The Weight of a Crown

Anish Giri – Magnus Carlsen

Champions Chess Tour 2021; Grand Finale Tournament; tie-break game 1; time control: 5 minutes plus 3 seconds per move; chess24.com/Oslo, October 1, 2021

Sicilian Defence B52

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. 0-0 Nge7 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Qb6 7. Be3 Nxd4 8. a4 Nxb5!!?? A stunning, though possibly unsound, Queen sacrifice which throws Giri into anguish. Any human theory gave only 8. ... e5 9. c3 a6= Campora – Khatanbaatar, 34th Olympiad, Istanbul 2000. 9. Bxb6 axb6. Black has obtained three pieces for the Queen, but as long as his underdevelopment persists, any claim for compensation is to be deemed more virtual than real.

10. Nd2? This natural developing move may very well be the only mistake Giri made in the opening, and in any event it proves enough to justify Carlsen’s dashing sacrifice. The best seems to be 10. Qd3! Nc7 (10. ... Na7 11. Na3) 11. Qg3 keeping Black in bondage. 10. ... Nd6! Suddenly Black’s minor pieces spring to life as the lonely White Queen will have to deal with all them. 11. e5 Ndf5 12. Ne4 Nc6 13. g4 Nh4 14. f4 h5 15. h3. The alternative is 15. g5 on which Black can reply 15. ... Nf5 16. c3 Nce7! with a truly Nimzowitschian trademark. 15. ... hxg4 16. hxg4

16. ... d5! 17. exd6 Ra5 18. c4 f5! 19. b4! Nxb4 20. d7+ Bxd7 21. Nd6+ Bxd6 22. Qxd6 Nc6

23. Rad1? It will be immediately clear why White ought to have first played 23. Qc7 with an unsteady balance. 23. ... Bc8! 24. g5. Now 24. Qc7 is answered by 24. ... 0-0! 25. g5 Ng6−+ winning similarly as in the game. 24. ... Ng6 25. Rf2 Kf7 26. Qc7+ Nce7 27. Rd8 Rxd8 28. Qxd8 Rxa4 29. Qc7 e5 30. fxe5 Be6 31. Qxb7 Rxc4 32. Qxb6 Nxe5 33. Re2 Rc6 34. Qe3 N5g6 35. Kh2 Bc4 36. Rb2 Re6 37. Qf3 Re4 38. Rb7 Be6 39. Kg1 Rg4+ 40. Kh2 Rxg5 41. Rb6 Bd5 42. Qe3 Rg2+ 43. Kh3 Rg4 44. Kh2 f4 45. Qd4 Rg5 46. Rd6 f3 47. Rd7 Rf5 48. Qg4 Be6 49. Rd1 Ne5 50. Qh4 f2 51. Kg2 Bd5+ 52. Kf1 Bc4+ 53. Kg2 f1=Q+ 0 : 1.

Edge of Tomorrow

Anish Giri – Ian Alexandrovich Nepomniachtchi

Champions Chess Tour 2021; 4th stage; Magnus Carlsen Invitational 2021; Final match game 6; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com, March 19, 2021

Sicilian Defence B48

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. g4 h6 8. h4 Nf6 9. Nxc6. From a strategic viewpoint, this looks very dubious. Worth considering was 9. Nb3 d6, switching from a Taimanov to a Scheveningen formation. 9. ... bxc6. In compliance with the theoretical precepts, Black strengthens the centre. If 9. ... Qxc6 10. Bg2 Ba3!? then 11. Bc1 with an edge for White. 10. Qf3 d5 11. g5 hxg5 12. hxg5 Rxh1 13. Qxh1 Ng4 14. Bd2 Bb7?! Black makes it too easy for White to play in attack. Decidedly better was 14. ... Rb8! seeking counterplay. 15. Qh3 Ne5 16. 0-0-0. Now White has reached a promising attack position without having to fear anything. 16. ... d4 17. Nb1 c5 18. f4 Nc6? This seems to be the losing move. Black had to play 18. ... Ng6, whether he liked or not.

19. g6!+− 0-0-0 20. gxf7 Qxf7 21. Bc4. Game over. 21. ... Kb8 (21. ... Re8 22. f5+−) 22. Bxe6 Qc7 23. Bc4 Ka7 24. Na3 Nb4 25. Re1 Be7 26. Kb1 Re8 27. e5 Bd8 28. Bb3 g5 29. Nc4 gxf4 30. Bxf4 Nd5 31. Bd2 Qg7 32. Nd6 Rh8 (32. ... Rxe5 33. Rxe5 Qxe5 34. Qd7+−) 33. Qe6 Bh4 34. Rc1 Nc7 35. Qc4 Qxe5 36. Nf7 Qh2 37. Qxc5+ Kb8 38. Qxd4 Rf8 39. Bf4 Bg3 40. Bxg3 Qxg3 41. Qb4 1 : 0.

U+00BD

Anish Giri – Alireza Firouzja
83rd Tata Steel Chess Tournament; Wijk aan Zee, January 30, 2021
French Defence C11

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 a6 8. a3 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bc5 10. Qd2 0-0 11. Be2 Qc7 12. 0-0. As they say, “slow and steady wins the race”. A very famous game went on 12. Bf3 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Nb6 14. Ne2 Bxd4 15. Qxd4 Bd7 16. b3 Bb5 17. Nc3 Rfc8 18. Nxb5 axb5 19. Be2 Nd7 20. Ra2 Nb8 21. 0-0 Nc6 22. Qd2 Qb6+ 23. Kh1 Qa5 24. Qxa5 Rxa5 25. Raa1 Rca8 26. Rad1 Rxa3 27. Bxb5 Nb4 28. c4 R8a5 29. f5! (29. Rb1 d4∓) 29. ... exf5 30. g4 Rxb3 31. gxf5 Re3 32. Rb1 Nd3? (both are short of time; correct was 32. ... Ra2 33. Rxb4 Ree2 forcing perpetual check) 33. e6? (33. Ra1!⩲↑) 33. ... d4 34. Be8 Nc5 35. Bxf7+ Kf8 36. f6 gxf6 37. Rxf6 Ke7 38. Rh6 d3 39. Rxh7 d2 40. Rg1? Re1 41. Bh5+ Kxe6 42. Rg7 Ne4 43. Rg6+ Ke5 0 : 1 Topalov – Ivanchuk, 4th M-Tel Masters, Sofia 2008. 12. ... b6 13. Nxc6 Qxc6 14. b4 Bxe3+ 15. Qxe3 Bb7 16. Bd3 d4 17. Qe4 Qxe4 18. Nxe4 Bd5 19. Ng5 g6 20. Nf3 Bxf3 21. Rxf3 b5 22. Be4 Rad8 23. Rd3

