Monday, October 12, 2020

On Wind of Chance

Levon Grigori Aronian – Fabiano Caruana
8th Altibox Norway Chess; Stavanger, October 11, 2020
Sicilian Defence B22

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. d4 Nf6 6. Na3 Nc6 7. Be3 cxd4 8. Nb5 Qd7 9. Nbxd4 a6 10. Bd3 Bd6 11. 0-0 Ne7 12. Qc2 0-0 13. Bg5 Ng6 14. Rad1 Qc7 15. Rfe1 Bd7 16. g3 Rfe8 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. h4 Kh8? (18. ... Kg7!? Δ 19. h5 Nf8) 19. Qd2 Bf8. Suddenly, Black felt uneasy. 19. ... Bxg3? 20. fxg3 Qxg3 21. Qg2 leads nowhere. 20. h5 Ne7 21. Bc2! Red8 22. Qd3 f5


23. g4? Immediately after obtaining his most ideal attacking position, White misses his best way: 23. Ng5! Be8 (23. ... Kg8 24. Bb3+−) 24. Qe2! with sacrificial threats looming on e6. 23. ... f6! 24. g5 (24. Nh4 Nc6) 24. ... Qf4! 25. gxf6 (25. Qf1 e5) 25. ... Qg4+ 26. Kf1 Qh3+ 27. Ke2 Nd5 28. Qd2 Bb5+! 29. Nxb5 Qg4 30. Qg5 Nf4+ 31. Ke3 Ng2+ 32. Ke2


32. ... Qc4+! Since after 32. ... Nf4+ Black has nothing more than a draw, Caruana justly tries for something trickier, basically speculating on his opponent’s time shortage. 33. Bd3 Rxd3 34. Rxd3? 34. Ne5! Nf4+ 35. Kf1 Rg3+ 36. Nxc4 Rxg5 37. Nc7 Rxh5 38. Kg1 Rc8 39. Rd7 Rg5+ 40. Kh2 Rh5+= 41. Kg3?? Bh6−+ tellingly illustrates why White should not avoid the perpetual check. 34. ... Nf4+ 35. Ke3?? (35. Qxf4! Qxf4 36. Rd4 Qh6 37. Nc7 Rc8 38. Nxe6 Qxf6∞) 35. ... Qe4+ 36. Kd2 Qxd3+ 37. Kc1 Qxf3 38. f7 Qg4 0 : 1.

Magnus Carlsen (standing) takes a look at the game between Aronian and Caruana. Photo © Lennart Ootes.

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