The Second Time Around

Fabiano Caruana – Wesley So
Candidates Tournament; Berlin, March 10, 2018
Bogo-Indian Defence E11

Fabiano Caruana started with a shining win over his fellow countryman Wesley So. Only time will tell where he’s going, but, wherever he’ll arrive, I am quite sure the “Agon Alliance” will warmly welcome him. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Be7 5. Bg2 d5 6. Nf3 0-0 7. 0-0 c6 8. Qb3 Nbd7 9. Bf4 a5 10. Rd1 Nh5 11. Bc1 Nhf6 12. Nbd2 b5 13. c5 b4 14. Qc2 a4 15. Re1 e5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. dxe5 Nd7 18. Nf3 Bxc5 19. Ng5 g6 20. Bf4 Qb6 21. e4 b3 22. axb3 axb3 23. Qe2 Ba6? So somehow managed to hold back White’s initiative so far, but the text exposes him to serious consequences. If nothing else, Stockfish’s 23. ... Rxa1 24. Rxa1 Nxe5 25. Bxe5 f6 seemed to offer some hope of counterplay (eventually along the f-line). 24. Qf3 Bc4 25. Rxa8 Rxa8

26. e6! Fabi goes for the jugular. 26. ... dxe4 (26. ... fxe6 27. Bc7!+−) 27. exf7+ Bxf7 28. Nxe4 Bd4? 28. ... Re8 29. Rd1 Bd5 30. Qd3 is a little better, but not that much. 29. Nd6 Bd5? Black’s best defence was probably 29. ... Nf6, but after 30. Nxf7 Kxf7 31. Bf1! it’s hard to imagine a different outcome than the one of the actual game. 30. Qe2 Nf8 31. Bxd5+ cxd5 32. Qf3 Qa5 33. Re7 1 : 0.