23. ... Nb6. Black’s Knight proves to be a valiant defender. 24. Bb7 Na4 25. Bxa6 Nc3 26. Bb7 Ne2+ 27. Kf2 Nxf4 28. Rd2 d3. Who knows, maybe 28. ... f6!? might have been better here. 29. c3

29. ... Ne2? 29. ... Rb8 seems much better, with a tenable game for Black (30. Ke3 g5 31. Be4 Rbc8). 30. Ke3 Nxc3 31. Rxd3 Rxd3+?! This probably doesn’t help much, since after the exchange of Rooks White carries the siege of the b5-Pawn more easily. 32. Kxd3 Na4 33. Rc1 Rd8+ 34. Ke2 Kg7 35. Bc6 Rb8 36. Rc2 Kf8 37. Kd2 Ke7 38. Kc1 f6 39. exf6+ Kxf6 40. Kb1 Ke5 41. Ka2 Kd4 42. Kb3 Kd3 43. Rf2. It might have been simpler to enter a Rook endgame a Pawn up by 43. Bxb5+ Rxb5 44. Kxa4 with what seems to be a win for White (44. ... Rb8 45. Rc5 Re8 46. b5 e5 47. b6 e4 48. Ka5!+−). 43. ... e5 44. Rf7 Nb6 45. Bxb5+. The target Pawn has finally fallen, and now White should somehow be able to bring home the full point, even though there are still many remarkable technical difficulties to overcome. 45. ... Kd4 46. a4 Nd5 47. Rxh7 e4 48. Rf7 e3 49. Rf1 Nc3 50. Rf4+ Ke5 51. Rf3 Nxb5 52. Rxe3+. Not 52. axb5? on account of 52. ... Kd4 drawing at once. 52. ... Kd4 53. Rg3 Nd6 54. Rxg6 Ne4 55. a5 Kd5 56. a6 Nc5+ 57. Ka3 Nd3 58. a7 Ra8 59. Rg7 Kc6 60. h4 Nf4

61. g4? Nemesis falls, and White only draws. True, the mighty machines give here as winning for White 61. Ka4! followed by the Pawn check; for instance: 61. ... Ng6 62. b5+ Kb6 63. Rg6 Rxa7+ 64. Kb4 Re7 65. h5 and Black shouldn’t be able to keep at bay all White’s Pawns. But when there is only one solution, there are always too many ways not to spot it. 61. ... Ne6 62. Rf7 Nc7 63. g5 Rxa7+ 64. Kb2 Ra8 65. g6 Ne6 66. h5 Rh8 67. Rh7 Rg8 ½ : ½.

Almost unnoticed, on the eve of the last day of January, Giri arrived on the top of the mountain, but, as a consequence of today’s draw, he will have to go all out for a win in his final round game with David Antón Guijarro to clinch his first ever title in Wijk aan Zee — and if this ever were to happen, he would be the second Dutchman to do so, following Jan Timman in 1985. Photo © Jurriaan Hoefsmit/Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2021.

Newton’s Law

Anish Giri – Magnus Carlsen

Champions Chess Tour 2021; 1st stage; Skilling Open; Quarterfinal match game 4; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com, November 25, 2020

Giuoco Piano C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. 0-0 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 h6 7. Nbd2 0-0 8. Re1 a5 9. Nf1 Be6 10. Bb5. Another continuation is 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. Be3 Bxe3 12. Nxe3 d5 13. h3 a4 14. Qe2 a3 15. b4 d4 16. cxd4 exd4 17. Nc2 Nh5 18. b5 Nf4 19. Qd1 and now the Pawn sacrifice 19. ... Ne5 may have more cons than pros, as after 20. Nxe5 Qg5 21. Ng4 h5 22. Nxd4 hxg4 23. Qxg4 Qxg4 24. hxg4 Rad8 25. Nb3 Nxd3 26. Re2 b6 27. f3 Black’s compensation appears to be quite dubious, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Naiditsch, 5th GRENKE Chess Classic, Baden-Baden 2018. 10. ... Ne7 11. d4 Ba7 12. dxe5 Ng4 13. Be3 Nxe3!?TN (13. ... Nxe5 14. Bxa7 Rxa7 15. Nd4 N7g6 16. Ne3 Bd7 17. Bf1 a4 18. g3 Ne7 19. f4 N5c6 20. Nb5 Ra5 21. c4 Nb8 22. Qd2 Ra8 23. Rad1 Re8 24. Bg2 Bc6 25. e5 Nc8 26. exd6 Nxd6 27. Nxd6 Qxd6 28. Qxd6 cxd6 29. Nf5 Rxe1+ 30. Rxe1 Ra6 31. Rd1 Rb6 32. Rd2 Na6 33. Nxd6 Nc5 34. Nc8 Rb4 35. Ne7+ Kf8 36. Bxc6 Kxe7 37. Bb5 a3 38. bxa3 Rb1+ 39. Kg2 Rc1 40. a4 b6 41. a5 bxa5 42. Rd5 Rc2+ 43. Kf3 Ne6 44. f5 Ng5+ 45. Ke3 Rxa2 46. c5 Ra3+ 47. Kd4 Ra1 48. c6 Rd1+ 49. Kc4 Rc1+ 50. Kb3 Ne4 51. Kb2 Rb1+ 52. Kc2 1 : 0 Jakovenko – Svidler, 44th SchachBundesliga, Baden-Baden 2017) 14. Nxe3 dxe5 15. Nxe5 Ng6 16. Nxg6 fxg6 17. Qxd8 Raxd8. Black has more than enough for the Pawn and the game may be well assessed as balanced.

18. Re2 Bxe3 19. fxe3? A horrible move, which has no other merit than that of keeping the extra Pawn at all costs — that is indeed too high a cost to pay. Most likely after 19. Rxe3 Rd2 20. Re2 Rfd8 21. Kf1 the game would have ended in a draw, but... that’s all another story. 19. ... Kf7! 20. Ba4 Ke7 21. h3 Bc4 22. Rc2 Rd3 23. Re1 Kd6 24. Bb3 Ba6 25. Rcc1 Ke5 26. Rcd1 Rfd8

27. Rxd3? After this, White ends up being inexorably zugzwanged. He had rather to seek salvation by returning the Pawn with 27. Rf1. 27. ... Bxd3−+ 28. Kf2 Rd6 29. Bd1 Bc4 30. b3 Rd2+ 31. Kg3 (31. Be2 Bd3−+) 31. ... Be6 32. Rf1 Rxa2 33. Bg4 Bxb3 34. Rf8 Kxe4 35. Rc8 Kxe3 36. Rxc7 Bd5 37. Bf3 Bxf3 38. gxf3 Rb2 39. Rxg7 Rb6 40. c4 Kd4 41. Rc7 a4 42. c5 Ra6 43. Rxb7 Kxc5 44. Rc7+ Kb6 45. Rc1 a3 46. h4 a2 47. Ra1 Ra4 48. f4 h5 49. Kf3 Kc5 50. Ke3 Kd5 51. Kf3 Ke6 0 : 1.

