ 34. Qxe1 d4 35. Nd2 $4 {Topalov must have missed 36...Re8!} dxc3 36. Nc4 Re8 $1 {After anything else, it is White who is winning with Qe3+, but this shot wins prettily for Black.} 37. Rxb7+ (37. Qxe8 Qc1+ 38. Qe1 d2 {Both sides can have new queens, but Black's arrives with greedy ideas of mate and carnage.}) (37. Nxb2 Rxe1+ 38. Kxe1 cxb2 39. g8=Q b1=Q+ 40. Kd2 Qc2+ 41. Ke3 Qe2+ 42. Kf4 Qxf2+ 43. Ke4 Qd4+ 44. Kf5 d2 {Black will promote the third queen in the last ten moves.}) 37... Qxb7 38. Qxe8 Qb1+ {Topalov resigned. If 39.Qe1 c2 40.g8=Q, the new queen is defeated by 40...Qxe1+ 41.Kxe1 c1=Q#} 0-1 [Event "London Chess Classic 2016"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.12.10"] [Round "2.4"] [White "Topalov, Veselin"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C02"] [WhiteElo "2760"] [BlackElo "2823"] [Annotator "Aditya Mittal"] [PlyCount "76"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:00:22"] [BlackClock "0:01:49"] 1. e4 {Aah! 9.30 pm, I opened my laptop, not wanting to miss a move. But aah! The game has started at 7.30! Wooosh!} e6 {The French defense, not the most popular opening these days.} 2. d4 d5 3. e5 {Bit of a surprise already. 2012 was the last time Veselin played this.} c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Be2 Nge7 7. h4 $5 {Signifying his intentions!} Qb6 8. Na3 $6 {I don't like to give this a dubious mark, but it seriously helped Fabiano!} cxd4 9. cxd4 Nb4 10. h5 { Okay, in simple words, he is going 'BOOM'} h6 (10... Rc8 {might be a good move. } 11. Kf1 (11. Bd2 Nf5 $1 $13) 11... Nf5 12. g4 Nh6 13. Bxh6 gxh6 {with a very very doubled edge position.}) 11. Bd2 a6 {Kind of a waiting move.} 12. Bc3 Nec6 13. Rh3 $5 {There! Veselin stays true to his style, and he is ready to burn all bridges.} O-O-O $1 {What a move! Black does 0-0-0!!!! Fabiano isn't shying away from the fight.} 14. Kf1 {Of course, the king is more safer here.} (14. Nc2 {could also be considered.} Nxc2+ 15. Qxc2 $13) 14... Kb8 15. Qd2 $6 { Now Fabiano comes! He shows why he is 2823!} f6 $1 16. exf6 gxf6 17. Rg3 Be8 18. Nh4 $1 {Both the players are playing like 'Blast of Mars'} Bd6 (18... e5 $1 {was the best.} 19. Ng6 Bxg6 20. hxg6 Rg8 21. dxe5 fxe5 {Black has the initiative.}) 19. Rg7 e5 20. dxe5 fxe5 21. Ng6 Bxg6 22. hxg6 e4 $6 {A move very hard to understand and especially its continuation.} (22... Rhf8 $1 23. Rf7 Rxf7 24. gxf7 Qc7 25. Bh5 Qe7 $1 $15) 23. Rf7 Rhg8 $6 (23... Rhf8 $1 { was called for. Fabiano starts to drift because of time trouble.} 24. Qxh6 Bc5 $13) 24. g7 Ka7 $1 {Brilliant move!} 25. Qxh6 Nd3 $2 {Now White is almost winning.} (25... Bc5 $1 {was definitely a computer move! If the obvious} 26. Qg6 Rd6 $1 27. Qh7 Ne7 $1 {Now Black is winning. Wow!}) 26. Bxd3 exd3 27. Re1 Bc5 $2 {And now he is clearly winning.} (27... d2 $1 28. Bxd2 Qxb2 29. Rb1 Qxa3 30. Rfxb7+ Ka8 31. Kg1 $1 {is winning according to the engines but messy.}) 28. Re6 $2 {A crucial moment. From here on Veselin loses the thread.} Rc8 $1 29. Qg5 $2 {Now. Fabiano has a chance!} (29. Qf6 $1 {was better.}) 29... Bd4 (29... Bxa3 $3 30. bxa3 Qb5 31. a4 Qc4 $1 $17) 30. Re1 $2 {Veselin is making mistake every move!} Bxc3 (30... Rxg7 $3 {was the brilliancy.} 31. Rxg7 Rh8 $19 { And as unbelievable as it may seem, there is just no way to stop mate.}) 31. bxc3 Qb2 32. Nb1 $6 {Veselin became nervous here, Fabiano playing at full speed!} (32. Qc1 $1 Qxc1 33. Rxc1 d4 34. c4 $14) 32... Rce8 $1 33. Qd2 (33. Rxe8 Rxe8 {with mate threat.}) 33... Rxe1+ $1 34. Qxe1 d4 $1 {White is already feeling the heat and Veselin makes the final mistake.} 35. Nd2 $4 (35. cxd4 Qb5 36. Kg1 Qd5 $13 {is unclear.}) 35... dxc3 $1 36. Nc4 Re8 $3 {What a piece of calculation!} 37. Rxb7+ (37. Qxe8 Qb1+ 38. Qe1 c2 $19) 37... Qxb7 38. Qxe8 Qb1+ 0-1 [Event "London"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.10"] [Round "2"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Adams, Michael"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E05"] [WhiteElo "2794"] [BlackElo "2748"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [TimeControl "40/7200:3600+30"] 1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} e6 {[%emt 0: 00:04]} 3. g3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 4. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Be7 {64} 5. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:05]} 6. O-O {[%emt 0:00:05]} dxc4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 7. Qc2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 8. a4 {[%emt 0:00: 05]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:32]} 9. Qxc4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Bc6 {[%emt 0:00:30]} 10. Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} a5 {180} 11. Nc3 {177} Ra6 {227} 12. Qd3 {141} Rb6 {172} 13. Qc2 {[%emt 0:00:14]} h6 {95} 14. Bd2 {465} Bb4 {1230} 15. Rfe1 {600} Bxf3 {157} 16. Bxf3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 17. e3 {161} e5 {136} 18. Bxc6 { 623} exd4 {86} 19. Bf3 {[%emt 0:00:52]} dxc3 {[%emt 0:00:43]} 20. bxc3 { [%emt 0:00:30]} Bc5 {190} 21. Rab1 {1730} Rd6 {250} 22. Red1 {252} b6 {90} 23. c4 {[%emt 0:00:19]} Qe7 {266} 24. Bc3 {87} Rfd8 {[%emt 0:00:43]} 25. Bb2 {357} Qe6 {857} 26. Rxd6 {123} Rxd6 {[%emt 0:00:58]} 27. Rd1 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Rxd1+ { 411} 28. Qxd1 {4 White has a slight edge because of the bishop pair. But it is nothing substantial. Wesley manages to build up his position steadily.} Bd6 {70 } (28... Qxc4 29. Bxf6 gxf6 30. Bd5 $16) 29. Qd4 {792} Qe8 {175} 30. Bd1 {67} Qc6 {614} 31. Bc2 {132 The bishop is well placed on this diagonal.} Kf8 { [%emt 0:00:40]} 32. e4 {293} Bc5 {874} 33. Qd8+ {[%emt 0:00:04]} Ne8 {[%emt 0: 00:04]} 34. Qd5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Qg6 {[%emt 0:00:13]} (34... Qxd5 35. cxd5 $16 {is surely an improvement for White.}) 35. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:45]} Ke7 {274} 36. f4 {133} c6 {80} 37. Qd3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Nc7 $2 {147 The crucial mistake of the game.} (37... Qd6 {was better although White is better here as well.}) 38. f5 $1 {93} Qg5 {136} (38... Qh7 {is relatively the best but with such a passive queen things are not going to work out.}) 39. Be5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Ne6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} (39... Ne8 40. Bf4 Qf6 41. e5 {The queen is trapped.}) 40. fxe6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} (40. fxe6 Qxe5 41. Qd7+ Kf6 42. Qxf7+ Kg5 43. h4+ Kg4 44. Bd1#) 1-0 [Event "London"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.10"] [Round "2"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2779"] [BlackElo "2804"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [TimeControl "40/7200:3600+30"] {Rewind one year: The date was 11th December 2015. Vishy Anand had the white pieces against MVL at the London Chess Classic. The players went for a Najdorf and Anand lost. Fast forward to the present day and Vishy takes his revenge against the same opponent, in the same opening!} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} c5 { [%emt 0:00:04]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 3. d4 {[%emt 0:00: 07]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 4. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 5. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} a6 {3 The Najdorf has become synonymous with MVL at top level chess. While everyone toys around with the Berlin, the Frenchman makes a living out of the Najdorf!} 6. h3 {7 This move surged into popularity when Bobby Fischer played it against Miguel Najdorf at the Varna Olympiad in 1962.} e5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 7. Nb3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} (7. Nde2 {is the most popular move, but Anand has some new ideas in Nb3.}) 7... Be6 {[%emt 0:00:24]} 8. f4 { [%emt 0:00:24]} Nbd7 {213} 9. g4 {157 Anand is following the game Khismatullin-Duda.} Rc8 {237 Four minutes for this move. MVL would have been trying to remember his analysis, but most probably he was already out of his preparation.} (9... exf4 {looks normal, but after} 10. g5 $1 (10. Bxf4 $2 Nh5 $1 {An excellent move that gives Black the advantage.} 11. gxh5 Qh4+ $19) 10... Ng8 11. Bxf4 $14) 10. f5 {101} Bxb3 {111} 11. axb3 {[%emt 0:00:09]} d5 $5 { 374 A pawn sacrifice similar to the Vaganian Gambit in the Queen's pawn opening. Black would like to play around the d-pawn by developing his bishop to c5 or b4.} (11... Rxc3 {is, of course, a key resource in this position. After the game when Maurice Ashley asked Anand whether he had seen this in his prep, the Indian replied, Let's put it this way that I was not unaware about this possibility.} 12. bxc3 Nxe4 {Black's position looks promising. The only problem is that Anand has looked at this position at home while MVL has not. And this is a big turn off for Black to venture into this terra incognita.} 13. h4 Qb6 14. Qf3 d5 $44 {with compensation. The game is double edged and all results are possible.}) 12. exd5 {[%emt 0:00:44]} Bb4 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 13. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Qb6 {289} 14. Bd2 {360} e4 {635} 15. Qe2 {169} O-O {16 Anand mentioned that this position is surely very nice for Black, he is well developed, but he is a pawn down and to recover the pawn, he will have to invest time which makes things not so simple.} 16. O-O-O {188} Nc5 {96} 17. Kb1 {401} Rfd8 {1026} 18. Rhe1 {623} a5 {1071} (18... Nxd5 19. Nxd5 Rxd5 20. Be3 Rxd1+ 21. Rxd1 $18 {Black is badly pinned and moves like c3 will soon end the game.}) (18... Bxc3 19. Bxc3 Nxd5 20. Bd4 Nf4 21. Qf2 Nxg2 22. Qxg2 $16 { is not a fun position for Black as most certainly the e4 pawn will fall in the near future.}) 19. Qf2 {854} (19. Nxe4 $5 {was winning this pawn not possible?} Nfxe4 (19... Ncxe4 20. Bxe4 Re8 21. Qd3 $16 {White is now two pawns up and has no real problems.}) 20. Bxe4 Re8 21. Qc4 $1 Bxd2 (21... Nxe4 22. Rxe4 $18) 22. Rxd2 a4 $1 23. bxa4 h6 $5 {What a position! Black is three pawns down and makes the move ...h6!? Well, White has no real good way to play against Nxe4 threat.} 24. Rd4 Nb3 $1 25. Qxb3 Qxd4 $13) (19. d6 $5 Rxd6 20. g5 Bxc3 21. Bxc3 Nd5 22. Be5 Rdd8 23. Bxe4 $16) 19... Qc7 $5 {1104 A smart move by Maxime. He wants to lure the bishop away from d2, so that a5-a4 becomes possible.} (19... a4 $2 20. Nxa4 Nxa4 21. Qxb6 Nxb6 22. Bxb4 $18) 20. Bf4 {1283} Qb6 {158} 21. Be5 {220 The bishop has moved to a good diagonal where it is god for both offence and defence. However, Now Black gets in a5-a4 which is going to be very strong.} (21. Nxe4 $5 {was another nice move at Anand's disposal.} Bxe1 ( 21... Nfxe4 22. Rxe4 $18) 22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. Qxe1 $18) 21... a4 {87} 22. bxa4 ( 22. Nxa4 Nxa4 23. Qxb6 Nxb6 24. c3 Bd6 25. Bxf6 gxf6 26. Rxe4 Kf8 $17) 22... Bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:46]} 23. Bxc3 {466} Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 24. Rxd5 $5 { A very interesting exchange sacrifice. By now Anand's exchange sacrifices on d5 have become well known tales in chess circles. This one however is not crushing. However, with this move, the attack on the white king ends and practically it was a very good decision.} (24. Bd4 Qb4 {is not really working in White's favour any more.} 25. Qg3 Qxa4 26. Qa3 Qxa3 27. bxa3 Na4 {Black should be able to hold this.}) 24... Rxd5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 25. Bxe4 {459} Rd6 { 247} 26. a5 {183} Qb5 {342} 27. Qe2 $1 {103 The queens have to be exchanged. Anand was happy that after the queen exchange, he doesn't have any chances to lose.} Qxe2 {202} 28. Rxe2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Rd1+ {[%emt 0:00:54]} (28... Re8 29. Bf3 Rxe2 30. Bxe2 $14 {Even this endgame is pleasant for White. Objectively it might be equal. However, White has many chances because the b7 pawn is weak.}) 29. Ka2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Re8 $2 {6 A bad mistake by MVL. Not characteristic of him, but of course such things keep happening in chess all the time. Besides ...Re8 looks like a very natural move.} 30. Bf3 {[%emt 0:00: 10]} Rxe2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 31. Bxe2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Rc1 {[%emt 0:00:07]} ( 31... Rd7 32. Bf3 $18 {b4-Kb3 and gradual improvement of the position is coming up. White is just better.}) 32. Bf3 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Rxc2 {[%emt 0:00: 51]} 33. Bxb7 $1 {113 A very common theme in chess. The knight on b7 cannot stop the a6 pawn from queening.} (33. Bxb7 Nxb7 34. a6 Re2 35. axb7 Re8 36. Be5 $18) 1-0 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.12.11"] [Round "3.3"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D38"] [WhiteElo "2779"] [BlackElo "2779"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "85"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [WhiteClock "1:04:41"] [BlackClock "1:01:34"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Bb4 7. e3 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Ne4 10. Nd2 Nxg3 11. hxg3 c6 12. a3 {Nakamura deviates from an earlier game by Anand:} ({Relevant:} 12. Qc2 Kf8 13. Bd3 Kg7 14. O-O-O Nf6 15. Nf3 Ng4 16. Kb1 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Qe7 18. Rhe1 f5 19. Re2 Rf8 20. Qb2 a5 21. Ne1 b5 22. Bc2 b4 23. cxb4 axb4 24. Bb3 Nf6 25. Rc2 Ne4 26. Nd3 Nc3+ 27. Rxc3 bxc3 28. Qxc3 Ba6 29. Qc5 Bxd3+ 30. Rxd3 Qxc5 31. dxc5 Ra5 32. Rc3 f4 33. gxf4 gxf4 34. exf4 Rxf4 35. f3 Kf6 36. g3 Rf5 37. f4 Rh5 38. a4 Rh2 39. Bc2 h5 40. Kc1 Ra8 41. Re3 Ra5 {Carlsen,M (2855)-Anand,V (2770) Leuven 2016 1/2-1/2}) 12... Ba5 13. Bd3 Kf8 14. Qc2 Nf6 15. O-O-O Kg7 {Previously this move was played only after the preliminary} (15... Ng4 16. Rdf1 Kg7 17. Kb1 Bb6 18. Nb3 a5 19. Nd1 Qe7 20. Nd2 Nf6 21. Nc3 Bd7 22. Na4 Bc7 23. Nc5 Bc8 24. Re1 b6 25. Na4 Bd7 26. f4 Rae8 27. Ka1 Ng4 28. Nf3 Nxe3 29. Qf2 gxf4 30. gxf4 Ng4 31. Qg3 Qd8 32. Ne5 h5 33. Bc2 Rh6 34. Qc3 Qc8 35. f5 Bxf5 36. Bxf5 Qxf5 37. Rhf1 Rxe5 38. Rxf5 Rxf5 39. Re8 Rf2 40. Qh3 Bf4 41. Ka2 Bc1 {1/2-1/2 (41) Dothan,Y (2603)-Ravnik, I (2441) ICCF email 2012}) 16. Kb1 Be6 17. Nb3 Bb6 18. f4 Bg4 19. Rde1 Qd6 { The position should be around equal, but it is much easier to play it as White. Black is deprived of any active counterplay, and Nakamura can try to open the center and reach the black king.} 20. Rhf1 (20. Nd2 $5 {with the idea to send the knight to e5 was another promising plan.}) 20... Rae8 21. Nc5 Re7 {The pawn is poisoned:} (21... Bxc5 22. dxc5 Qxc5 $6 23. fxg5 hxg5 $2 24. Rxf6 Kxf6 25. Ne4+) 22. Qd2 $6 {A blunder. White saw that after:} (22. Qc1 Bxc5 23. dxc5 Qxc5 24. fxg5 {There is the defense} Ne4 (24... hxg5 $1 25. Rxf6 d4 $1 26. exd4 Rxe1 27. Qxe1 Qxd4 28. Qe4 Rd8 $3) 25. Bxe4 dxe4 26. Rf4 Qxg5 {when Black is fine.}) ({Nakamura did not find anything convincing in the lines after:} 22. fxg5 hxg5 23. e4 dxe4 (23... Qxg3 $5) 24. N3xe4 Nxe4 25. Rxe4 ({Black is good in case of} 25. Nxe4 Qxd4 26. Nxg5 Rxe1+ 27. Rxe1 Qc5 $1) 25... Rxe4 26. Nxe4 Qxd4 27. Nxg5 Bh5 $1) 22... Rhe8 $6 {A blunder in return. After} (22... Bxc5 $1 23. dxc5 Qxc5 24. fxg5 Ne4 {is not that convincing due to} ({But Anand could have taken the pawn} 24... hxg5 $1 {as there is no capture on f6.}) 25. Bxe4 dxe4 26. Rf4 Qxg5 27. Qd4+ {with a strong initiative for White.}) 23. fxg5 hxg5 24. e4 Nxe4 25. N5xe4 $6 {A second blunder. Correct was} (25. N3xe4 {when in the line} dxe4 26. Rxe4 Bh5 27. Qxg5+ Qg6 28. Qxe7 $1 Rxe7 29. Rxe7 {The bishop on d3 is defended, and White has a serious edge.}) 25... dxe4 26. Rxe4 Rxe4 $6 {Anands errs in return for the second time! Very untypical for the former world champion. After} (26... Bh5 $1 {the game would be still unclear since} 27. Qxg5+ Qg6 28. Qxe7 $2 {does not work anymore ...} Rxe7 29. Rxe7 Qxd3+) 27. Nxe4 Qg6 28. Nf6 {White wins material and with neat and energetic play converts it into a win.} Qxf6 29. Rxf6 Kxf6 30. Qc3 $1 Bd7 31. d5+ Re5 32. Be4 $1 g4 (32... cxd5 33. Bxd5) 33. dxc6 bxc6 34. Bxc6 Bxc6 35. Qxc6+ Kg5 36. Qd7 Re3 37. Qxf7 Rxg3 38. Qd5+ Kh4 39. a4 $1 Bf2 40. Qd8+ Kh5 41. Qe8+ Kg5 42. Qe5+ Kg6 43. Qf4 {Black resigned because of the forks.} (43. Qf4 Rxg2 (43... Be1 44. Qe4+) 44. Qe4+) 1-0 [Event "8th London Classic 2016"] [Site "London ENG"] [Date "2016.12.11"] [Round "3"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A34"] [WhiteElo "2785"] [BlackElo "2794"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2016.12.07"] 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nb4 6. Bc4 Nd3+ 7. Ke2 Nf4+ 8. Kf1 Nd3 9. Qe2 Nxc1 10. Rxc1 e6 11. h4 a6 12. e5 Nc6 13. Rh3 b5 14. Bd3 Bb7 15. Be4 Qd7 16. Rg3 g6 17. Kg1 Be7 18. Qe3 O-O-O 19. Rg4 Kb8 20. Rf4 Rhf8 21. a4 b4 22. Bxc6 Bxc6 23. Ne4 Bxe4 24. Rxe4 a5 (24... Qd3 $4 {This would be an easy trap to fall into.} 25. Rxb4+ $1 {whoops!} cxb4 26. Qb6+ Ka8 27. Rc7 {and mates.}) 25. Rec4 Qxa4 26. d4 Rd5 27. dxc5 Qc6 28. Nd4 Qc7 29. Qf3 Rfd8 30. Nb5 Qxe5 31. c6 Rc8 32. Qxf7 (32. c7+ $1 {This was the best solution, but it's still not clearly decisive according to the engine. So's defense is quite tenacious.} Kb7 33. Nd4 Bd6 34. Nc6 Qh2+ 35. Kf1 Ka6 $1 {Black's king is horribly, horribly positioned, and one would think that Aronian would have great winnnig chances, but there is no clear win.}) 32... Qf6 33. Rf4 Qxf7 34. Rxf7 Rxb5 35. Rxe7 {The rook on the seventh looks good, but the position is actually completely equal. e6 and c6 will be exchanged.} Rc7 36. Rxe6 Ka7 37. Kf1 {...Kb6 and ...Rc5 is on the way so the players agreed a draw.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "8th London Classic 2016"] [Site "London ENG"] [Date "2016.12.11"] [Round "3"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Topalov, Veselin"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2804"] [BlackElo "2760"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "2016.12.07"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nf5 8. Nf3 O-O 9. d4 d5 10. g3 Re8 11. Nc3 Be6 12. Ne2 g5 13. h3 h6 14. Bg2 Ng7 15. Ne5 f6 16. Nxc6 (16. Ng4 $1 {This was a very promising option. Black's light squares on the knigside can be quite problematic in these lines.} Bxg4 $2 17. hxg4 {Black's structure on the knigside is like swiss cheese here.}) 16... bxc6 17. c4 Qd7 18. Kh2 Bb4 19. Bd2 Bxd2 20. Qxd2 dxc4 21. Nc3 Bd5 22. Ne4 Qf7 23. Qa5 f5 24. Nc3 Bxg2 25. Kxg2 f4 $1 {The white king should be quite fearful.} 26. Qc5 fxg3 27. fxg3 Rxe1 28. Rxe1 Rf8 29. d5 Nh5 (29... Qf3+ $1 {Topalov considered these lines, but he completely overestimated Vachier-Lagrave's resources.} 30. Kh2 Nf5 31. Rg1 Rb8 32. b3 {This was one line Topalov looked at, but he just missed ...} Qxc3) 30. Rg1 cxd5 $2 {Now the queens leave the board, and Vachier-Lagrave can breathe a sigh of relief.