The Magician of Gali

Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin – Baadur Jobava
FIDE Grand Prix; Khanty-Mansiysk, May 21, 2015
French Defence C10

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. e5 Nge7 5. Nf3 Bd7. Intending to castle on the Queenside. After 5. ... Nf5 6. h4! h5 7. Bg5 White stands slightly better, Šarić – Jobava, 76th Tata Steel Chess Tournament Challengers, Wijk aan Zee 2014. 6. Ne2 Nf5 7. Ng3 Nh4 8. c3 g6 9. Bf4 f6!? This appears to be a thematic move, even though it implies a Pawn sacrifice. 10. Nxh4. If 10. Nh5 then 10. ... fxe5! 11. Nxe5 Bd6 gives Black good play. 10. ... fxe5 11. Nxg6 hxg6 12. dxe5 Qh4. Black’s compensation shines on the board! 13. Ne2 0-0-0 14. Qd2

14. ... Rh5!! The text move prepares for a most profound Exchange sac. 15. Ng3 Rxe5+ 16. Bxe5 Nxe5 17. Qe3 Nc6. Also worth considering was 17. ... Bd6 18. Qxa7 c5 with adequate compensation. 18. Bb5 Bh6 19. Qe2 e5 20. Rd1 a6 21. Bxa6 Ne7 22. Bb5. Karjakin is willing to sacrifice the Bishop in order to neutralize Black’s initiative. On 22. Bd3 Bf4! would afford Black dangerous attacking possibilities. 22. ... c6 23. Qxe5 Bf4 24. Rd4 Bxe5 25. Rxh4 cxb5 26. 0-0 Kc7 27. Re1 Kd6 28. Rh7 Nc6 29. Rd1 Ke6 30. Re1 Kd6 31. Rd1 Ke6 32. Re1 ½ : ½.

Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin vs. Baadur Jobava
Photo: Kirill Merkurev

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