Make a Way Somehow

Anish Giri – Fabiano Caruana
Candidates Tournament 2020; Yekaterinburg, March 22, 2020
Slav Defence D12

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Be4 7. f3 Bg6 8. Bd2 Be7 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. Qc2 Nbd7 11. 0-0-0 Nb6!? Caruana admitted later he was just improvising, not remembering how to deal with Giri’s unusual 10th move. His novelty, however, fails to show any improvement over 11. ... Qc7 12. h4 dxc4 13. Bxc4 b5 14. Bd3 a6 15. Ne4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Rc8 17. Kb1 Nf6 18. Rc1 Nxe4 19. Qxe4 Qd7 20. Be1 f5 21. Qc2 c5 22. Bb4 c4 23. Bxe7 Qxe7 24. Qf2 Kf7 25. g4 b4 26. h5 gxh5 27. gxh5 c3 28. Qg3 Rh6 29. Qe5 Kg8 30. Rh2 Kh7 31. Rg2 Qc7 32. Qxc7 Rxc7 33. Rg5 g6 34. Rxg6 Rxg6 35. hxg6+ Kxg6 36. bxc3 bxc3 37. Kc2 f4 38. e4 Rc4 39. Rd1 Kf7 40. d5 Ra4 41. Kb3 c2 42. Rc1 Rd4 43. Kc3 Ra4 44. Kb3 Rd4 45. dxe6+ Kxe6 46. Kxc2 Rc4+ 47. Kb2 Rb4+ 48. Kc3 a5 49. Kd3 Ra4 50. Rc2 Ra3+ 51. Ke2 a4 52. Kf2 Rd3 53. Kg2 a3 54. Rc5 Re3 55. Rf5 Re2+ 56. Kh3 Rxa2 57. Kg4 Ra1 58. Kxf4 a2 59. Ra5 Kf7 60. Ra7+ Kf6 61. Ra6+ Kf7 62. e5 Ke7 63. Kf5 Rf1 64. Ra7+ Kf8 65. Rxa2 Rxf3+ 66. Ke6 Re3 67. Ra8+ ½ : ½ Lupulescu – 卜祥志 (Bǔ Xiángzhì), 1st FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament 2019, Santon 2019. 12. c5 Nbd7 13. Kb1 Qb8 14. h4 g5 15. Be1 g4 (15. ... gxh4 16. Rh3±) 16. e4 gxf3 17. gxf3 b6 18. exd5 exd5 19. cxb6 axb6 20. Ne2 Qa7 21. b3 Nh5 22. Ng3 g6 23. Nxh5 Rxh5 24. f4 Kf8 25. Be2 Rh8 26. Bd3. The direct 26. f5 (26. ... g5 27. Bg3) was very strong, but there’s nothing wrong with the text, either. 26. ... c5 27. Bc3

27. ... cxd4? 27. ... c4!? 28. bxc4 Nf6 29. f5 dxc4 30. Bxc4 Rc8 is really on the edge of what can go very wrong, but it was probably the best course for Black to pursue. 28. Bxd4 Bf6 29. Bxf6 (29. Bb5+−) 29. ... Nxf6 30. f5 gxf5 31. Bxf5 b5 32. Rh2 (32. Qb2 Rh5 33. Rdf1+−) 32. ... Rh5 33. Re2?! 33. Rf2 followed by the doubling of the Rooks on the f-file was easy, simple, natural, and nearly winning. 33. ... d4 34. Re5?! 34. Be4 Re8 35. Bd3 was White’s last (and best) try for a substantial advantage.

34. ... Ng4!= 35. Rc5 Ne3 36. Rc8+ Rxc8 37. Qxc8+ Ke7 38. Rc1 Nd5 39. Re1+ Ne3 40. Rc1 Nd5 41. Re1+ Ne3 42. Rc1 ½ : ½.

“Anish surprised me in the opening with 10. Qc2, and I just couldn’t remember how to cope in the best way with it. Obviously, I was quite unsuccessful. Fortunately, I managed to escape the worst”, Caruana eventually said. Photo © Lennart Ootes.

Bid for a Bride

丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) – Anish Giri
7th Sinquefield Cup; Saint Louis, August 21, 2019
Queen’s Gambit Declined D38

With a fine strategic win over Anish Giri, 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) from China has decidedly put his claim — both financial and non-financial — to both the 7th Sinquefield Cup and Magnus Carlsen’s reign, thus indirectly rivaling the American “challengeship” carried on by Fabiano Caruana. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qa4+ Nc6 8. e3 0-0 9. Rc1 Rd8 10. Be2 dxc4 11. Bxc4 Bxc3+!? Giri tries in vain to change the story: 11. ... Bd7 12. Qc2 Bd6 13. 0-0 a6 14. Rfd1 Qe7 15. a3 Rac8 16. Ba2 Nb8 17. e4 Bf4 18. Ra1 Bc6 19. h4 h5 20. Ne2 Bh6 21. Ng3 g6 22. d5 exd5 23. exd5 Be8 24. Re1 Qf8 25. Ng5 Kh8 26. Rad1 Nd7 27. Qb3 Nb6 28. Qf3 Kg8 29. N3e4 Nd7 30. d6 Bg7 31. Nxf7 Bxf7 32. Qxf7+ Qxf7 33. Bxf7+ Kxf7 34. Ng5+ Kf6 35. Re7 Ne5 36. Rd5 Kf5 37. Rxg7 Rxd6 38. Rf7+ Rf6 39. Re7 1 : 0 Navara – Lékó, 50th Biel Grandmaster Chess Tournament, Biel/Bienne 2017. 12. bxc3 Bd7 13. Be2 e5 14. Qc2 Bf5 15. Qb2 e4 16. Nd2 Na5 17. 0-0 c5 18. Rfd1 Rac8 19. Nf1 Bg6 20. Ng3 Qg5 21. Qb1 f5 22. dxc5 Rxc5 23. Rd4 Bf7 24. Rcd1 Rdc8 25. Bb5 g6. Only deep analysis can actually show when and where Giri went wrong (for it being anything but obvious), but perhaps here 25. ... R8c7 was a sounder way to both prevent White’s “threat” of Bb5-d7 and at the same time consolidate the position. 26. Ne2 Qf6 27. Ba4 Qe5 28. Bb3 Nxb3 29. axb3 R5c7 30. c4 a6 31. Nf4 b5 32. Nd5 Rc6 33. c5! The elegant key to the final breakthrough: the Pawn is obviously taboo due to 34. Nb6 winning the Exchange. 33. ... a5

34. b4! axb4 35. Qxb4 Rb8 36. Nb6 Be6 37. Nd7! Bxd7 38. Rd5 Qe7 39. Rxd7 Qxc5 40. Qb3+ Qc4 41. Qb2 Qc3 42. Qa2+ Rc4 43. g3 Rc8 44. R1d6 Kf8 45. Rxg6 b4 46. Rxh6 f4 47. gxf4 1 : 0.

丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) gave an impressive display of his own understanding of the position as well as exhibiting his technical elegance. Photo: Crystal Fuller/Grand Chess Tour.

The Queen’s Necklace

Anish Giri – Wesley So

Champions Showdown Chess960 2018; blitz match game 10 (5+5); Saint Louis, September 14, 2018

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Position 833

1. f4 f5 2. Qxa7? Like in the 2nd rapid match game Topalov – Kasparov, the White Queen goes for Pawn hunting in the very beginning, then wasting much time trying not to be trapped, thus conceding to Black a huge development advantage and a scaring initiative. 2. ... b6 3. a3 Bb7 4. Qa4 Ra8 5. Qd4 e6 6. e3 Bf6 7. Qb4 g5! 8. fxg5 Bxg5 9. Bf3 Nd6 10. Bxb7+ Kxb7 11. Nf3 Be7 12. Ng3 Ng6 13. d3 f4! White is nearly busted. 14. exf4 Nxf4 15. Qd2. 15. 0-0 is also answered by 15. ... h5! with an overwhelming initiative. 15. ... h5!

16. 0-0? Castling on the h-side looks like a suicide, but White’s King’s situation is tragic enough wherever he (it) goes (or does not go)! 16. ... Qg4? Just a slight uncertainty by So. 16. ... h4! 17. Nxh4 Bg5! won immediately. 17. Rbe1? Quite luckily for So, Giri doesn’t seize the chance to bite the time with 17. Ne5(!) Qg5(!) 18. Nf3(!) Qd5!∓→ which, even if it leaves Black with a powerful attack, at least doesn’t lose immediately. 17. ... h4. Now it’s all very easy. 18. Ne4 Rg8 19. Neg5 (19. Kh1 Nxg2 20. Ne5 Qg7 21. Rg1 h3−+) 19. ... Rxg5 20. Nxg5 Bxg5 21. Kh1 Rg8 22. Qf2 Bh6 23. Rg1 c6 24. b4 Nf5 25. Qf3 Qg5 (Δ ... Nf5-g3+) 26. Re5 Bg7 27. Re4 Ng3+! 28. hxg3 hxg3 0 : 1.

Ice Sculpting

Anish Giri – Fabiano Caruana
45th SchachBundesliga, Baden-Baden, May 24, 2018
Russian Defence C42

Apparently, before going to Stavanger, Fabiano Caruana wanted to express his esteem for Anish Giri, who was not invited to participate in the 6th Altibox Norway Chess for reasons that could be termed unconventional. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. 0-0 0-0 8. c4 c6 9. Nc3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 dxc4 11. Bxc4 Bf5 12. Bg5 Qa5. If 12. ... Qc7 then 13. Re1 h6 14. Nh4! Bh7 15. Bxh6! Bxh2+ 16. Kh1 and White stands better, Nepomniachtchi – 李超 (Li Chāo), Grand Prix 2017, 1st stage, Sharjah 2017. 13. Nh4 Be6 14. Bxe6 Qxg5 15. Nf3 Qd8. 15. ... Qa5 16. Qb3 Qb6!? was also worth considering. 16. Bb3 Nd7 17. Re1⩲ g6 18. g3 Kg7 19. Qd3 Nf6 20. Rad1 Rc8 21. h4 Rc7 22. Kg2 Re7 23. Rxe7 Qxe7 24. Re1 Qd7 25. Ne5 Bxe5 26. Rxe5 Re8. Grandmaster Rafael Duailibe Leitão also considers 26. ... Ng4 aiming to repeat moves (27. Re2 Nf6). 27. Qe2 h5 28. f3 Kf8 29. Rxe8+ Nxe8. “Noteworthy game. In the gradual shift from nibble to edge to pull to yank to slightly better to clearly better to winning, it reminded me of an old Kasparov – Karpov game. Black looks OK but lacks constructive moves. 27. ... h5 and 29. ... Nxe8 both questionable, but very difficult to play”, Grandmaster Jonathan Rowson tweeted. 30. Qe5 Nd6 31. Kf2 Kg8? As it was noted by most commentators, better to sit and wait with 31. ... b6 in order to answer 32. g4 by 32. ... hxg4 33. fxg4 Nb5 with a holdable game.

32. g4! hxg4 33. fxg4 Qd8. As a sad consequence of 31. ... Kg8, now 33. ... Nb5 would be met by 34. Qf6! (Δ Qf6xg6+) 34. ... Kf8 35. h5 with great trouble for Black. 34. Kf3 Kh7?! Leitão suggests 34. ... a5, most likely to reply 35. h5 with the Pawn sacrifice on a4. Such an advice – which may be regarded as an extreme countermeasure – demonstrates that Black stands very badly already. 35. h5± f6 36. Qe6. White appears to have penetrated into the heart of Black’s defence. 36... Kg7 37. Kf4 a5 38. a3 gxh5 39. gxh5 Kh6 40. Bc2 Qf8 41. Kf3!+− Ne8 42. Kg2 Nd6 43. Kf2 b6 (43. ... Ne8 44.Qe3++−) 44. Kf3 Ne8 45. Qxc6 Nd6 46. Qxb6 Qe7 47. Qb8 Nf7 48. Qg8 Ng5+ 49. Kf4 Nh3+ 50. Kf5 Qd7+ 51. Kxf6 1 : 0.

Fabiano Caruana (left) vs. Anish Giri (right). Photo: Guido Giotta.

One Way or Another

Chess-News.ru (@Chess__News)

Sometimes one way, sometimes the other | 5th Gashimov Memorial in Şəmkir, Azerbaijan: Magnus Carlsen is first, 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) second, and both are satisfied. For further details, visit: http://chess-news.ru/node/24620.

