King’s Road

Nikita Kirillovich Vitiugov – Fabiano Caruana
5th GRENKE Chess Classic; Baden-Baden, April 9, 2019
Russian Defence C43

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. dxe5 d5 5. Nbd2 Qd7!? Caruana adopts another arrangement of his recent concert in Berlin: 5. ... Nxd2 6. Bxd2 Be7 7. Bd3 c5 8. c3 Nc6 9. 0-0 Bg4 10. Re1 Qd7 11. h3 Bh5 12. Bf4 Qe6 13. a3 0-0 14. b4 h6 15. Bg3 b6 which proved to be satisfactory as well, Grischuk – Caruana, Candidates Tournament, Berlin 2018. 6. Bd3 Nc5 7. Be2 g6 8. Nb3 Ne6 9. Be3 c5 10. Ng5. Vitiugov, who was unbeaten so far, had to win at all costs, so no wonder he ended up pushing too hard. 10. ... b6 11. Nxe6 fxe6 12. a4 Bb7 13. 0-0 Nc6 14. f4 Bh6 15. a5 Ne7 16. Bg4 d4 17. Bc1 0-0 18. Qd3 Bd5 19. Qh3 Bg7 20. Nd2 Nf5 21. c4 dxc3 22. bxc3 Rad8 23. axb6 axb6 24. Re1 b5 25. Ne4 Qe7 26. Ng5 h6 27. Nf3 Bc6. “The American thought Vitiugov should have played c2-c3 at some point to not allow ... d5-d4 so easily and that after 27. ... Bc6 Black’s position was already almost impossible to hold on to”, Woman International Master Fiona Steil-Antoni wrote in her daily report. 28. Bxf5 gxf5 29. Be3

29. ... Rd3. It’s impressive the easiness how Black dominated the board. 30. Rac1 Ra8 31. Qh4 Qxh4 32. Nxh4 c4 33. Kf2 Bf8 34. Nf3 Bd5 35. Nd4 Bc5. Threatening ... Bc5xd4 followed by ... b5-b4. 36. Nxf5? Mistakes come easy when you’re in big trouble. 37. ... Ba3! 37. Nxh6+ Kg7 38. f5 Bxc1 39. Bxc1 Rxc3 40. f6+ Kg6 0 : 1. Fabiano Caruana presented himself in the best of fashion and proved to be a worthy challenger to Magnus Carlsen. Coming soon in London.

Nikita Kirillovich Vitiugov (left) vs. Fabiano Caruana (right). Photo: Georgios Souleidis/GRENKE Chess Classic.

The Hours After

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave – Fabiano Caruana
5th GRENKE Chess Classic; Baden-Baden, April 7, 2018
English Opening A29

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 0-0 6. 0-0 e4 7. Ng5 Bxc3 8. bxc3 Re8 9. Qc2 d5 10. cxd5 Qxd5 11. d3 Bf5 12. Bf4 h6 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Qb2 Qc5 16. dxe4 Bxe4 17. Bf1!? Vachier-Lagrave entered a very-much-analysed variation of the English Opening, and the text is his surprise – but it fails to impress Caruana. 17. ... Re7 18. a4 Rae8 19. Rac1? This appears to be White’s most serious mistake. After 20. Qb5(!) the game seems more balanced. 20. ... g5! 20. Bd2

20. ... Qf5! Black’s initiative looks scaringly powerful already. 21. f3. Worsening an already bad situation, but 21. c4 Ne5! can be hardly better. 21. ... Qc5+ 22. Kh1. Not 22. Kg2?? because of 22. ... Bxf3+! 23. Kxf3 (or 23. exf3 Re2+ and mate in three moves) 23. ... Qg1! with a quick mate. 22. ... Bd5! Threatening 23. ... Rxe2 24. Bxe2 Rxe2 25. Rf1 Ne5 with a mating attack. Vachier-Lagrave still resists a little, but not for a long time. 23. Be1 Bc4 24. e4 Bxf1 25. Bf2 Qc4 26. Rxf1 Qxa4 27. c4 Ne5 28. Bd4 g4 29. fxg4 Qd7 30. Qc3 31. Bxe5 Rxe5 32. Qf3 Rxe4 33. Rcd1 Qe6 34. g5 hxg5 35. Rd5 g4 36. Qc3 Re5 0 : 1.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (left) vs. Fabiano Caruana (right). Photo: Georgios Souleidis/GRENKE Chess Classic.

