The Unbearable Outlandishness of Being

• Leonard Barden, Chess: Magnus Carlsen set fair for a further reign as world champion, The Guardian, November 30, 2018

FIDE, the global chess body, will ignore the more outlandish suggestions to reduce draws such as introducing Chess960 random games, but the clamour for change is strong. Expect some tweaks to be made to the rules for Carlsen’s next title defence in 2020 such as a slightly faster time limit in classical games and fewer rest days. There is a balance to be struck, for while chess fans dislike draws they can also be turned off by classical games chock full of blunders. [Read more].

The Last Day of School

Magnus Carlsen – Fabiano Caruana

World Chess Championship match; tie-break game 3 (25+10); London, November 28, 2018

Sicilian Defence B44

Just for the chronicle, here is the third and last game of the tie-break. Carlsen could obviously play for two results, whereas all Caruana had to do was to push hard for a win, just to go through a fourth game. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bc5 6. Nc2 Nf6 7. Nc3 0-0 8. Be3 b6 9. Be2 Bb7 10. 0-0. 10. f3 may transpose into 10. ... Qe7 11. Qd2 Rfd8 12. Rd1 Rac8 13. 0-0 d5 with fine play for Black, Kozma – Fichtl, 17th Czechoslovak Chess Championship, Prague 1955. 10. ... Qe7 11. Qd2 Rfd8 12. Rfd1 Ne5 13. Bxc5 bxc5 14. f4 Ng6 15. Qe3 d6 16. Rd2 a6 17. Rad1 Qc7 18. b3 h6 19. g3 Rd7 20. Bf3 Re8 21. Qf2 Ne7 22. h3 Red8 23. Bg2 Nc6 24. g4 Qa5 25. Na4 Qc7 26. e5 dxe5 27. Nxc5 Rxd2 28. Rxd2 Rxd2 29. Qxd2 Ba8. If 29. ... exf4 then 30. Nxb7 Qxb7 31. Qd6 with a rock-solid position. 30. fxe5 Qxe5 31. Nd7 Qb2

32. Qd6! Lots of perpetual checks are haunting the board. 32. ... Nxd7 33. Qxd7 Qxc2 34. Qe8+ Kh7 35. Qxa8 Qd1+ 36. Kh2 Qd6+ 37. Kh1 Nd4 38. Qe4+ f5 39. gxf5 exf5 40. Qe3 Ne6 41. b4 Ng5? After all, one cannot blame Caruana for throwing away a draw. The text carries in itself the seed of defeat, but at least it puts a fantasy threat: ... f5-f4-f3. 42. c5 Qf6 43. c6 Ne6? 44. a4 Nc7 45. Qf4 Ne6 46. Qd6! Qa1+ 47. Kh2 Nd4 48. c7 Qc3. 48. ... Ne2 (Δ Qa1-g1 mate) is also met by 49. Qc5 and finis. 49. Qc5 Qe3 50. c8=Q f4 51. Qg4 1 : 0. Both Carlsen and Caruana have good reasons for being content with their match outcome.

Fabiano Caruana (left) and Magnus Carlsen (right). Photo: Terje Bendiksby/NTB scanpix.

Earth King

Magnus Carlsen – Fabiano Caruana

World Chess Championship match; tie-break game 1 (25+10); London, November 28, 2018

English Opening A22

16th World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen dominated the tie-break, winning three games in a row out of the four scheduled. 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Bb4 4. e4 0-0 5. Nge2 c6 6. Bg2 a6 7. 0-0 b5 8. d4 d6 9. a3!? It implies a very interesting Pawn sacrifice. A not-too-recent game continued: 9. cxb5 axb5 10. h3 Re8 11. Be3 exd4 12. Bxd4 Bxc3 13. Nxc3 b4 14. Bxf6? (White ought to have played 14. Na4 eventually followed by a2-a3) 14. ... Qxf6 15. Nb5 Rd8 16. Nd4 Ra7 17. f4 c5 18. Nb3 Nc6 19. Rf2 c4 20. Nd2 c3 with Black clearly on top, Zubarev – Vysochin, 70th Ukrainian Chess Championship, Ordzhonikidze 2001. 9. ... Bxc3 10. Nxc3 bxc4 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Na4 Be6 13. Qxd8 Rxd8 14. Be3 Nbd7 15. f3 Rab8 16. Rac1 Rb3 17. Rfe1. White obviously got more than enough positional compensation for the Pawn. 17. ... Ne8 18. Bf1 Nd6 19. Rcd1 Nb5? Caruana seeks for new spaces and new landscapes. Yet Black had probably nothing better than 19. ... Nb7 followed by ... Kg8-f8-e8 struggling and striving for a draw at most. 20. Nc5 Rxb2 21. Nxe6 fxe6 22. Bxc4. Clearly not 22. Bg5?? because of 22. ... Nd4! 23. Rxd4 (23. Bxd8?? Nxf3+ 24. Kh1 Rxh2 mate) 23. ... exd4 24. Bxd8 Ne5 and it is Black who wins. 22. ... Nd4 23. Bxd4 exd4

