Hands Clean

Fabiano Caruana – Teimour Boris oghlu Radjabov
3rd Gashimov Memorial; Shamkir, May 30, 2016
Sicilian Defence B31

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. h3 Nf6 7. Nc3 0-0 8. Bf4 b6. For 8. ... Nh5 9. Be3 b6 10. g4 Nf6 11. Qd2 e5 12. Bh6 see Grischuk – Radjabov, World Blitz Chess Championship, Astana 2012. 9. Qd2 Re8 10. 0-0-0 a5 11. Ne5 b5 12. Qe3. On 12. Nxc6 Qb6 would give Black obvious compensation for the Pawn. 12. ... Qb6? “Actually today, 12. ... Qb6 was a real mistake somehow, after that move position is worse for Black, despite comp’s evaluation. 12. ... Nd7!! 13. Nxd7 Bd4! would equalize after 14. Qg3 Qxd7! and it seems that Black is doing fine”, then Radjabov said. 13. Bh6 Bh8 14. f4 a4 15. Rhf1 e6 16. g4 a3? Black deprives himself of any counterplay on the Queenside. Deserving consideration was 16. ... b4. 17. b4! Nd7 18. Nxd7 Bxd7 19. e5. Fabi fixes the centre before launching into the Kingside attack. 19. ... f5 20. Ne2 Bg7 21. Bxg7 Kxg7

22. h4! fxg4 23. h5! gxh5 24. Ng3 Kh8 25. Nxh5 Re7 26. Nf6 Be8 27. f5! White’s attack is overwhelming. 27. ... exf5 28. Rxf5 Qc7 29. Rg5 Rg7. 29. ... Bg6 30. Rxg6 hxg6 31. Qh6+ Rh7 32. Rh1!! would have inspired a very pretty finish. 30. Rh1 Bg6 31. Rxg4 Qf7 32. Kb1 cxb4. Also after 32. ... c4 33. d4 White must win. 33. Qd4 Bf5 34. e6! It is not so hard to find, but composes an artwork. 34. ... Rxg4 35. exf7 Rxd4 36. Ne8! 1 : 0. “Anyway an interesting game, not boring at all :)”, Radjabov finally said.

Fabiano Caruana vs. Teimour Radjabov
Photo: shamkirchess.az