The Silent Hours

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Matthias Blübaum
5th GRENKE Chess Classic; Baden-Baden, April 7, 2018
English Opening A13

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 Nf6 4. b3 Be7 5. Bb2 0-0 6. Nc3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Qc2 Nb4!? A sideline that has the merit of avoiding prepared variations. 9. Qb1 b6 10. a3 Nd5 11. Nxd5 exd5 12. d4 Nc6 13. Bb5!? This may be a novelty, which, however, doesn’t change the assessment of its previous reference: 13. Bd3 h6 14. 0-0 Bg4 ½ : ½ Tazelaar – Krimbacher, 41st World Correspondence Chess Championship, 2017. 13. ... Bd7 14. 0-0 Nxd4 15. Nxd4 cxd4 16. Bxd7 Qxd7 17. Bxd4 Rfc8. Black’s control of the c-file compensates for the potential weakness of the isolated Pawn on d5 and gives White no way to mount an attack along the a1-h8 diagonal. 18. Rd1. 18. Qb2 g6 doesn’t seem to make significant differences. 18. ... Rc6 19. Qb2 Qf5. The threat of ... Rc6-c2 nullifies White’s attack on the g7-Pawn. Therefore, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) hastens to exchange Queens, forcing an ending in which she never runs any risks of losing. 20. Qe2 Rc2 21. Qf3 Qxf3 22. gxf3 Bh4 23. e4 dxe4 24. fxe4 Bg5 25. a4 Bd2 26. Rab1 Rac8 27. Rb2 Rxb2 28. Bxb2 Rc2 29. Bd4 f6 30. Kg2 Kf7 31. Kf3 Ke6 32. h3 h5 33. Ke2 Bf4+ 34. Kf3 Bd2 35. Ke2 Bf4+ 36. Kf3 g5 37. Rd3 Bd2 38. Ke2 Bf4+ 39. Kf3 Be5 40. Be3 Rb2

41. a5 bxa5 42. Bxa7 f5 43. exf5+ Kxf5 44. Kg2 g4 45. hxg4+ hxg4 46. Rd5 Rxb3 ½ : ½. For after 47. Bd4 Ke4 it’s a draw by exhaustion.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s sartorial representation of when White feels in the mood to renounce the advantage of having the first move. Photo: Georgios Souleidis/GRENKE Chess Classic.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (left) vs. Matthias Blübaum (right). Photo: Georgios Souleidis/GRENKE Chess Classic.

∓

The next challenger for the World Chess Championship title Fabiano Caruana. Artwork © Willum Morsch (@WillumTM).

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) in her yesterday’s game with Fabiano Caruana. Photo: GRENKE Chess Classic 2018 (GRENKEChess).

黑寡婦 (Black Widow)

Fabiano Caruana – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
5th GRENKE Chess Classic; Baden-Baden, April 6, 2018
Russian Defence C42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6. In latest times Caruana and 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) apparently share the same taste for the Russian Defence. 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 0-0. Another way is 7. ... Nc6 8. Qd2 Be6 9. 0-0-0 Qd7 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= Carlsen – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 78th Tata Steel Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 2016. 8. Qd2 Nd7 9. 0-0-0 Nf6 10. h3!? c5! 11. Bf4. Caruana appears to lose time here, as the “threat” against Black’s d6-Pawn is a mere optical illusion. However, also the direct 11. g4 gave way to a more satisfactory position for Black after 11. ... Qa5 12. a3 Be6 13. Bd3 d5 (Pranav – Nazario, 53th World Junior Chess Championship, Pune 2014). 11. ... Be6 12. a3 d5 13. Ng5 Bd7 14. g4 Bc6 15. Bg2 Re8. Black came out of the opening with a very comfortable position, so Caruana looks for tactics. 16. Qd3!?