Alpha Beta

Anish Giri – Magnus Carlsen
5th Gashimov Memorial; Şəmkir, April 27, 2018
English Opening A29

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. 0-0 Be7 8. a3 a5 9. d3 0-0 10. Be3 Be6 11. Rc1 a4 12. Nd2 f5 13. Bxb6 cxb6 14. Nxa4 Bg5 15. Nc3. After a long thought, Giri has found nothing better than to follow in the footsteps of Ian Alexandrovich Nepomniachtchi. 15. ... e4 16. Kh1. This novelty adds nothing to 16. Rb1 Ne5!? 17. Nb3 Ng4 18. Qc2 Be3! which should have been quite annoying for White (even though somehow wasn’t), Nepomniachtchi – Aronian, FIDE Grand Prix 2017, third stage, Geneva 2017. 16. ... Qd7 17. Rb1 Rad8 18. Nc4 Qf7 19. b3 exd3 20. exd3 f4! Black quickly seized a powerful initiative already, and Carlsen will give his opponent no chance to cope with it. Black will get methodically chopped by an inexorable crescendo. 21. Ne4 Be7 22. gxf4 Qxf4 23. a4 Nb4 24. Qe2 Qh6 25. Rbd1 Nd5 26. Rg1 Kh8 27. Bf1 Rf4 28. Ne5 Rdf8 29. f3 Rh4 30. d4 Nf4! 31. Qd2 Bxb3 32. Rb1 Bxa4 33. Bb5 Bxb5 34. Rxb5 Qe6 35. Qb2 Bd8

36. Ng5. In order to untie Her Majesty from the defence of the second rank, not allowing Black to play 36. ... Rxh2+ 37 Kxh2 Qh3 mate. 36. ... Qe8 37. Rb3 Bxg5. 37. ... Rf5 38. Ne4 Rxh2+ is the computer’s mode of finishing the game, by capturing the White Queen. Carlsen plays it another way. 38. Rxg5 Ne6 39. Rg4 Rxg4 40. fxg4 Qd8 41. Rh3. White was harmless, however it might appear. If 41. Rd3 then 41. ... Qd5+ 42. Kg1 Rf1+! winning handily, whilst after 41. Rf3 Rxf3 42. Nxf3 Qd5 43. Kg2 Ng5 White couldn’t prevent Black from forcing a won King and Pawn ending. 41. ... Qd5+ 42. Kg1 Qe4! 43. Qb4 Rf6 0 : 1.

Anish Giri (left) vs. Magnus Carlsen (right). Photo: Eteri Kublashvili.

Mirage

Anish Giri – David Navara
5th Gashimov Memorial; Şəmkir, April 25, 2018
Caro-Kann Defence B12

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 c5 6. Be3 Qb6 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. Na4 Qa5+ 9. c3 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Ne7 12. 0-0. If 12. Nc5 then 12. ... Qc7 13. g4 Bg6 14. f4 Nc6 15. 0-0 Nxd4 16. cxd4 Bxc5 17. Rc1 0-0 18. Rxc5 Qd7 19. Qb3 Be4 20. Rfc1 Rac8= Vachier-Lagrave – So, 2nd Gashimov Memorial, Şəmkir 2016. 12. ... Nc6 13. b4 Qc7 14. Rc1 Be7 15. g4!? Theory changes continuously. A recent game ran as follows: 15. b5 Nxd4 16. cxd4 Qa5 17. Nc5 0-0!? 18. Nxb7 Qxa2 19. Bd3 Bxd3 20. Qxd3 Rfc8? (better was 20. ... Rab8 in order to reply 21. Rc7 with 21. ... Bb4 22. Rfc1 Ba5) 21. Rc6!± Bok – Saltaev, 37th SchachBundesliga, Bremen 2018. 15. ... Be4 16. f3 Bg6 17. f4 Be4 18. Nc5 a5!? 19. Be3! axb4? The opening of the c-file will soon prove to be much more dangerous for Black than the a-file for White. 20. cxb4 Ra3 21. Bf2 Bxc5 22. Bxc5 Rxa2

23. b5? 23. Ra1 Rxa1 24. Qxa1 Kd7 25. Qa4 seems a more straightforward way of putting Black in a terrible bind. 23. ... Bc2?? Really a mysterious mirage. 23. ... Na5 was called for, even though after 24. b6 (24. Bd6 Qb6+) 24. ... Qc6 25. Rf2 Black should have had to find 25. ... Rxe2! 26. Qxe2 Nb3 27. Rc3 Nxc5 28. Qe3 0-0 29. Qxc5 Qa4 with full compensation for the Exchange. 24. b6. Sic et simpliciter. It looks like Navara was hoping for 24. Rxc2 Rxc2 25. Qxc2? Nd4!, but even in that case 25. b6 (instead of 25. Qxc2) would be a trivial win for White. 24. ... Bxd1 25. bxc7 Kd7 26. Bxd1 Kxc7 27. Bd6+ Kd7 28. Rb1 1 : 0.

Anish Giri (right) vs. David Navara (left). Photo: Shamkir Chess (@ShamkirChess).

Yeah, Edna, I too think that there should also have been a prize for you!

12th World Chess Champion Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov handing the winner’s prize of the 80th Tata Steel Chess Tournament to Magnus Carlsen, with Anish Giri (first from right) and Vladimir Borisovich Kramnik (second from right) standing in the background. Photo: Tata Steel Chess (@tatasteelchess).

The Day of the Mighty Wind

Magnus Carlsen – Anish Giri

80th Tata Steel Chess Tournament; tie-break game 1 (5+3); Wijk aan Zee, January 28, 2018

English Opening A13

Magnus Carlsen won for the sixth time the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, after beating Anish Giri 1½ – ½ in the blitz tie-break. On the other hand, it was the first time that Giri has arrived so high, so it’s hopeful that both the winner and the loser have reasons to be happy with their marriage! 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. b3 d5 4. Bb2 Be7 5. e3 0-0 6. Nc3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Nxd5 exd5 9. d4 Qa5+!? Giri improves on 9. ... cxd4(?) that helped 6th World Chess Champion Mikhail Moiseyevich Botvinnik to create one of his most famous strategic masterpieces: 10. Qxd4 Bf6 11. Qd2 Nc6 12. Be2 Be6 13. 0-0 Bxb2 14. Qxb2 Qa5 15. Rfd1 Rad8 16. Rd2 Rd7 17. Rad1 Rfd8 18. h3 h6 19. Ne5 Nxe5 20. Qxe5 Qc5 21. Bf3 b6 22. Qb2 Rc8 23. Qe5 Rcd8 24. Rd4 a5 25. g4! Qc6 26. g5 hxg5 27. Qxg5 f6 28. Qg6 Bf7 29. Qg3 f5 30. Qg5 Qe6 31. Kh1 Qe5 32. Rg1 Rf8 33. Qh6 Rb8 34. Rh4 Kf8 35. Qh8+ Bg8 36. Rf4 Rbb7 37. Rg5 Rf7 38. Qh5 Qa1+ 39. Kg2 g6 40. Qxg6 Bh7 41. Qd6+ Rfe7 42. Qd8+ 1 : 0 Botvinnik – Zagoriansky, Sverdlovsk 1943. 10. Qd2 Qxd2+ 11. Kxd2 Nc6 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Bb5 Bb4+ 14. Ke2 Be6 15. Rac1 Rac8 16. Rhd1 Be7 17. h3 a6 18. Bd3 Nb4 19. Bb1 Rxc1 20. Rxc1 Rc8 21. Rd1. It makes no much sense to say too much about a blitz game, but one cannot but admire Carlsen’s skill in keeping his sleeping beauties almost continuously ready to awaken. 21. ... Nc6 22. g4 h6 23. Nd4 Nxd4+ 24. Bxd4 Ba3 25. f4 f6 26. Bg6 Kf8 27. Kf3 Ke7 28. h4 Bb4 29. Bd3 Bd7 30. e4. Finally making something happen. 30. ... Bc3. After 30. ... dxe4+ 31. Bxe4 Bc6 it seems impossible that Black may ever lose, but with Carlsen you never know it for sure. 31. Bf2! Bc6 32. exd5 Bxd5+ 33. Be4 Bxe4+ 34. Kxe4