} (30... Qf5 $1 { This was still promising.}) 31. Qxd5 Qxd5+ 32. Nxd5 Rd8 33. Rd1 Kg7 34. Kf3 c6 35. Ne3 Rd3 36. Rxd3 cxd3 37. Nf1 Kf6 38. Ke3 Ke5 39. Kxd3 Nf6 40. Ne3 h5 41. Nc4+ Kd5 42. Ne3+ Ke5 43. Nc4+ Kd5 44. Ne3+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "8th London Chess Classic 2016"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.11"] [Round "3"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D38"] [WhiteElo "2779"] [BlackElo "2779"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "85"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [TimeControl "40/7200:3600+30"] {Chess players don't really care for each others birthday! Wesley So defeated Nakamura on his birthday and the Naka made sure that he spoiled Anand's party! } 1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:14]} e6 { [%emt 0:00:07]} 3. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:19]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 4. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00: 07]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:00:09][%cal Gb8d7] As we already know well now, this is Anand's favoured way of meeting the Queen's Gambit since Candidates 2016. He keeps flexibility with the square on which the bishop on f8 is going to.} 5. cxd5 {[%emt 0:00:27]} exd5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 6. Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Bb4 { [%emt 0:00:16] Now we have transposed into a popular line of the Ragozin.} 7. e3 {[%emt 0:00:33]} h6 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 8. Bh4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} g5 {[%emt 0:00: 07]} 9. Bg3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Ne4 {[%emt 0:00:07] Anand has already played this against Carlsen at the Leuven blitz in June 2016.} 10. Nd2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Nxg3 {[%emt 0:00:24]} (10... Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bxc3 12. Rc1 Ba5 13. h4 g4 14. Bd3 $44 {White has excellent compensation.}) 11. hxg3 {[%emt 0:00:25]} c6 {[%emt 0: 00:08]} 12. a3 {[%emt 0:00:07] That's the first new move of the game a novelty by Nakamura.} (12. Qc2 Kf8 13. Bd3 Kg7 14. O-O-O Nf6 15. Nf3 Ng4 16. Kb1 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Qe7 18. Rhe1 f5 $11 {Black had a fine position in Carlsen,M (2855) -Anand,V (2770) Leuven 2016 ½-½ (57)}) 12... Ba5 {[%emt 0:00:29]} 13. Bd3 { [%emt 0:00:11]} Kf8 $5 {[%emt 0:00:31][%cal Ge8f8,Gf8g7] A very typical idea in this line. The king will be well placed on g7 and the rook has to remain on h8. So castling by hand is a must.} 14. Qc2 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00: 58]} 15. O-O-O {[%emt 0:00:14]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:01:17] Overall this is quite an acceptable position for Black out of the opening. But Nakamura's preparation involved the fact that he would like to take his opponent in a fresh, unknown position.} 16. Kb1 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Be6 {[%emt 0:06:54]} 17. Nb3 {[%emt 0:04: 02] The first move where Nakamura spent some time.} Bb6 {[%emt 0:07:15]} (17... Bxc3 18. Qxc3 $14) 18. f4 {[%emt 0:13:42] I like this move for the simple reason that the pawn on g5 is over extended and it must be used as a hook. f4 is a fine move.} Bg4 {[%emt 0:09:06]} 19. Rde1 {[%emt 0:21:24]} (19. Rdf1 Qe7 { And White has to defend his e-pawn in some way.}) 19... Qd6 {[%emt 0:13:53]} 20. Rhf1 {[%emt 0:22:20]} (20. Bf5 Rae8 {seems fine for Black.}) 20... Rae8 { [%emt 0:06:40] Overall Anand has played the opening quite well. Now Nakamura has to decide how is he going to breakthrough. White has many plans here - Bf5 can be one, Qf2 is another and an interesting one is putting the knight on a4 to c5.} 21. Nc5 $5 {[%emt 0:19:00] But Nakamura puts his knight on c5 straight away! Doesn't this just lose a pawn? Well you must always check the tactics!} Re7 {[%emt 0:09:46]} (21... Bxc5 22. dxc5 Qxc5 $2 23. fxg5 $1 hxg5 $4 24. Rxf6 $1 Kxf6 25. Ne4+ $18 {loses the queen.}) 22. Qd2 $2 {[%emt 0:01:55][%cal Gc2d2, Rb6c5,Rh8e8] Now what is the point? Isn't the c5 pawn hanging here?} (22. Qc1 $14 {was Nakamura's idea and then he thought why not Qd2. He had forgotten that c5 was hanging.}) 22... Rhe8 $2 {[%emt 0:21:47] Why didn't Vishy pick up the pawn on c5? That too after 22 minutes of thought.} (22... Bxc5 $1 23. dxc5 (23. fxg5 hxg5 24. e4 $2 Bxd4 $19) 23... Qxc5 24. fxg5 hxg5 25. e4 {This looks extremely scarey as the g5 pawn is en prise, but the queen on c5 can defend it after} dxe4 $1 26. Nxe4 Nxe4 27. Bxe4 Rhe8 $17 {And Black has absolutely no problems.}) 23. fxg5 {[%emt 0:01:43]} hxg5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 24. e4 {[%emt 0:02: 04] Now there are real problems with the g5 pawn.} Nxe4 {[%emt 0:00:16]} (24... Nh5 $5 25. e5 (25. Qxg5+ $2 Qg6 $17 {surprisingly this is clearly better for Black.} 26. Qxg6+ fxg6 27. e5 Bxc5 28. dxc5 Rxe5 $19)) 25. N5xe4 {[%emt 0:03: 40]} (25. N3xe4 $1 {It was much better to take with this knight. The exchange of one pair of rooks would have been to White's advantage.} dxe4 26. Rxe4 (26. Qxg5+ $2 Qg6 $17) 26... Rxe4 27. Nxe4 Qxd4 (27... Qg6 28. Nf6 $1 $16) 28. Qxg5+ Kf8 29. Qh6+ Qg7 30. Qd6+ Re7 31. Nf6 $18) 25... dxe4 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 26. Rxe4 {[%emt 0:00:04][%cal Gg4h5,Re7e4]} Rxe4 $2 {[%emt 0:11:10] Vishy makes sure that the game transposes into the variation that we just looked at. It was possible to not take the rook on e4.} (26... Bh5 $1 27. Qxg5+ (27. Rxe7 Qxe7 $17) 27... Qg6 $11 (27... Bg6 28. Rh4 $18)) 27. Nxe4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Qg6 { [%emt 0:04:51]} 28. Nf6 {[%emt 0:06:38][%cal Ge4f6] Black has to give up his queen.} Qxf6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 29. Rxf6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Kxf6 {[%emt 0:00:07] The rest of the game is sheer torture. Anand is good at setting up fortresses, but here it is just impossible.} 30. Qc3 {[%emt 0:00:41]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:08:44]} 31. d5+ {[%emt 0:00:39]} Re5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 32. Be4 {[%emt 0:00:15]} g4 { [%emt 0:05:08]} 33. dxc6 {[%emt 0:03:14]} bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 34. Bxc6 { [%emt 0:00:36]} Bxc6 {[%emt 0:01:33]} 35. Qxc6+ {[%emt 0:00:07]} Kg5 {[%emt 0: 00:11]} 36. Qd7 {[%emt 0:07:36]} Re3 {[%emt 0:01:41]} 37. Qxf7 {[%emt 0:03:11]} Rxg3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 38. Qd5+ {[%emt 0:00:42]} Kh4 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 39. a4 { [%emt 0:00:07]} Bf2 {[%emt 0:00:58]} 40. Qd8+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kh5 {[%emt 0:00: 08]} 41. Qe8+ {[%emt 0:02:25]} Kg5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 42. Qe5+ {[%emt 0:00:07]} Kg6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 43. Qf4 {[%emt 0:00:07] I wouldn't call this is a great win for Nakamura as he made quite a few mistakes. But Vishy was just completely out of sorts and didn't take any advantage of the mistakes made by his opponent.} (43. Qf4 Be1 44. Qe4+ $18) 1-0 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.12.11"] [Round "?"] [White "Aronian, L."] [Black "So, W."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] {Notes by Mihal Krasenkow - The most important game of the 3rd round: the first sole leader of the tournament meets one of his chasers.} 1. c4 {This move was not a surprise for Wesley: Levon plays the English Opening quite often. Therefore the American had an opportunity to prepare something his opponent didn't expect.} c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 {So had never played this system before; Aronian replied to it in various ways but his most recent choice (against Topalov in the same tournament exactly one year ago, on December, 11!) was probably well-considered and prepared since he repeats it in the present game.} 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nb4 6. Bc4 (6. Bb5+ {is a deeply-explored alternative.}) 6... Nd3+ ({In old times (mostly in the 70s)} 6... Be6 {was extremely popular. After} 7. Bxe6 Nd3+ 8. Kf1 fxe6 9. Ng5 { Tal's novelty} Qb6 $5 {, which helped him to beat Polugaevsky in their famous game played in the Riga Interzonal (1979), became a frequent topic of small talks in chess salons :-). However, it turned out that} 10. Qf3 c4 11. b3 $1 { put Black's concept under doubt. Therefore most of Black players came back to the knight check, which was first seen in practice in the 20s and 30s of the last century.}) 7. Ke2 Nf4+ {The move made by Wesley is more solid, of course.} (7... Nxc1+ 8. Rxc1 a6 (8... Nc6 9. Bb5 $14) 9. d4 b5 $5 10. Bd5 Ra7 {looks bizarre due to White's huge development advantage but in fact, it is not easy to exploit it since Black's position is quite solid.} 11. Ne5 e6 12. Bc6+ Ke7 13. Qd2 $1 f6 $1 14. Nd5+ $1 exd5 15. Rxc5 dxe4 {led to tremendous complications in the game Jakovenko-Sutovsky (Poikovsky 2016) , which Black finally won but White could have attacked more successfully.}) 8. Kf1 Nd3 { The text move is quite a recent attempt to avoid the main theory. Black offers a repetition of moves (which was an occasion for some players to make a quick draw in recent years), and in case of} (8... Ne6 {is the line with which Korchnoi won the decisive game of his Candidates match against Polugaevsky in 1980. It was also played in the above-mentioned game Aronian-Topalov:} 9. b4 cxb4 10. Nd5 g6 11. d4 Bg7 12. Be3 Nc6 13. Rc1 Bd7 14. Qd2 Qa5 15. h4 $1 { White is a pawn down but the initiative belongs to him. The Armenian GM finally won that game.}) 9. Qe2 Nxc1 10. Rxc1 e6 {White can't easily play d2-d4. Still, White's big development advantage causes some doubts about the correctness of Black's idea.} 11. h4 {A logical way to develop the h1 rook. Short castling will now be dangerous for Black so he usually prepares long castling.} a6 {Black wants to develop his bishop to b7 (after ...b7-b5). The drawback of this plan is that it weakens his queenside too much. Particularly, White will be able to undermine Black's pawns by means of a2-a4!} ({The other way of development is} 11... Nc6 {with idea ...Bc8-d7, e.g.} 12. e5 Bd7 13. Rh3 Qb6 {followed by ... 0-0-0 (Jakovenko-Vidit,Gibraltar 2016). It looks quite passive to me but the young Indian GM held his ground.}) 12. e5 Nc6 13. Rh3 ({ In the game Sutovsky-Nepomniachtchi (Poikovsky 2016) White managed to weaken Black's position and obtain an edge after} 13. h5 h6 14. Rh3 b5 15. Bd3 Bb7 16. Be4 Qb6 17. a4 $1 b4 18. Nb1 O-O-O 19. d3) ({Perhaps Levon was not sure about something like} 13. h5 Nd4 $5 {; otherwise, the insertion of h4-h5 h7-h6 looks quite pleasant for White.}) 13... b5 14. Bd3 Bb7 15. Be4 Qd7 {Both players put their pieces to the most appropriate positions (as you see, Wesley, unlike Ian, prefers the d7 square for his queen). White must find an active plan.} 16. Rg3 g6 ({Ups! It turns out that it is not easy for Black to castle now: if} 16... O-O-O {then} 17. d4 $1 {(threatening an unpleasant break d4-d5), and to} cxd4 $2 18. Nxb5 $1 $18 {(the drawback of the position of Black's queen on d7, and not on b6). Therefore, his king must remain in the centre at the moment.}) 17. Kg1 ({In case of} 17. h5 O-O-O {is possible already:} 18. d4 Bh6 $1 {, and} 19. Rc2 cxd4 20. Nxb5 {doesn't work due to} d3 $1) (17. Qe3 $5 Be7 (17... O-O-O 18. a4) 18. h5 $5 {looks more aggressive than the text move. In any case long castling can be met with a2-a4!}) 17... Be7 (17... Bh6 {was possible here, too. So develops his bishop to a less active position, and White keeps initiative.}) 18. Qe3 O-O-O 19. Rg4 {Before playing a2-a4, Aronian activates his rook.} Kb8 20. Rf4 Rhf8 21. a4 b4 {Of course, this move, weakening the c4 square and the c5 pawn, is a big concession but it is not easy to suggest a good alternative.} ({Perhaps} 21... Nb4 {but Black's position is quite unpleasant after} 22. axb5 axb5 23. Bxb7 Qxb7 24. d4 $1 {, and if} c4 {then} 25. Rb1 $1 {threatening b2-b3.}) (21... Nd4 {is much worse:} 22. Bxb7 Kxb7 23. axb5 axb5 24. Nxd4 cxd4 25. Qf3+ Kb8 26. Ne4 {threatening 27.Rxf7 while the defenses of Black's king are in ruins.}) 22. Bxc6 $1 Bxc6 23. Ne4 Bxe4 {The only move, alas, further weakening light squares.} 24. Rxe4 a5 ({If} 24... Qxa4 {then} 25. Rxc5 $1 { , and Black can't accept the exchange sacrifice as White's attack after} Bxc5 26. Qxc5 {will be killing.}) 25. Rec4 (25. d4 Qxa4 26. b3 Qc6 27. dxc5 Rd5 { leads to a position more or less similar to what happened in the game.}) 25... Qxa4 (25... Qd3 {(to prevent d2-d4) could be met with the same exchange sacrifice as we have seen above:} 26. Rxc5 $1 (26. Qh6 Rh8 {is rather harmless} ) 26... Bxc5 27. Qxc5 Qa6 28. Qc7+ Ka8 29. Rc5 ({but not} 29. Rc6 $2 Qa7) 29... Rc8 30. Qxa5 Qxa5 31. Rxa5+ Kb7 32. Rb5+ Ka6 33. Rxb4 {. With three pawns for an exchange White keeps decent winning chances.}) 26. d4 Rd5 $1 ({not} 26... cxd4 $4 27. Nxd4 {, of course.}) 27. dxc5 Qc6 {Black's king is still unsafe, and White's passed c5 pawn should not be underestimated but it is still difficult for White to break Black's defenses.} 28. Nd4 {This leads to forced play, in which, however, Black manages to hold on.} (28. b3 {was a calm alternative; then, according to the principle of two weaknesses, White can try to attack Black's kingside. Black would be doomed to long defense.}) 28... Qc7 29. Qf3 ({Black successfully defends after} 29. f4 Bxc5 $1 {(threatening 30... Bxd4)} 30. Nc6+ Qxc6 31. Rxc5 Rxc5 32. Rxc5 Qa6 33. Qd4 Rc8) ({White could have "taken his last move back":} 29. Nf3 {but then Black had a good reply} Qa7 $1 {(threatening 30...Rc8). A possible line:} 30. Nd2 Qc7 $1 (30... Rc8 { is not so good now due to} 31. Ne4 $1 Rxe5 32. Qf4 f6 (32... Qc7 $2 33. Nd6) 33. Nxf6 Bxf6 34. Qxf6 Qc7 35. c6 $16) 31. f4 f6 $1 32. exf6 Bxf6 33. Nf3 Rfd8 {with good counterplay.}) 29... Rfd8 $1 30. Nb5 Qxe5 31. c6 Rc8 $1 32. Qxf7 ( 32. c7+ $1 Kb7 33. Nd4 $1 {(recommended by GM A.Korotylev) allowed White to keep a dangerous attack, e.g.} Bd6 34. Nc6 $1 Qh2+ 35. Kf1 Rxc7 36. g3 $1 Kb6 ( {better than} 36... Qh3+ 37. Kg1 Qf5 38. Qe3) 37. Qe3+ Ka6 38. Ke2 $1 {etc. However, it is very difficult to find and correctly evaluate something like this over the board.}) 32... Qf6 $1 {Black defends very accurately, liquidating into a rook endgame.} 33. Rf4 Qxf7 (33... Qxb2 $5 {was a crazy alternative, which surprisingly worked:} 34. Rcc4 Rxb5 35. Qxe7 Qa1+ $1 { (to pin White's f4 rook, thus preventing Rf4-f7 or Rf4-f8)} 36. Kh2 Qe5 37. g3 Qc7 $1 38. Qxe6 b3 39. Rf7 Re5 $1 40. Rxc7 (40. Qf6 Rf5 $1) 40... Rxe6 41. Rb7+ Ka8 42. Rxb3 Rcxc6 {, and everything ends peacefully. Of course, such adventures are completely unnecessary, and Black prefers a simple course.}) 34. Rxf7 Rxb5 35. Rxe7 Rc7 $1 36. Rxe6 Ka7 37. Kf1 {DRAW. Even if White's extra c6 pawn doesn't fall very soon, its weakness paralyses White's play. Black's queenside pawns should not be underestimated, too. Therefore the endgame is dynamically equal. Although it was still possible to fight on (a draw being the most probable outcome, of course), Levon offered to share the point at once. Wesley had nothing against it, thus keeping a leading position in the tournament (no one managed to catch him at the end of the round). A well-played game for both sides!} ({A possible continuation:} 37. Kf1 Kb6 38. Ke2 a4 39. Rc4 (39. Kd3 Rd5+ {, and the king must step back}) 39... a3 40. bxa3 bxa3 41. Rc2 (41. Ra4 Rb2+ 42. Ke3 a2 {is hardly better}) 41... Rb2 42. Kd2 Rxc2+ 43. Kxc2 Rxc6+ 44. Rxc6+ Kxc6 45. Kb3 Kc5 46. Kxa3 Kc4 {, and it is White who must take care of the draw in this pawn ending (although he can reach it in various ways).}) 1/2-1/2 [Event "London Chess Classic 2016"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.12.11"] [Round "3.1"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A34"] [WhiteElo "2785"] [BlackElo "2794"] [Annotator "Aditya Mittal"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:10:35"] [BlackClock "0:01:34"] 1. c4 {Boy plays 1.e4. Aronian: Very good move. Arbiter: Levon, good move? Aronian: Yes, yes. The best move! However he starts with the English.} c5 { The symmetrical English.} 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nb4 (5... Nxc3 {you can go like this if you want a quiet game but White has an edge after } 6. dxc3 Qxd1+ 7. Kxd1 $14) 6. Bc4 {Aronian is ready for all the complications.} Nd3+ 7. Ke2 {So White loses his castling rights.} Nf4+ 8. Kf1 Nd3 $1 {Of course. Wesley wants a draw. Why not? He was already 2/2!} (8... Ne6 {is played more often when Black wants to win.}) 9. Qe2 (9. Qb3 {is also possible.} e6 10. Qb5+ Bd7 $1 11. Qxb7 Nc6 {with quite good compensation.} ( 11... Bc6 12. Bb5 {is a common trick.})) 9... Nxc1 10. Rxc1 {What a position!With 5 White pieces developed, it seems like it's gonna be a crush! Well..... Black is so solid that White doesn't have an advantage here. In fact it's unclear!} e6 11. h4 $5 {Interesting, with the idea of either h5 or Rh3.} ( 11. Rd1 {was normal.} a6 12. d4 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Qc7 14. e5 $13) 11... a6 12. e5 { Complications!} Nc6 (12... b5 13. Qe4 Ra7 $1 {forced but so pleasing.} 14. Be2 Rd7 $13) 13. Rh3 {White is trying to get as much activity as he can!} b5 14. Bd3 Bb7 15. Be4 {Aronian is centralising his pieces with good speed. Wesley, however doesn't have any intentions to slow down.} (15. Ne4 c4 16. Bb1 Nd4 $1 $15) 15... Qd7 16. Rg3 g6 17. Kg1 {Manual castling.} (17. h5 {can be met with} Bh6 $1 18. Kg1 O-O-O $13) 17... Be7 18. Qe3 (18. d3 {was a 'slower' move.}) 18... O-O-O 19. Rg4 $1 {The computers were screaming for this move and the point looks like really nothing! Kudos to Aronian who found this extremely subtle idea.} (19. h5 {was what I expected but it falls short} Kb8 20. a4 b4 21. Ne2 a5 $10) 19... Kb8 20. Rf4 Rhf8 21. a4 $1 {He does know what he is doing. Aronian playing like god!} (21. Bxc6 {might have been a simple reaction. } Bxc6 22. Ne4 Bxe4 23. Qxe4 Qd5 $10 {But of course, Aronian didn't want a draw.}) 21... b4 22. Bxc6 {[%cal Gb7c6] And here was the moment that Wesley sank into a deep deep deep deep thought! 54 minutes!} Bxc6 {But it wasn't really clear what he was thinking for. Bxc6 was too obvious to be untrue, while Qxc6 was too unobvious to be true. Haha!} (22... Qxc6 {to illustrate some of the lines, I will try to go into Wesley's head.} 23. Ne4 Rc8 $5 (23... Rd5 24. Nf6 Bxf6 25. Rxf6 $14 {I seriously don't understand why Wesley thought so long. This is just torture!}) (23... Qxa4 24. Nxc5 Qb5 25. Ng5 {is overwhelming.}) 24. Nf6 Bxf6 {and here} 25. exf6 $1 (25. Rxf6 a5 $1 $13 { and it is not easy to see what White will do next.}) 25... Qd6 26. Ne5 $1 $16 { White has a clear edge.