Bells & Whistles

Fabiano Caruana – Richárd Rapport
Candidates Tournament 2022; Madrid, June 22, 2022
Sicilian Defence B46

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g4!? Nge7. They got off beaten tracks — but only apparently so. 7. Be3 b5 8. Nb3 Na5 9. Qd2 (9. g5 Nec6 10. Bg2? Nc4 11. Bc1 Be7 12. h4 Bb7 13. Qe2 Rc8 14. 0-0 h6 15. gxh6 gxh6 16. a4 Qb6 17. axb5 axb5 18. Nd2 N6e5 19. Nxc4 Rxc4 20. Be3 Bc5 21. Bf4 d6 22. Kh1 Rg8 23. Bg3 Bd4 24. Nd1 Ng4 25. Ra3 Qc6 26. c3 Bc5 27. Ra1 Nf6 28. b3 Rxe4 29. Bxe4 Nxe4 30. Kh2 Nxc3 0 : 1 S. B. Hansen – U. Andersson, 20th German Schach Bundesliga, Porz 2000) 9. ... Nxb3 10. axb3 Bb7 11. Bg2 Ng6

12. Rf1!? This is a sort of computer-like theory. Humanly speaking, in such a situation, it is customary for White to first castle, but Caruana was probably deterred by 12. 0-0-0 Nh4 13. Bg5 Be7 14. Bxh4 Bxh4 15. f4 0-0 where White has no apparent way to demonstrate anything with it — after 16. Qxd7? Qb6! Black’s dark-square initiative compensates him ad abundantiam for the Pawn. 12. ... Bc6 13. g5. Still, castling is quite imprudent for after 13. 0-0-0 a5 14. f4 a4 it is not clear who is attacking whom. 13. ... a5 14. f4 a4 15. Rd1. Who knows — maybe Caruana just wanted to pay a tribute to Kramnik’s no castling chess. 15. ... Bb4 16. Qd4 Qa5 17. Qxg7 a3

18. Kf2! At once a home for the King and an unpinning move. 18. ... axb2 19. Ne2

19. ... e5! An interference move, forcing a draw by repetition: 20. f5 Bf8 21. Qf6 Be7 22. Qg7 Bf8 23. Qf6 Be7 24. Qg7 ½ : ½.

Caruana metaphorically “holding the mouse” on a piece of analysis. Photo: Stev Bonhage/FIDE.