24. Bxe6+? Stockfish spotted 24. Rxd4 Kf7 25. Kh1!! (neutralising Black’s saving resource ... Nd7-e5) which would have left Black completely paralysed and harmless. After the text, instead, the ending is anything but won for White, due to the unhappy position of his King. 24. ... Kf8 25. Rxd4 Ke7 26. Rxd7+ Rxd7 27. Bxd7 Kxd7 28. Rd1+ Ke6 29. f4 c5 30. Rd5 Rc2 31. h4 c4 32. f5+ Kf6 33. Rc5 h5 34. Kf1 Rc3 35. Kg2 Rxa3 36. Rxc4 Ke5 37. Rc7 Kxe4? Oops, Caruana forgot something. After the intermediate Rook check move 37. ... Ra2+! 38. Kh3 Kxe4 39. Rxg7 Ra1! 40. Rg5 Kf3! the draw was on the board. 38. Re7+! Instead Carlsen does not forgive and does not forget. 38. Rxg7?? Ra2+! 39. Kh3 Ra1! would have simply transposed into the aforementioned line. 38. ... Kxf5 39. Rxg7 Kf6 40. Rg5 a5 41. Rxh5 a4 42. Ra5 Ra1 43. Kf3 a3 44. Ra6+ Kg7 45. Kg2 Ra2+ 46. Kh3 Ra1 47. h5 Kh7 48. g4 Kg7 49. Kh4 a2 50. Kg5 Kf7 51. h6 Rb1 52. Ra7+ Kg8 53. Rxa2 Rb5+ 54. Kg6 Rb6+ 55. Kh5 1 : 0.

Fabiano Caruana – Magnus Carlsen

World Chess Championship match; tie-break game 2 (25+10); London, November 28, 2018

Sicilian Defence B33

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8. exd5 Ne7 9. c4 Ng6 10. Qa4 Bd7 11. Qb4 Qb8. Deviating from 11. ... Bf5, as in the 12th game. 12. h4 h5 13. Be3 a6 14. Nc3 a5 15. Qb3 a4 16. Qd1 Be7 17. g3 Qc8 18. Be2 Bg4 19. Rc1 Bxe2 20. Qxe2 Qf5

21. c5!? In a nearly win–win situation, Caruana goes into the wild. 21. Nb5 was much quieter and probably better suited for claiming a slight edge. 21. ... 0-0! Of course, 21. ... dxc5 22. Bxc5 Bxc5 23. Qb5+ would only justify White’s gamble. 22. c6 bxc6 23. dxc6 Rfc8 24. Qc4 Bd8! 25. Nd5 e4! 26. c7? This is tantamount to surrender, but by now White had exhausted his tricks. 26. Bg5? Ne5! 27. Bxd8 Kh7! would also end somewhat similarly, while after 26. Bd4 (probably best) 26. ... Ra5! 27. Ne3 Qf3! 28. 0-0 Bxh4! Black would mount a very violent attack. 26. ... Bxc7! 27. Nxc7 Ne5 28. Nd5 Kh7! 0 : 1. “Carlsen’s consistent level of play in rapid chess is phenomenal. We all play worse as we play faster and faster, but his ratio may be the smallest ever, perhaps only a 15% drop off. Huge advantage in this format”, 13th World Chess Champion Garry Kimovich Kasparov tweeted.

Magnus Carlsen remains the World Champion after a compelling tie-break win over Fabiano Caruana on Wednesday. Photo: Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA.

The Soul of the Croupier

Fabiano Caruana – Magnus Carlsen
World Chess Championship match game 12; London, November 26, 2018
Sicilian Defence B33

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8. exd5 Ne7!? Both in the eighth and tenth games Carlsen continued with 8. ... Nb8. 9. c4 Ng6. 9. ... a6?? 10. Qa4+− is an old trap. 10. Qa4 Bd7 11. Qb4 Bf5 12. h4 h5!? A recent game continued: 13. ... a6 13. h5 Nf4 14. Nc3 Be7 15. Be3 Nd3+ 16. Bxd3 Bxd3 17. h6 0-0 18. Rd1 a5 19. Qb5 e4 20. hxg7 Re8 21. Rxd3! exd3 22. c5! Bg5 23. Qxd3 h6 24. Ne4 dxc5 25. Kf1 Rxe4 26. Qxe4 Bxe3 27. fxe3 Ra6 28. Rh5 Rg6 29. Kg1 Kxg7 30. Rf5 b5 31. Qe5+ Kg8 32. e4 c4 33. Qf4 Qd7 34. a3 Qa7+ 35. Kh2 b4 36. e5 Qd7 37. e6 fxe6 38. Rf8+ Kg7 39. Ra8 Kh7 40. Qd4 Qd6+ 41. Kh1 e5 42. Qxc4 bxa3 43. bxa3 Qxa3?? (Kramnik himself then showed his opponent how Black could have saved the game: 43. ... Qb6! in order to reply 44. Qc8 with 44. ... Qf6 or 44. Re8 with 44. ... Qb1+ 45. Kh2 Rxg2+! 46. Kxg2 Qg6+) 44. Qc7+ Rg7 45. Qc2+ Rg6 1 : 0 Kramnik – Roganović, 43rd Chess Olympiad, Batumi 2018. 13. Qa4 Bd7 14. Qb4 Bf5 15. Be3 a6 16. Nc3 Qc7 17. g3 Be7 18. f3

18. ... Nf8! 19. Ne4 Nd7 20. Bd3 0-0 21. Rh2. Most commentators have criticised both White’s 18th and 21st moves as too artificial. 21. ... Rac8 22. 0-0-0 Bg6 23. Rc2 f5 24. Nf2 Nc5. Black got a comfortable game already, but his next move (... a6-a5 instead of ... b7-b5) also indicates quite clearly that his duty is imposed on him by one or more sponsors. And thus the match will be decided by a tiebreaker of rapid or even blitz games. 25. f4 a5 26. Qd2 e4 27. Be2 Be8 28. Kb1 Bf6 29. Re1 a4. If else, 29. ... Ba4 30. Rcc1 b5! 31. cxb5 Qb6 would have certainly made the game more intense. 30. Qb4 g6 31. Rd1 Ra8 ½ : ½. “In light of this shocking draw offer from Magnus in a superior position with more time, I reconsider my evaluation of him being the favorite in rapids. Tiebreaks require tremendous nerves and he seems to be losing his”, 13th World Chess Champion Garry Kimovich Kasparov tweeted.