}) 23. Ne4 Bxe4 24. Rxe4 a5 $5 {A committal decision, probably a bad one, but I am not too sure.} (24... Qxa4 {was my preference.} 25. Rxc5 $1 Rd3 $1 {An important move.} (25... Bxc5 26. Qxc5 {is just winning.} ) 26. Qxd3 Bxc5 {I thought this position must be ok.}) 25. Rec4 $6 (25. d4 $1 { was the best way. Aronian could have got something out of this.} Qxa4 (25... cxd4 26. Rxd4 Qxa4 27. Rxd8+ Bxd8 28. Qc5 $18) 26. b3 $1 Qb5 (26... Qc6 27. dxc5 Rd5 28. Nd4 $14 {and White is quite good.}) 27. dxc5 Rd5 28. Rec4 Qc6 { We reach the same position as in the game with Aronian having an extra b3.} 29. Qh6 $1 $16) (25. b3 $2 Qd3 $1 $15) 25... Qxa4 26. d4 Rd5 27. dxc5 Qc6 28. Nd4 ( 28. Qh6 {is not possible here.} Rfd8 29. Qxh7 Rxc5 {and here the rook is under threat unlike what we saw in the previous variation where b3 was played!}) 28... Qc7 29. Qf3 $3 {Suffice it to say, I need to give this two exclamations! The computers screaming out for moves handled as a toy by Levon Aronian! He finds these moves so simply. Aronian: This is my left hand's play. (That was just a joke)} Rfd8 30. Nb5 Qxe5 $1 31. c6 Rc8 $1 {I commented too much on Aronian till now. However, I admit that Wesley has really defended well. Levon now goes wrong.} 32. Qxf7 $6 (32. c7+ $1 {is a computer line. Just see:} Kb7 33. Nd4 $1 Bd6 34. Nc6 Qh2+ 35. Kf1 Ka6 $3 {I am not commenting on these moves, it is just too confusing!} 36. g3 Rxc7 37. Ke2 Bxg3 $14 {would be the normal human move to avoid Rh1. However....} (37... h5 $3 {The engine! What a move! As if White has no threat!} 38. Nxa5 $1 (38. Rh1 {is met with} Qxh1 39. Qxh1 Bc5 $1 {Wow!}) 38... Kxa5 39. Rxc7 Bxc7 40. Rh1 Qxh1 41. Qxh1 {White has some chances. I don't criticise either of the players. This is just an engine line.} )) 32... Qf6 33. Rf4 $1 {Without this move White is lost. (!)} Qxf7 (33... Qxb2 {probably Aronian was expecting this. It is too messy after} 34. Rcc4 Rxb5 35. Qxe7 {and Black has to devise a way to defend. I believe there must be one.}) 34. Rxf7 Rxb5 35. Rxe7 Rc7 36. Rxe6 Ka7 37. Kf1 {A well played game. 32. c7 could be played but it was too hard. The best chance Aronian had was 25.d4! Wesley is still leading the tournament. Hikaru spoiled Vishy's 47th birthday with a win. Isn't it strange?Shouldn't you be supposed to play well on your birthday?} 1/2-1/2 [Event "London"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.11"] [Round "3"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Topalov, Veselin"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2804"] [BlackElo "2760"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [TimeControl "40/7200:3600+30"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nc6 { [%emt 0:00:05]} 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 4. O-O {[%emt 0: 01:55]} Nxe4 {[%emt 0:01:03]} 5. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:50][%cal Gf1e1] The Berlin is a boring open, but Re1 in the Berlin is even worse!} Nd6 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 6. Nxe5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 7. Bf1 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Nf5 { [%emt 0:03:40]} (7... Nxe5 8. Rxe5 O-O {is the main line.}) (7... O-O 8. d4 Nf5 9. d5 $14) 8. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:44]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:09]} 9. d4 {[%emt 0:00:19]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 10. g3 {[%emt 0:00:36] This position was reached thrice in MVL-Nakamura in the their online chess.com match. Naka won all the three games with the black pieces. This might have motivated Topalov to play this system.} Re8 {[%emt 0:02:53]} 11. Nc3 {[%emt 0:02:40]} Be6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 12. Ne2 { [%emt 0:03:40]} g5 $1 {[%emt 0:00:08][%cal Gg7g5] An excellent move by Topalov, gaining space, preventing Nf4 and preparing Ng7. How much more can one move achieve!} 13. h3 {[%emt 0:11:03] Played by MVL after 11 minutes of thought. This clearly meant that he was unprepared.} h6 {[%emt 0:08:47]} 14. Bg2 { [%emt 0:15:45]} Ng7 {[%emt 0:09:34]} 15. Ne5 {[%emt 0:04:31]} f6 {[%emt 0:15: 59]} 16. Nxc6 {[%emt 0:05:17]} (16. Ng4 $5 f5 17. Ne3 $14) 16... bxc6 {[%emt 0: 00:06]} 17. c4 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Qd7 {[%emt 0:03:20]} 18. Kh2 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Bb4 {[%emt 0:11:31]} 19. Bd2 {[%emt 0:11:53]} Bxd2 {[%emt 0:01:09]} 20. Qxd2 { [%emt 0:00:05]} dxc4 {[%emt 0:00:05][%csl Rc4,Rc6,Rc7] There are tripled pawns on the c-file but Black has activity and the d5 square for his bishop to compensate.} 21. Nc3 {[%emt 0:01:46]} Bd5 {[%emt 0:00:45]} 22. Ne4 {[%emt 0:02: 26]} Qf7 {[%emt 0:02:13]} 23. Qa5 $6 {[%emt 0:01:59]} f5 $1 {[%emt 0:14:39]} 24. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Bxg2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 25. Kxg2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} f4 $1 {[%emt 0:00:06] Black now has a strong attack.} 26. Qc5 {[%emt 0:15:14]} fxg3 { [%emt 0:02:23]} 27. fxg3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Rxe1 {[%emt 0:05:41]} 28. Rxe1 { [%emt 0:00:10]} Rf8 {[%emt 0:00:11] Qf2 is a big threat now.} 29. d5 Nh5 $5 ( 29... Qf3+ 30. Kh2 Qf2+ 31. Qxf2 Rxf2+ 32. Kg1 Rxb2 33. dxc6 Kf7 {By simple means, Black has a very huge advantage.} 34. Nd5 Ne6 $17) 30. Rg1 {[%emt 0:19: 47]} cxd5 $6 {[%emt 0:20:35]} (30... Nxg3 $5 31. Kxg3 Qf4+ 32. Kg2 Qd2+ 33. Kg3 (33. Kh1 Rf3 $19) 33... Rf5 {White's defensive task is not at all easy. Black threatens h5-h4 with a mating attack.} (33... h5 34. dxc6) 34. Nd1 Qf4+ 35. Kg2 Qf3+ 36. Kh2 Qe2+ 37. Rg2 (37. Kh1 Rf3 $19) 37... Qxd1 $15) 31. Qxd5 {[%emt 0: 03:01] The queen exchange is to White's benefit.} Qxd5+ {[%emt 0:02:07]} 32. Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Rd8 {[%emt 0:01:37]} 33. Rd1 {[%emt 0:01:43]} Kg7 { [%emt 0:00:22]} 34. Kf3 {Now it's just equal.} c6 {[%emt 0:02:01]} 35. Ne3 { [%emt 0:02:58]} Rd3 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 36. Rxd3 {[%emt 0:00:19]} cxd3 {[%emt 0: 00:06]} 37. Nf1 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Kf6 {[%emt 0:01:25]} 38. Ke3 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Ke5 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 39. Kxd3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:29]} 40. Ne3 { [%emt 0:00:00]} h5 {[%emt 0:00:52]} 41. Nc4+ {[%emt 0:01:57]} Kd5 {[%emt 0:00: 24]} 42. Ne3+ {[%emt 0:00:03]} Ke5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 43. Nc4+ {[%emt 0:00:03]} Kd5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 44. Ne3+ {[%emt 0:00:04]} 1/2-1/2 [Event "London"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.12"] [Round "?"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D02"] [WhiteElo "2771"] [BlackElo "2794"] [PlyCount "112"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] {Notes by Georg Meier -} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bf4 {Last year in Berlin at the World Rapid and Blitz Championships both Carlsen and Kramnik begun to employ the London system (they had trained together before that event). Their successes inspired many followers since then. Under Magnus´ reign there has been a strong tendency to look for structures as White where preparation matters less than strategic ideas and general understanding. Then the trick becomes choosing the type of position that your opponent would be most uncomfortable with, rather than trying to prove an advantage right from the start.} c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 e6 ({After} 5... Qb6 $6 6. dxc5 Qxb2 7. Rb1 Qc3 { an engine will tell you that Black is doing alright, but} 8. Bb5 e6 9. O-O Be7 10. Nd4 Bd7 11. N2b3 Bxc5 (11... O-O 12. Bd3 e5 13. Nb5 Qb4 14. a3 Qa4 15. Bg5 {puts pressure; the queen is misplaced.}) 12. Nxc5 Qxc5 13. Bd3 $1 Nxd4 14. exd4 Qxd4 15. Bd6 {is certainly no pleasure to handle as Black, who´s king will not find safety.}) 6. c3 cxd4 $5 (6... Bd6 {A lot of top players have chosen this line against the London system already, so Anish must have spent most of his preparation coming up with an idea here. And of course he had one more reason to expect his opponent to go down this road, since Wesley had just won a beautiful game at the Olympiad:} 7. Bg3 O-O 8. Bd3 b6 9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Rd1 Re8 11. e4 Be7 12. e5 Nh5 13. a3 g6 14. Nf1 f5 15. exf6 Bxf6 16. Ne3 e5 17. dxe5 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Nxg3 19. hxg3 Rxe5 20. Bc4 b5 21. Bxb5 Qb6 22. O-O Kg7 $36 { 0-1 (34) Sedlak,N-So,W Baku 2016 This reminded me of a cunning strategy Alexei Shirov likes to employ: He would look for lines where the opponent scored very well (if he won brilliantly even better), and then see if he could dig up an unpleasant surprise for them there, expecting that he could put it to use with near certainty.}) 7. exd4 Nh5 {The tournament leader goes for an original position, certainly not anticipated by Anish.} 8. Bg5 f6 9. Be3 Bd6 {White would love to adjust his c-pawn to c4 and the knight to c3, but as it stands there is no way to put pressure on Black.} 10. g3 O-O 11. Bg2 f5 {Justifying the h5-knight.} 12. Ne5 $2 {Anish clearly lost the thread here, misevaluating coming events.} (12. Ng5 Qe8 13. f4 {would keep a balanced position.}) 12... f4 $1 13. Qxh5 fxe3 14. fxe3 Nxe5 (14... Bxe5 $1 15. dxe5 Bd7 {was stronger still, keeping the pace up. Qb6 and Rf5 are in the air. White faces a grim defence, as trying to relieve the pressure by} 16. Qe2 Nxe5 17. Nf3 {falls short to} Nxf3+ 18. Bxf3 Qa5 $1 {/\Bb5} 19. a4 b5) 15. dxe5 Bc5 16. Rf1 $1 {Exchanges to ease the pressure.} Bxe3 17. Rxf8+ Qxf8 18. Qf3 Qxf3 19. Nxf3 {The worries about the White king are gone, but certainly Wesley had liked the prospect of this position as it could become quite passive for White if he were tied to the defence of the Pe5 (say by a bishop from c7).} Bd7 20. Rd1 Rf8 (20... Bb6 { may be very precise, since} 21. c4 {is strongly met by} Rc8 22. cxd5 Rc2) 21. c4 $1 {Anish is correct in trying to liquidate the position as long as he still can.} (21. Ke2 Bb6 22. c4 {leaves Black a lot of options, and I can imagine how one could get irritated by something like} Rf7 $5 (22... Kf7 23. Nd4 dxc4 24. Rf1+ Ke7 25. Rxf8 Kxf8 26. Ke3 Bc7 27. Bxb7 Bxe5 28. Ba6 {would be quite a defense as well.}) 23. cxd5 Bb5+ 24. Ke1 exd5 25. Rxd5 Bc4 {but White has a strong rejoinder:} 26. Nd2 $1 Bxa2 27. b3) 21... Bc6 22. Nd4 $2 { But here} (22. Ke2 $1 Bb6 23. Nd4 {would simply be a better version of the game:} Bxd4 24. Rxd4 Rf5 25. cxd5 Rxe5+ 26. Kd3 exd5 27. Rf4 $1 {shutting the Black king out and safeguarding the 2nd rank next} Re1 28. Rf2 {and White´s perfect coordination neutralizes the extra pawn.}) 22... Bxd4 23. Rxd4 Rf5 24. g4 {This looks somewhat loose, on g4 the pawn may prove to be exposed.} (24. Rf4 Rxe5+ 25. Kd2 g5 26. Rf2 {should have been considered, again trying to lock the Black king out.}) 24... Rxe5+ 25. Kf2 Kf7 $17 26. b4 {White tries to create some action on the queenside, hoping to liquidate as many pawns as possible.} Ke7 27. b5 Bd7 28. b6 dxc4 29. Rxc4 axb6 30. Rc7 Rb5 31. Rxb7 Kd6 { It looks like Black is establishing control, but with so few pawns left, there are always chances for a succesful defense.} 32. Kg3 h6 33. Rb8 Rb2 {Natural, but not best.} ({Nr.1 rule when converting a static advantage: Keep an eye on counterplay at all times!} 33... Rb4 $1 {with the idea to play b5, then Ra4 and not letting the White a-pawn run amok, as in the game.} 34. Rg8 Ra4 35. Rxg7 Ra3+ 36. Kf2 Rxa2+ 37. Kg3 Ra3+ 38. Kf2 b5 {does not inspire any hope for White.}) 34. Bf3 b5 $6 35. a4 $1 b4 36. a5 Rb3 37. Kg2 $1 {After this precise move White is holding.} (37. Kf2 $2 Kc5 38. a6 Ra3 39. Rb7 Bb5 $19 40. a7 Rxf3+ $1) 37... Bc6 $6 {Giving in a bit too early still.} (37... Kc5 38. a6 Ra3 39. Rb7) ({After} 37... g5 38. a6 Ra3 {Black could still try for a bit}) 38. Bxc6 Kxc6 39. a6 Ra3 40. Rxb4 Rxa6 41. h4 {This required no more effort from Anish. On one side 3 vs 2 promises nothing.} e5 42. Kf3 Kd5 43. Rb5+ Ke6 44. Rb7 Kf6 45. g5+ hxg5 46. hxg5+ Kg6 47. Re7 Ra5 48. Ke3 Rb5 49. Kf3 Rb3+ 50. Kf2 Rb5 51. Kf3 Rd5 52. Ke3 e4 53. Kxe4 Rxg5 54. Kf3 Kh5 55. Re1 Rg4 56. Rh1+ Kg5 {A refreshing display from Wesley in the opening, but Anish put up a defense and used his last chance to escape.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "London Chess Classic"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.12.12"] [Round "4.5"] [White "Topalov, Veselin"] [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B12"] [WhiteElo "2760"] [BlackElo "2779"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "106"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:38:17"] [BlackClock "0:17:27"] 1. e4 c6 {An interesting opening choice by Nakamura, who doesn't play this often. According to my Megabase Topalov's latest Caro-Kann was back in 2013.} 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 {And the former world champion had never faced this particular move. Neither had Nakamura played it before. So far he had always reacted with} (3... Bf5) 4. dxc5 (4. c4 $5 {is an interesting move as well.}) 4... Nc6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. c3 {The second main choice.} ({The main line is} 6. Bb5) 6... e6 7. b4 a6 {Black takes the sting out of the b4-b5 advance and rules out the possible pin with Bf1-b5.} ({Fridman came recently with another idea:} 7... g6 8. Bb5 Bxf3 9. Qxf3 Bg7 10. Bxc6+ bxc6 {with an approximately equal position in Fedoseev,V (2670) -Fridman,D (2620) Liepaja 2016}) (7... Nxe5 $4 8. Qa4+ Nc6 9. b5 {is a famous trap.}) 8. Nbd2 Nxe5 {Best as otherwise Black may not be able to regain the pawn:} (8... Nge7 $6 9. Qa4 Bxf3 10. Nxf3 Qb8 11. Be2 {with clear edge for White in Berkes,F (2680)-Zelcic,R (2539) Zadar 2010}) 9. Qa4+ {The alternative is:} (9. h3 Nxf3+ 10. Nxf3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 g6 12. Be2 Bg7 13. O-O Ne7 14. Bg5 O-O 15. Rad1 Qc7 16. c4 d4 {with equality, Fedorchuk,S (2660)-Lupulescu,C (2634) Legnica 2013}) 9... Nd7 {Nakamura wants to keep the queens on the board.} ({So far only} 9... Qd7 {has been seen. Black should be OK after} 10. Qxd7+ Nxd7 11. Bb2 Bxf3 (11... Be7 $5) 12. Nxf3 Be7 13. Be2 Bf6 14. O-O Ne7 {Nevednichy,V (2554)-Zelcic,R (2548) Tromsoe 2014}) 10. Ne5 Ngf6 ( 10... Bh5 11. g4 Bg6 12. h4) 11. c4 $6 {Topalov wants to speed up his development, but at the moment he is the one who is a bit behind. And Nakamura knows that.} ({Safer was} 11. Nxg4 Nxg4 12. Be2 Ngf6 13. Bb2 {with hopes to exploit the bishop pair in the future.}) 11... a5 $1 12. Nb3 ({Obviously} 12. Nxd7 Qxd7 13. Qxd7+ Kxd7 {cannot suffice White whose queenside position is crumbling.}) 12... axb4 13. Qb5 Be7 14. c6 {True to his style White is looking for complications.} ({Or} 14. cxd5 O-O {when the lead in the development is priority.}) 14... bxc6 15. Nxc6 Qc7 16. f3 {White is sensibly avoiding:} (16. Nxe7 Rb8 $1 {Not} (16... Qe5+ 17. Be3 Qc3+ (17... Kxe7 18. Qxb4+) 18. Bd2) 17. Qa5 Qe5+ 18. Be3 (18. Kd2 $4 Qc3#) 18... Kxe7 {with powerful centralization of the black pieces.}) 16... Bf5 {Solid, whilst:} (16... dxc4 17. Qxc4 Rc8 18. Nxe7 Qxc4 19. Bxc4 Rxc4 20. Na5 Rc5 21. Nac6 {leads to completely irrational position.}) 17. Nxe7 Rb8 18. Nxf5 $1 {Topalov sacrifices the queen! This might not be to the computer's liking, but which human would prefer the position after} (18. Qa5 Qe5+ 19. Kf2 Kxe7 {when Black is up a central pawn and on top of that has the more active pieces?!}) 18... Rxb5 19. Nxg7+ Ke7 {Nakamura neglects the knight and goes for an attack himself. After} (19... Kf8 {White can try either:} 20. Bh6 ({Or} 20. Nxe6+ fxe6 21. cxb5 {when at least material wise the position is balanced.}) 20... Qe5+ 21. Kf2 (21. Be2 dxc4 $1 {and there are no decisive discovered checks.}) 21... Qb2+ 22. Be2 dxc4 {Perhaps both players came up to this point in their preliminary calculations and continued with} 23. Rhb1 Qe5 ({However} 23... Ne4+ $1 {would have been very strong instead and now no matter if White captures or not on e4 the queen goes back to f6.} 24. fxe4 Qf6+) 24. Bxc4 {when it is indeed not yet clear.}) 20. cxb5 Nc5 $6 {Objectively better was:} (20... Qe5+ $1 21. Kd1 Nc5 {Not letting the white bishop on b2. After} 22. Rb1 Nce4 $1 23. fxe4 Nxe4 {Black's atatck is huge. For example:} 24. Bb2 (24. Rb2 {might be best but I doubt that anyone would like to be in White's shoes after} Nc3+ 25. Kd2 Qxg7) 24... Nf2+ 25. Kd2 Qf4+ 26. Ke1 Nxh1 {and Black should win.}) 21. Bb2 Nxb3 22. axb3 Qf4 {Or:} ( 22... Rg8 23. Bd4 Qf4 24. Bc5+ Kd7 25. Ra7+ Kc8 26. Kd1 {when anything is possible.} (26. Ra8+ Kb7 27. Ra7+ Kb8)) 23. Be2 $6 {Topalov returns the favor. The rook should not have been allowed on the open file.} ({The knight cannot escape:} 23. Nh5 Qe3+ $1 24. Be2 ({Or mate after} 24. Kd1 Qxb3+ 25. Kc1 Rc8+) 24... Nxh5 25. Bxh8 Nf4 26. Ra2 Nd3+ {and mate on the next move.}) (23. Ra7+ $1 {was mandatory when after} Nd7 (23... Kf8 24. Nxe6+ fxe6 25. b6 Qe3+ 26. Kd1 Qxb3+ 27. Kc1 Qe3+ 28. Kb1 Qxb6 29. Ra8+ Kg7 30. Rxh8 Kxh8 31. Bxf6+ Kg8) 24. Nf5+ exf5 25. Rxd7+ Kxd7 26. Bxh8 Qe3+ 27. Kd1 (27. Be2 $2 d4) 27... Qxb3+ 28. Kd2 {Black has perpetual check, but hardly more.}) 23... Rc8 24. Rd1 Qg5 25. b6 $2 {This is already serious mistake. The king had to escape:} (25. O-O Qxg7 26. Bd4 Rc2 27. Rf2 {when anything is possible.}) 25... Rc2 (25... Qxg7 {was not bad neither.}) 26. Bxf6+ {There is not time for pawn promotions:} (26. b7 $2 Qe3 {mate is there.}) 26... Qxf6 $1 {Better than:} (26... Kxf6 27. b7 Qe3 ( 27... Rxe2+ 28. Kxe2 Qe5+ 29. Kf2 Kxg7) 28. Nh5+ Ke7 29. Ng3 Qb6 30. Rd2) 27. Nh5 ({Once again the pawn is not going anywhere} 27. b7 Qc3+ 28. Kf2 Qc5+ 29. Kf1 Qa7) 27... Qc3+ 28. Kf1 (28. Kf2 {changes nothing after} Qc5+ 29. Ke1 Qxb6) 28... Qe3 {Topalov saved the knight but his king remained stuck in the middle of the board. Because of that the rook on h1 suffers and the deal is definitely not a good one.} 29. Re1 Qxb6 {Played very quickly. Nakamura missed an instant win with:} (29... d4 $1 30. b7 d3 31. b8=Q dxe2+ 32. Rxe2 Qxe2+ 33. Kg1 Qxg2#) 30. Nf4 (30. g3 Qe3 31. Nf4 {would transpose into the game.}) 30... Qe3 {Black is still clearly on top and does not let his opponent slip away.} 31. g3 ({The knight cannot go anywhere} 31. Nd3 Rxe2 32. Rxe2 Qxd3) 31... Qxb3 (31... Kf8 $1 {at once with the idea to push e6-e5 at once was even stronger-} 32. Kg2 e5) 32. Kg2 Kf8 {Prophylaxis against:} (32... e5 33. Kh3 {when the knight is invinsible} exf4 $4 ({Instead} 33... Rd2 {keeps solid edge for Black. }) 34. Bc4+) 33. Kh3 Qb2 34. Rb1 (34. Bd3 Rd2 35. Re2 e5 {does not look appealing at all neither.}) 34... Qf6 35. Rhe1 e5 (35... Qf5+ 36. Kg2 e5 { was good as well.}) 36. Nxd5 Qe6+ 37. Kg2 Qxd5 38. Rxb4 Qd2 39. Rb8+ Kg7 40. Kf1 {Topalov's hopes are pinned with fortresses. But the pawns are too "hairy" and they would never be locked.