34. ... Ke6? This should be the losing move, in spite that in a blitz game it’s very easy to play such a move. 34. ... Bb4(!) would have worked better in order to keep fighting for a draw. 35. f5+! Ke7 36. Rc1! Rc6. 36. ... Rc7 37. Bb6! makes no difference at all. 37. Kd3 Bb4 38. Rxc6 bxc6 39. Kc4 Bd6 40. Bc5. Now it’s an easy technical win. 40. ... Kd7 41. h5 Bf4 42. Bf8 Ke8 43. Bc5. 43. Bxg7?? Kf7 only draws. 43. ... Kd7 44. Kb4 Bd2+ 45. Ka4 Kc7. If 45. ... a5 there follows 46. b4! very much the same. 46. b4 Bf4 47. Bf8 Kb6 48. Bxg7 Bg5 49. Bf8 Bf4 50. Be7 Bg5 51. Kb3 Kc7 52. Kc4 Kd7 53. Bc5 Kc7 54. Kd3 Kd7 55. Be3 1 : 0.

Artwork © Willum Morsch‏

Volatile Frenemies

Anish Giri – Baskaran Adhiban
80th Tata Steel Chess Tournament; Wijk aan Zee, January 27, 2018
Benoni Defence A60

Magnus Carlsen and Anish Giri will go all out tomorrow to win the 80th Tata Steel Chess Tournament’s first prize. And whereas Carlsen defeated today Maxim Sergeevich Matlakov showing his superb technique in a Rook and Bishop of opposite colour endgame, Giri bent Baskaran Adhiban with elegant and crystal clear strategy. 1. c4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. e4 e6 6. Bd3 exd5 7. cxd5 Bg4 8. Nbd2 Nf6 9. 0-0 0-0 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Nxf3 c4 12. Bxc4 Nxe4 13. Re1 Re8 14. Qc2 Nf6 15. Rxe8+ Nxe8 16. Bg5. Maybe it’s a novelty. Whatever it is, proof theory gave 16. Qb3 Qc7 17. Be3 Nd7 18. Rc1 Nc5 19. Qa3 Qd8 20. b4 Nd7 21. Qd3 Rc8 22. Bb3 Rxc1+ 23. Bxc1 Qc7 24. Bd2 a6 25. a4 Ne5 26. Nxe5 Bxe5 27. g4 Ng7 28. Kg2 h5 29. f4 Bf6 30. a5 hxg4 31. hxg4 Qd7 32. Bd1 Ne8 33. Be2 Nc7 34. Qc4 Nb5 35. Be3 Qe8 36. Kf3 Nc3 37. g5 ½ : ½ Khismatullin – Andreikin, 13th Open, Voronezh 2009. 16. ... Nf6 17. Nd4 Qb6? It’s not the best place for Her Majesty, and, very probably, it’s the mistake which will cost Black the game. 17. ... a6!? 18. Bb3 Nbd7 19. Ne6(!) Qc8 is Stockfish’s advice, leading to a simplified and materially equal position, which, however, would present an ideological challenge: White’s Bishop pair against Black’s Knight pair. 18. Be3 Ng4!?

19. Qe4! Adhiban was probably hoping for 19. hxg4? Bxd4 with a perfectly playable game. 19. ... Nf6. If 19. ... Nxe3 then 20. Qe8+ Bf8 21. fxe3 with the deadly threat of Nd4-e6. 20. Qe7 Nbd7 21. Nb5. And that’s the epiphany: White wins a decisive Pawn and remains with a powerful advantage, which Giri will convert with no difficulties. 21. ... Bf8 22. Bxb6 Bxe7 23. Bxa7 Ne5 24. b3 Nxc4 25. bxc4 Rc8 26. Re1 Bf8 27. Bd4 Nd7 28. Rc1 Ra8 29. Rc2 Ra6 30. Re2 Ra4. Black’s desperate Rook expedition hastens the end. 31. Re8 Rxc4 32. Rd8 Ne5 33. f4 Nd3 34. Bf6 Re4 35. Nxd6 Re1+ 36. Kh2 Nf2 37. Bg5 h5 38. Bh6 h4 39. g4 Kh7 40. Rxf8 Nd3 41. Rxf7+ Kh8 42. Rf8+ 1 : 0.

Artwork © Willum Morsch

Dame blanche

Anish Giri – Shakhriyar Hamid oglu Mamedyarov
80th Tata Steel Chess Tournament; Wijk aan Zee, January 21, 2018
English Opening A35

Today was rest day on the Tata Steel Chess Tournament schedule, so let’s come back to yesterday. 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. e3 Nf6 5. d4 cxd4 6. exd4 d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Qb3 e6 9. Bb5 Bg7 10. 0-0 0-0 11. Bxc6!? bxc6 12. Re1 Qd6? Most of Black’s trouble starts here. Better was 12. ... Qb6 13. Qc2 ½ : ½ Tomashevsky – Alekseev, Russian Rapid Chess Championship, Sochi 2017. 13. Ne4 Qb4 14. Qc2! a5 15. a3 Qb6 16. Nc5 Re8 17. Ne5. White’s Knights took up an imposing position, while Black has big difficulties in developing his light-squared Bishop. 17. ... f6 18. Nc4 Qc7 19. Bd2 e5 20. dxe5 fxe5 21. Qa4 Nb6 22. Nxb6 Qxb6 23. Qc4+ Kh8 24. Bc3 Bf5. Finally the Bishop comes out, but just to be kicked back home at once.

