Jump Attack

Hikaru Nakamura – Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin
6th Altibox Norway Chess; Stavanger, June 6, 2018
English Opening A29

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 0-0 6. 0-0 e4 7. Ng5 Bxc3 8. bxc3 Re8 9. f3 exf3 10. Nxf3 d5 11. d4 dxc4 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. Nd2!? Nakamura’s addenda to a field in which much has been theorised about. For example: 14. e4 Bg4 15. Qa4 Qd6 16. Rae1 Rab8 17. Qxc4 b5 18. e5 bxc4 19. exd6 cxd6 20. Rxe8+ Rxe8 21. Nd2 Na5 22. Ne4 Rd8 23. Rb1 d5 24. Nc5 Be6 25. Rb5 Nc6 26. Na6 Rd7 27. a4 Kf8 28. Nc5 Rc7 29. Na6 Rd7 30. Nc5 Rc7 31. Na6 ½ : ½ Aronian – Anand, 3rd Sinquefield Cup, Saint Louis 2015. 14... Qe7. It was worth considering 14. ... Qg5!? 15. Nxc4 Bg4 16. Rf2 Qh5 17. Qb3 Bxe2 18. Qxb7 Nxd4 with unclear play. 15. e4! Na5? In wanting to retain the Pawn, Black ends up giving his opponent a free hand on the Kingside. Probably best was 15. ... Rb8 16. Nxc4 Be6 17. Qe2 b5 18. Ne3 Na5 with a still tenable game. 16. e5 Be6 17. Ne4 Rad8 18. Qh5. White’s attack is already overwhelming. 18. ... b5. 18. ... Kh8 19. Rf6! is just a variation in theme of Black’s nightmare.

19. Nf6+! Kh8. Not 19. ... gxf6 on account of 20. Rxf6 winning on the spot (20. ... Qf8 21. Rxh6 Qg7 22. Be4 followed by Rh6-h7 wins at least the Queen). 20. d5. Nakamura can even afford himself the luxury not to play 20. Nxe8 immediately, aiming at the liquidation into a won ending through other means. 20. ... Bxd5 21. Bxd5 Rxd5 22. Nxe8 Rxe5 23. Qxf7 Qxe8 24. Qxe8+ Rxe8 25. Rae1. Black formally has sufficient material compensation for the Exchange, but all the rest is against him. Nakamura finishes the game quickly and easily. 25. ... Rxe1 26. Rxe1 c5 27. Kf2 b4 28. Ke3 bxc3. Tripled Pawns too. 29. Rc1 Nc6 30. Rxc3 Nb4 31. Rxc4 Nxa2 32. Rxc5 Nb4 33. Ke4 Kh7 34. Rc4 a5 35. Rc5 a4 36. Rc4 Nc6 37. Rxa4 Nd8 38. Ra6 Nf7 39. Kf5 Nh8 40. h4 Nf7 41. g4 1 : 0.

Hikaru Nakamura. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Altibox Norway Chess.