} Qh6 41. Kg2 e4 $1 {Opens the road for the queen which is impeccable in similar situation.} 42. Rb3 (42. fxe4 Qe3 { wins material by force after} (42... Qh5 43. Kf1 Qxh2 {should be enough for the win too.}) 43. Kf1 Qxe4 44. Kf2 Qd4+ 45. Kf1 Qf6+ 46. Kg1 Qe6 (46... Qe5 47. Rb5) 47. Kf2 Qh6 48. h4 Qf6+ 49. Kg2 Qe5) 42... Qe6 43. Re3 exf3+ 44. Kxf3 Qh3 45. Rd1 Qh5+ 46. Kf2 Qxh2+ {It is not only the pawn, but the white king which is deprived of any defenders.} 47. Kf3 Rc6 48. Rd4 Rg6 49. g4 Rf6+ 50. Ke4 Qh1+ 51. Kd3 Qb1+ 52. Kd2 Qb2+ 53. Kd3 Rc6 0-1 [Event "London Chess Classic"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.12"] [Round "4.1"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D02"] [WhiteElo "2771"] [BlackElo "2794"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "112"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Netherlands"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [WhiteTeamCountry "NED"] [BlackTeamCountry "USA"] [WhiteClock "1:04:47"] [BlackClock "0:59:56"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 e6 6. c3 cxd4 7. exd4 Nh5 8. Bg5 (8. Be3 Bd6 9. Ne5 g6 10. Bb5 Qc7 11. O-O f6 12. Nef3 O-O 13. c4 a6 { Dominguez Perez,L (2723)-Kryvoruchko,Y (2682) Varadero 2016}) 8... f6 9. Be3 ( 9. Bh4 Bd6 10. Ne5 Nf4 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bg3 Qe7 13. Bxf4 Bxf4 14. g3 Bd6 15. Bg2 O-O 16. O-O e5 17. dxe5 fxe5 18. Qb3 {1-0 Woodard,B-Smith,H corr. 2013}) 9... Bd6 10. g3 O-O 11. Bg2 f5 12. Ne5 $6 (12. Nb3 f4 13. Bc1 {Giri}) 12... f4 13. Qxh5 (13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Qxh5 fxe3 15. fxe3 Rb8 16. b4 a5 17. a3 Ra8 {So}) 13... fxe3 14. fxe3 Nxe5 (14... Bxe5 15. dxe5 Bd7 $1 {Ramirez}) 15. dxe5 Bc5 $1 ({Giri had expected} 15... g6 16. Qe2 Bxe5 17. O-O-O) 16. Rf1 Bxe3 17. Rxf8+ Qxf8 18. Qf3 Qxf3 19. Nxf3 Bd7 20. Rd1 Rf8 21. c4 Bc6 22. Nd4 Bxd4 23. Rxd4 Rf5 24. g4 Rxe5+ 25. Kf2 Kf7 26. b4 Ke7 27. b5 Bd7 28. b6 dxc4 29. Rxc4 axb6 (29... Ra5 $5 30. Rb4 Rxa2+ 31. Kg3 axb6 32. Rxb6 e5 33. Rxb7 Kd6) 30. Rc7 Rb5 31. Rxb7 Kd6 32. Kg3 h6 33. Rb8 Rb2 34. Bf3 b5 35. a4 b4 36. a5 Rb3 37. Kg2 Bc6 38. Bxc6 Kxc6 39. a6 Ra3 40. Rxb4 Rxa6 41. h4 e5 42. Kf3 Kd5 43. Rb5+ Ke6 44. Rb7 Kf6 45. g5+ hxg5 46. hxg5+ Kg6 47. Re7 Ra5 48. Ke3 Rb5 49. Kf3 Rb3+ 50. Kf2 Rb5 51. Kf3 Rd5 52. Ke3 e4 53. Kxe4 Rxg5 54. Kf3 Kh5 55. Re1 Rg4 56. Rh1+ Kg5 1/2-1/2 [Event "8th London Chess Classic 2016"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.12"] [Round "4"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Adams, Michael"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C54"] [WhiteElo "2779"] [BlackElo "2748"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "63"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O h6 7. Re1 O-O 8. Nbd2 Ne7 9. Bb3 Ng6 10. d4 Bb6 11. Nc4 Be6 12. h3 (12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Ncxe5 Bxb3 14. Qxb3 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Qd6 16. Nc4 Bxf2+ 17. Kxf2 Qxh2 $13) 12... c6 13. dxe5 dxe5 $6 (13... Bxc4 14. Bxc4 (14. exf6 Bxb3 15. axb3 Qxf6 $11) 14... Nxe5 15. Nxe5 dxe5 $11) 14. Ncxe5 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Re8 16. Qxd8 Raxd8 17. Bc2 $14 g5 18. Nf3 g4 {[#] White is a pawn up here. What he would really like to do is take the pawn on g4 with h3. However, for that you must look deeper. Anand chose Nd4. But we must analyze what happens after hxg4.} 19. Nd4 $5 {This is not a bad move, but as compared to hxg4 it is clearly a concession.} (19. hxg4 Nxg4 20. Nd4 { It is at this point you must look at your opponent's best possibility.} (20. Re2 {is already bad because of} Bc4 $1 $17) 20... Rxd4 $1 {Anand saw this move for his opponent. But he didn't stop just as yet.} (20... Bxd4 21. cxd4 Rxd4 { It is important to see that this is completely bad for Black after} 22. f3 Ne5 23. Bxh6 $16 {White is up a pawn, has the bishop pair and is cruising towards victory.}) 21. cxd4 Bxd4 {Now f2 is hanging. You must protect it somehow.} 22. Re2 $1 (22. Be3 $2 Nxe3 23. fxe3 Bxb2 24. Rab1 Bc3 25. Rf1 Re7 $11 {Black has a pawn for the exchange and White's structure is a complete wreck. This is nothing for White.}) 22... Bc4 23. Rd2 {The rook attacks the bishop. And if it moves back, White can unravel with b3-Bb2. Hence, c5 is forced.} c5 {It is after reaching this position in his head and analyzing the possibilities that Anand started to feel uncomfortable. He saw that the bishops are just excellently placed in the centre and with ...f5 coming up, he will lose a pawn and be under trouble. But he had a nice move which was missed.} 24. Rb1 $1 { Giving up the a2 pawn. This is not an easy move to foresee. The threat is now b3.} (24. Rxd4 {is a move that I like as well.} cxd4 25. Bd2 $14 {White should be better here. Enough for victory? Maybe not. But in general he is better and quite substantially.} d3 26. Bd1 $16) 24... Bxa2 25. Ra1 Bc4 26. Rxa7 {The rook has activated himself, the b-pawn is free to move and it would be fine to end your calculations at this point and go for the variation beginning with 19. hxg4! That's the level at which these guys work!} Ba6 27. b4 $16 {White is clearly pushing here.} Bc3 28. f3 $1 Bxd2 29. Bxd2 Ne5 30. Ba4 Rd8 31. Bc3 $18 {And with b5 coming up, White is winning.}) 19... gxh3 20. gxh3 (20. Nxe6 Rxe6 21. gxh3 Rde8 22. Bxh6 Nxe4 23. Bxe4 Rxh6 24. Bg2 (24. Bh7+ Kf8 $11) 24... Rxe1+ 25. Rxe1 Kf8 $14 {White will be pushing here, but it will not be easy to convert into a full point.}) 20... Bxh3 21. Re3 (21. Bxh6 {I think this move should be given serious consideration.} Ng4 22. Bf4 $14 Rxd4 23. cxd4 Bxd4 24. Bg3 Re6 (24... Bxb2 25. Rab1 Bc3 26. Red1 $18) 25. Bd1 c5 $16 {Black has compensation but overall it shouldn't be enough.}) 21... Bg4 22. Rg3 Bc7 23. f4 (23. Rg2 $5) 23... h5 24. e5 Nd5 25. Bf5 Bb6 26. Bxg4 hxg4 27. Rxg4+ Kf8 28. Bd2 Ke7 $1 (28... Nxc3 $2 29. bxc3 Rxd4 30. cxd4 Bxd4+ 31. Kg2 Bxa1 32. Bb4+ $18) 29. Kf2 Nxc3 $1 30. bxc3 Rxd4 31. cxd4 Bxd4+ 32. Be3 (32. Be3 Bxa1 $11) 1/2-1/2 [Event "London"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.12"] [Round "4"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D02"] [WhiteElo "2771"] [BlackElo "2794"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "112"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 (5. Bd3 Qb6 6. dxc5 Qxb2 7. Nbd2 Qc3) 5... e6 6. c3 {This is one of the main positions of the London System.} cxd4 $5 {An interesting change of track. Let's have a look whether Wesley's move is going to change the way Black players play this system.} (6... Bd6 {is the main move and the theory is fast building up in this system.}) 7. exd4 (7. cxd4 {doesn't really make much sense if the knight is not coming to c3.}) 7... Nh5 $5 {This was tried recently by Kryvoruchko against Dominguez at the Capablanca Memorial. Wesley must have picked up the idea from that game.} 8. Bg5 $5 {A new move, but quite a logical one.} (8. Be3 {as playing by Dominguez. Play continued} Bd6 9. Ne5 g6 10. Bb5 Qc7 11. O-O f6 12. Nef3 O-O 13. c4 a6 14. Ba4 dxc4 $2 (14... Qf7 $1 {Black has a fine position out of the opening.}) 15. Nxc4 $16 {1/2-1/2 (43) Dominguez Perez,L (2723)-Kryvoruchko,Y (2682) Varadero 2016}) (8. Bg3 Nxg3 9. hxg3 g6 {Followed by Bg7 and 0-0 looks like an excellent position for Black.}) 8... f6 9. Be3 (9. Ne5 $6 g6 10. Bh4 Bd6 $15) (9. Bh4 Bd6 $1 $15 {And it is not so easy to develop the bishop on f1 because the knight is coming to f4.}) 9... Bd6 10. g3 $1 {This move makes sense to stop Nf4.} (10. Bd3 Nf4 $1 $15 {White has to give up his bishop or lose time with Bf1.}) (10. Ne5 g6 11. Nd3 O-O $11) 10... O-O 11. Bg2 (11. Bd3 Qe8 12. O-O f5 {With f4 coming up, Black seems to have the initiative.}) 11... f5 {White's position is already looking critical. He must remain careful about the f4 break.} 12. Ne5 $6 (12. Bg5 Qe8 $1 $15) (12. Ng5 $5 {Now the knight on h5 cannot be left hanging as there would be a mate on h7.} Qe8 13. f4 Nf6 14. O-O b6 $11 {The position is around equal.}) 12... f4 $1 13. Qxh5 (13. gxf4 Nxf4 {is already a disaster.}) 13... fxe3 14. fxe3 Nxe5 (14... Bxe5 15. dxe5 Bd7 $17 {was also a very powerful way to play.}) 15. dxe5 Bc5 $15 {The opening phase is over. Black has emerged victorious. He has much better pieces and everything that he would have aimed for. White on the other hand has broken structure and the extra pawn doesn't count for much. Anish went on to defend this position, but we can safely say that opening was a big success for Wesley. } 16. Rf1 Bxe3 17. Rxf8+ Qxf8 18. Qf3 Qxf3 19. Nxf3 Bd7 20. Rd1 Rf8 21. c4 Bc6 22. Nd4 Bxd4 23. Rxd4 Rf5 24. g4 Rxe5+ 25. Kf2 Kf7 26. b4 Ke7 27. b5 Bd7 28. b6 dxc4 29. Rxc4 axb6 30. Rc7 Rb5 31. Rxb7 Kd6 32. Kg3 h6 33. Rb8 Rb2 34. Bf3 b5 35. a4 b4 36. a5 Rb3 37. Kg2 Bc6 38. Bxc6 Kxc6 39. a6 Ra3 40. Rxb4 Rxa6 41. h4 e5 42. Kf3 Kd5 43. Rb5+ Ke6 44. Rb7 Kf6 45. g5+ hxg5 46. hxg5+ Kg6 47. Re7 Ra5 48. Ke3 Rb5 49. Kf3 Rb3+ 50. Kf2 Rb5 51. Kf3 Rd5 52. Ke3 e4 53. Kxe4 Rxg5 54. Kf3 Kh5 55. Re1 Rg4 56. Rh1+ Kg5 1/2-1/2 [Event "London"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.12"] [Round "4"] [White "Topalov, Veselin"] [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B12"] [WhiteElo "2760"] [BlackElo "2779"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "106"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. dxc5 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bg4 (5... e6 {is the other possibility in this position.}) 6. c3 e6 7. b4 (7. Be3 {is another main move.}) 7... a6 (7... Nxe5 8. Qa4+ Nc6 9. Ne5 $18) 8. Nbd2 Nxe5 9. Qa4+ (9. Be2 $14 { is possible.}) 9... Nd7 10. Ne5 Ngf6 11. c4 $6 (11. Nxg4 Nxg4 12. Be2 Nge5 13. O-O {would be a normal way to play. But of course Veselin likes to spice up things.}) 11... a5 $1 {Excellent move by Nakamura. Suddenly the entire queenside fortifications fall apart.} 12. Nb3 axb4 13. Qb5 (13. Qxb4 Nxe5) 13... Be7 14. c6 bxc6 15. Nxc6 Qc7 16. f3 (16. Nxe7 Rb8 17. Qa5 Qe5+ 18. Be3 Kxe7 $17) 16... Bf5 17. Nxe7 Rb8 $1 {A nice intermediate move.} 18. Nxf5 $2 ( 18. Qa5 Qe5+ 19. Kf2 Kxe7 $15) 18... Rxb5 19. Nxg7+ Ke7 (19... Kf8 {was also pretty good.} 20. Nxe6+ fxe6 21. cxb5 Kf7 $17) 20. cxb5 {Materially White is doing fine but in terms of development he is far behind and Nakamura takes advantage of it.} Nc5 $6 (20... Qe5+ $1 21. Be2 Nc5 $19) 21. Bb2 $1 Nxb3 22. axb3 {Now White can survive.} Qf4 23. Be2 $6 (23. Ra7+ Nd7 24. Nf5+ exf5 25. Rxd7+ Kxd7 26. Bxh8 Qe3+ 27. Kd1 Qxb3+ 28. Kd2 Qa2+ 29. Kc1 $11) 23... Rc8 $1 24. Rd1 Qg5 (24... Rc2 $17) 25. b6 $2 (25. O-O Qxg7 26. Bd4 $15) 25... Rc2 26. Bxf6+ Qxf6 27. Nh5 Qc3+ 28. Kf1 Qe3 29. Re1 Qxb6 {Black is winning because white just cannot co-ordinate. The b3 pawn will fall and the Black pawn will queen. The rest is easy.} 30. Nf4 Qe3 31. g3 Qxb3 32. Kg2 Kf8 33. Kh3 Qb2 34. Rb1 Qf6 35. Rhe1 e5 36. Nxd5 Qe6+ 37. Kg2 Qxd5 38. Rxb4 Qd2 39. Rb8+ Kg7 40. Kf1 Qh6 41. Kg2 e4 42. Rb3 Qe6 43. Re3 exf3+ 44. Kxf3 Qh3 45. Rd1 Qh5+ 46. Kf2 Qxh2+ 47. Kf3 Rc6 48. Rd4 Rg6 49. g4 Rf6+ 50. Ke4 Qh1+ 51. Kd3 Qb1+ 52. Kd2 Qb2+ 53. Kd3 Rc6 0-1 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.12.13"] [Round "5.5"] [White "Adams, Michael"] [Black "Topalov, Veselin"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C65"] [WhiteElo "2748"] [BlackElo "2760"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:00:06"] [BlackClock "0:04:29"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 {The Anti-Berlin is extremely popular nowadays.} Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 Be6 7. O-O ({Another idea that White is exploring recently is:} 7. Nb3 Bb6 8. Bd2 Nd7 9. Na5 Bxa5 10. Bxa5 c5 11. Bc3 Bg4 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Qe7 14. Qg3 {Caruana,F (2823)-Anand,V (2779) Saint Louis 2016}) 7... Bd6 {This has already occurred in Carlsen, M (2843)-Aronian, L (2816)/Bilbao ESP 2012.} ({The main line is still} 7... Nd7 {One important example is the final round win of Yu Yangyi against Vladimir Kramnik at the Qatar Masters 2014.}) 8. d4 Nd7 9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. dxe5 Bxe5 11. f4 Bd4+ { Up till now the opponents were following the game Nakamura,H (2787)-Aronian,L (2792) from Zuerich 2016 which saw:} (11... Qd4+ 12. Kh1 Bd6 13. Qe2 O-O-O 14. f5 Bd7 {and White eventually won.}) 12. Kh1 f6 13. c3 {Adams kicks away the bishop as early as possible.} ({Two previous games saw} 13. f5 Bf7 14. Qg4 Qe7 15. c3 h5 16. Qe2 {but then the bishop was nicely allocated into the center after} Be5 {Brkic,A (2605)-Hovhannisyan,R (2586) Porto Carras 2011}) 13... Bb6 14. f5 Bf7 15. e5 $1 {A brilliant idea! Nimzowitsch would have loved the way that Adams freed the central outpost for the knight. All the white pieces quickly enter the battle and Topalov is under tremendous pressure.} fxe5 16. Qg4 Qd3 $5 {Taken by surprise Topalov plays in the most ambitious way.} ({ The obvious} 16... O-O {was naturally walking into Adams's preparation. White has a strong attack after} 17. Ne4 {with the obvious threath Bc1-h6 to start with. The prophylactical} Kh8 {will be met with} ({In case of} 17... Bd5 18. Bg5 Qd7 19. Ng3 {White has strong kingside attack and additional cenral resources line Ra1-d1 and c3-c4.}) ({The computer is offering a spoiler} 17... h5 {but a human being can hardly trust such an approach. After} 18. Qe2 Qd5 19. b3 ({Or} 19. Bg5 {Black's position seems suspicious, to say the least.})) 18. Bg5 Qc8 19. Qh4 {White wants to put something on f6 and there is no way Blck can stop it.} Bd5 20. f6) ({The other castling} 16... Qd7 17. Nf3 O-O-O 18. Nxe5 Qe8 19. Bf4 {leads to a clear edge for White.}) 17. Qxg7 Rg8 18. Qxe5+ Kd7 {This was Black's idea. He needs just one tempo to castle "by hand" and take over the initiative. But Adams plays very neatly.} 19. Qe4 Qa6 {The same aggressive strategy. However now the queen is getting excluded from the board.} ({The endgame after} 19... Qd5 20. c4 $1 ({The simple-hearted} 20. Qxd5+ $2 { leads to Black's advantage} Bxd5 21. Nf3 Raf8 {The bishops are too strong.}) 20... Qxe4 21. Nxe4 Bxc4 22. Nf6+ Ke7 23. Nxg8+ Rxg8 24. Rf3 Bd5 25. Rg3 Kf6 26. Rxg8 Bxg8 27. Bd2 Kxf5 {might have been Back's best choice, but still...}) (19... Qxe4 20. Nxe4 Bd5 21. Nf6+ Ke7 22. Nxd5+ $1 cxd5 23. Bf4 {is good for White.}) 20. f6 Rae8 ({Or} 20... Raf8 21. c4 $1) 21. Qf5+ Kd8 22. c4 $1 { Shuts off the queen and takes away the d5 square from the bishop.} Qa5 (22... Bxc4 23. Nxc4 Qxc4 24. f7 {is impossible.}) 23. Qh3 Qb4 {A tricky move according to Adams.} 24. Qxh7 {Up to now the English GM played flawlessly and here he could have finished it off with style after:} (24. Nb3 {All White needs is to occupy the "d" file and it is almost mate.} Be6 25. Qd3+ Qd6 ({ No time for} 25... Kc8 26. f7) 26. Qc2 Qb4 ({Another fork awaits Black after} 26... Kc8 27. c5) (26... Qf8 27. c5 Bxb3 28. Qxb3 Bxc5 29. Qxb7 {and Black's position collapses.}) 27. Bd2 Qf8 28. Rae1 {White brings all his pieces out and it is game over.}) 24... Qf8 25. b3 {White is still much better. On the top of it Topalov was very low on time.} Bd4 26. Qd3 Qd6 27. Ne4 Qd7 {The last chance was:} (27... Rxe4 28. Qxe4 Bxa1 29. Bf4 Rg4 30. Bxd6 Rxe4 31. Be7+ Ke8 32. Rxa1 b5 {and despite the two pawn deficit Black can still hope in the opposite colored bishop endgame.}) 28. Rd1 Kc8 29. Qxd4 Qg4 {The last desperate attempt.} ({White should win after} 29... Qxd4 30. Rxd4 c5 31. Rd2 Rxe4 32. Bb2) 30. Bg5 Rxe4 31. Qxa7 Bd5 32. Qa8+ Kd7 33. Rxd5+ $1 ({Avoiding the trap} 33. Qxg8 $4 Re1+ 34. Rxe1 Qxg2#) 1-0 [Event "8th London Classic 2016"] [Site "London ENG"] [Date "2016.12.13"] [Round "5.2"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2804"] [BlackElo "2823"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "67"] [EventDate "2016.12.09"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 Nc6 8. Qd2 Be6 9. O-O-O Qd7 10. b3 O-O-O (10... a6 11. h3 h5 12. Be2 O-O-O 13. Rhe1 Kb8 14. Kb2 d5 15. Nd4 Bf6 16. f4 g6 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2788)-Li,C (2755) Stavanger 2016}) 11. Nd4 a6 12. Nxe6 fxe6 13. g3 d5 14. Bh3 Kb8 15. Rhe1 Rhe8 16. f4 Bf6 17. Kb1 Qd6 18. Qd3 e5 $1 19. Bc1 (19. fxe5 Nxe5 20. Qd4 (20. Qf1 Nc4 $1 21. bxc4 Rxe3 {wins on the spot}) 20... Nc6 21. Qd3 Rxe3 22. Qxe3 Qa3 23. Qc1 Qa5 {looked "very tricky" to MVL.}) 19... e4 20. Qd2 Qc5 21. Bb2 d4 22. Qe2 dxc3 23. Rxd8+ Rxd8 (23... Nxd8) 24. Bc1 Rd2 (24... Nb4 $5 25. Qxe4 Nd3 26. Rd1 ({White needs to find} 26. Qe3) 26... Nxc1 27. Rxd8+ Bxd8 {and wins.}) 25. Bxd2 cxd2 26. Qxd2 Bc3 27. Qc1 Bxe1 28. Qxe1 e3 29. c3 Na7 30. Bf1 Nb5 31. Kb2 Qa3+ 32. Kb1 Qc5 33. Kb2 Qa3+ 34. Kb1 1/2-1/2 [Event "London 2016"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.12.13"] [Round "?"] [White "Adams"] [Black "Topalov"] [Result "1-0"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] {Notes by Nadezda Kosintseva - Even though both players lost their chances to fight for first places in the tournament, this game was by far the most interesting in this round. Whereas the leaders had mostly theoretical battles that ended in draws, this game is the only one that was sharp and had a result different from draw. Surprising enough, Michael Adams overplayed Veselin Topalov in a very sharp battle, which we usually would not expect. Let's see how it happened.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 {Adams chooses a very positional system and avoids the theoretical jungles of main Berlin lines.} Bc5 {Personally, I think this is the better move. The alternative d6 is too passive.} (4... d6 5. O-O Bd7 6. Re1 $14 {And as for me, white will always be slightly better in such positions because of the bad dark-squared bishop of black.}) 5. Bxc6 {Again, this move represents not the most popular continuation but at the same time I would say that it is one of the most positional choices for white. White gives up the light-squared bishop on purpose to limit activity of black pieces. Typical play for Adams - get a drawish position, play it for a hundred moves, and get a point betting on his outstanding technique. However, this game developed according to a different scenario.} dxc6 6. Nbd2 ({The pawn on e5 is tabu:} 6. Nxe5 $4 Qd4 7. Be3 Qxe5 8. d4 Qxe4 9. dxc5 Qxg2 10. Rf1 Bh3 11. Nd2 Qg6 12. Rh1 O-O-O $19 {with a decisive initiative of black.}) (6. Be3 {This is line is playable, but too many pieces get exchanged after, for example:} Bxe3 7. fxe3 Bg4 8. h3 Bxf3 9. Qxf3 Nd7 {1/2-1/2 (59) Nepomniachtchi,I (2656)-Ponomariov,R (2737) Dagomys 2010 }) 6... Be6 7. O-O {Now the pawn e5 hangs.} Bd6 ({As an alternative,} 7... Nd7 {seems to be more solid, on the one hand, as white has no immediate d4. But on the other hand, white gets at his disposal an additional resource to play} 8. Nb3 Bb6 9. Ng5 {,forcing black to trade his light-squared bishop for a white knight.