16. ... Bd6. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) choses to play safely, contenting herself with a nuance of favour in the ensuing ending. Pragmatically, her decision is sound, even though at least two Stockfish’s lines might have produced most tangible results: first, 16. ... h6 17. h4(!) Qd7! and White doesn’t seem to have any way to fuel his pseudo-attack; secondly, 16. ... c4(!) 17. Qg3 Bc5 and Black appears to stand much better. 17. Qg3 Bxf4+ 18. Qxf4 h6 19. Nf3 Qb8 20. Qxb8 Raxb8 21. Nd2 Re2 22. Rhf1 b6 23. Rde1 Rbe8 24. Rxe2 Rxe2 25. Kd1 Re6 26. f4 Kf8 27. Re1 Ke7 28. Rxe6+ Kxe6 29. Ke2 g5! 30. fxg5 hxg5 31. Nf3 Ne4 32. Ke3 f6 33. Bf1 Nd6 34. Nd2? There is nothing more easy than to take a wrong step when you feel your time slipping by. 34. h4 was White’s best chance to keep the ending within the drawing area. 34. ... f5! 35. gxf5+ Nxf5+ 36. Kf2 Ke5 37. Nf3+ Kf4 38. Ne1 c4! 38. ... Ne3! 39. Be2 c4 40. Bf3 Bd7 41. Ng2+ Nxg2 42. Bxg2 Ke5 was a similar, and possibly simpler, version of the same ending (without the Knights), where White seems unable to cope with both his weak Pawns on c2 and h3. Nevertheless, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s move is also very strong, marking the beginning of a long calvary for Caruana. 39. Ng2+ Ke5 40. Be2 Ba4 41. Bd1 Be8 42. Bg4 Bg6 43. Be2 Nd6 44. Ne3 Ne4+ 45. Kf3 Nf6 46. Kf2 Bf7 47. Ng2 Be6 48. h4 Ne4+ 49. Kf3 Bh3! The right and only way to go. After all the exchanges, Black’s Knight will head towards the a4-square (via e6). 50. hxg5 Nxg5+ 51. Kg3 Bxg2 52. Kxg2 Ne6 53. Kf2 Nc5 54. Bh5 Na4 55. Be8 Nxb2 56. Ke2 a6 57. Kd2 b5 58. Bh5 Na4 59. Bf7 Nc5 60. Kc1 Ne6 61. Kb2 Nf4 62. Be8 Ke4 63. Bc6 Ke3 64. Bb7?

64. ... a5? 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) misses a study-like win with 64. ... Kd2!! 65. Bxa6 Nd3+!! 66. cxd3 (66. Kb1 Ne1−+) 66. ... d4!! and finis. But by now she too had only a few minutes left! 65. Kc1 Ne2+ 66. Kb2 Kd2? Black had still a hidden win here: 66. ... Nf4! 67. Kc1 Ke2 68. Bc6 Ke1 69. Bxb5 Ne2+ 70. Kb2 Kd2−+ (71. Be8 Nxc3 72. Bg6 Nd1+ 73. Kb1 d4! and Stockfish announces mate in 15 moves!). 67. Bxd5 Nxc3 68. Bc6 Nd1+ 69. Kb1 Ne3 70. Be4 c3 71. Bg6 Nc4 72. Ka2 Ne5 73. Be4 Ke3 74. Bh7 Nc6 75. Bg6 Kd2 76. Be4 Nd4 77. Kb1 Kd1 78. Bd5 Nf5 79. Be4 Ne3 80. Bg6 Kd2 81. Bd3 Nc4 82. Ka2 Nb6 83. Kb1 Nc4 84. Ka2 a4 85. Bg6 Kc1 86. Bd3 Nd6 87. Ka1 Nb7 88. Ka2 Nc5 89. Bf5 Na6 90. Bg6 Kd2 91. Bh7 Nb8 92. Bd3 Nc6 93. Bxb5 Nd4 94. Bxa4 Nxc2 95. Kb3 Nd4+ 96. Kc4 Nc2 97. Kb3 Ne3 98. Kb4 c2 ½ : ½. What a game!

