Knights and Castles

Radosław Wojtaszek – Fabiano Caruana
83rd Tata Steel Chess Tournament; Wijk aan Zee, January 26, 2021
King’s Indian Defence E94

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 0-0 6. Be2 e5 7. 0-0 Bg4 8. Be3 Bxf3 9. Bxf3 exd4 10. Bxd4 Nc6 11. Be3 Re8 12. Qd2 Nd7 13. Rad1

13. ... Bxc3!? The beginning of an epic East Side story, in the most unthematic King’s Indian style. Whatever Caruana’s good reasons, one can only say that such a move would have made Chigorin happy! 14. Qxc3 Qf6 15. Qc1. Wojtaszek goes for an unclear Pawn sacrifice, preferring it to 15. Qc2 Nc5 16. b3 a5 which he assessed as exceedingly comfortable for Black. 15. ... Nc5 16. Qb1 Qe6 17. Rfe1. 17. b4 Nxe4 18. Rc1 is an alternative version of the Pawn sacrifice that might have its own claims for compensation. 17. ... Qxc4 18. b3 Qc3 19. Bd2 Qf6 20. Bc1 h5 21. Bb2 Ne5 22. Be2 h4 23. Qc1 g5 24. Bb5 Re7 25. Re3 Qg6 26. Be2 Rae8 27. Qc2 Ne6 28. f3? 28. h3 f6 was probably White’s best chance. 28. ... Nf4 29. Bf1 c6 30. Qf2 Re6 31. Rc3

32. ... d5! 32. g3 hxg3 33. hxg3 dxe4. 33. ... g4! was also very strong — which can be an euphemism not to say “stronger”. 34. gxf4. A little better was 34. fxe4 Nh5 35. Qf5, but after 35. ... Qh6 Black’s initiative continues. 34. ... gxf4+ 35. Qg2 exf3! 36. Qxg6+ Rxg6+ 37. Kh1 f2 38. Bh3

38. ... Nc4! Elegant to the end. 39. Rxc4 Re1+ 0 : 1.

Deep thoughts, long ponderings, beats, raps, and in the end Caruana sacrificed both his Knights to get here. Photo © Jurriaan Hoefsmit/Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2021.