}) 8. d4 Nd7 ({Of course not} 8... exd4 $4 {in view of} 9. e5 $18) 9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. dxe5 Bxe5 {Normally black should have no problem in this position. Strange enough he got a lot of them...} 11. f4 Bd4+ (11... Qd4+ $5 { Seems to be risky from a human point of view as this queen can be easlly attacked by white's pieces. But at the same time with such centralized queen black can provoke white to play too aggressively and then counter attack under favorable conditions.For example:} 12. Kh1 Bd6 13. c3 (13. f5 Bc4 14. c3 (14. e5 Bxf1 15. exd6 Bxg2+ $1 16. Kxg2 O-O-O 17. dxc7 Rd5 $132) 14... Qc5 15. Nxc4 (15. e5 Bxf1 16. exd6 Bd3 17. Qe1+ Kf8 18. dxc7 Qxf5 $13) 15... Qxc4 16. e5 Bxe5 17. Re1 f6 18. Qd4 Qd5 19. Bf4 O-O 20. Bxe5 fxe5 21. Qxd5+ cxd5 22. Rxe5 Rad8 $11) (13. e5 Bc5 14. f5 Bd5 15. Qe2 b5 $1 $132) 13... Qd3 14. f5 (14. Rf3 Bg4 $1 15. Rxd3 Bxd1 16. Nc4 Bc2 17. Nxd6+ cxd6 18. Rxd6 Bxe4 $11) 14... Bd7 ( 14... Bc4 15. Rf3 Qe2 16. Qg1 $36) 15. Rf3 Qb5 16. a4 Qe5 17. Nf1 O-O-O $132) 12. Kh1 f6 {Very natural move. Black restricts further advance of white's central pawns.} (12... f5 $5 {An interesting alternative.} 13. Qe2 (13. exf5 Bxf5 14. Re1+ Kf7 $132 {And temporary position of the black king in the centre is fully compensated by activity of black's bishop pair.}) (13. e5 Qd5 $132) 13... O-O 14. Nf3 Bc5 15. Ng5 Qe7 {And again, the activity of black pieces seems to be a good compensation for a worse pawn configuration:} 16. Be3 (16. Nxe6 Qxe6 17. e5 Rfd8 $18 18. Be3 Bxe3 19. Qxe3 Qc4 $132) 16... Bxe3 17. Qxe3 Bc4 $1 18. Rfe1 fxe4 19. Qh3 (19. Qxe4 Qxe4 20. Rxe4 Bd5 21. Rd4 h6 $36) 19... h6 20. Rxe4 Qf6 21. Rxc4 hxg5 $132) 13. c3 Bb6 ({If Topalov had a second chance to play this position, he would probably prefer} 13... Be3 {,trading his dark-squared bishop for the white knight and betting on the drawish tendency of opposite-colored bishops.}) 14. f5 Bf7 15. e5 $1 {This is the only good idea for white in the position. If he does not play dynamically, he is at risk to get in trouble in a long run since the position became quite open and the pair of black bishops pretty soon can turn into a real power.} fxe5 { Black had no choice.} 16. Qg4 Qd3 {The major difference between Qd3 and other queen moves is that white cannot play Ne4 - the rook on f1 hangs. Otherwise, if the knight gets to e4 white has an excellent compensation for the pawn.} ( 16... O-O {seems to be very dangerous, in view of} 17. Ne4 ({But not} 17. f6 $2 Bg6 $17) 17... Bd5 (17... h5 18. Qg3 Bc4 19. Bh6 Rf7 20. Rfd1 {And white has very strong initiative for the pawn, for example:} Qc8 21. Nf6+ Kh8 $8 (21... Kf8 22. Qxe5 gxh6 23. b3 $1 Ba6 24. Rd7 $3 Rxd7 25. Nxd7+ Qxd7 26. Qh8+ Ke7 27. Qg7+ Kd6 28. Rd1+ $18) 22. Nxh5 gxh6 23. Qxe5+ Kg8 24. Nf6+ Rxf6 25. Qxf6 Bf7 26. Rd3 Qf8 27. Rg3+ Kh7 28. Rd1 $36) (17... Bg6 18. Bg5 Qc8 19. Ng3 $40) 18. Ng3 $1 {It is very important for white to keep the knight that can participate in an attack against the black king.} Kh8 19. b3 Qe7 20. c4 Bf7 21. Bb2 $36) ( 16... Qd5 17. Ne4 $1 (17. Qxg7 $4 Rg8 $19) 17... O-O-O 18. Bg5 Rde8 19. f6+ Be6 20. Qh4 $36) 17. Qxg7 Rg8 (17... O-O-O {fails due to} 18. Qxf7 Be3 19. Qe6+ Kb8 20. Qxe5 Bxd2 21. Bxd2 Qxd2 22. f6 $16 {And white's passed pawn should be a decisive factor in this position.}) 18. Qxe5+ Kd7 19. Qe4 {The last moves were more or less forced, but now Topalov had a very important choice and he did not solve the puzzle. The best bet for black was Qd5.} Qa6 $2 (19... Qd5 $1 20. c4 (20. Qxd5+ $2 {Trades and simplifications are not always good for the side that has a material advantage. So, in this particular position after} Bxd5 21. Nf3 Raf8 $15 {Black gets the pawn back and his bishops will dominate the position.}) 20... Qd4 $1 (20... Qxe4 21. Nxe4 Bxc4 22. Nf6+ Ke7 (22... Kc8 23. Nxg8 Bxf1 24. Bg5 Bc4 25. Re1 $18 {with a deadly threat of Re8.}) (22... Kd6 23. Re1 $1 Rgf8 24. Bf4+ Kc5 25. Ne4+ Kb5 26. a4+ Ka6 27. a5 Bd4 28. Ra4 $18) 23. Nxg8+ Rxg8 24. Rf3 $14 {followed by Be3.}) 21. Rd1 Kc8 22. h3 $14 {And in spite of the fact that white keeps an extra pawn, black has good chances to survive in the endgame thanks to his bishop pair.}) 20. f6 {Now black gets in real trouble.} Rae8 $6 {A follow-up mistake. It was essential for black to secure his king, even if it means to give up another pawn.} (20... Rad8 $1 { But also here white has a clear advantage after} 21. b3 Kc8 22. Nc4 $16 { The reason is that the black queen became so decentralized.} Bd5 23. Qf5+ Kb8 24. Bg5) 21. Qf5+ $1 {The pawn on h7 is poisonious.} (21. Qxh7 $2 Qe2 $1 22. Qxf7+ Kc8 23. g3 Rh8 $19) 21... Kd8 (21... Be6 22. Qxh7+ Kc8 23. f7 Bxf7 24. Qxf7 Qe2 25. Qf3 $18) (21... Re6 22. c4 $1 {Cutting off the black queen!}) 22. c4 $1 {Adams plays like a machine. I wonder whether he might have analyzed this position at home and we see again another game that actually "was not played on board" as Peter Svidler said it recently... ?!} Qa5 (22... Bd4 23. Rd1 c5 24. Nf3 Qxc4 25. Bg5 $18 {And black is helpless.}) 23. Qh3 $1 {Again the strongest move.} (23. Qxa5 {The endgame is not only not better for white, it might be better for black!} Bxa5 24. Nb3 Bb4 25. Bd2 Bxd2 26. Rad1 Kc8 27. Nxd2 Re2 $44) 23... Qb4 ({In the case of} 23... Be6 {White wins material after} 24. Qd3+ Kc8 25. f7 Bxf7 26. Rxf7 Re1+ 27. Rf1 Qg5 28. Qh3+ $18) 24. Qxh7 $6 { That looks too greedy. There was a better continuation.} (24. Nb3 $1 {Here black probably would resign in a couple of moves.} Qxc4 (24... Re1 25. Bg5 $1 Rxf1+ 26. Rxf1 Rxg5 27. Rd1+ $18) (24... Be6 25. Qd3+ Qd6 26. Qc2 $18) 25. Rd1+ Bd5 26. f7 Qe2 27. Rxd5+ cxd5 28. fxe8=Q+ Kxe8 (28... Rxe8 29. Bg5+ $18) 29. Bf4 $18) 24... Qf8 $6 {Too passive.} ({Perhaps, the best chance was} 24... Bg6 25. Qh3 Rh8 26. Qg4 Bh5 27. Qf5 {The position is still won for white, but the game goes on and requires some precision.}) 25. b3 Bd4 (25... Re2 $4 26. Qd3+ $18) 26. Qd3 Qd6 (26... c5 27. Nf3 Bg6 28. Qd1 Qxf6 $4 29. Bg5 $18) 27. Ne4 { The game is coming to an end.} Qd7 (27... Rxe4 28. Qxe4 Bxa1 29. Bf4 Rg4 30. Bxd6 Rxe4 31. Be7+ Ke8 32. Rxa1 $18 {The endgame is bad in itself, but to play such ending against Adams makes absolutely no sense.}) 28. Rd1 {Now black loses by force.} Kc8 (28... c5 29. Nxc5 $18) 29. Qxd4 Qg4 30. Bg5 $1 {Very strong last trick!} Rxe4 (30... Rxg5 31. Nxg5 Qxg5 32. Qd7+ Kb8 33. Qd8+ Rxd8 34. Rxd8#) (30... Qxe4 31. Qxe4 Rxe4 32. h4 $18 {Again, no chance here for black.}) 31. Qxa7 {The threat on a8 is deadly.} Bd5 32. Qa8+ Kd7 33. Rxd5+ { After 33....cxd5.34.Qxg8 white wins.} 1-0 [Event "8th London Chess Classic 2016"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.13"] [Round "5"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2794"] [BlackElo "2779"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "60"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [TimeControl "40/7200:3600+30"] 1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} e6 {[%emt 0: 00:05]} 3. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 4. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} (4. g3 {Against Vishy Anand Wesley doesn't go for his favourite Catalan.}) 4... Nbd7 {7 Although Anand lost against Nakamura, he is not shy to play the same opening once again. As we already know, what does need to be fixed, need not be fixed.} 5. Bf4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} dxc4 {28 One of the advantages of the 4... Nbd7 line is that you can play very concretely against 5.Bf4 systems.} 6. e3 { [%emt 0:00:05]} b5 $1 {26 There are already 38 games with this move, so it doesn't come as a surprise. Anand also played it at the Candidates 2016 against Levon Aronian.} 7. Nxb5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Bb4+ {[%emt 0:00:09]} 8. Nc3 { [%emt 0:00:05]} Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:43]} 9. a3 {9 Rc1 and Qc2 are the other possible moves here.} Nxc3 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 10. Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Bxa3 $5 $146 {17 Vishy took just 17 seconds for this move! A novelty! This came as a surprise to Wesley who took nearly 30 minutes for his next move.} (10... Nd5 11. axb4 Nxf4 12. exf4 Bb7 13. Be2 O-O 14. O-O Nb6 15. Ne5 Qd6 {1/2-1/2 (34) Nakamura,H (2787)-Karjakin,S (2773) Bilbao 2016}) (10... Ne2 {According to Vishy this is the most beautiful move to see in this position.} 11. axb4 (11. Qxb4 Nxf4 12. exf4 Rb8 $11) 11... Nxf4 12. exf4 $14) 11. Qxc3 {1884} (11. Rxa3 Nb1 $1 $17 {is the neat point!}) (11. bxa3 Nd5 {can be another direction to look at.}) (11. bxc3 Bd6 12. Bxc4 $14 {is also possible.}) 11... Bd6 {81} 12. Bxd6 {243} (12. Bxc4 Bxf4 13. exf4 Bb7 14. O-O $14 {White surely seems to have a slight pull here.}) 12... cxd6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 13. Bxc4 {4 Now this position isn't really threatening for Black. He just develops and has no problems.} O-O {122} 14. O-O {[%emt 0:00:36]} Bb7 {76} 15. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Qb6 {248} 16. Rfc1 {105} Rfc8 {385} 17. Qa3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Bxf3 $5 {335 After this exchange, draw becomes the most obvious result of the game.} 18. Bxf3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Rab8 {88} 19. h4 {460} Rxc1+ {91} 20. Rxc1 {[%emt 0:00: 05]} Qxb2 {[%emt 0:00:47]} 21. Qxb2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Rxb2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 22. Rc7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nf8 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 23. Rxa7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} d5 { 8 There is nothing more to talk about.} 24. Ra8 {[%emt 0:00:08]} g6 {[%emt 0: 00:15]} 25. g3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} h5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 26. g4 {[%emt 0:00:20]} hxg4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 27. Bxg4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 28. h5 { [%emt 0:00:05]} gxh5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 29. Bxh5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Ng6 {[%emt 0: 00:07]} 30. Bxg6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Kxg6 {7 Anand's novelty turned out to be a success. Wesley was surprised and chose the safest route out of it. I have a feeling the Vishy will not try this again. There seem to be plenty of ways White can keep a pleasant position. Maybe it was just a use and throw variation.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "London"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.13"] [Round "5"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2779"] [BlackElo "2809"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "121"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [TimeControl "40/7200:3600+30"] 1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:12]} e6 {[%emt 0: 00:03]} 3. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:11]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 4. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 5. Bf4 {[%emt 0:00:24]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:09]} 6. e3 {[%emt 0: 00:03]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 7. c5 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Nh5 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 8. Bd3 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Nxf4 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 9. exf4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} b6 { [%emt 0:00:03]} 10. b4 {[%emt 0:00:17]} a5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 11. a3 {[%emt 0:00: 05]} c6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 12. O-O {[%emt 0:00:10]} Ba6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 13. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:51]} Bf6 {[%emt 0:00:54]} 14. Ne5 {117} Bxe5 {[%emt 0:00:56]} 15. fxe5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Bxd3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 16. Qxd3 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Ra7 {130} 17. g3 $146 {1090 The first new move of the game. Until then both the players were following the game Eljanov-Kramnik from the Baku Olympiad 2016. But Nakamura thought about it for 18 minutes so he wasn't prepared.} (17. Ne2 Qa8 18. Qc3 Rb8 19. h4 h6 20. Nf4 axb4 21. axb4 bxc5 22. bxc5 Rxa1 23. Rxa1 Qb7 24. g3 $14 {1/2-1/2 (58) Eljanov,P (2739)-Kramnik,V (2808) Baku 2016}) 17... Qa8 { 365} 18. Rab1 {83} axb4 {237} 19. axb4 {[%emt 0:00:33]} Ra3 {109 This is quite typical of this line. Black gets counterplay on the queenside and White has the space. All that White has to do is stablise the position and later think about launching a kingside attack.} 20. Qc2 {199} Rb8 {634} 21. h4 {412} h6 { 114} 22. Kg2 {198} Qa6 {530} 23. Rec1 {1084} bxc5 {615} 24. bxc5 {[%emt 0:00: 06]} Rxb1 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 25. Qxb1 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Qc4 {143 At this point it seems as if Black is better. But not quite. The position is round about even and both sides have to play carefully.} 26. Qb2 {156} Rb3 {233} 27. Qd2 { [%emt 0:00:13]} Qb4 {368} 28. Rc2 {68} f6 {352} 29. f4 $1 {53 Keeping the space advantage and keeping the knight on d7 passive.} fxe5 {243} 30. fxe5 { [%emt 0:00:21]} Nf8 {704} 31. Ne2 {295} Qb7 {516} (31... Qxd2 32. Rxd2 $16 { is some sort of a nightmare because now the white king can roam freely and the rook can penetrate and attack the weaknesses on c6 and e6.}) 32. Nf4 {258} Qf7 {643} 33. Rb2 {63} Rxb2 {73} 34. Qxb2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} g5 {232} 35. hxg5 { [%emt 0:00:18]} hxg5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 36. Nd3 {310} Ng6 {200} 37. Nf2 {62} Ne7 {164} 38. Qd2 {123} Qg6 {[%emt 0:00:57]} 39. g4 {[%emt 0:00:25]} Kg7 {65} 40. Nh3 {0 White has the slight initiative here.} Kh6 {[%emt 0:00:53]} 41. Kg3 {139 } Nc8 {592} 42. Qf2 {1145} Kg7 {92} 43. Qe3 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Kh6 {[%emt 0:00: 49]} 44. Qf3 {237} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:51]} 45. Qa3 {1849 Nakamura doesn't give up easily. And continues playing for a win.} Qe4 $1 {546 A perfect moment to activate the queen.} 46. Nxg5 {572} Qe1+ {[%emt 0:00:06]} (46... Qxd4 47. Nxe6+ $18) 47. Kf4 {[%emt 0:00:29]} Qf2+ {236} 48. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Ne7 {28 By giving the pawn, Black has managed to co-ordinate his pieces and is now threatening a deadly Ng6+} 49. Qa7 {283} Kf8 {84} 50. Qb8+ {406} Kf7 {[%emt 0: 00:28]} 51. Qb7 {[%emt 0:00:24]} Kf8 {143} 52. Qd7 {236} Ng6+ {172} 53. Kg5 { [%emt 0:00:05]} Qxf3 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 54. Qxe6 $1 {[%emt 0:00:55]} (54. Kxg6 Qxg4+ 55. Kh6 (55. Kf6 Qf5#) 55... Qh4+ 56. Kg6 $11) 54... Nh8 $1 {413 The only move to draw the game.} (54... Ne7 55. Qf6+ Qxf6+ 56. exf6 Ng8 57. Kg6 { White is already winning.}) 55. Qf5+ {[%emt 0:00:32]} Nf7+ {165} 56. Kf6 { [%emt 0:00:42]} Qxf5+ {[%emt 0:00:06]} 57. gxf5 {67 This surely looks scary for Black, but Kramnik has seen that he can draw without too many difficulties. } Nd8 {6 Stopping the king from coming to e6.} 58. e6 {496} Nf7 $1 {12 The only move once again.} (58... Ke8 59. Ke5 Nb7 (59... Ke7 60. f6+ Ke8 61. Kd6 $18) 60. f6 Kd8 61. e7+ Kd7 62. Kf5 $18) 59. Kg6 {292} Nd8 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 60. Kf6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nf7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 61. exf7 {3 A stalemate! What a finish to a fighting game of chess.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "London"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.13"] [Round "5"] [White "Adams, Michael"] [Black "Topalov, Veselin"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C65"] [WhiteElo "2748"] [BlackElo "2760"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [TimeControl "40/7200:3600+30"] 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Nc6 { [%emt 0:00:05]} 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 4. d3 {6 This seems like the right way to get a fighting game against the Berlin.} Bc5 { [%emt 0:00:08]} 5. Bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} dxc6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 6. Nbd2 { [%emt 0:00:07]} Be6 {[%emt 0:00:47]} 7. O-O {[%emt 0:00:08]} Bd6 {324} 8. d4 { [%emt 0:00:37]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:00:38]} 9. Nxe5 {79} Nxe5 {[%emt 0:00:40]} 10. dxe5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Bxe5 {3 This is well known stuff and has been played by Caruana against Grischuk at the last London Chess Classic.} 11. f4 {[%emt 0:00: 09]} Bd4+ {279} (11... Qd4+ {was tried by Aronian in a blitz game against Nakamura and is worthy of further investigation.}) 12. Kh1 {[%emt 0:00:08]} f6 {127 Brkic-Hovhannisyan continued in similar fashion.} 13. c3 {149} Bb6 {200} 14. f5 {514} Bf7 {[%emt 0:00:35]} 15. e5 $1 {171 This was all Mickey's preparation.} fxe5 {382} 16. Qg4 {82} Qd3 {2059 As Michael said after the game, I had checked it with the engine and they do not like the move Qd3.} (16... O-O 17. Ne4 $44 {is already a strong attack and excellent compensation.}) 17. Qxg7 {177} Rg8 {76} 18. Qxe5+ {81} Kd7 {795} 19. Qe4 {369} Qa6 {181} 20. f6 {1433} Rae8 {457} 21. Qf5+ {133} Kd8 {52 Just like that White has a winning position out of the opening. But because of Black's lead in development, White has to remain careful.} 22. c4 $1 {523 Closing the diagonal and preparaing to move the knight.} Qa5 {858} 23. Qh3 $1 {520} Qb4 {632 Some tricky play by Topalov.} 24. Qxh7 {751} (24. Nf3 {was better but Michael saw that taking the pawn on h7 was fine and went ahead with it.}) 24... Qf8 {279} 25. b3 {768} Bd4 {[%emt 0: 00:52]} 26. Qd3 {[%emt 0:00:42]} Qd6 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 27. Ne4 {401} Qd7 {111} ( 27... Rxe4 28. Qxe4 Bxa1 29. Bf4 Rg4 $1 30. Bxd6 Rxe4 31. Be7+ Ke8 32. Rxa1 $16 {This should win in the long run.}) 28. Rd1 {169} Kc8 {[%emt 0:00:38]} 29. Qxd4 {263} Qg4 {9 White is a piece up here and now gives it back and co-ordinates himself.} (29... Qxd4 30. Rxd4 c5 31. Rd2 Rxe4 32. Bb2 $18) 30. Bg5 {142} Rxe4 {61} 31. Qxa7 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Bd5 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 32. Qa8+ {[%emt 0:00:50]} Kd7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 33. Rxd5+ {[%emt 0:00:07] A powerful game by Adams who now has 2.0/5.} 1-0 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.12.13"] [Round "5.2"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2804"] [BlackElo "2823"] [Annotator "Aditya Mittal"] [PlyCount "67"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:17:03"] [BlackClock "0:33:42"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 $5 {The Petroff is back!