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s sartorial representation that “Black is OK!”. Photo: Georgios Souleidis/GRENKE Chess Classic.

A telling demonstration of how symmetrical opening can sometimes lead to situations where the first mover advantage may disappear entirely: Fabiano Caruana (left) vs. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (right). Photo: Georgios Souleidis/GRENKE Chess Classic.

Frontstage Backstage

GRENKE Chess Classic 2018 (@GRENKEChess)

Onstage Offstage

Georg Meier – Magnus Carlsen
5th GRENKE Chess Classic; Baden-Baden, April 5, 2018
b4rk1/q5rp/8/3pQ1R1/p3p3/4P1P1/4BPK1/5R2 w - - 0 38

Position after 37. ... Qf7xa7

Today World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen took over the stage with all his presence, risking his neck bone against Georg Meier. After pushing too hard to bust his rival’s Kingside, Magnus just played his last bluff (37. ... Qf7xa7), reaching the position of the diagram (which is dramatically lost for Black). 38. Bg4! Threatening 39. Be6+ Kh8 40. Rh5 followed by Rh5xh7+ and Qe5-h5 mate. 39. ... Kh8 39. Ra1? And Meier misses the chance for his “Immortal Game”: 39. Rh5! Qe7 (or 39. ... Qf7 40. Rxh7+! Kxh7 41. Rh1+ Kg8 42. Be6+−) 40. Rxh7+! Kxh7 41. Rh5+ Kg6 (41. ... Kg8 loses – if more prosaically – to 42. Be6+ Rff7 43. Bxf7+ Kxf7 44. Qf4++−) 42. Rh6+!! and mate in two moves. Now Carlsen escapes the nightmare: 39. ... Qe7! 40. Qxg7+ Qxg7 41. Rxg7 Kxg7 42. Rxa4 Bc6 43. Rb4 ½ : ½.

Georg Meier (left) vs. Magnus Carlsen (right). Photo: Georgios Souleidis/GRENKE Chess Classic.

Dress Like a Grandmaster

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Nikita Kirillovich Vitiugov
5th GRENKE Chess Classic; Baden-Baden, April 5, 2018
Spanish Game C92