25. g4! Bc8 26. Re4! “In Giri – Mamedyarov I was impressed by 25. g4! [and] 26. Re4! keeping complete control despite the superficial weakening. Good to see such resolute technique”, Grandmaster Jonathan Rowson said. 26. ... Qb5 27. Rae1 Qxc4 28. Rxc4 Rb8 29. h3 h5 30. gxh5 gxh5 31. Rh4 Kh7 32. Ne4 1 : 0. If 32. ... Kh6 then 33. Kh2(!) Rf8 34. Rg1 with deadly effect. An apparently effortless win.

Artwork © Willum Morsch

Jeremy, tell Magnus to be careful at not falling into a Knight fork

The fourteen participants in the 80th Tata Steel Chess Tournament posing for a group picture in the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision (Beeld en Geluid) in Hilversum, Netherlands which was the venue for today’s fifth round. Photo: Tata Steel Chess‏ (@tatasteelchess).

The Repartee

Anish Giri – Magnus Carlsen
80th Tata Steel Chess Tournament; Wijk aan Zee, January 16, 2018
French Defence C18

1. e4 e6. The effect of surprise. 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. Qg4 cxd4 8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7 Qc7 10. Ne2 Nbc6 11. f4 dxc3 12. Nxc3 Nd4 13. Bb2 Bd7 14. 0-0-0 Qb6 15. Qd3 Ndf5 16. Rd2!? From here starts the four-hand composition by the two illustrious rivals in order to rewrite the old screenplay: 16. Nb5 Rc8 17. g3 a6 18. Nd4 Ba4 19. Rd2 Rc4 20. Bg2 Nxd4 21. Bxd4 Qb5 22. Bf1 Qc6 23. Qe2 Nf5 24. Bb2 Rh8 25. Qf2 Nxg3 26. Bxc4 Nxh1 27. Qa7 Qxc4 28. Qb8+ Kd7 29. Qxh8 Bxc2 30. Rxc2 Qf1+ 31. Kd2 Qf2+ 32. Kd3 Qf3+ 33. Kd2 Qf2+ 34. Kd3 Qf3+ 35. Kd2 ½ : ½ Svidler – Vitiugov, 5th Alekhine Memorial, Paris/Saint Petersburg 2013. 16. ... Rc8 17. g3 Ne3

18. Ne4! Rxc2+! The repartee. 19. Rxc2 dxe4 20. Qxe4 Nxc2 21. Qxc2 Bc6 22. Bg2 Bxg2 23. Qxg2 Nd5 24. Kb1 Nc3+ 25. Ka1 Qb3 26. Bxc3 Qxa3+ 27. Kb1 Qxc3 28. Rc1 Qb4+ 29. Qb2 Qe4+ 30. Qc2 Qb4+ 31. Qb2 ½ : ½. Not an actual surprise.

The Gift of Nothing

Anish Giri – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
80th Tata Steel Chess Tournament; Wijk aan Zee, January 13, 2018
Russian Defence C42

Like two years ago, against Magnus Carlsen — always in Wijk aan Zee — 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) turns her Russian Defence – the same variation as well – into a very drawish Queen ending, and then into a totally drawn King-and-Pawn endgame. And then what? Well, in both cases she committs an almost inexplicable blunder, thus gifting a precious half-point to her opponents. We cannot but think of such occurrences as coincidences, which, however, may make come to mind the 8th match game between Morphy and Löwenthal, when Morphy, an insuperable endgame player, magically wanted to turn a drawn King-and-Pawn endgame into an instructive win for his opponent. So, since history always repeats itself, but never in the same way, one might conclude that this time 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) won’t gift Magnus anything. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 Nc6 8. Bd3. The alternative is 8. Qd2 Be6 9. 0-0-0 Qd7 10. h4 [or 10. b3 Bf6 11. h3 0-0-0 12. g4 h6 13. Bg2 Kb8 14. Rhe1 Rhe8 15. Kb2 a6 16. Re2 Qe7 17. Rde1 Qf8 18. Nd4 Nxd4 19. Bxd4 Bxd4 20. Qxd4 Bd7 22. f4 Rxe2 22. Rxe2 Re8 23. Rxe8+ Bxe8 with dead equality, Carlsen – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 78th Tata Steel Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 2016] 10. ... h6 11. c4 0-0 12. Bd3 f5 13. Nd4 Ne5 14. b3 Bf6 15. Nxe6 Qxe6 16. Be2 Ng4 17. Bxg4 fxg4 18. Qd5 Qxd5 19. Rxd5 Rae8 20. Kd2 b6 21. g3 Be5 22. Re1 a5 23. a4 Rf3 24. Re2 Kf7 25. Rd3 Re6 26. c3 Bf6 27. Kc2 Re4 28. Kd2 Re6 29. Kc2 Re4 30. Kd2 Re6 ½ : ½ Lékó – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 50th Internationales Schachfestival, Biel/Bienne 2017. 8. ... Be6 9. Qe2 Bf6 10. 0-0-0 Qe7 11. Kb1 a6 12. Rhe1 0-0-0 13. h3 Rhe8 14. g4 h6 15. Nd2 Bg5 16. f4 Bh4 17. Bf2 Bxf2 18. Qxf2 Qf8 19. f5 Bd7 20. f6 g6 21. Be4 Kb8 22. Nc4 Re6 23. Bxc6 Rxe1 24. Rxe1 Bxc6 25. Na5 Re8 26. Nxc6+ bxc6 27. Qg3 Qh8 28. Re7 Rxe7 29. fxe7 Qe8 30. Qe3 Kc8 31. h4 Kd7 32. Qxh6 Qxe7 33. b3 Qe4 34. g5 Qe5 35. Qf8 Qd5 36. Kb2 c5 37. Qg8 Qf3 38. Qf8 Qd5 39. Qg7 Qf5 40. Qg8 Qf3 41. a4 Qf1 42. Qf8 Qf5 43. Qa8 Qf1 44. Qe4 Kd8 45. Qg4 d5 46. a5 Qe1 47. h5 gxh5 48. Qxh5 Qe6 49. Qh8+ Ke7 50. b4 cxb4 51. cxb4 Kd7 52. Qd4 Kc8 53. Qf6 Qxf6+ 54. gxf6 Kd7 55. Kb3

55. ... Kc6?? Correct was 55. ... Kd6! 56. b5 axb5 57. Kb4 c6 (57. ... Kc6?? 58. c3!+−) 58. a6 Kc7 59. Kc5 b4! 60. Kxb4 Kb6 61. a7 Kxa7 62. Kc5 Kb7 63. Kd6 d4 64. Ke7 c5 65. Kxf7 c4 66. Ke6 d3 67. cxd3 cxd3 68. f7 d2 69. f8=Q d1=Q with a draw. 56. c4. 56. Ka4 Kb7 (56. ... d4 57. b5+ axb5+ 58. Kb4+−) 57. b5+− was also winning. 56. ... d4 (56. ... dxc4+ 57. Kxc4 Kb7 58. Kc5 Kb8 59. b5+−) 57. Kc2 Kd6 58. Kd2 (58. b5?? c5! 59. b6 Kc6 gives only a draw) 58. ... c6 59. Ke2. Black is in zugzwang. 59. ... Kd7 (59. ... Ke6 60. b5+−) 60. Kd3 Kc7 61. Kxd4 Kd6 62. Kd3 Kc7 63. Ke4 Kd6 1 : 0. For after 64. Kf5 Kd7 65. Kg5 Ke6 66. b5 it’s all over.