} 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 $5 {MVL does not want to go into the quiet lines of} (5. d4 d5 $14 {which is too symmetrical.}) 5... Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 Nc6 8. Qd2 $5 {Okay, here we are not going to have a snooze fest! Maxime has cleared his intentions.} Be6 9. O-O-O Qd7 {Huh! Fabiano has come for a draw! Even he wants to long castle. I was expecting a full blooded fight with} (9... Bxa2 $5 10. b3 a5 $1 11. Kb2 a4 {The pawn comes to the rescue!} 12. Kxa2 (12. Ra1 axb3 13. cxb3 Bxb3 14. Rxa8 Qxa8 15. Kxb3 Qa1 {This would have been entertaining.}) 12... axb3+ 13. Kxb3 Ra5 $1 {And this is... what a mess! I would have loved to see this in the game but well...}) 10. b3 O-O-O 11. Nd4 a6 $5 {Inviting White to exchange.} 12. Nxe6 fxe6 {So what do we have here? Black has a weakness- on e6. How to exploit it? MVL finds} 13. g3 $1 (13. f4 {would have been the normal move. But one thing- these are not normal players!}) 13... d5 {What is Fabiano doing? It feels like he is weakening the structure. Well, he has other plans in mind. Or rather other TRICKS in his mind.} (13... Bf6 14. Bh3 Kb8 {was my preference and I thought that Black is solid.}) 14. Bh3 Kb8 $1 {Taking off the king from the line of fire.} 15. Rhe1 Rhe8 $1 {A good trick, of course an easy one but well, tricks are tricks. On one lucky day your opponent might fall into it.} (15... Ba3+ 16. Kb1 Rde8 {would have been the choice of many. However after} 17. f4 $14 {White has a stable edge.}) 16. f4 $1 {Good positional play. However this cost MVL quite a bit.} (16. Bxe6 Ba3+ $1 $19 (16... Qxe6 17. Ba7+)) 16... Bf6 17. Kb1 (17. Bd4 {I was seeing this but it doesn't really work. One interesting line goes like} Nxd4 18. cxd4 c5 $6 19. dxc5 Rc8 {Just to show a line. Of course c5 would never have happened.} 20. Qb4 Qc6 21. Qb6 Qxc5 22. Qxc5 Rxc5 23. Rxe6 Rxe6 24. Bxe6 d4 {Because of the opposite coloured bishops this is a clear draw. But there is a lot of room for what we call-- torture!}) 17... Qd6 18. Qd3 $6 {From here Caruana starts to take over.} (18. Bd4 $1 Nxd4 19. cxd4 c5 {this is now considered of course.} 20. dxc5 Qxc5 21. Rxe6 Bc3 22. Qc1 Rxe6 23. Bxe6 d4 $10 {And White's queen is tied down.}) 18... e5 $1 19. Bc1 $6 {Where you take lot of time, you do mistake! This happens very often. Today it is happening with MVL.} (19. fxe5 $1 Nxe5 20. Qd4 Nc6 (20... Nf3 21. Qa7# $1 {Haha!}) 21. Qd3 Ne5 22. Qd4 $10) 19... e4 20. Qd2 $6 {Mistakes don't come in a vacuum! It follows one another!} (20. Qe3 {was very obvious.} g6 $15 { And Black is only somewhat better.}) 20... Qc5 $1 {Fabiano finds the best way to continue.} 21. Bb2 d4 $1 22. Qe2 $3 {Brilliant practical defence although I must admit that this went a little above my little head!} (22. cxd4 {was what I was expecting.} Bxd4 $1 23. Qg2 Bxb2 24. Kxb2 Rxd1 25. Rxd1 e3 $1 $17 { and Black is clearly better.}) 22... dxc3 23. Rxd8+ Rxd8 24. Bc1 {A critical moment. Fabiano went wrong here. Can you do any better?} Rd2 $2 {Losing the advantage. Fabiano had a few cunning decisions at his disposal.} (24... Nb4 $1 {was an amazing line.} 25. Qxe4 Nd3 $3 {As brilliant as it can be, but when engines are there nothing is brilliant! They find much better things than this. } 26. Bg2 c6 27. Qe3 Rd4 28. Re2 Nxc1 29. Qxc1 Rd2 $3 {is a line where Black can crush it.} 30. Bf3 (30. Rxd2 $2 cxd2 31. Qxd2 Qg1+ $19) 30... Rxe2 31. Bxe2 Qf2 $17 {Black has every reason to believe he can win.}) (24... Re8 $5 { was also an interesting try.} 25. Bg2 Nd4 26. Qc4 Qxc4 27. bxc4 Re6 $17 { with a good endgame. Black will push on.}) 25. Bxd2 cxd2 26. Qxd2 Bc3 27. Qc1 Bxe1 28. Qxe1 {After a lot of exchanges the position has fizzled out. I get the feeling Caruana just wanted to consolidate with a draw today.} e3 29. c3 Na7 30. Bf1 Nb5 31. Kb2 Qa3+ 32. Kb1 Qc5 33. Kb2 Qa3+ 34. Kb1 {The position doesn't really promise much. Fabiano might have not found Nb4 but it was surprising to see him not playing the obvious Re8. Elsewhere the games were also exciting. Adams won against Veselin in an amazing attack that would go into the books. Anand drew with ease after he uncorked the novelty Bxa3. Giri went away with an easy draw while Kramnik showed defensive heroics as he stopped Hikaru from winning another. Now there is a rest day and it will be interesting to see some home preparation! So, stay tuned!} 1/2-1/2 [Event "London Chess Classic"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.15"] [Round "6.1"] [White "Topalov, Veselin"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C54"] [WhiteElo "2760"] [BlackElo "2794"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "54"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Bulgaria"] [BlackTeam "United States"] [WhiteTeamCountry "BUL"] [BlackTeamCountry "USA"] [WhiteClock "0:24:03"] [BlackClock "0:26:51"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. a4 d6 7. Bg5 (7. O-O h6 8. b4 Ba7 9. Be3 O-O 10. Bxa7 Rxa7 11. Nbd2 Ne7 12. Re1 Ng6 13. d4 Ra8 {Fedoseev, V (2665)-Inarkiev,E (2732) Novosibirsk 2016}) 7... Ba7 8. Nbd2 h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 O-O 11. O-O Nh7 (11... Kg7 12. Re1 Nh7 13. d4 g4 14. Nh4 exd4 15. cxd4 Bxd4 16. Nf1 Bf6 17. Nf5+ Bxf5 18. exf5 h5 {Van Foreest,J (2615)-Leko,P (2709) Douglas 2016}) 12. h3 h5 13. d4 {So said his opponent surprised him with this move.} exd4 14. Nxd4 g4 15. hxg4 hxg4 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. e5 d5 18. Be2 $2 (18. Bd3 f5 19. exf6 Nxf6 20. Qc2 (20. Bg6 {as suggested by Topalov is not good because of} Kg7 21. Qc2 Rh8 {and the threat of 22...Rh6 and 23...Qh6 wins}) 20... Rf7 21. Rae1 {is good for White, as Topalov rightly judged.}) 18... Qg5 19. a5 $2 ({Better was} 19. Nb3 f5 20. exf6 Nxf6 {(Topalov) and now} 21. Qd2) 19... f5 20. exf6 Nxf6 21. Ra4 Rf7 22. Re1 Nh5 23. Bxg4 Nxg3 24. Re8+ Kg7 25. Rxc8 Bxf2+ 26. Kh2 Qe5 27. Kh3 Ne2 0-1 [Event "London Chess Classic"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.12.15"] [Round "6.3"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B96"] [WhiteElo "2823"] [BlackElo "2779"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "63"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:20:08"] [BlackClock "0:12:58"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 {" I decided to go for this to surprise him, as I do not normally play like that. But I have done some work in the line before the tournament." - Caruana.} e6 7. f4 h6 8. Bh4 Qb6 {A fashionable version of the Poisoned Pawn Variation. It is not as common as the immediate 7...Qb6, but the position of the white bishop on h4 may favor Black in some of the sharp lines after the capture on b2.} 9. a3 {This saves the pawn just in case.} Be7 (9... Qxb2 $4 10. Na4) 10. Bf2 {This is an argument against the early h7-h6, but Black can also be happy from the fact that the white bishop has left the h4-d8 diagonal.} Qc7 11. Qf3 Nbd7 ({Another top game in the same city went} 11... b5 12. g4 Nc6 13. O-O-O Bb7 14. h4 d5 15. e5 Ne4 {with a double-edged position in Grischuk,A (2750)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2765) London 2015.}) 12. O-O-O b5 13. g4 g5 {A typical way to stop White's aggression on the kingside. Black is ready to sacrifice a pawn for the e5 outpost.} 14. h4 gxf4 {Instead it is White who sacrifices the pawn.} 15. Be2 ({ Nobody had yet tried:} 15. g5 Ne5 16. Qxf4) 15... b4 {A novelty by Nakamura. But he is not yet aware how prepared his opponent is...} ({A novelty in comparison to another top GM game which I annotated for the Chess.com members in April. That game saw} 15... Rg8 {to which White reacted badly with} 16. Rdg1 $6 {and eventually lost after} d5 {Giri,A (2790)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2788) Stavanger 2016}) ({In the analysis of that game I mentioned the queen sacrifice idea after} 15... Ne5 16. Qxf4 Nexg4 17. Bxg4 e5 18. Qxf6 ({But here there is no need to sacrifice the queen. The simple} 18. Nd5 $1 Nxd5 19. Qf3 Bxg4 20. Qxg4 Nf6 21. Qf3 {gave advantage for White Nekhaev,A (2535)-Yamaliev, V (2477) corr. 2013}) 18... Bxf6 19. Nd5 Qd8 20. Nc6 {although Vachier-Lagrave prolonged the line with the move} Bxg4 {and the verdict "wouldn't be as smart as it looks".}) 16. axb4 Ne5 17. Qxf4 Nexg4 18. Bxg4 e5 {Now comes the shocker. } 19. Qxf6 $3 {Brilliant. The queen sacrifice is not something unusual in the Sicilian and Nakamura was obviously expecting it. However it seems as he did not dig deep into the position and Caruana quickly proved his advantage.} ({ Nakamura's idea is revealed in the line:} 19. Nd5 Nxd5 20. Qf3 Nxb4 {which leads to far better version for Black of the email game from above.}) 19... Bxf6 20. Nd5 Qd8 21. Nf5 $1 {Found by Caruana's second Rustam Kasimdzhanov. For the queen White has only two horses. But these are special breed, 10 million bucks each.} (21. Nc6 {is the first choice of the engine.}) 21... Rb8 { Nakamura seeks counterplay.} ({"The computer does not understand that Black is lost. This is one of the saddest positions that I have seen for Black." - Caruana} 21... Bxf5 22. Bxf5 {leaves Black without any counterplay. White will soon start advancing his pawns on the queenside.}) 22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. Rxd6 { Not bad, but instead Caruana was winning with the magical} (23. Nxd6+ Kf8 24. Bf5 $3 {when the white pieces dominate the field. It is quite amazing to see how helpless the queen is against the minors after} Bxf5 (24... Bb7 25. Bc5 $1) 25. Nxf5 Rd8 26. Rxd8+ Qxd8 27. Rd1 Qf6 28. Bc5+ Ke8 (28... Kg8 29. Rd6 { traps the queen as well.}) 29. Rd6 Qg6 30. Bb6 $1 {This keeps the black pawn on f7 and is even better than} (30. Rxg6 fxg6 31. Ne3 {where by the way, White should also win.})) 23... Be6 24. Rhd1 O-O {Black managed to castle at least, but the main problem remains: all his pieces are passive.} 25. h5 Qg5+ { Since Bf2-h4 to force the queen on the horrific h8 was a threat Nakamura goes for a forcing line. Caruana have carefully calculated the possible counter play after:} (25... Rxb4 26. Bh4 Qxh4 27. Nxh4 Bxg4 28. Rg1 Rxe4 29. Nf5 Kh7 30. Rxh6+ Kg8 31. Rxa6 {and White wins.}) 26. Be3 Qf6 27. Nxh6+ Kh8 28. Bf5 { A solid decision.} ({Caruana discarded the line} 28. Nxf7+ Qxf7 29. Rxe6 Rbd8 { because of} 30. Rh6+ ({He intuitively did not want to trade a pair of rooks in order to keep his attacking potential, but the simple} 30. Rxd8 $1 {wins on the spot after} Rxd8 31. Bf5 {Intending Be3-g5 and eventually Re6-h6+ followed by Bg5-f6 as an idea. The bishops are dominating the board and the queen cannot even find an operating file or diagonal.}) 30... Kg7 31. Rg1 Qf1+ $1 32. Bd1+ (32. Rxf1 Rxf1+ 33. Bd1 Rdxd1#) 32... Qxg1 33. Bxg1 Rf1 $1 {when Black takes over the initiative.} ({Or even} 33... Kxh6)) 28... Qe7 $2 {In search for tactical chances Black blunders. Caruana expected:} (28... Rfe8 {to which he wanted to continue with} 29. b3 {followed by Kc1-b1 and slowly mount pressure. He considered his position strategically won.} ({White disliked} 29. Rg1 Rxb4 30. Bg5 {since he could not see anything decisive after} Qg7)) 29. b5 {Kills all the tactical chances. White saw the other winning line:} (29. Nxf7+ Rxf7 30. Rxe6 Qxb4 31. Rh6+ Kg8 32. Rg1+ Rg7 33. Be6+ Kf8 {and now} 34. Bc5+ $1 ({But not} 34. Rh8+ Ke7 35. Rxg7+ Kd6 {and because of the mating threat on e1 Black is in the game (Caruana)}) 34... Qxc5 35. Rh8+ Ke7 36. Rxg7+ Kd6 (36... Kxe6 37. Rh6#) 37. Rxb8 {Caruana saw this far but thought that there was perpetual after Qc5-g1+ Only in the post mortem he realized that the white rook on g7 is defending that square.}) 29... Qe8 30. Nxf7+ Rxf7 31. Rxe6 Qxb5 32. Rh6+ {And since the black queen is not longer threatening checkmate on e1 Black resigned. A possible follow up would have been:} (32. Rh6+ Kg8 33. Rg1+ Rg7 34. Be6+ Kf8 35. Rh8+ Ke7 36. Rxg7+ Kd6 (36... Kxe6 37. Rh6#) 37. Rxb8 { and White is completely winning.}) 1-0 [Event "London Chess Classic"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.15"] [Round "6.4"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Giri, Anish"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B81"] [WhiteElo "2779"] [BlackElo "2771"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "74"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "India"] [BlackTeam "Netherlands"] [WhiteTeamCountry "IND"] [BlackTeamCountry "NED"] [WhiteClock "0:30:21"] [BlackClock "0:10:08"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e6 7. g4 Be7 8. g5 ( 8. Bg2 Nfd7 9. O-O Nc6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. f4 O-O 12. Be3 d5 13. g5 a5 14. Na4 Ba6 {Fedoseev,V (2665)-Grischuk,A (2752) Novosibirsk 2016}) 8... Nfd7 9. h4 b5 10. a3 Bb7 11. Be3 Nc6 12. Qd2 O-O 13. O-O-O Nc5 14. f3 Rb8 (14... Ne5 15. Rg1 Rc8 16. h5 d5 17. g6 hxg6 18. f4 Nc4 {Navara,D (2751)-Solodovnichenko,Y (2592) Montpellier 2015}) 15. Rg1 Qc7 16. b4 $5 {Surprising, but "not so bad" according to Giri.} Nd7 17. Ndxb5 (17. Nxc6 Bxc6 18. h5 a5 19. Kb2 {is "quite unclear" (Giri).}) 17... axb5 18. Nxb5 Qc8 19. Nxd6 Bxd6 20. Qxd6 Rd8 21. b5 { The start of a forcing line.} (21. Bf4 {was suggested by Giri. "Perhaps he's right," said Anand.}) (21. f4 Nb6 22. Qxd8+ Nxd8 23. Bxb6 {doesn't work because of} Qc3 {(Anand)}) 21... Nde5 22. Qc5 Rxd1+ 23. Kxd1 Nxf3 24. bxc6 Bxc6 {All this was more or less forced.} 25. Rg3 (25. Bd3 Nxg1 26. Bxg1 e5 $1 {Anand }) 25... Rb1+ (25... Qd8+ {Giri didn't want to push the white king with} 26. Kc1 {but failed to see that after} Bxe4 {Black's threats are really strong.}) 26. Ke2 $1 ({Giri expected} 26. Bc1 $2 {when} Qd7+ 27. Bd3 Nxh4 {gives a winning advantage.}) 26... Qa6+ {With this move Giri thought he had calculated a winning line.} (26... Nxh4 $5) (26... Nh2 27. Bh3 Qa6+ {Anand} 28. c4) 27. Kxf3 Qxf1+ 28. Bf2 {"To my complete shock I couldn't find a win here." (Giri)} Qh1+ 29. Ke3 Qc1+ 30. Kf3 Qd1+ 31. Ke3 Qc1+ 32. Kf3 Qh1+ 33. Ke3 Qxe4+ 34. Kd2 Qf4+ 35. Kc3 Rb8 36. Rd3 Rc8 37. Kb2 h5 1/2-1/2 [Event "London Chess Classic"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.15"] [Round "6.5"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2804"] [BlackElo "2785"] [Annotator "mycomputer"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "France"] [BlackTeam "Armenia"] [WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"] [BlackTeamCountry "ARM"] [WhiteClock "1:21:28"] [BlackClock "1:06:10"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. a4 a5 (6... a6 7. c3 d6 8. Re1 Ba7 9. h3 Ne7 10. d4 Ng6 11. Nbd2 c6 12. Bf1 a5 {Carlsen,M (2853) -Karjakin,S (2772) New York 2016}) 7. c3 d5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Re1 Bg4 10. Nbd2 Nb6 11. Bb5 Bd6 12. h3 Bh5 13. Ne4 f5 (13... Na7 14. d4 Nxb5 15. axb5 exd4 16. Nxd6 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Qxd6 18. Bf4 Qf6 {Kramnik,V (2812)-Aronian,L (2792) Paris 2016}) 14. Ng3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Ne7 16. Bg5 c6 17. Bc4+ Nxc4 18. dxc4 e4 19. Nxe4 fxe4 20. Qxe4 Rf7 21. Rad1 Qc7 22. Rxd6 Qxd6 23. Bxe7 Qd2 24. Bc5 h6 25. Qe2 Rd8 26. Bd4 Qg5 27. Qg4 Re7 28. Rxe7 Qxe7 29. Qf5 Re8 30. Qxa5 Qf7 31. Kh2 Qf4+ 32. g3 Qf7 33. Kg2 Re1 34. g4 $1 {Missed by Aronian.} Rd1 $6 {"Strange." (MVL)} 35. Qe5 $1 {Of course the queen goes for a dominating position.} Qg6 36. b4 b6 $6 (36... h5 $5) 37. Bxb6 c5 (37... Qd3 38. Qe6+ Kh8 39. Qc8+ Kh7 40. Qf5+ {MVL }) 38. Bxc5 Qc6+ 39. f3 Rd3 40. Qb8+ Kh7 41. Qf4 1-0 [Event "London Chess Classic 2016"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.12.15"] [Round "6.3"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B96"] [WhiteElo "2823"] [BlackElo "2779"] [PlyCount "63"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:20:08"] [BlackClock "0:12:58"] 1. e4 {What a day it was! What more you could ask for? Well, today's round featured one of those rare days where we have thrillers everywhere on the chess board. Let me not scare you, and sum up some minor things. Well first, we had a solid draw between Kramnik and Adams. Boo. Then we had Giri chase Vishy's king but left with a draw. (He is an artist after all) Then we had Aronian over pressing and losing against Maxime. Then we had Wesley demolish Topalov's king. (As usual) And then well... this game. Let's keep it as suspense. So that was the things which happened today. Mind blowing, right? Even more so, when you see this game, the best of all, a Caruana-Nakamura duel. ..} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 {The Najdorf! How we love to see this opening. The reason is that it leads to "Sac,Sac,Mate!" Exactly what happened today.} (5... g6 {has been little popular. Najdorf is all the rage now.}) 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 h6 (7... Nbd7 {is also a solid line.}) (7... Qb6 { is possible directly also.}) 8. Bh4 Qb6 {The poison pawn! Now the question was, is Caruana going to allow you know what?} 9. a3 $1 {No! He protects b2. But I quite like this move. It is one of those little moves which make Fabiano an absolute genius.} (9. Qd2 {leads to some Talk like lines.} Qxb2 10. Rb1 Qa3 11. f5 $5 (11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Be2 Nc6 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. O-O $13 {The position remains complicated.}) 11... Be7 12. fxe6 fxe6 13. Bc4 Nxe4 $1 $13 {I love these lines!}) 9... Be7 10. Bf2 Qc7 11. Qf3 {The players are blitzing out moves, and they are still following Giri-Vachier Lagrave.} Nbd7 12. O-O-O b5 13. g4 g5 {No fear!} 14. h4 gxf4 15. Be2 b4 $2 {The game's novelty but a late one, and a bad one. You'll see.} (15... Ne5 $5 16. Qxf4 Nexg4 $1 17. Bxg4 e5 18. Nd5 $1 {as recommended by MVL.} (18. Qxf6 Bxf6 19. Nd5 Qd8 20. Nf5 { is not as strong as in the game.}) 18... Nxd5 19. Qf3 Nf4 (19... Bxg4 20. Qxg4 Nf6 21. Qf3 {These are many lines which are complicated. What great lines!}) 20. Bf5 $14) (15... d5 16. exd5 (16. g5 $5 Ne5 (16... Nxe4 $2 17. Nxe4 Ne5 18. Qc3 Qxc3 19. Nxc3 $18) 17. Qg2 Bxa3 $1 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. exd5 Qc3 $3 20. bxa3 Qxa3+ 21. Kd2 Bb7 $13 {is one of those highly engine evaluated lines.}) 16... Bb7 17. dxe6 $3 {Another queen sack!} Bxf3 18. exd7+ Kf8 (18... Qxd7 19. Bxf3 O-O-O $1 20. Nc6 $1 $18) 19. Bxf3 Rd8 20. g5 hxg5 21. hxg5 Rxh1 22. Rxh1 Ng8 23. g6 $1 $14 {with initiative.}) (15... Rg8 16. g5 $1 (16. Rdg1 {was played by Giri and he lost.}) 16... hxg5 17. hxg5 Ne5 18. Qxf4 Nfd7 19. Rh5 $1 $14 { with an advantage. Caruana had definitely prepared all this at home.}) 16. axb4 Ne5 17. Qxf4 Nexg4 18. Bxg4 e5 {We saw this sack in the direct Ne5 line also. There White had chose Nd5 but here....} 19. Qxf6 $3 {What a move! Played in a minute! Fabiano has it all worked out at home.} (19. Nd5 Nxd5 20. Qf3 Nxb4 $17 {this is the difference.}) 19... Bxf6 20. Nd5 Qd8 21. Nf5 $1 {This is a move which I really love! Fabiano could have gone for} (21. Nc6 Bxg4 22. Nxd8 Bxd8 23. Rd2 {with a slightly better endgame, but he had nothing of that!