Magnus Carlsen (right) and Fabiano Caruana (left) agreed to a draw in the twelfth and last classical game of their World Chess Championship match in London, United Kingdom. Photo: Matt Dunham/AP.

G minor

On the eve of the last classical game of the World Chess Championship match, the discussion focused on the issue of how many hours a day Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana have been spending on chess training prior their “High Noon” in London, United Kingdom. It’s not a mystery that Caruana uses to spend hours at the board. “We work all day. All in all, I’d say from eight to ten hours daily”, Grandmaster Ioan-Cristian Chirila — one of Fabiano’s seconds — told NRK. On the contrary Magnus Carlsen appears to devote very little time, physically speaking, to his chess study — reportedly not more than two three hours a day, provided he is in the mood, for otherwise he does not study at all. What is his secret? El País correspondent Leontxo García dares to venture an explanation: “Magnus studies in his own way. Whether he is running, swimming, skiing, or playing soccer, he is able to analyse positions, no matter if without chessmen and board. Magnus Carlsen always thinks about chess”, he told NRK. Of course, a memory like Morphy’s can do anything, and doesn’t need matter to come into being. But Caruana, as an aspiring filmmaker, must have read Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin’s poetic drama “Mozart and Salieri”, and justly refuses to act as Wolfgang Amadeus’ Italian rival. He just thinks the story of Carlsen’s superpowers is fiction. Does Magnus never study? “I do not believe it”, Caruana told NRK. He, too, wants to play Mozart’s immortal symphony.

Magnus Carlsen (right) and Fabiano Caruana (left) attending the press conference following the eleventh game of their World Chess Championship match in London. Grandmaster Daniel John King, the host and moderator, is seated amid them. Photo: World Chess.

Saturday Night Fever

Magnus Carlsen – Fabiano Caruana
World Chess Championship match game 11; London, November 24, 2018
Russian Defence C42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 0-0 8. Qd2 Nd7 9. 0-0-0 Nf6 10. Bd3 c5 11. Rhe1 Be6 12. Kb1 Qa5 13. c4. The incredible thing is that Carlsen then told NRK he was surprised by something in Caruana’s opening. It sounded too much even for Caruana himself, who candidly noted: “I’m just a bit surprised he was surprised. I thought he was prepared for that”. 13. ... Qxd2 14. Bxd2 h6!? A novelty which does not add much to 14. ... Rfe8 15. Ng5 Bd7 16. f3 Bc6 17. a3 h6 18. Ne4 Nxe4 19. Bxe4 Bxe4 20. Rxe4 Bf8 with a basically equal game, Sasikiran – Miroshnichenko, Winter Chess Classic A 2018, Saint Louis 2018. 15. Nh4 Rfe8

16. Ng6. 16. Nf5 Ng4 may well transpose into the game. 16. ... Ng4. Black has no difficulty in equalising. 17. Nxe7+ Rxe7 18. Re2 Ne5 19. Bf4 Nxd3 20. Rxd3 Rd7 21. Rxd6 Rxd6 22. Bxd6 Rd8 23. Rd2 Bxc4 24. Kc1 b6 25. Bf4 Rxd2 26. Kxd2. And here they are. The promised land is a deadly drawish opposite coloured Bishop endgame. 26. ... a6 27. a3 Kf8 28. Bc7 b5 29. Bd6+ Ke8 30. Bxc5 h5 31. Ke3 Kd7 32. Kd4 g6 33. g3 Be2 34. Bf8 Kc6 35. b3 Bd1 36. Kd3 Bg4 37. c4 Be6 38. Kd4 bxc4 39. bxc4 Bg4 40. c5 Be6 41. Bh6 Bd5 42. Be3 Be6 43. Ke5 Bd5 44. Kf4 Be6 45. Kg5 Bd5 46. g4 hxg4 47. Kxg4 Ba2 48. Kg5 Bb3 49. Kf6 Ba2 50. h4 Bb3 51. f4 Ba2 52. Ke7 Bb3 53. Kf6 Ba2 54. f5 Bb1 55. Bf2 Bc2 ½ : ½.

Magnus Carlsen (left) played to yet another draw with Fabiano Caruana (right) in Saturday’s eleventh game of their World Chess Championship match in London, United Kingdom. Photo: Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA.

Ragnarök

• Leonard Barden, Armageddon approaches for Carlsen and Caruana after 10 draws out of 10, The Guardian, November 23, 2018

The world women’s championship, a 64-player knock-out, went to a final tie-break on Friday. China’s 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn), who kept her crown with a 5–3 score against Russia’s [Ekateryna Lagno], is ranked No. 2 behind 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), who is working for a masters degree from a Rhodes scholarship at Oxford. FIDE is changing the format of the women’s event, so that 居 (Jū) will keep her title until 2020 and then meet the winner of an eight-player candidates. [Read more].

Banksy’s “Waiting in vain... at the door of the club” is seen on a roll-down security gate covering the main entrance to Larry Flint’s Hustler Club on October 24, 2013 in New York City, United States. Photo: John Moore/Getty Images.

