Family Matters

Aryan Tari – Magnus Carlsen
8th Altibox Norway Chess; Stavanger, October 7, 2020
Sicilian Defence B69

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 Bd7 7. Qd2 a6 8. 0-0-0 e6 9. f4 Be7 10. Nf3 b5 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Kb1 Qb6 13. f5 0-0-0 14. Bd3 Kb8 15. Ne2 Bc8 16. Nf4 Ne5 17. Be2 d5 18. exd5 exf5!? Carlsen’s novelty has an almost insignificant impact on the assessment of the position. 18. ... Nxf3 was played in a previous game, in which Black saved a draw only after considerable difficulties: 19. Bxf3 e5 20. Ne2 Bxf5 21. Ng3 Bg6 22. Qe2 Rc8 23. Be4 Rc4 24. Nf5 Qc5 25. Bd3 Bxf5 26. Bxf5 Rd8 27. Bxh7 Rxd5 28. Rxd5 Qxd5 29. Rd1 Rd4 30. Rxd4 Qxd4 31. a3 Qg1+ 32. Ka2 Qxh2 33. Bg8 Qf4 34. Bxf7 e4 35. c4 Qe5 36. cxb5 axb5 37. Be8 Bxa3 38. Qxb5+ ½ : ½ Šolak – Ashwin, 36th International Chess Open, Albena 2012. 19. Nd4 Bc5 20. Rhf1 Rhe8 21. a3 Ka8 22. h3 Bd7

23. Nh5? A grossly naïve and simplistic move by Tari. On the other hand, Carlsen would never have allowed such a move, if it had been a strong one. White should have played 23. d6 or 23. Qc3 with a solid advantage in both cases. 23. ... Nc4 24. Bxc4 bxc4 25. Qc3? 25. Ka1 is a little better, although 25. ... Rb8 26. c3 Bxd4 27. cxd4 Re3! (Δ ... c4-c3) 28. Qb4 (28. Nxf6? Ba4 29. Rb1 Rb3−+) 28. ... Qc7 29. Qc5 Qb7 30. Qb4 Qxd5 31. Nf4 Qc6 leaves Black a Pawn up with great advantage. 25. ... Rb8−+ (Δ ... Re8-e3) 26. Rf3

26. ... Re1!! 27. Rxe1 Bxd4 28. Qb4 Qc7 29. d6 Qc6 30. Qa5 Bxb2 31. Ka2 Be5 32. Rb1 Rxb1 33. Kxb1 Qxd6 34. Kc1 Qd4 35. Qxa6+ Kb8 36. c3 Qg1+ 37. Kd2 Qxg2+ 38. Ke3 f4+ 39. Nxf4 Bxf4+ 40. Rxf4 Qg3+ 41. Rf3 Qe1+ 42. Kd4 Qe5+ 43. Kxc4 Qe4+ 44. Kc5 Qxf3 45. Kd6 Bc8 0 : 1.

Not surprisingly, in today’s derby, Norwegian chess family’s hierarchies were respected. Photo © Lennart Ootes.