}) 21... Rb8 {35 mins think by Nakamura. As so often happens, it is a blunder. The only move was} (21... Bxf5 $1 22. Bxf5 Rb8 23. c4 $16 {But when you go in deep analysis and higher depth, you realise that it's almost impossible for a human to defend this! We could simply say 15...b4 was a bing blunder.}) 22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. Rxd6 $2 {Caruana does a mistake but he still has a good advantage and there is only one way in which Hikaru can defend.} Be6 24. Rhd1 $5 (24. Be3 { I expected this.} Rxb4 25. Rxa6 Bxf5 26. Rxf6 Bxg4 $16 {You can not be sure White will win.}) 24... O-O 25. h5 $3 {Not realised by the engines at all! Caruana is playing so simple moves, it doesn't feel like he is a queen down!} Qg5+ $4 {It wasn't clear what Hikaru was trying to do. He was totally shaken up by the queen sack.} (25... Rxb4 $1 {the only way. Otherwise Black is lost.} 26. Bh4 Bxf5 27. Bxf6 Bxg4 28. Re1 $16) (25... Rfe8 {is met with the brilliant} 26. Bh4 Qh8 27. c3 $3 {The engines don't understand my idea first, but slowly they raise their evaluation!} (27. Ne7+ Rxe7 28. Bxe7 Bxg4 29. Rd8+ Rxd8 30. Rxd8+ Kh7 (30... Kg7 31. Bf6+ $1 {is one to be aware of.}) 31. Rxh8+ Kxh8 $10 { and this must be a draw.}) 27... Kh7 (27... Bxf5 28. Bxf5 Qg7 29. R6d3 $1 { is the brilliant point. I was pleased to find this.}) 28. Ne3 $1 {is actually winning! Some of the lines:} Qf8 (28... Rb7 29. Bf5+ $1 Bxf5 30. Nxf5 $18) 29. Nd5 $1 Bxg4 30. Nf6+ Kh8 31. Nxg4 $18 {This is what makes chess so fun. Wouldn't you be happy to play these games yourself?}) 26. Be3 {and Black has to simply go back.} Qf6 (26... Qxg4 27. Nxh6+ Kh7 28. Nxg4 Bxg4 29. Rh6+ Kg7 30. Rg1 $18 {is a simple line.}) 27. Nxh6+ Kh8 28. Bf5 $1 {Simple yet strong chess. No need to complicate with} (28. Nxf7+ $5 Rxf7 29. Bxe6 Qf3 $1 {and Black has some chance!}) 28... Qe7 29. b5 (29. Nxf7+ $1 {now was to be preferred.} Qxf7 30. Rxe6 $1 $18) 29... Qe8 30. Nxf7+ Rxf7 31. Rxe6 Qxb5 32. Rh6+ {What a game! For the other games, here are the highlights: Nxf3!! in Anand-Giri, F5!! in Veselin- Wesley, Rxd6!! in MVL- Levon} 1-0 [Event "London"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.16"] [Round "?"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B96"] [WhiteElo "2779"] [BlackElo "2804"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] {Notes by Georg Meier -} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 {Everyone is happy to see this! The players go into the deep jungle, but to get out unscathed a formidable map is undispensable. One round earlier Hikaru ran right into quicksand as Black, so he decided to ask Maxime about the right path.} e6 7. f4 h6 ({To my mind} 7... Qb6 8. Qd2 (8. a3 Nc6) 8... Qxb2 9. Rb1 Qa3 10. e5 h6 11. Bh4 dxe5 12. fxe5 Nfd7 13. Ne4 Qxa2 14. Rd1 Qd5 15. Qe3 Qxe5 16. Be2 Bc5 17. Bg3 Qd5 18. c4 Bxd4 19. Rxd4 Qa5+ 20. Rd2 O-O 21. Bd6 f5 22. Bxf8 Nxf8 23. Nd6 Nbd7 {is the latest development. Both Giri and Vachier-Lagrave showed that Black is fine.}) 8. Bh4 Qb6 9. a3 (9. Qd2 Qxb2 10. Rb1 Qa3 {could transpose back to 7...Qb6.}) 9... Be7 10. Bf2 {That's the difference with the move order starting with 7...h6. I like this redeployment of the bishop, as Black has to relieve pressure on b2, while White gets ready for a pawn-storm on the kingside against the juicy target created by h6.} Qc7 { Now White can develop quite harmoniously.} 11. Qf3 Nbd7 12. O-O-O b5 13. g4 { Things start to heat up! White also seems to have created a target with a2-a3, but it is much harder to exploit, since Black cannot open up lines on the queenside.} Bb7 ({The round before we probably witnessed the end of} 13... g5 $6 14. h4 gxf4 15. Be2 b4 $146 {Hikaru's novelty, which led him straight into a lost position.} ({Maxime had been succesful with} 15... Rg8 16. Rdg1 $2 ({but } 16. g5 hxg5 17. hxg5 Ne5 18. Qxf4 Nfd7 19. Nxe6 fxe6 20. Rh7 {would have been big trouble} Bxg5 $2 21. Bh5+ Kd8 22. Bh4) 16... d5 17. exd5 Ne5 18. Qh3 exd5 {0-1 (28) Giri, A-Vachier Lagrave,M Stavanger 2016}) 16. axb4 Ne5 17. Qxf4 Nexg4 18. Bxg4 e5 19. Qxf6 $3 Bxf6 20. Nd5 Qd8 21. Nf5 $1 Rb8 (21... Bxf5 22. Bxf5 $18 {Picturesque! White is completely dominating. A queen needs targets, and there is not a single one in White's position. Black cannot get his king to any safety and unable to open up new lines, he has to await execution making aimless moves with the heavy pieces.}) 22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. Rxd6 {1-0 (32) Caruana,F-Nakamura,H London 2016}) 14. Bg2 Rc8 15. Kb1 g5 {Again, Black is fighting for the dark squares on the kingside. But of course this sharp attempt better be well-prepared at home...} 16. Qh3 Nc5 $2 {Maxime had already sunk into deep thought and it turns out that he already lost his way.} ({ There are a number of correspondence games with} 16... Nh7 17. e5 (17. f5 $2 e5 18. Nb3 Nhf6 {would allow Black to stabilize}) 17... Bxg2 18. Qxg2 gxf4 19. exd6 Bxd6 20. Rhe1 Be5 {And here I begun analysing quite a bit out of genuine curiosity. The move the computer wants to play probably wouldn't enter any player's head in London: Na2} 21. h3 $5 {This is very abstract too, but I like this move claiming there is some sort of Zugzwang!} (21. Nf5 exf5 22. gxf5 Ng5 23. h4 Qc6 24. Rd5 f6 25. hxg5 hxg5 {and Black holds}) (21. Na2 O-O 22. Nb4 a5 (22... Bxd4 23. Bxd4 a5 24. Nd3 f3 25. Qf2 b4 26. axb4 axb4 27. Nxb4 Qb7 { Was seen in the correspondence games, but without a computer's help Black should have very little chances to survive.}) 23. Na6 Qc4 24. b3 Qc3 25. Rd3 Bxd4 26. Rxc3 Bxc3 27. Rh1 a4 $13) (21. h4 {Looks logical, to get ready for Black castling, but then he doesn't} Rg8 {and finds a target on g4}) 21... O-O $6 (21... Rg8 $142 22. Rd3 Kf8 {appears playable for Black though}) 22. g5 $1 hxg5 23. Ne4 $36) 17. Rhe1 {All white's pieces joined the game, next is blowing up the center.} h5 (17... gxf4 {leads to a long forced sequence:} 18. g5 Nfd7 19. g6 fxg6 20. Nxe6 Nxe6 21. Qxe6 Ne5 22. Bd4 Qc4 23. Nd5 Bxd5 24. exd5 Qxc2+ 25. Ka1 Qf5 26. Qxf5 gxf5 27. Bxe5 dxe5 28. d6 Kf7 29. Rxe5 $16 { The d-pawn will tie Black down.}) 18. Nf5 $1 {...and that's how you do it in the Najdorf!} Ncxe4 {Keeping control requires precision from White, but his superior coordination should inspire full confidence that there is always gonna be a solution.} (18... exf5 19. exf5 Bxg2 20. Qxg2 {Now Black has to try and stop a breaktrough on the kingside, so:} Rg8 21. fxg5 Rxg5 {does not look bad at first sight, but} 22. h3 $1 {followed by Bh4 is breaking the blockade with devastating effect. Black's pieces are in a way shattered, living separate lives on each side and unable to work together.}) 19. Bxe4 Nxe4 20. Bd4 $1 {Not exposing c2 and assuming control over the Black kingside.} Rg8 21. Nxe7 Kxe7 22. gxh5 {White has transformed his initiative into one major asset: the h-pawn supported by queen and bishop. Of course the Black king's location in the center makes it impossible to form a succesful defence against its advance.} gxf4 23. Qh4+ Kf8 (23... f6 {would also expose the 7th rank, adding more problems.}) 24. Ka1 {Elegant and good enough, since Black cannot repair his position.} (24. h6 $1 e5 25. h7 Rh8 26. Ka1 $1 {is the computer's beautiful solution to win the game. Stepping away from c2 takes away any last trick Black may have.}) 24... b4 {desperation obviously} 25. Nxe4 Bxe4 26. Rxe4 Qxc2 27. Ree1 bxa3 28. Qxf4 axb2+ 29. Bxb2 Rg5 {For the first time all Black's pieces seem to be working together, he is aiming for an irritating rook swing, but Hikaru has it all under control.} 30. Qxd6+ Kg8 31. Rg1 $1 {The last precise move, Black is about to get mated.} Qa4+ 32. Ba3 Rxg1 33. Rxg1+ Kh7 34. Qd3+ Kh6 35. Rg6+ Kxh5 36. Rg1 f5 37. Qf3+ {So what can we say? Clearly, there are some real problems in the line Maxime chose, which may require Black to go back to the trodden paths of 7...Qb6. Otherwise black has to dig deep in the analysis of 16...Nh7 but it would not appeal to my chess senses at all. Nowadays you can solve opening problems in a lot of ways with the help of the computer, but it's necessary to play positions one has a good feel for as well. Since you cannot repeat all analysis constantly, eventually you'll get a complicated line you haven't looked at in a while and you will easily misstep if it does not suit you.} 1-0 [Event "London Chess Classic"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.12.16"] [Round "7.4"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B96"] [WhiteElo "2779"] [BlackElo "2804"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:23:56"] [BlackClock "0:10:49"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 h6 8. Bh4 Qb6 {Life is funny. Yesterday Nakamura lost in this line as Black; today he is checking out his opponent's prep there. "I borrowed this line from Maxime, but after my loss yesterday in which I practically made no move I was not sure how should Black defend."} 9. a3 Be7 10. Bf2 Qc7 11. Qf3 Nbd7 12. O-O-O b5 13. g4 Bb7 {A relatively rare move, although very normal for the Najdorf.} ({ Vachier-Lagrave is deviating from both his game with Giri and Caruana-Nakamura from yesterday. Those saw:} 13... g5 14. h4 gxf4 15. Be2 Rg8 (15... b4 { was played yesterday in the American battle.}) 16. Rdg1 {Giri,A (2790)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2788) Stavanger 2016}) 14. Bg2 Rc8 (14... g5 15. h4 gxf4 16. g5 Ne5 17. Qxf4 Nh5 18. Qd2 hxg5 19. hxg5 O-O-O 20. Kb1 Nc4 {was the course of the rapid game Naiditsch,A (2702)-Guliyev,N (2545) Le Port Marly 2012}) ({The immediate} 14... O-O-O {is also a possibility although White should be better once that he advances the kingside pawns.}) 15. Kb1 g5 {Black needs to secure some central squares for his pieces.} ({It is obvious Black can never castle "into it"} 15... O-O 16. h4 $1 {as the hook on h6 will make it incredibly easy for White to open files and checkmate.}) 16. Qh3 ({Naturally not} 16. fxg5 hxg5 {followed by Nd7-e5 and Black will have his dream Najdorf.}) 16... Nc5 { Only this is a novelty. Some email games saw:} (16... Nh7 {to which besides the move} 17. e5 ({White may also try} 17. f5 $5 {which definitely looks interesting.}) 17... Bxg2 18. Qxg2 gxf4 19. exd6 Bxd6 20. Rhe1 {with a mess in Marez,S (2444)-Szymanski,R (2439) corr. 2012}) (16... gxf4 {is always met with} 17. g5) 17. Rhe1 {Since Black is not castling, White will try to open the game in the center.} h5 {This works well for White, but it is not obvious what to do. The capture on g5 is an obvious threat. If:} ({After} 17... gxf4 18. g5 Nfd7 {White is going to soften the e6 pawn with} 19. g6 $1 fxg6 20. Nxe6 Nxe6 21. Qxe6 Ne5 22. Bd4 {with strong attack for White.}) 18. Nf5 $1 {Not only fun and risk free (Nakamura) but very typical and strong. Vachier-Lagrave's king is getting exposed and the power of the white rooks on the central files-is unleashed.} (18. fxg5 {would allow the black knight a chance to go to the e5 square.} Nxg4) 18... Ncxe4 ({If Black accepts the sacrifice} 18... exf5 19. exf5 Bxg2 20. Qxg2 {the problems come from the open e-file and the shaky posiiton of the f6 knight. Once that it is removed, Nc3-d5 follows and this is a killer. For example:} gxf4 21. g5 Rg8 22. Bd4 Kd8 23. Qd2 Rxg5 24. Bxf6 Bxf6 25. Nd5 {and wins.}) 19. Bxe4 Nxe4 ({Instead} 19... Bxe4 20. Nxe7 Kxe7 21. fxg5 {drops a piece.}) 20. Bd4 {An important attacking-defensive move.} (20. Nxe4 $2 Bxe4 21. Rxe4 $2 Qxc2+) 20... Rg8 21. Nxe7 $1 {The bishop seems to be a bad piece but it is the key defender. Once that it goes away, the force of White's attack would be multiplied by the opposite-colored bishops.} Kxe7 22. gxh5 gxf4 ({One line that demonstrates the OCB attack runs} 22... Nxc3+ 23. Bxc3 gxf4 24. h6 e5 25. h7 Rh8 26. Bb4 $5 Qxc2+ 27. Ka1 Rcd8 28. Rxe5+ {and this is basically it.}) 23. Qh4+ Kf8 24. Ka1 $5 {A clever move that side-steps the check after Qc7xc2+.} ({White wanted to capture on f4, but disliked} 24. Qxf4 e5 25. Qh6+ Ke7 26. Qh7 ({Instead White should go for the familiar OCB attack with} 26. Nxe4 Bxe4 27. Bc3 {with a clear advantage.}) 26... Nf6 {"and it is not so clear anymore" (Nakamura)}) ({Nakamura missed that he could have transposed the moves:} 24. h6 $1 e5 25. h7 Rh8 26. Ka1 $1 {is the most convincing win} exd4 (26... Nxc3 27. Qh6+ Ke7 28. Bxc3 {with the threat Bc3-b4. } a5 29. Bxa5 $1) 27. Nxe4 {Black is helpless.}) 24... b4 {This makes things easier for White.} (24... Qe7 25. Qxf4 ({"No, no, I do not take the piece with" } 25. Qxe7+ Kxe7 26. Nxe4 Bxe4 27. Rxe4 {"as after"} e5 {"he has all those pawns in the center and I might be the one in some trouble" Nakamura.}) 25... Qg5 26. Rxe4 Qxf4 27. Rxf4 e5 28. Rff1 {"at the very least Black is going to suffer for very long time" Nakamura.}) 25. Nxe4 $1 {White wins; he had calculated everything till the end. MVL's idea was:} (25. axb4 e5 26. Nxe4 Bxe4 27. Rxe4 Qxc2 28. Ree1 Qa4+ 29. Kb1 Qc2+ {with perpetual.}) 25... Bxe4 26. Rxe4 Qxc2 ({Or} 26... e5 27. h6 exd4 28. h7 Rh8 29. Qh6#) 27. Ree1 bxa3 28. Qxf4 ({ Of course not:} 28. bxa3 $4 Rg2 {when Black is checkmating.}) 28... axb2+ 29. Bxb2 Rg5 {Black is threatening mate, but it is White to check first.} 30. Qxd6+ Kg8 ({There is checkmate on the other side:} 30... Ke8 31. Rxe6+ fxe6 32. Qxe6+ Kf8 33. Qf6+ Ke8 34. Re1+) 31. Rg1 Qa4+ 32. Ba3 {The most convincing. Nakamura also knew that he is winning after:} (32. Qa3 Qxa3+ 33. Bxa3 Rxg1 34. Rxg1+ Kh7 35. Bc1) 32... Rxg1 33. Rxg1+ Kh7 34. Qd3+ Kh6 (34... f5 35. Qd6 Qe8 36. Qf4 Qxh5 37. Bb2 {would be soon mate too. Say} Rg8 38. Qc7+ Kh6 39. Bg7+ Kh7 40. Bf8+) 35. Rg6+ $1 {A nice little move to force the black king uncover itself.} Kxh5 (35... fxg6 36. Qxg6#) 36. Rg1 f5 37. Qf3+ {It is either mate or queen gain.} 1-0 [Event "London Chess Classic 2016"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.16"] [Round "7.4"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B96"] [WhiteElo "2779"] [BlackElo "2804"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [SourceDate "2003.06.08"] [WhiteClock "0:23:56"] [BlackClock "0:10:49"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 h6 8. Bh4 Qb6 9. a3 Be7 10. Bf2 Qc7 11. Qf3 Nbd7 12. O-O-O b5 13. g4 Bb7 14. Bg2 Rc8 15. Kb1 g5 16. Qh3 Nc5 (16... Nh7 17. f5 e5 $14) 17. Rhe1 h5 18. Nf5 $1 Ncxe4 ( 18... exf5 19. exf5 Nxg4 20. Bxc5 dxc5 21. Bxb7 Qxb7 $18) 19. Bxe4 Nxe4 20. Bd4 Rg8 21. Nxe7 Kxe7 22. gxh5 gxf4 23. Qh4+ Kf8 24. Ka1 {Crafty} (24. h6 {is even better} e5 25. h7 Rh8 26. Qh6+ Ke7 27. Ka1 {is necessary. Otherwise, white will have problems on c2.}) 24... b4 (24... e5 25. Nxe4 $18) (24... Qe7 25. Qxf4 e5 26. Qh6+ $18) 25. Nxe4 Bxe4 26. Rxe4 Qxc2 27. Ree1 bxa3 28. Qxf4 axb2+ (28... e5 29. Qh6+ Ke7 (29... Rg7 30. Rc1 $18) 30. Bxe5 $18) 29. Bxb2 Rg5 30. Qxd6+ (30. Qxg5 Qa4+ $11) 30... Kg8 31. Rg1 Qa4+ 32. Ba3 Rxg1 33. Rxg1+ Kh7 34. Qd3+ Kh6 35. Rg6+ Kxh5 36. Rg1 f5 37. Qf3+ 1-0 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.12.16"] [Round "7.5"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "Topalov, Veselin"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2771"] [BlackElo "2760"] [PlyCount "133"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:22:34"] [BlackClock "0:25:50"] 1. c4 {After 6 draws, Giri would have been confident he would win the next, against the self destructive Topalov. Who knew that Topalov would choose today for a solid draw....} Nf6 2. d4 {Transposing into the queen's pawn.} e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 {This line is becoming increasingly popular and one of the main lines in the top level after Anand's win against Carlson in Sochi. Earlier the main move was} (5. Bg5 {but here the tartakower variation is a very hard nut to crack.}) 5... O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 c6 8. h3 $5 {A cute little trick used by Tomashevesky. However it is well known now.} (8. Bd3 {was the move played by Anand against Carlsen.} b6 9. b4 a5 10. a3 Ba6 11. Bxa6 Rxa6 12. b5 $5 {and he went on to win a beautiful game.}) 8... b6 9. b4 a5 10. a3 h6 ( 10... Ba6 {now loses a tempo as} 11. Bxa6 Rxa6 12. b5 $1 {and White has simply included the move h3!}) 11. Be2 Ba6 12. O-O (12. Bxa6 Rxa6 13. b5 $5 {was interesting here too.} cxb5 14. c6 Qc8 15. c7 {and I think Giri would have won this because Topalov is blundering in these type of positions.} b4 $1 {as played by Magnus(without h3 and h6 included)} (15... Bxa3 $5 16. Nxb5 Bb4+ 17. Ke2 $13) 16. Nb5 a4 {threatening to create a passer with b3} 17. Rc1 Ne4 18. Nd2 (18. Ng5 $4 {of course the h6 pawn is here and this ain't possible now as in Anand-Carlsen!} hxg5 $19) 18... e5 $1 {this was mentioned in the analysis by Anand. He said that this is the reason he didn't go for this Nd2 be because it is already equal.} 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Bxe5 Nxe5 21. dxe5 $14 {White has a slight edge here and he can push.}) 12... Qc8 {He's definitely in a solid mood! } 13. Rb1 Bxe2 14. Qxe2 axb4 15. axb4 Qb7 (15... Qa6 $2 16. Qxa6 Rxa6 17. Ra1 $1 $16 {is already a big advantage for White.}) 16. Rfc1 Rfc8 17. Ne1 Bd8 18. Qd1 Bc7 19. Nd3 $10 {You can see that Topalov has totally neutralized Giri's initiative. An achievement after 6 rounds of blunders by him.} b5 $6 {There was no need to close it like this. Now Giri can play on the e-file!} (19... Bxf4 {was the simplest.} 20. exf4 Ne4 21. Ne2 Ra2 $1 {and Black has sufficient counterplay.}) 20. Ra1 $1 {Immediate action!} Ne4 21. Ne2 Bd8 {Topalov is swinging back and forth with his bishop.} (21... Bxf4 22. Nexf4 $14 {now.}) 22. f3 Nef6 {We won't see Topalov getting pushed like this everyday! Fast forward some moves and we reach....} (22... g5 $2 23. fxe4 dxe4 24. Nf2 gxf4 25. Nxe4 $18 {is winning.}) 23. Nc3 Nf8 24. Rc2 Ng6 25. Rca2 Rxa2 26. Rxa2 Ra8 27. Qa1 Rxa2 28. Qxa2 Nxf4 29. exf4 $14 {...this position. The dust has settled and I would now like to talk to you about this position in detail. The position we have in front of us is all about small subtleties. White has a static advantage, a long-term advantage which means that he can push on forever. White has good control over e5. He can push his kingside pawns. So these were White's advantages. Now you would think White has a clear advantage! Well, no, not at all! Black has his own share of advantages: He has a bishop. He can use the d4 pawn as a target. If he exchanges queens, the position is more or less drawn. So it is the same- White has a safe and stable edge, and that's where it ends!} Nd7 30. Ne2 Bc7 31. h4 $1 {A hood way increasing the space advantage. } (31. Ne5 Nf8 32. g3 {was also an option, playing extremely slowly.}) 31... Nb8 $1 {This is what I was talking about. Black wants to exchange queens.} ( 31... h5 {was possible but it wasn't needed anyways.}) 32. h5 Qa6 33. Qb2 (33. Qxa6 Nxa6 $10 {is a draw. Here is a sample line.