The Tenth Muse

Fabiano Caruana – Magnus Carlsen
World Chess Championship match game 10; London, November 22, 2018
Sicilian Defence B33

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8. exd5 Nb8 9. a4 Be7 10. Be2 0-0 11. 0-0 Nd7 12. b4!? In the 8th game Caruana preferred 12. Bd2. 12. ... a6 13. Na3 a5! A powerful prophylaxis against White’s Queenside ambitions. 14. bxa5 Rxa5 15. Nc4 Ra8 16. Be3 f5 17. a5 f4 18. Bb6 Qe8 19. Ra3. So unnatural and yet so deep. Grandmaster Nikita Kirillovich Vitiugov argued that 19. Bh5 was worth considering, so as to induce Black to reply with 19. ... g6. Whatever it is, now Carlsen takes his time to spread his initiative all over the board. 19. ... Qg6 20. Bc7 e4 21. Kh1 b5! “The following play on both wings is very instructive and, I believe, typical of my style”, Alexander Alexandrovich Alekhine wrote, commentating on one of his games. 22. Nb6. Clearly not 22. axb6? because of 22. ... Rxa3 23. Nxa3 f3! with vehement attack. 22. ... Nxb6 23. Bxb6

23. ... Qg5!? Black could, of course, safely continue with 23. ... b4 followed by ... Be7-f6 easily holding his own, but how to resist the temptation of comparing himself with Anderssen and Morphy? 24. g3!? Caruana decides not to take the Pawn, fearing that his opponent could have launched a successful attack on the Kingside. His decision was lovingly criticised by his fans, but he might well have been wise to go his way. An indicative variation is 24. Bxb5 Rf6 25. Re1 (25. Bc6? Rh6! 26. Bxa8? Qh4 27. h3 Bg4! makes Black’s dreams come true) 25. ... Rg6 26. Bf1 Bf5 27. a6 Rh6 28. Bd4 (28. a7 Bf6!↑) 28. ... Qh4 29. h3 f3! 30. a7 Bxh3! 31. gxh3 Qg4! 32. Kh2! Qf4+ and draw by perpetual check. 24. ... b4! 25. Rb3 Bh3. Vitiugov suggests 25. ... f3!? 26. Bb5 Qg4∞ as a potentially more appealing option for Black. 26. Rg1 f3 27. Bf1! Bxf1 28. Qxf1 Qxd5 29. Rxb4 Qe6 30. Rb5 Bd8! 31. Qe1 Bxb6 32. axb6 Rab8 33. Qe3 Qc4 34. Rb2 Rb7 35. Rd1 Qe2 36. Re1 Qxe3 37. Rxe3 d5 38. h4 Rc8 39. Ra3 Kf7 40. Kh2 Ke6. The time control is reached and White cannot yet rest on his laurels. 41. g4! Rc6 42. Ra6 Ke5 43. Kg3 h6 44. h5 Kd4!? This velleitary attempt to win an impossible victory is the only concession made by Carlsen, who — curiously enough — will end up forcing a draw from a position of symbolic material inferiority. 45. Rb5! Rd6 46. Ra4+ Ke5 47. Rab4 Ke6 48. c4 dxc4 49. Rxc4 Rdxb6 50. Rxe4+ Kf7 51. Rf5+ Rf6 52. Rxf6+ Kxf6 53. Kxf3 Kf7 54. Kg3 ½ : ½.

Fabiano Caruana and Magnus Carlsen agreed to a draw in the tenth game of their World Chess Championship match in London, United Kingdom. Photo: Nadia Panteleeva/World Chess.

From Here to Here

Magnus Carlsen – Fabiano Caruana
World Chess Championship match game 9; London, November 21, 2018
English Opening A29

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Bc5 7. 0-0 0-0 8. d3 Re8 9. Bg5 Nxc3 10. bxc3 f6 11. Bc1 Be6 12. Bb2 Bb6 13. d4 Bd5 14. Qc2 exd4 15. cxd4 Be4 16. Qb3+ Bd5 17. Qd1 Bxf3!? This is the most difficult move of the game, as Black willingly subjects himself to a slight inferiority, but not such an one as to really fear losing the game. It’s clear that Caruana is playing for a draw, being intimately convinced that his constant proof of unbeatability may challenge Carlsen’s status of omnipotence. 18. Qb3+ Kh8 19. Bxf3 Nxd4 20. Bxd4 Qxd4 21. e3 Qe5 22. Bxb7 Rad8 23. Rad1 Qe7 24. h4 g6

25. h5. Afterwards Carlsen regretted his hastiness: “I went for a variant that I knew would not have worked out”, he told NRK. “I do not know why I did that, but I felt that if otherwise he’d have consolidated and it would have been difficult for me to make any progress”. 25. ... gxh5 26. Qc4 f5 27. Bf3 h4 28. Rxd8 Rxd8 29. gxh4 Rg8+ 30. Kh1 Qf6 31. Qf4 Bc5 32. Rg1 Rxg1+ 33. Kxg1 Bd6 34. Qa4 f4 35. Qxa7 fxe3 36. Qxe3 Qxh4 37. a4 Qf6 38. Bd1 Qe5 39. Qxe5+ Bxe5 40. a5 Kg7 41. a6 Bd4 42. Kg2 Kf6 43. f4 Bb6 44. Kf3 h6 45. Ke4 Ba7 46. Bg4 Bg1 47. Kd5 Bb6 48. Kc6 Be3 49. Kb7 Bb6 50. Bh3 Be3 51. Kc6 Bb6 52. Kd5 Ba7 53. Ke4 Bb6 54. Bf1 Ke6 55. Bc4+ Kf6 56. Bd3 Ke6 ½ : ½.

Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana agreed to a draw in the ninth game of their World Chess Championship match in London, United Kingdom. Photo: Nadia Panteleeva/World Chess.

Count Not the Hours

Fabiano Caruana – Magnus Carlsen
World Chess Championship match game 8; London, November 19, 2018
Sicilian Defence B33

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8. exd5 Nb8 9. a4 Be7 10. Be2 0-0 11. 0-0 Nd7 12. Bd2 f5 13. a5 a6 (13. ... Nf6 14. Be3 Bd7 15. Nxa7 f4 16. Bb6 Qe8 17. f3 Bd8 18. c4 Bxb6+ 19. axb6 Qd8 20. Qb3 Nh5 21. c5 dxc5 22. Nc6 Qf6 23. Ra7 Ng3 24. Re1 Nxe2+ 25. Rxe2 bxc6 26. Rxa8 Rxa8 ½ : ½ Huschenbeth – Hráček, 37th Mitropa Cup, Le Castella 2018) 14. Na3 e4 15. Nc4 Ne5 16. Nb6 Rb8 17. f4 exf3 18. Bxf3 g5!? A very committal course, which weakens without counterattacking. Maybe Carlsen needed to test himself in hard circumstances. 19. c4! f4 20. Bc3 Bf5

21. c5! A thematic breakthrough, which, however, costed Caruana too much thinking time (more than half a hour). 21. ... Nxf3+ 22. Qxf3 dxc5 23. Rad1. 23. Rae1 was another romantic-strategic concept, after which the game might have eventually assumed the appearance of a kind of King’s Gambit (23. ... Bf6 24. h4). 23. ... Bd6 24. h3!? Probably Caruana’s first intention was 24. Nc4, but then he must have become afraid of ... g5-g4 followed by ... f4-f3, and thus passion was overcome by prudence. Besides that, he could go for 24. Qh5 Bg6 (24. ... Qe8!? 25. Qxg5+ Qg6 26. Qxg6+ hxg6 27. Nc4 finally leads to the win of a Pawn for White, but shall it be enough?) 25. Qh3 with a definite advantage (but no forced win). 24. ... Qe8. Her Majesty comes just in time to rescue the kingdom. 25. Nc4 Qg6 26. Nxd6 Qxd6 27. h4 gxh4 28. Qxf4 Qxf4 29. Rxf4 h5 30. Re1 Bg4 31. Rf6 Rxf6 32. Bxf6 Kf7 33. Bxh4 Re8 34. Rf1+ Kg8 35. Rf6 Re2 36. d6 Rd2 37. Rg6+ Kf8 38. Rg5 ½ : ½.

Magnus Carlsen (right) saved a draw in the eight game of his World Chess Championship match with Fabiano Caruana (left) in London, United Kingdom. Photo: Facundo Arrizabalaga/EFE.

The Seventh Seal

Magnus Carlsen – Fabiano Caruana
World Chess Championship match game 7; London, November 18, 2018
Queen’s Gambit Declined D37

He who plays against himself, whether with White or with Black, does not plays the game through to mate. 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 0-0 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qc2 Nc6 9. a3 Qa5 10. Nd2. Carlsen deviates from 12. Rd1 as in the second game, but Caruana shows himself well prepared to catch the difference. 10. ... Qd8 11. Nb3 Bb6!?TN 12. Be2 Qe7 13. Bg5 dxc4 14. Nd2 Ne5 15. 0-0 Bd7 16. Bf4 Ng6 17. Bg3 Bc6 18. Nxc4 Bc7 19. Rfd1 Rfd8 20. Rxd8+ Rxd8 21. Rd1 Rxd1+ 22. Qxd1 Nd5 23. Qd4 Nxc3 24. Qxc3 Bxg3 25. hxg3 Qd7 26. Bd3 b6 27. f3 Bb7 28. Bxg6 hxg6 29. e4 Qc7

30. e5 Qc5+ 31. Kh2 Ba6 32. Nd6 Qxc3 33. bxc3 f6 34. f4 Kf8 35. Kg1 Ke7 36. Kf2 Kd7 37. Ke3 Bf1 38. Kf2 Ba6 39. Ke3 Bf1 40. Kf2 ½ : ½.

Magnus Carlsen (left) and Fabiano Caruana (right) agreed to a draw in the seventh game of their World Chess Championship match in London, United Kingdom. Photo: Nadia Panteleeva/World Chess.

That was just the beginning and the better had yet to come

• Maria Selenkova, Хоу Ифань: “Карлсен играет очень необычно, но так и нужно делать, когда ты чемпион мира” | 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán): “Carlsen played quite extraordinary chess, but maybe that’s what a World Champion must do”, Sports.ru, November 16, 2018

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán): “Carlsen played quite extraordinary chess, but maybe that’s what a World Champion must do” Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) commented on the course of the World Championship match between the Norwegian Magnus Carlsen and the American Fabiano Caruana. The first five games have all ended as a draw. “They both were under huge pressure, but Carlsen reacted so promptly and quickly by virtue of his chess understanding. He played quite extraordinary chess, but maybe that’s what a World Champion must do”, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) told NRK, commenting on the fifth game.

(Free translation by Nobody’s Perfect)

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) airing her commentary on the fifth game of the World Chess Championship match on last Thursday evening in London, United Kingdom. Photo: Jørund Wessel Carlsen/NRK.