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 0-0 9. h3 Re8 10. d4 Bb7 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. d5. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) usually favours closing the centre in the Ruy López, so as to avoid to drown into too much analysed insanity – even if at the cost of contenting herself with a very slight edge. 12. ... Nb8 13. Nf1 Nbd7 14. N3h2 c6. The alternative 14. ... Nc5 would have evoked happy memories to 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), who, three years earlier, had been milking the cow in Monte Carlo Casino: 15. Bc2 c6 16. b4 Ncd7 17. dxc6 Bxc6 18. Bg5 Qc7 19. Bxf6 Nxf6 20. Ng4 Nxg4 21. hxg4 Be7 22. Bb3 Bg5 23. Qf3 Qb7 24. Rad1 Red8 25. Rd3 a5 26. Ng3 g6 27. Red1 a4 28. Bd5 Rac8 29. Ne2 Kg7 30. g3 Qd7 31. Kg2 h6 32. Bxc6 Qxc6 33. a3 Qc4 34. Rd5 Qb3 35. Qd3 Rb8 36. Ra1 Qb2 37. Qd1 Rdc8 38. Kf1 Rc4 39. f3 Rb6 40. Qb1 Qxb1+ 41. Rxb1 Kf8 42. Kf2 Ke7 43. f4 Bf6 44. Ke3 exf4+ 45. gxf4 Bxc3 46. Kd3 Bf6 47. Rxb5 Rbc6? (after 47. ... Rxb5 48. Kxc4 Rb8 49. Rd1 White stands only a little better) 48. Ra5 Rc2 49. b5 Rc8 50. Ra7+ Ke6 51. b6 Ra2 52. f5+ Ke5 53. Ra5+ 1 : 0 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Zhukova, Women’s Grand Prix 2015–2016, first stage, Monte Carlo 2015. 15. dxc6 Bxc6 16. Bg5 Qc7 17. Ng3!? 17. Qf3 has long been the most popular line, at least until Black found a way to deal with it: 17. ... a5(!) 18. Rad1 Qb7 19. Ng3 a4 20. Bc2 b4 21. Nf5 Re6 22. Bxf6 Nxf6 23. Ng4 Nxg4 24. hxg4 g6 25. Ne3 bxc3 26. bxc3 Bh6 27. Rb1 Qa7 28. Rb4 Bg5 29. Qe2 Ree8 30. Qd3 Red8 31. Nd5 Rab8 32. Reb1 a3 33. Nb6 Kg7 34. g3 Rb7 35. Kg2 ½ : ½ Vachier-Lagrave – Svidler, 4th Sinquefield Cup, Saint Louis 2016. 17. ... a5! 17. ... Qb7(?) 18. Qf3 d5 would transpose into 19. Ng4 dxe4 20. Qf5 Nd5 21. Nxe4 Re6 22. Rad1 h5? (comparatively better was 22. ... Rae8) 23. Ne3 Nf4 24. Bxf4 Bxe4 25. Rxd7 Bxf5 26. Rxb7 exf4 27. Rxf7 1 : 0 Short – Beliavsky, Knockout World Chess Championship Tournament, Groningen 1997, match game 2. 18. Bxf6. 18. a3 Qb7(!) gives Black no worry. 18. ... Nxf6 19. Ng4 Nxg4 20. hxg4 a4 21. Bd5 Bxd5 22. Qxd5 a3 23. bxa3. 23. b3 Qxc3 24. Qxb5 g6 25. Rac1 Qb2 26. Rb1 Qc2 (not 26. ... Qxa2?? on account of 27. Qd3! followed Re1-e2 trapping Black’s Queen) 27. Rbc1 Qb2 would have led to a draw by repetition. White, however, finds another pretty way to achieve the same result. 23. ... Rxa3 24. Rab1 Qc4 25. Qxb5 Qxb5 26. Rxb5 Rxa2 27. Nf5 Rc2

28. Ne3! Rxc3 29. Ra1. White has sacrificed a Pawn, in return for which she – thanks to the domination of the seventh rank and the d5-square – has virtually paralysed both the d6-Pawn and the f8-Bishop (29. ... g6?? 30. Nd5! would cost Black the Exchange), thus preventing Vitiugov from making any progress. That’s more than enough to make the draw inevitable. 29. ... Rcc8 30. Rb7 Rb8 31. Raa7 Rxb7 32. Rxb7 h6 33. Nd5 Ra8 34. Kh2 g6 35. f3 Kg7 36. Nc7 Rc8 37. Nd5 Ra8 38. Nc7 Rc8 39. Nd5 ½ : ½.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s sartorial representation of the first-move advantage in chess. Photo: Georgios Souleidis/GRENKE Chess Classic.

From the opening into the middle game: 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (left) vs. Nikita Kirillovich Vitiugov (right). Photo: Georgios Souleidis/GRENKE Chess Classic.