} 34. Kf2 f6 35. Ke3 Kf7 36. g4 Nb8 37. Ng1 Nd7 38. Nh3 Ke7 39. f5 exf5 40. gxf5 Nf8) 33... f6 34. g4 $1 { Giri is going ahead and sure he wants to win!} Nd7 35. Kf2 $1 {Now Giri starts a maneuver no one would have thought of!} Qa8 36. Ke1 (36. Ke3 {looked like the normal continuation.}) 36... Kf7 37. Kd2 Kg8 38. Kd1 Kf7 39. Kc2 Qa4+ 40. Kc1 {This is known as patience. What a way to reach the 40th move!} Qa8 41. Kb1 Qa7 42. Qc1 Qa8 43. Kb2 $1 {And he finishes his long journey! What amazing play by Anish!!! I never saw anything like this before.} Bd8 (43... e5 $5 { is a very interesting line!} 44. fxe5 fxe5 45. g5 e4 $1 $13) 44. Qg1 $1 Be7 { One thing is clear: Black has to be ready for a long, long game.} 45. Nec1 Bd8 46. Nb3 Qb7 $6 {Now it's a critical moment. Giri finally has a way to the clear advantage he was looking for!} (46... Nf8 $1 {Topalpv should have considered the upcoming storm.}) 47. Qe3 $6 {He misses his one and only chance! After this Topalov gives him no chance and it becomes an easy draw.} ( 47. g5 $3 Nf8 $1 (47... hxg5 48. fxg5 fxg5 49. f4 $1 $18 {is totally gone!}) ( 47... fxg5 48. fxg5 Bxg5 49. f4 $1 {and ge is toast!}) 48. Qe3 {and now White can claim a big advantage as if} fxg5 $2 49. Na5 Bxa5 (49... Qa6 50. Nxc6 $1 { is a nice trick.}) 50. bxa5 $18) 47... Qa8 48. Qc1 Qa4 49. Qe1 Qa8 50. Qd2 Qa4 51. Nf2 Qa8 52. Nh3 Qc8 53. Qc2 Nf8 54. Nc1 Kg8 55. Nd3 Nh7 56. Qe2 Nf8 57. Qe3 Qd7 58. Ng1 Qe8 59. Ne2 Bc7 60. Nec1 Kf7 61. Nb3 Ke7 62. Qe1 Kd7 63. Nbc1 Kc8 64. Ne2 Nd7 65. Ng3 Qf7 66. Qe3 Kb7 67. Ne2 $14 {White still has a slight edge but Giri saw no reason to continue. He must be kicking himself for the missed chance. Elsewhere there were 3 solid draws with Nakamura blasting off MVL in another razor sharp Najdorf!} 1/2-1/2 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.12.17"] [Round "8.4"] [White "Topalov, Veselin"] [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2760"] [BlackElo "2779"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "68"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:20:13"] [BlackClock "0:07:34"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 {This line of the Queen's Gambit Declined was heavily explored in the 1978 Karpov-Korchnoi match in Baguio city. Nowadays it is played by practically all of the top players.} 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3 (8. Qc2 {at once is the other main move.}) 8... Nc6 9. Qc2 Re8 {A move that Anand had to face in his second match against Carlsen in Sochi, 2014.} (9... Qa5 {remains the main line, for example} 10. Rd1 Re8 11. Nd2 e5 12. Bg5 Nd4 13. Qa4 Qxa4 14. Nxa4 Nc2+ 15. Ke2 Nd4+ 16. Ke1 Nc2+ 17. Ke2 Nd4+ 18. Ke1 Nc2+ {1/2-1/2 Karjakin,S (2773)-Nakamura,H (2787) Bilbao 2016}) 10. O-O-O ({The aforementioned game went} 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Rd1 Qa5 12. Bd3 h6 13. Bh4 dxc4 14. Bxc4 a6 {and Black was close to equality, Anand,V (2792) -Carlsen,M (2863) Sochi 2014}) 10... e5 11. Bg5 d4 12. Nd5 {All of this was blitzed out until Anand uncorked the strong novelty} b5 {"An improvement which my second brought to my attention. There are seven, eight moves that we have analyzed here, and all of them are playable." (Anand)} ({Prior to this game, Black was sacrificing a pawn for the initiative with:} 12... Be7 13. Nxe7+ Qxe7 14. exd4 Nxd4 15. Nxd4 exd4 16. Rxd4 Qe5 {Lalith,B (2569)-Thejkumar,M (2452) Jalgaon 2013}) 13. Bxf6 $2 {This looks a bit premature. Why release the pressure when there are no concrete threats on the kingside?} ({Perhaps White could try} 13. cxb5 Na5 (13... Qxd5 14. Bc4 {the next time this position occurs on the board. But he has to be heavily prepared for the arising complications.})) 13... gxf6 14. cxb5 Na5 $1 15. exd4 ({Obviously not} 15. Qxc5 $4 Nb3+) (15. b4 Qxd5 16. bxc5 Nb3+ {leaves the white king badly exposed.}) 15... exd4 16. Nb4 {This is pretty much the only move as otherwise Black clears the c-file for his heavy pieces amazingly fast:} (16. Nf4 Bd6 17. Nd3 Be6 {and Black has strong threats.}) (16. Ne3 $5 Be6 17. Nc4 Rc8 {looks unpleasant as well.}) 16... Bxb4 17. axb4 Be6 $1 {The opening was a huge success for Black. He opened files on the queenside and has an obvious attack.} 18. Nxd4 {There is hardly a better choice:} (18. bxa5 Rc8 {drops the queen.}) ( 18. Kb1 Qd5 19. Qa4 Nb3 {leads to problems on the queenside.}) 18... Rc8 19. Nc6 Nxc6 20. bxc6 Qb6 21. Qa4 ({White cannot stitch the position on the queenside with} 21. b5 {due to} a6) (21. Kb1 {was relatively best and after} Rxc6 22. Qa4 {would transpose into the game.}) 21... Rxc6+ {A slip. The engines discovered the clever} (21... Bg4 $1 {to lure the pawn to} 22. f3 { after which, the e3-square is weakened, and Black wins after} Bf5 23. Bd3 Qe3+) 22. Kb1 Rd8 23. Rxd8+ Qxd8 24. Be2 {Somewhere around here Topalov started to defend "exceptionally well." - Anand.} Bf5+ 25. Ka2 Rc2 (25... Qd6 $1 {was better and only after} 26. Ka1 (26. Rd1 Qe6+) 26... Rc2) 26. Rd1 Qb6 {At first, Anand wanted to put the queen on c7, and he spent a lot of time calculating the mind-boggling line:} (26... Qc7 27. Qe8+ Kg7 28. Rd8 Be6+ 29. Ka3 Qc3+ 30. Ka4 (30. bxc3 Ra2#) 30... Qb3+ 31. Ka5 Rxe2 32. Qh8+ Kh6 33. Qxf6+ Kh5 34. Rd4 {This is where he gave up calculating, but the computer prolonged the line with } Re4 $1 {although nothing is yet clear after} 35. f4 $3 {when both kings are under fire.} (35. Rxe4 Qa2+ $1 {Much better than} (35... Qd5+ $6 36. b5 Qxe4 37. f3) 36. Kb5 Qd5+ {and Black wins.})) 27. Bg4 $1 Qe6+ (27... Bxg4 28. Qxc2 Bxd1 29. Qxd1 Qxb4) 28. Ka3 (28. Ka1 Qe5 {does not look healthy for White.}) 28... Qe5 29. Qb3 Bg6 30. Bf3 ({Perhaps Topalov was already calculating the line} 30. h4 {to trouble the black bishop.} Rxf2 31. Rd5 Qf4 32. Bf3 {This was the reason he went for h2-h4 on the next move.}) 30... Rxf2 31. h4 {But this does not transpose to the line from above. Black has a much stronger move. Instead Topalov should have opted for either} (31. Rd5) ({or the move that he suggested himself} 31. Rc1 {In both cases, White's position remains worrisome but full of life.}) 31... Bc2 $1 32. Rd8+ Kg7 33. Qc3 $2 {This loses on the spot. White would be still in the game after} (33. Qc4 Qe3+ 34. Ka2 Qc1 35. Qg4+ Bg6 36. Qd4 Qb1+ (36... Bb1+) 37. Kb3 Bc2+ {although it is obvious who is on the attack.}) 33... Qb5 34. Qc6 Rxf3+ $1 {The move that White missed.} ( 34... Rxf3+ 35. gxf3 (35. Qxf3 Qa4#) 35... Qxc6) 0-1 [Event "8th London Chess Classic 2016"] [Site "London"] [Date "2016.12.17"] [Round "8"] [White "Topalov, Veselin"] [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2760"] [BlackElo "2779"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "68"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [TimeControl "40/7200:3600+30"] 1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} e6 {[%emt 0: 00:05]} 3. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:09]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 4. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Be7 {6 After having a pretty long stint with 4...Nbd7, Vishy reverts to the old Classical line with 4...Be7.} 5. Bf4 {[%emt 0:00:41]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:09]} 6. e3 {[%emt 0:00:11]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} (6... Nbd7 {is what has been favoured more at the top level because of its complex nature. However, Vishy paves his own path.}) 7. dxc5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Bxc5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 8. a3 {89} Nc6 {85} 9. Qc2 {15 This is all well known theory and you can find nearly thousand games with this position. Qa5 is the main move here and has been played extensively. Anand plays a move that was tried against him by Magnus Carlsen.} Re8 $5 {28 The idea of this move is pretty obvious. Black would like to play e5.} 10. O-O-O $5 {223 The most aggressive move. Topalov played this after four minutes of thought.} (10. Bg5 {is the move that Anand played against Carlsen in their World Championship Match.} Be7 (10... d4 {was tried by Thejkumar against Lalith. We reach the same position in the game through another move order.} 11. O-O-O e5 12. Nd5 Be7 13. Nxe7+ Qxe7 14. exd4 Nxd4 15. Nxd4 exd4 16. Rxd4 Qe5 17. Be3 {It definitely seemed like Black had compensation. But Lalith managed to win that game. Lalith Babu-Thejkumar, National Premier 2013.}) 11. Rd1 Qa5 12. Bd3 h6 13. Bh4 dxc4 14. Bxc4 a6 $14 { Although the game Anand-Carlsen, Sochi 2014 ended in a draw, one thing was clear White was the one pressing and Black is under pressure.}) 10... e5 { [%emt 0:00:39]} 11. Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:31]} d4 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 12. Nd5 {82} b5 $5 $146 {10 You can bank on Anand to find new ideas and that dangerous ones. Credit must be given to his second Grzegorz Gajewski for finding such amazing moves. When Anand was asked by Maurice Ashley whether he pays enough to Gajewski, he jokingly asked him to keep quiet and then said, "Yes, I pay him well!"} (12... Be7 {As mentioned before this was played in Lalith-Thejkumar.}) 13. Bxf6 {253 From his talks with Topalov after the game Anand felt that the Bulgarian had seen the move 12...b5 before. This just goes to show how well these guys prepare. But this is definitely not the most challenging continuation.} (13. Nxf6+ gxf6 {could be an interesting line after} 14. cxb5 ( 14. Qe4 Be6 $1 15. Qxc6 Rc8 16. Qe4 bxc4 $44) 14... Na5 $13) (13. cxb5 { is also worth looking into.} Na5 14. exd4 exd4 15. Nxf6+ gxf6 16. Kb1 Qd5 17. Bxf6 Be6 {Once again it's a complete mess.}) 13... gxf6 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 14. cxb5 {896} Na5 {610} (14... Qxd5 15. bxc6 $16) 15. exd4 {464} (15. Qxc5 Nb3+ $19) (15. b4 $6 {This just seems to weakening to be even thought of.} Qxd5 16. bxc5 Be6 $17) 15... exd4 {187} 16. Nb4 {479 The knight looks at the attractive c6 square to block the c-file.} (16. Nf4 Bd6 $1 17. Nd3 Be6 $19) 16... Bxb4 { 1023 Anand played this after 17 minutes of thought.} 17. axb4 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Be6 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 18. Nxd4 {426} (18. bxa5 Rc8 $19) 18... Rc8 {[%emt 0:00: 18]} 19. Nc6 {219} Nxc6 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 20. bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:11]} (20. Rxd8 Nxd8 $17) 20... Qb6 {39 Although the pawn cover in front of the black king is also shattered, this is clearly a better position for Black because his king is much safer.} 21. Qa4 {409} (21. b5 a6 $17) 21... Rxc6+ $6 {758} (21... Bg4 $1 {would have been very strong. The idea is to provoke f3 and then come back to f5.} 22. f3 Bf5 {So what difference does this make as compared to the game?} 23. Bd3 Qe3+ $1 {That was the point of Bg4. The e3 point is weak.} 24. Kc2 Qe2+ 25. Rd2 Bxd3+ $19) (21... Bf5 22. Bd3 {Now there is no Qe3+ and hence White is fine here.}) 22. Kb1 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Rd8 $1 {96 A very nice move. Anand wanted to prevent his opponent from playing Bd3 and hence this move is very logical in that respect.} 23. Rxd8+ {346} Qxd8 {282} 24. Be2 {201} (24. Qxc6 Qd1+ 25. Qc1 Bf5+ $19) 24... Bf5+ {226} 25. Ka2 {189} Rc2 {925 At this point Vishy thought that he was winning but Topalv defended tremendously.} 26. Rd1 { 103} Qb6 {477} (26... Qc7 {was th original intention of Anand, but he couldn't make the line work after} 27. Qe8+ Kg7 28. Rd8 Be6+ (28... Rxe2 $1 {seems stronger.} 29. Qh8+ Kh6 30. Qxf6+ Bg6 31. Rd4 Re5 $17 {Black is better.}) 29. Ka3 Qc3+ $1 {Usually such a queen sacrifice is the end of the line. But here it is not the case. White king can keep running.} 30. Ka4 Qb3+ 31. Ka5 Rxe2 32. Qh8+ Kh6 33. Qxf6+ Kh5 34. Rd4 {When the position is really complex.}) 27. Bg4 $1 {829} Qe6+ {416} (27... Bxg4 28. Qxc2 Bxd1 29. Qxd1 Qxb4) 28. Ka3 {411} Qe5 {158} 29. Qb3 {159} Bg6 {127} 30. Bf3 {158 At this point White is out of danger. Seeing nothing better Anand took the pawn on f2.} Rxf2 {79} 31. h4 $2 { 371 Anand was threatening the move Bc2 here. So it is interesting to see what exactly did Topalov think when he went for this move. Well after this Black is better.} (31. Qc3 {seems like the simplest way to reach an equal position.}) 31... Bc2 {251} 32. Rd8+ {[%emt 0:00:44]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:21]} 33. Qc3 $2 {74} (33. Qc4 {was the only move to stay in the game. Keeping the b5 square controlled.}) 33... Qb5 $1 {17 It's a forced mate now on a4.} 34. Qc6 {163} ( 34. b3 Qa6+ 35. Kb2 Bxb3+ 36. Kxb3 Qa2#) 34... Rxf3+ {6 Topalov's nightmare continues. A good day for Vishy as he managed to show some outstanding opening prep. It is true that if he would have found ...Bg4 the game would have ended much quicker. But in any case a point is a point.} 0-1 [Event "London Chess Classic"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.12.18"] [Round "9.5"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Topalov, Veselin"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A37"] [WhiteElo "2785"] [BlackElo "2760"] [Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"] [PlyCount "106"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:33:27"] [BlackClock "0:19:41"] 1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 c5 3. g3 {It might sound strange to try and win against the clearly out-of-form Topalov in a slow English opening, but this way of playing is proven to be the most difficult for someone who has a bad tournament. The longer you apply the pressure, the better the chance is that this player collapses under pressure.} Bg7 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. O-O e6 7. e3 Nge7 8. d4 O-O 9. Re1 {Quite a rare move.} ({Instead} 9. d5 {is also possible and} Na5 10. Nd2 exd5 11. cxd5 b5 $5 {was the course of the game Grandelius,N (2649)-Li,C (2755) Stavanger 2016}) (9. dxc5 {is definitely a move too.}) ({And} 9. b3 { is sort of a main line.}) 9... a6 {A logical novelty. Black starts his play on the queenside.} ({In all the games so far, Black continued with} 9... Re8 10. b3 Rb8 11. Bb2 cxd4 12. exd4 d5 {with complex play in Grischuk,A (2783) -Dominguez Perez,L (2754) Beijing 2013}) 10. Bd2 Rb8 11. Rc1 b6 {Obviously, Black disliked the obvious:} (11... b5 {The reason might be the line:} 12. dxc5 dxc5 13. Ne4 Bxb2 14. cxb5 $1 Bxc1 (14... Rxb5 15. Rxc5) 15. Nf6+ Kg7 16. Qxc1 Kxf6 17. bxc6 Kg7 18. Qxc5 {with a fantastic position for White.}) 12. Ne2 { Aronian stopped the queenside play, but since his knight no longer has access to the center, Topalov can start central play.} e5 13. Bc3 h6 {A useful move that takes away the g5-square from the white knight.} (13... b5 $5) 14. d5 { Aronian plays against the black knight.} Nb4 ({In bad or good shape, Topalov is Topalov. No one would really expect a gloomy retreat like} 14... Na7) 15. Ra1 {With the obvious threat, 16.a3 to trap the knight.} ({Trading the bishop for a knight is never a good idea} 15. Bxb4 cxb4) 15... b5 $5 {The point behind the previous move. Black sacrifices a piece for two-three pawns.} (15... a5 16. a3 Na6 17. Nd2 {would work well for White. The knight on a6 is badly misplaced.}) 16. a3 bxc4 17. axb4 cxb4 18. Bd2 Nxd5 19. Qc1 {Now if Black consolidates, he will be the clear favorite. Therefore Aronian hurries to create some damage to the pawns.} c3 $1 {This should have been foreseen in advance.} (19... Qc7 {does not work due to} 20. Nxe5 $1 Nxe3 21. Bxe3 dxe5 22. Bxh6 {with a clear edge for White.}) 20. bxc3 b3 21. Qb1 (21. Qb2 $5 {might have been a tad more precise.}) 21... Nf6 {Intending 22...Bc8-f5.} 22. Qb2 (22. e4 $5 {can be met with another pawn sacrifice:} Be6 23. Rxa6 b2 {when the b2 passer is more than annoying.}) 22... Qc7 23. c4 $1 {Aronian gets operating room for his pieces.} ({Black was ready to sacrifice another pawn after} 23. Ra3 Be6 24. Rxa6 Nd7 $1 {with the idea Nd7-c5-d3 (or a4)!}) 23... Qxc4 24. Nc3 {Now Bg2-f1 and Re1-c1 are always ideas here.} Be6 25. Rec1 Nd7 {The queen is not even blinking an eye...} 26. e4 ({Since in case of the immediate} 26. Bf1 Qg4 {the queen is nicely shifted to the kingside.}) 26... Nc5 27. Bf1 Qb4 28. Be3 Rfc8 29. Nd2 a5 {Both sides are consistently shifting their pieces to the queenside where is the actual battleground. And since the black pawns are becoming very dangerous, Aronian needs to swap off some pieces.} 30. Bxc5 Rxc5 31. Ra4 Qb7 32. Bc4 Qc6 {But in the process, Topalov gets a lot of activity.} 33. Bd5 Bxd5 34. exd5 Qd7 (34... Qc7 {to keep the pin was more to the point.}) 35. Ra3 a4 {It should be added that Black was very low on time at this stage of the game.} 36. Nxa4 Rxd5 37. Nxb3 e4 38. Qa2 Qf5 39. Re1 Rdb5 40. Rc1 d5 { Time trouble is over, it is time to take stock. Although Black lost a pawn, he is hardly losing anything. A bishop is almost always better than a knight in the endgame. There are very few pawns left, and they are on the same flank. In the worst possible scenario, Topalov can hope to trade them all and get into one of the many theoretical draws where the knights are involved. Speaking about the knights, they are kind of lost on the queenside at the moment.} 41. Nac5 d4 42. Ra7 d3 {Once again, the black pawns are becoming extremely dangerous.} 43. Rc7 h5 {An excellent move from every angle. From an attacking point of view, it weakens the kingside or brings a "nail" into the h3-square. From a defensive point of view: trade pawns.} 44. Qa4 h4 45. Qxe4 {Aronian had enough of these pawns and decided to force a draw. A correct decision, but after...} Qxe4 46. Nxe4 Rxb3 47. gxh4 $4 {the Armenian GM badly errs. Correct was} (47. Rd7 {to take care of the passer at once. After} h3 48. Rd1 Bh6 { he should take the pawn carefully with} 49. Nc5 ({White cannot capture the pawn at once due to the back-rank mate} 49. R7xd3 $4 Rxd3 50. Rxd3 Rb1+) 49... Rb1 50. R7xd3 {when the point should be split.}) 47... Bh6 48. Rf1 {This sets a small trap, but Black does not need to fall into it. The intermediate check does not help:} (48. Rc8+ Rxc8 49. Rxc8+ Kg7 50. Rd8 Rb1+ 51. Kg2 d2 52. Nxd2 ( {Or} 52. Rxd2 Bxd2 53. Nxd2 Rb2 {when Black should also win. The typical plan is to bring the king to e2 for instance and sacrifice the exchange back in the proper moment.}) 52... Rd1 {and the knight is lost to the pin.}) ({Here} 48. Rd1 {is already slow due to} Rb1 49. Rxb1 Rxb1+ 50. Kg2 d2 {and Black wins.}) 48... R3b4 {Aronian's trap is revealed in the line:} (48... Rb1 49. Rd7 Rxf1+ 50. Kxf1 Rb1+ 51. Kg2 d2 52. Nxd2 Rd1 53. Ne4 Rxd7 54. Nf6+ Kg7 55. Nxd7) 49. f3 ({Or:} 49. Ng5 Rxh4 50. Nxf7 Bf4 51. Rd7 Rh7 $1 52. Rxd3 Rxf7) 49... Rb2 { Black is winning, the d2-passer is too strong.} 50. Nf6+ Kg7 51. Ng4 d2 52. Rd7 (52. Nxh6 Kxh6 53. Rd7 Re8 {followed by Re8-e1 would be similar to the game.}) 52... Re8 53. Nf2 Re1 {With the unstoppable threat Rb2-b1!} 0-1