Mankind and outer space

Magnus Carlsen – Fabiano Caruana
World Chess Championship match game 6; London, November 16, 2018
Russian Defence C42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nd3!? Nxe4 5. Qe2 Qe7 6. Nf4 Nc6!?TN 7. Nd5 Nd4 8. Nxe7 Nxe2 9. Nd5 Nd4. It is not exaggerated to say that Black has already equalised. 10. Na3 Ne6 11. f3 N4c5 12. d4 Nd7 13. c3 c6 14. Nf4 Nb6 15. Bd3 d5 16. Nc2 Bd6 17. Nxe6 Bxe6 18. Kf2 h5 19. h4 Nc8 20. Ne3 Ne7 21. g3 c5! Psychologically speaking, Black now takes the initiative on the Queenside. 22. Bc2 0-0 23. Rd1 Rfd8 24. Ng2 cxd4 25. cxd4 Rac8 26. Bb3 Nc6 27. Bf4 Na5 28. Rdc1 Bb4 29. Bd1 Nc4 30. b3 Na3 31. Rxc8 Rxc8 32. Rc1 Nb5 33. Rxc8+ Bxc8 34. Ne3 Nc3 35. Bc2 Ba3 36. Bb8 a6 37. f4 Bd7

38. f5!? Feeling entangled in an uneasy rhythm, Carlsen goes for adventures. 38. ... Bc6 39. Bd1 Bb2! 40. Bxh5 Ne4+! 41. Kg2 Bxd4 42. Bf4 Bc5 43. Bf3 Nd2 44. Bxd5!? That’s the corollary of the previous policy: White sacrifices the Knight for three Pawns — which should be more than enough compensation — but alas for him one of them will fall pretty soon. “After that only some endgame magic saved half a point”, Leonard Barden writes in his The Guardian weekly chess column. 44. ... Bxe3 45. Bxc6 Bxf4 46. Bxb7 Bd6 47. Bxa6 Ne4 48. g4 Ba3! 49. Bc4 Kf8 50. g5 Nc3 51. b4! Bxb4 52. Kf3 Na4 53. Bb5 Nc5 54. a4 f6 55. Kg4 Ne4 56. Kh5 Be1 57. Bd3 Nd6 58. a5! Carlsen gives up another Pawn in order to bring his own King at g6 without losing the h-Pawn, which is imprescindible to make his corner a fortress. Quite paradoxically, White’s King had to get rid of both his Queenside passers to get asylum on the Kingside. 58. ... Bxa5 59. gxf6 gxf6 60. Kg6 Bd8 61. Kh7 Nf7 62. Bc4 Ne5 63. Bd5 Ba5 64. h5 Bd2 65. Ba2 Nf3 66. Bd5 Nd4 67. Kg6 Bg5 68. Bc4 Nf3. That’s where Norwegian supercomputer Sesse, running Stockfish, announced mate in about 30 moves or so. However, 13th World Chess Champion Garry Kimovich Kasparov well illustrates the potential sideline effects of such a perspicacity: “The computer shows Black wins with 68. ... Bh4 here. But had Caruana played the incredible 69. Bd5 Ne2 70. Bf3 Ng1!! they would request metal detectors immediately! No human can willingly trap his own Knight like that”. 69. Kh7 Ne5 70. Bb3 Ng4 71. Bc4 Ne3 72. Bd3 Ng4 73. Bc4 Nh6 74. Kg6 Ke7 75. Bb3 Kd6 76. Bc2 Ke5 77. Bd3 Kf4 78. Bc2 Ng4 79. Bb3 Ne3 80. h6 Bxh6 ½ : ½.

Magnus Carlsen (left) barely saved draw on Friday in the sixth game of his World Chess Championship match with Fabiano Caruana (right) in London, United Kingdom. Photo: Ivan Mudrov.

Lost in Lexicon

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (pictured above, right) and International Master Anna Rudolf (pictured above, left) in the studio, airing their breathtaking commentary on the fifth game of the World Chess Championship match underway in London, United Kingdom. Photo: World Chess/Russian Chess Federation.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) signing a chessboard after or before her guesting appearance on the stream. On the occasion, she showed off a stunning outfit from her very last fall/winter collection. Photo: World Chess.

London Eye

Fabiano Caruana – Magnus Carlsen
World Chess Championship match game 5; London, November 15, 2018
Sicilian Defence B31

Carlsen and Caruana are both holding their own so far. That means that the next few games will inevitably witness a split, with one winner and one loser. The outcome is anything but certain. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5. Caruana insists on the Rossolimo Variation. 3. ... g6 4. 0-0 Bg7 5. Re1 e5 6. b4!? A gambit, but hardly a surprise to Carlsen. 6. ... Nxb4. 6. ... cxb4 7. a3 Nge7 8. axb4 0-0! 9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. Bb2 d6 11. d4 gives White a “symbolic” initiative, Stellwagen – Carlsen, 67th Corus Chess Tournament (B-Group), Wijk aan Zee 2005. 7. Bb2 a6 8. a3 axb5 9. axb4 Rxa1 10. Bxa1 d6 11. bxc5 Ne7 12. Qe2!? This is the actual novelty produced by the “Caruana lab”, and, objectively speaking, it doesn’t appear to be any better than 12. cxd6 Qxd6 13. d4! which does at least give White a volatile initiative, Polschikov – Anoshkin, 18th Czech Open, Pardubice 2007. 12. ... b4! 13. Qc4 Qa5 14. cxd6 Be6! 15. Qc7 Qxc7 16. dxc7 Nc6! After only 16 moves, Black can already claim full equality, with more than enough compensation for the Pawn. 17. c3 Kd7 18. cxb4 Ra8 19. Bc3 Kxc7 20. d3

20. ... Kb6 21. Bd2! Rd8 22. Be3+ Kb5 23. Nc3+ Kxb4 24. Nd5+ Bxd5 25. exd5 Rxd5 26. Rb1+ Kc3 27. Rxb7 Nd8 28. Rc7+ Kxd3 29. Kf1 h5 30. h3 Ke4 31. Ng5+ Kf5 32. Nxf7 Nxf7 33. Rxf7+ Bf6 ½ : ½.