Anish Giri vs. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). Photo: ANP/NOS.

A Shortcut in Time

Levon Grigori Aronian – Anish Giri
Grand Prix 2017; fourth stage; Palma de Mallorca, November 19, 2017
English Opening A16

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d3 Bg7 6. Bd2 0-0 7. g3 c5 8. h4!? Nc6. 8. ... h5 9. Bg2 Nc6 may transpose into Bacrot – Lékó, 4th SportAccord World Mind Games, Blitz Event, 北京 (Beijīng) 2014. 9. h5 Nxc3 10. bxc3 c4 11. hxg6. Not 11. d4 because of 11. ... e5! with a very comfortable game for Black. 11. ... hxg6 12. Qa4 Na5? This leads Black to a sad situation. Giri probably didn’t like Stockfish’s line 12. ... cxd3 13. Qh4 f6, which, however, seems quite sustainable; for instance: 14. Bh6 Qa5 15. Qc4+ Rf7 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Rh7+ Kxh7 18. Qxf7+ and draw by perpetual check. 13. d4 b6 14. Bg2 Bb7 15. Qc2 Qd5 16. Nh4 Qd7 17. e4! White finally breaks through the wall and prepares for the assault on the Kingside. 17. ... e5 18. d5 Bc8 19. f4! Qe7 20. f5 g5

21. Qd1! Maybe not necessary, but brilliantly correct! 21. ... gxh4 22. Rxh4 Rd8 23. Qh5 Kf8 24. Rg4!? 24. Bh6 was possibly simpler, but Aronian is following his aesthetic plots, or maybe only his own computer preparation. 24. ... Bf6? A tough, tougher and toughest defence was 24. ... Qd6, but after 25. Rxg7! Kxg7 26. Qg5+ Kf8 27. Kf2! (Δ Ra1-h1) 27. ... Ke8 28. Qg7! Qf8 29. Qxe5+ Qe7 30. Qg7 Qf8 31. Qxf8+ Kxf8 32. Bg5! (Stockfish’s analysis) Giri would have found out that, even without Queens, White’s attack was strong enough to force him to give back (too) much of his extra material. 25. Bh6+ Ke8 26. Rg8+ Kd7 27. d6! A most romantic pointe. 1 : 0.

Fire and Ice

Anish Giri – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Agon Grand Prix; fourth stage; Palma de Mallorca, November 17, 2017
Sicilian Defence B96

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 h6 8. Bh4 Qb6 9. a3 Be7 10. Bf2 Qc7 11. Qf3 Nbd7 12. 0-0-0 b5 13. g4 Bb7. The alternative is 13. ... g5!? 14. h4 gxf4 15. Be2 Rg8 16. Rdg1? (Grandmaster Rafael Duailibe Leitão recommends 16. g5! Ne5 17. Qxf4 hxg5 18. hxg5 Nfd7 19. Nxe6!? fxe6 20. Rh7 with a dynamic mess of complications) 16. ... d5! 17. exd5 Ne5 18. Qh3 exd5 19. Re1? Kf8 20. Nf5 Bxf5 21. gxf5 Bc5 22. Qf1 d4 23. Nb1 Ne4−+ Giri – Vachier-Lagrave, 4th Altibox Norway Chess, Stavanger 2016. 14. h4. Giri is not curious to find out Vachier-Lagrave’s amendments with respect to 14. Bg2 Rc8 15. Kb1 g5 16. Qh3 Nc5 17. Rhe1 h5 18. Nf5! Ncxe4 19. Bxe4 Nxe4 20. Bd4 Rg8 21. Nxe7 Kxe7 22. gxh5± Nakamura – Vachier Lagrave, 8th London Chess Classic, London 2016. 14. ... Nc5. If, instead, 14. ... d5 then 15. e5 Ne4 16. Rh3 Nxf2 17. Qxf2 b4 18. axb4 Bxb4 19. f5 Nxe5 20. fxe6 0-0 21. Qg1 Rae8 22. g5 h5 23. Be2 g6 24. exf7+ Qxf7 25. Nb3 Nc4 26. Rf3 Qg7 27. Rxf8+ Rxf8 28. Qd4 Qxd4 29. Rxd4 Rc8 30. Bd3 Nxb2 31. Rxb4 Nxd3+ 32. cxd3 Rxc3+ 33. Kd2 Rc7 34. Ke3 Bc8 35. Kd4 Kf7 36. Nc5 Ra7 37. Kxd5 a5 38. Rf4+ Bf5 39. Kc6 Ke7 40. Rd4 a4 41. Kb6 Ra8 42. Nxa4 Bxd3 43. Nc5 ½ : ½ Caruana – Vachier-Lagrave, 4th GRENKE Chess Classic, Karlsruhe 2017. 15. Bd3 h5 16. g5 Ng4 17. Rhg1!? With this move, followed by the next Exchange sacrifice, Giri introduces a powerful novelty in a sharp Najdorf. White’s compensation appears to be more than worthy of further analysis by the mighty supercomputers. 17. ... g6

18. Rxg4! hxg4 19. Qxg4 e5 20. Nf3 Rc8 21. fxe5 dxe5 22. Kb1 Rd8 23. Nd5 Bxd5 24. exd5 Nxd3 25. Rxd3 0-0. Stockfish evaluates 25. ... Qc4 26. Nxe5 Qxg4 27. Nxg4 f6!? 28. gxf6 Bd6 29. Rc3 Kf7 30. Rc6 Bf4 as a safer option for Black, but, from a human viewpoint, it was not so easy to assess. 26. h5. And here, 26. Bg3! Bd6 27. Nd2!± (Stockfish) apparently gave White a manifest advantage. 26. ... Qc4! Well, Vachier-Lagrave doesn’t miss his chance and equalises through a very elegant Queen forth and back. 27. Qh3 Qc8! 28. Qxc8 Rxc8 29. Nxe5 Bxg5 30. d6 Bf4 31. d7 ½ : ½. For after 31. ... Bxe5 32. dxc8=Q Rxc8 the game is equal.