Blackbird

Jan-Krzysztof Duda – Magnus Carlsen
2nd Qatar Masters Open; Doha, December 23, 2015
Sicilian Defence B92

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2. Who do you think you are, Karpov? – Dr. Mauro Bonacci used to ask his opponents every time they played 6. Be2. It happened in Florence many years ago. 6. ... e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Bg5 Nc6 9. Qd3 Nb4. For 9. ... Be6 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. 0-0-0 Be7 12. Kb1 0-0 13. Nd5 Bxd5 14. Qxd5 Qc8 15. c3 Qe6 see Gallagher – Benitah, 27th Mitropa Cup, Olbia 2008. 10. Qd2 h6 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. Qxd5 Qc7 14. 0-0-0 Be7 15. Kb1 Be6 16. Qd3 0-0 17. f4 exf4 18. Nd4 Bd7 19. Rhf1 Bf6 20. Rxf4 Be5 21. Rff1 Rac8 22. c3 b5 23. Nf3 Be6 24. Nd4 Bc4 25. Qf3 b4 26. cxb4 Qb6 27. Bxc4 Rxc4 28. Nc2 Rfc8 29. Rd2 Qc6 30. Qxf7+ Kh8 31. Qf2 a5 32. a3. If 32. bxa5 then 32. ... Ra4 and Black should manage to find fuel for his initiative. 32. ... axb4 33. Nxb4 Qxe4+ 34. Ka2. Or 34. Nd3 Bc3! with a terrific attack.

34. ... Rxb4! The bombshell comes with a brilliant Exchange sacrifice! 35. axb4 Ra8+ 36. Kb3 Rb8 37. Ka2 Qxb4 38. Rc1 Qa4+ 39. Kb1 Qe4+ 40. Rcc2. Not 40. Rdc2 Rxb2+ 41. Ka1 Qa4 mate. 40. ... Bxb2! 41. Qf3 Qe1+ 42. Rd1 Bd4+ 0 : 1. Magnus was again brilliant!

Jan-Krzysztof Duda (R.) vs. Magnus Carlsen (L.)
Photo: Katerina Savina