Magnus Carlsen (right) and Fabiano Caruana (left) played to a fifth straight draw in their World Chess Championship match on Wednesday in London, United Kingdom. Photo: Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA.

A Board With a View

Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana are finally no longer alone and desperate, as four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) joined Chess.com’s live coverage of the World Chess Championship match conducted by Twitch.tv/Chess and/or Chess.com/TV and moderated by International Master Daniel Rensch and Grandmaster Robert Hess. Screenshot credit: schaaksite.nl.

1. g4 h5

Magnus Carlsen – Fabiano Caruana
World Chess Championship match game 4; London, November 13, 2018
English Opening A29

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Bc5 7. 0-0 0-0 8. d3 Re8 9. Bd2 Nxc3 10. Bxc3 Nd4 11. b4 Bd6 12. Rb1 Nxf3+ 13. Bxf3 a6 14. a4 c6 15. Re1 Bd7 16. e3 Qf6 17. Be4 Bf5 18. Qf3 Bxe4 19. Qxf6 gxf6 20. dxe4

20. ... b5. 13th World Chess Champion Garry Kimovich Kasparov expressed better than others certain essential basics of the chess art: “Perhaps I’m old fashioned, but when you say A (14. a4) you then must say B (15. b5)!”. 21. Red1 Bf8 22. axb5 axb5 23. Kg2 Red8 24. Rdc1 Kg7 25. Be1 Rdc8 26. Rc2 Ra4 27. Kf3 h5 28. Ke2 Kg6 29. h3 f5 30. exf5+ Kxf5 31. f3 Be7 32. e4+ Ke6 33. Bd2 Bd6 34. Rbc1 ½ : ½.

Magnus Carlsen (left) and Fabiano Caruana (right) played to another draw in game 4 of their World Chess Championship match on Tuesday in London, United Kingdom. Photo: Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA.

Much Ado About Nothing

Fabiano Caruana – Magnus Carlsen
World Chess Championship match game 3; London, November 12, 2018
Sicilian Defence B31

Since the third game was also a draw, the attention of the critics turned to Magnus Carlsen’s 18th move, when he would have first touched his Knight — apparently without saying “j’adoube” — and then moved a Pawn (18. ... b7-b5). At the very least, however, the gossip may well have been hyped, as his opponent, Fabiano Caruana, didn’t complain about anything. Carlsen himself rejected any charges of unfair (chess) etiquette: “I understand you want stories. Furthermore, not only one but two referees are in the play hall. We’re televised. I do not understand the fuss”, Carlsen said in the press conference post-game. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. 0-0 Qc7 7. Re1 e5 8. a3 Nf6 9. b4 0-0 10. Nbd2 Bg4 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Nxf3 cxb4 13. axb4 a5 14. bxa5 Rxa5

15. Bd2 Raa8 16. Qb1 Nd7 17. Qb4 Rfe8 18. Bc3 b5 19. Rxa8 Rxa8 20. Ra1 Rxa1+ 21. Bxa1 Qa7 22. Bc3 Qa2 23. Qb2 Qxb2 24. Bxb2 f6 25. Kf1 Kf7 26. Ke2 Nc5 27. Bc3 Ne6 28. g3 Bf8 29. Nd2 Ng5 30. h4 Ne6 31. Nb3 h5 32. Bd2 Bd6 33. c3 c5 34. Be3 Ke7 35. Kd1 Kd7 36. Kc2 f5 37. Kd1 fxe4 38. dxe4 c4 39. Nd2 Nc5 40. Bxc5 Bxc5 41. Ke2 Kc6 42. Nf1 b4 43. cxb4 Bxb4 44. Ne3 Kc5 45. f4 exf4 46. gxf4 Ba5 47. f5 gxf5 48. Nxc4 Kxc4 49. exf5 ½ : ½.

Magnus Carlsen (right) and Fabiano Caruana (left) played to another draw in Monday’s game 3 of their best-of-12-games World Chess Championship match in London, United Kingdom. Photo: Matt Dunham/AP.

Wall of Glass

Magnus Carlsen – Fabiano Caruana
World Chess Championship match game 2; London, November 10, 2018
Queen’s Gambit Declined D37

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 0-0 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qc2 Nc6 9. a3 Qa5 10. Rd1 Rd8 11. Be2. Apparently Carlsen was surprised by Black’s 11. ... Rd8 — which indeed is anything but new — and, quite paradoxically, it was him who arranged for Caruana to have his surprise! Previous theory (Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian) gave 11. Nd2 d4 12. Nb3 Qb6 13. Na4 Bb4+ 14. Ke2 Qa6 15. Nxd4 Be7 16. Nxc6 Qxc6 17. Rxd8+ Bxd8 18. Kd1 b6 19. Nc3 Ba6 20. Qa4 Qxa4+ 21. Nxa4 Rc8 22. Nc3 ½ : ½ T. V. Petrosian – Lutikov, 5th Soviet Team Chess Cup, Moscow 1966. 11. ... Ne4 12. 0-0 Nxc3 13. bxc3 h6 14. a4 Ne7 15. Ne5 Bd6 16. cxd5 Nxd5