Shadow on Stone

Fabiano Caruana – Arkadij Mikhailovich Naiditsch
5th GRENKE Chess Classic; Baden-Baden, April 4, 2018
8/pp3p1k/7p/5Np1/P7/6PP/1nQ2PK1/3q4 w - - 4 34

Position after 33. ... Qe1-d1

Fabiano Caruana continues his magic moment. In today’s game against Naiditsch he could claim very little, at least until the position of the diagram was reached, when after 34. Qe4, with 4. ... Qd7(!)∞ Black could have probably hold his own. Instead, nerves played a bad joke on Naiditsch: 34. ... Qxa4? 35. Qxb7 Qa2. 35. ... Qe8 36. Nd6 is no better at all. 36. Ne3! Kg7 37. Qb4 Qb1 38. g4 Kg8 39. Nf5 Qc2 40. Qb8+ Kh7 41. Qb7 Kh8 42. Qe7! 1 : 0. For after 42. ... Qc6+ 43. Kh2 Qg6 44. Qe5+ Black loses the Knight.

Fabiano Caruana (left) vs. Arkadij Mikhailovich Naiditsch (right). Photo: Georgios Souleidis/GRENKE Chess Classic.

Chemistry of the Four Seasons

Levon Grigori Aronian – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
5th GRENKE Chess Classic; Baden-Baden, April 4, 2018
Catalan Opening E05

1. c4 e6 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. Nf3 Be7 5. 0-0 0-0 6. d4 dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 c5 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Qxc4 b6 11. Ne5 Ra7 12. Nd3 Be7 13. Bf4 Bb7 14. Bxb7 Rxb7 15. Rc1!? Aronian’s personal nuance in a much inflated Catalan landscape. At last year’s World Cup, against the same adversary, Polish Grandmaster Kacper Piorun preferred 15. Nd2, but after 15. ... b5 16. axb5 axb5 17. Qc2 Nd5 18. Be5 Nd7 19. Bd4 Qb8 20. Nf3 h6 21. Rfc1 Rc7 22. Qb3 Rfc8 she never felt any difficulty in equalising: 23. Rxc7 Rxc7 24. Nfe5 Bf6 25. e4 Bxe5 26. Nxe5 N5f6 27. Qe3 Qd8 28. Nd3 Rc4 29. f3 Qb8 30. b3 Rc8 31. Qd2 e5 32. Be3 Qd6 33. Nb4 Qe6 34. Qd3 Nc5 35. Bxc5 Rxc5 36. Kg2 Kh7 37. Ra7 Rc1 38. Nd5 Nxd5 39. exd5+ Qg6 40. Qxg6+ ½ : ½ Piorun – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 7th Chess World Cup, Tbilisi 2017, match game 1. 15. ... Nd5 16. Bxb8 b5 17. axb5 axb5 18. Qb3 Qxb8 19. Nd2 Rc8 20. Nf3 g6 21. Nd4 Rxc1+ 22. Rxc1 Bf6 23. Nc6 Qa8 24. Ncb4 Nxb4 25. Qxb4 Kg7 26. Qe4 Qa7 27. Qc6 Rb6 28. Qc5 Be7 29. Qe3 Qb7 30. Ne5 Ra6 31. h3 Bf6

32. Kh2. Here Stockfish gives a pretty drawing line: 32. Ng4 Bxb2 33. Qh6+ Kg8 34. Qd2! Bxc1 35. Qd8+ Kg7 36. Qf6+ with perpetual check. Aronian’s move seems also solid enough not to lose, but concedes Black a volative initiative, which perhaps would have deserved greater luck. 32. ... h5! 33. Nd3 Ra8 34. Qc5 Ra4! 35. b3 Ra2 36. Rc2 Ra1 37. Rc1 Ra2 38. Rc2 Ra1 39. Rc1 Ra2 ½ : ½.

Levon Grigori Aronian (left) vs. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (right). Photo: Georgios Souleidis/GRENKE Chess Classic.

