The Repartee

Anish Giri – Magnus Carlsen
80th Tata Steel Chess Tournament; Wijk aan Zee, January 16, 2018
French Defence C18

1. e4 e6. The effect of surprise. 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. Qg4 cxd4 8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7 Qc7 10. Ne2 Nbc6 11. f4 dxc3 12. Nxc3 Nd4 13. Bb2 Bd7 14. 0-0-0 Qb6 15. Qd3 Ndf5 16. Rd2!? From here starts the four-hand composition by the two illustrious rivals in order to rewrite the old screenplay: 16. Nb5 Rc8 17. g3 a6 18. Nd4 Ba4 19. Rd2 Rc4 20. Bg2 Nxd4 21. Bxd4 Qb5 22. Bf1 Qc6 23. Qe2 Nf5 24. Bb2 Rh8 25. Qf2 Nxg3 26. Bxc4 Nxh1 27. Qa7 Qxc4 28. Qb8+ Kd7 29. Qxh8 Bxc2 30. Rxc2 Qf1+ 31. Kd2 Qf2+ 32. Kd3 Qf3+ 33. Kd2 Qf2+ 34. Kd3 Qf3+ 35. Kd2 ½ : ½ Svidler – Vitiugov, 5th Alekhine Memorial, Paris/Saint Petersburg 2013. 16. ... Rc8 17. g3 Ne3

18. Ne4! Rxc2+! The repartee. 19. Rxc2 dxe4 20. Qxe4 Nxc2 21. Qxc2 Bc6 22. Bg2 Bxg2 23. Qxg2 Nd5 24. Kb1 Nc3+ 25. Ka1 Qb3 26. Bxc3 Qxa3+ 27. Kb1 Qxc3 28. Rc1 Qb4+ 29. Qb2 Qe4+ 30. Qc2 Qb4+ 31. Qb2 ½ : ½. Not an actual surprise.