17. Bf3. The pseudo-sacrifice 17. Nxf7 leads nowhere for White, as after 17. ... Kxf7 18. Bh5+ Kg8 19. Bxd6 Rxd6 20. e4 Bd7 Mikhail Nechemevich Tal’s inspirational ghost gets covered in a glowing fog. They insist on being themselves, but in the end cannot do anything to get Petrosian to change his mind. 17. ... Nxf4 18. exf4 Bxe5 19. Rxd8+ Qxd8 20. fxe5 Qc7 21. Rb1 Rb8 22. Qd3 Bd7 23. a5 Bc6 24. Qd6 Qxd6 25. exd6 Bxf3 26. gxf3 Kf8 27. c4 Ke8 28. a6 b6 29. c5 Kd7 30. cxb6 axb6 31. a7 Ra8 32. Rxb6 Rxa7 33. Kg2 e5 34. Rb4 f5 35. Rb6 Ke6 36. d7+ Kxd7 37. Rb5 Ke6 38. Rb6+ Kf7 39. Rb5 Kf6 40. Rb6+ Kg5 41. Rb5 Kf4 42. Rb4+ e4 43. fxe4 fxe4 44. h3 Ra5 45. Rb7 Rg5+ 46. Kf1 Rg6 47. Rb4 Rg5 48. Rb7 Rg6 49. Rb4 ½ : ½.

Magnus Carlsen looking far toward the glass wall for any sign of life. Photo: Terje Bendiksby/NTB scanpix.

A Tea with the King

Fabiano Caruana – Magnus Carlsen
World Chess Championship match game 1; London, November 9, 2018
Sicilian Defence B31

In the end, none of the Black Pawns promoted to Queen in the first partie of the World Chess Championship match. Fabiano Caruana suffered very much from shortness of time and strategic vision, but Magnus Carlsen, on the other hand, succeeded — even more skillfully — in not turning his dominance into a mere coup de grâce to the organisation’s marketing campaign. A seven-hour, 115-move draw is just the start of a script they’re gonna work on in the next days, dealing with the spectre of not remaking the Braingames World Chess Championships. The position in the diagram is not a quiz, nor a test, but just a game. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. h3 Nf6 7. Nc3 Nd7 8. Be3 e5 9. 0-0 b6 10. Nh2 Nf8 11. f4 exf4 12. Rxf4 Be6 13. Rf2 h6 14. Qd2 g5 15. Raf1 Qd6 16. Ng4 0-0-0 17. Nf6 Nd7 18. Nh5 Be5 19. g4 f6 20. b3 Bf7 21. Nd1 Nf8 22. Nxf6 Ne6 23. Nh5 Bxh5 24. gxh5 Nf4 25. Bxf4 gxf4 26. Rg2 Rhg8 27. Qe2 Rxg2+ 28. Qxg2 Qe6 29. Nf2 Rg8 30. Ng4 Qe8 31. Qf3 Qxh5 32. Kf2 Bc7 33. Ke2 Qg5 34. Nh2 h5 35. Rf2 Qg1 36. Nf1 h4 37. Kd2 Kb7 38. c3

38. ... Be5 39. Kc2 Qg7 40. Nh2 Bxc3 41. Qxf4 Bd4 42. Qf7+ Ka6 43. Qxg7 Rxg7 44. Re2 Rg3 45. Ng4 Rxh3 46. e5 Rf3 47. e6 Rf8 48. e7 Re8 49. Nh6 h3 50. Nf5 Bf6 51. a3 b5 52. b4 cxb4 53. axb4 Bxe7 54. Nxe7 h2 55. Rxh2 Rxe7 56. Rh6 Kb6 57. Kc3 Rd7 58. Rg6 Kc7 59. Rh6 Rd6 60. Rh8 Rg6 61. Ra8 Kb7 62. Rh8 Rg5 63. Rh7+ Kb6 64. Rh6 Rg1 65. Kc2 Rf1 66. Rg6 Rh1 67. Rf6 Rh8 68. Kc3 Ra8 69. d4 Rd8 70. Rh6 Rd7 71. Rg6 Kc7 72. Rg5 Rd6 73. Rg8 Rh6 74. Ra8 Rh3+ 75. Kc2 Ra3 76. Kb2 Ra4 77. Kc3 a6 78. Rh8 Ra3+ 79. Kb2 Rg3 80. Kc2 Rg5 81. Rh6 Rd5 82. Kc3 Rd6 83. Rh8 Rg6 84. Kc2 Kb7 85. Kc3 Rg3+ 86. Kc2 Rg1 87. Rh5 Rg2+ 88. Kc3 Rg3+ 89. Kc2 Rg4 90. Kc3 Kb6 91. Rh6 Rg5 92. Rf6 Rh5 93. Rg6 Rh3+ 94. Kc2 Rh5 95. Kc3 Rd5 96. Rh6 Kc7 97. Rh7+ Rd7 98. Rh5 Rd6 99. Rh8 Rg6 100. Rf8 Rg3+ 101. Kc2 Ra3 102. Rf7+ Kd6 103. Ra7 Kd5 104. Kb2 Rd3 105. Rxa6 Rxd4 106. Kb3 Re4 107. Kc3 Rc4+ 108. Kb3 Kd4 109. Rb6 Kd3 110. Ra6 Rc2 111. Rb6 Rc3+ 112. Kb2 Rc4 113. Kb3 Kd4 114. Ra6 Kd5 115. Ra8 ½ : ½.

Magnus Carlsen (left) vs. Fabiano Caruana (right) performing at their première World Chess Championship match. Photo: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images.