A Seat in the Crowd

Richárd Rapport – Vincent Keymer
3rd GRENKE Chess Open; Karlsruhe, April 2, 2018
Queen’s Gambit Declined D54

After long years of waiting another Robert Hübner, Germany can finally celebrate the rise of a new star, namely Vincent Keymer, 13, a pupil of Hungarian Grandmaster Péter Lékó, who was able to win the 3rd GRENKE Chess Open ahead of 49 Grandmasters. 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 h6 6. Bh4 0-0 7. Rc1 Nbd7 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bd3 c6 10. Bg3 Re8. A reliable reference for study is 10. ... Nb6 11. Nf3 Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Bh2 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 Bd6 15. g4 Bxh2 16. Rxh2 g6 17. h4 Qd6 18. Rg2 Kg7 19. Kd1 Rae8 20. Kc2 Ne4 21. h5 Qe7 22. Qf4 g5 23. Qf5 Nc8 24. Bxe4 dxe4 25. Qa5 f5 26. gxf5 Qd7 27. Kb1 Rxf5 28. Qa4 Qf7 29. Rg4 Nb6 30. Qxa7 Nc4 31. d5 cxd5 32. Qd4+ Kg8 33. Nxe4 dxe4 34. Qxc4 Qxc4 35. Rxc4 Rxf2 36. Rgxe4 Rxe4 37. Rxe4 Rh2 38. a4 Rxh5 39. a5 Rh4 40. Re8+ Kf7 41. Rb8 Ra4 42. Rxb7+ Kg6 43. Rb6+ Kh7 44. Rb7+ Kg6 45. Rb6+ Kh7 46. Rb7+ ½ : ½ Kortschnoi – Short, 15th Interpolis International Chess Tournament, Tilburg 1991. 11. h3 Bb4 12. Nf3 Ne4 13. Bf4 c5 14. 0-0 Bxc3 15. bxc3 Nb6 16. Ne5 f6!? 17. Ng4!? Typically, Rapport goes for sharp. 17. Ng6 might have been a sounder proceeding; for instance: 17. ... Bf5 18. dxc5 Nc4 19. Qh5 and White seems to stand better. 17. ... c4 18. Bb1 h5 19. Nh2!? Rapport probably noticed only now that 19. Nh6+!? gxh6 20. Qxh5 Re7! 21. f3 Ng5 22. Qxh6 Rg7 would lead nowhere for White. 19. ... g5! 20. Qxh5 gxf4 21. f3 Nd6 22. Qh7+. After 22. Bh7+ Kg7 23. Qg6+ Kh8 24. Qh6 Re7! Black defends successfully. 22. ... Kf8 23. Qh6+ Ke7 24. Qg7+ Ke6 25. Rfe1 Re7 26. Qg4+ f5 27. Bxf5+ Nxf5 28. Qg6+? 28. e4(!) seems a much better way to regain a piece, retaining good compensation for the other one (28. ... Kd7 29. exf5). 28. ... Kd7 29. Qxf5+ Kc6 30. Qxf4 Be6 31. e4 Qg8. White has three Pawns for the piece, but the initiative has firmly passed into Black’s hands. 32. Qh6? 32. a4! (Δ a4-a5) was probably White’s best and only chance of survival. 32. ... Kc7 33. Kh1. By now Rapport has lost the thread of the game, and his insoluble conflict between defending and attacking soon ends in catastrophe. 33. ... Rf8 34. Re2 Rh7 35. Qd2 Kb8 36. Rce1 dxe4 37. fxe4 Bd7 38. Rf2 Re8 39. Qf4+ Ka8 40. Nf3 Rf8 41. Qh2 Na4 42. Re3 a6 43. Qe5

43. ... Bxh3! The End. 44. Kg1. If 44. gxh3 then 44. ... Rxh3+ 45. Rh2 Rg3! with mating attack. 44. ... Rg7 45. Nh4 Rxf2 46. Kxf2 Rxg2+ 47. Nxg2 Qxg2+ 48. Ke1 Qf1+ 49. Kd2 Bg4 50. Qe8+ Ka7 51. Qxa4 Qf2+ 0 : 1.

