Rocking horse

Wesley So – Anish Giri
78th Tata Steel Chess Tournament; Wijk aan Zee, January 16, 2016
English Opening A36

1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 c5 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. a3 d6 6. Rb1 a5 7. d3 e5 8. Nd5 Nce7 9. Nc3 Nc6 10. e4 Nge7 11. Nge2 0-0 12. 0-0 Bd7 13. Bd2 h6 14. Nb5 Be6 15. Nec3! A novelty, and – more importantly – a very strong one, at least when compared with 15. b4 axb4 16. axb4 b6 17. bxc5 bxc5 ½ : ½ Gazarian – Eraschenkov, Essentuki 2003. 15. ... b6 16. Nd5 Bxd5. In fact, this could be a step in the wrong direction. 17. cxd5 Na7 18. Nc3! Needless to say, basic strategy suggests White to avoid exchanges in such a position due to his distinct space advantage. 18. ... f5. Also after 18. ... b5 19. b4! cxb4 20. axb4 a4 21. Be3 followed by Qd1-d2 White stands quite better, but the text move might be even worse. 19. h4 f4 20. Bh3 b5

21. Ne2! Beginning one of those deep Knight manoeuvres of which Wilhelm Steinitz would be proud. 21. ... f3 22. Nc1 h5 23. Nb3 a4 24. Na1. Giri got totally outplayed. “Giri’s position looks strategically hopeless. Don’t see how he can prevent the winning Na1-c2-e1xf3 idea”, Grandmaster Daniel W. Gormally said. 24. ... b4 25. axb4 cxb4 26. Qxa4 Nac6 27. Qd1 Nd4 28. Nc2 Nxc2 29. Qxc2 Rb8 30. Rfc1 Rb7 31. Qb3 Kh8 32. Rc4 Ng8 33. Rxb4 Rxb4 34. Qxb4 Bf6 35. Rc1 Qe7 36. Qb6 Bxh4 37. Rc7 1 : 0. “It is clear that Anish is probably the best prepared player on the planet right now. I’m sure he has analysed it”, Wesley So finally said. Such a sense of humor!

Wesley So
Photo: Alina l’Ami