Between the Lines

Fabiano Caruana – Vladimir Vasilyevich Fedoseev
1st FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament 2019; Santon, October 15, 2019
Sicilian Defence B31

Today’s victory of Caruana undoubtedly had much to do with opening theory. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. 0-0 Bg7 5. c3 e5 6. d4 cxd4 (6. ... exd4 7. cxd4 Nxd4 8. Nxd4 Bxd4?! 9. Nc3 Ne7 10. Bh6!) 7. cxd4 exd4 8. Bf4 Nge7 9. Bd6! 0-0 10. Nbd2. “White has excellent development and his occupation of the key square d6 definitely sets Black some problems in bringing out his remaining pieces”, John Emms, Richard Palliser, and Peter Wells wrote in their book “Dangerous Weapons: Anti-Sicilians”, Everyman Chess, London, 2009, p. 95. 10. ... a6 11. Qa4 Ra7 12. Bd3 b5 13. Qc2!?TN (13. Qd1 Bb7 14. a4 bxa4 15. Qxa4 a5 16. Rfd1 h6 17. Nb3 Re8 18. Nbxd4 Nxd4 19. Nxd4 Qb6 20. Nb5 Bc6 21. Qa3 Bxb5 22. Bc5 Qb7 23. Bxb5 Raa8 24. Qa4 Nc6 25. Be3 Rab8 26. Bxc6 Qxc6 ½ : ½ Ruck – Ivić, 28th Croatian Team Chess Championship, Mali Lošinj 2019) 13. ... Bb7 14. a4 bxa4 15. Rxa4 a5

16. h4 Ba6. The engines give the Exchange sacrifice 16. ... Nc8 as an interesting option for Black, but the eventual compensation of a Pawn and the Bishop pair would not probably be enough to change the story’s ending. 17. Bxa6 Rxa6 18. b4 Na7 19. Qc5. 19. Bc5!? may be even stronger for White, according to the engines. 19. ... Nac8 20. Bc7 Qe8 21. b5 d6 22. Qc4 d5? 22. ... Nb6 23. Bxb6 Rxb6 24. Rxa5 is somewhat better for White, but probably still tenable for Black. After the text, Black’s game falls apart beyond repair. 23. Qc5 dxe4 24. Nxe4 d3 25. Ra3 Re6 26. Nfg5 Nf5 27. Nxe6 Qxe6 28. Ra4 Re8 29. b6 Qd7 30. Qxa5 Nxb6 31. Bxb6 Qc6 32. f3 d2 33. Bf2 Bh6 34. Ra3 Qc2 35. Qd5 Qc1 36. Ra7 Rf8 37. Ra1 Ne3 38. Bxe3 Bxe3+ 39. Kh1 Qc7 40. Qd3 Bh6 41. Qd4 Rd8 42. Nf6+ Kh8 43. Nd5+ Kg8 44. Ra8 1 : 0.

So far — and once again — Caruana is confirming himself as the most competitive challenger to Magnus Carlsen. Photo credit: John Saunders.