A Time to Stand

Georg Meier – Fabiano Caruana
5th GRENKE Chess Classic; Karlsruhe, April 2, 2018
Spanish Game C69

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. 0-0 Qf6 6. d4 exd4 7. Bg5 Qd6 8. Nxd4 Be7 9. Be3 Nh6 10. Qd2 g5!? Vladimir Borisovich Kramnik docet. 10. ... Qg6 11. f3 Bd7 12. Nc3 0-0-0 is the old vague “book”, Naiditsch – Maiorov, 21st Corsican Circuit “Open Oscaro”, Bastia 2013. 11. Nf3 Rg8 12. h4? It is hard to approve this move without scientific counterdeductions. From a beginner’s viewpoint, White ought to have exchanged Queens. 12. ... Qg6 13. hxg5 Ng4! 14. Nc3 h6! 15. Bf4. I have to confess I thought White was about to get mated, so I changed channel. But then I was surprised by how many moves it took for Caruana to finish it! 15. ... Be6. 15. ... hxg5 16. Bxc7 Rh8 17. Rfd1 Be6 18. Qd4 Qh7 19. Kf1 Rc8 it’s also very good for Black, but not particularly better than the text. Sooner or later Black has to play ... Bc8-e6 anyway. 16. Bxc7 Rc8 17. Bb6 hxg5 18. Ne2 c5 19. Ng3 Rh8 20. Rfd1 Qh6. Threatening 21. ... Nh2 22. Ne1 Bg4 23. f3 Qxb6 and finis. 21. b4!? This looks like desperation, because 21. ... Nh2 seems still very strong. But, of course, Black’s move is not bad either. 21. ... cxb4 22. Bd4 f6 23. c3 bxc3 24. Bxc3

24. ... Kf7? This could have been Caruana’s only regret. Best was 24. ... Nh2! 25. Ne1 (if 25. Nd4 then 25. ... Nf1! 26. Kxf1 Bc4+ 27. Ke1 Qh1+! and mate next move) 25. ... Bg4 26. f3 Rc4! (Δ ... Be7-c5+) 27. Kf2 Qh4 with an irresistible attack. 25. Rac1 Rc4 26. Bd4 b5 27. Qa5 Nh2 28. Qxa6? It’s doubtful Black would have ever won without such a gift. 28. Ne1! seems to offer a robust defence. 28. ... Nxf3+ 29. gxf3 g4. 29. ... Qh2+ 30. Kf1 Rhc8 was a kind of “dual”. 30. f4 Qxf4 31. Rxc4 bxc4 32. Be3 Qf3 33. Rd6 Rh3! 34. Rxe6 Rxg3+ 35. fxg3 Qxe3+ 36. Kh2 Qf2+ 37. Kh1 Qf1+ 0 : 1.

Georg Meier (right) vs. Fabiano Caruana (left). Photo: Georgios Souleidis/GRENKE Chess Classic.

Splish Splash

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
5th GRENKE Chess Classic; Karlsruhe, April 2, 2018
English Opening A30

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. b3 Bg7 5. Bb2 b6 6. Bg2 Bb7 7. 0-0 0-0 8. d4. On another occasion, against a female opponent at a faster time control, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) continued 8. Nc3 d6 9. e3 Ne4 10. d4 Nd7 11. Qc2 f5!? 12. Rad1 Rb8 13. d5! Ndf6? 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Ne1 Nf6 17. Nd3 g5? 18. f4! g4 19. Nf2 with a crushing advantage to White, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Stefanova, 1st Silk Road Women’s International Rapid & Blitz Tournament (3+2), 韩城 (Hánchéng) 2016. 8. ... cxd4 9. Qxd4 Nc6 10. Qc3 Qc7!? Vachier-Lagrave is not enthusiastic about repeating 10. ... Rc8 11. Rd1 Qc7 12. Qe1 Qb8 13. Nc3 Rfd8 14. Rac1 e6 15. Ng5 h6 16. Nge4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 where after 17. ... Ne7? (but 17. ... Ne5 was much more to the point) 18. Ba3! Nf5 19. Bxf5 gxf5 20. Be7 Re8 21. Bd6 Qa8 22. Nb5 White obtained a dream position, Aronian – Vachier-Lagrave, 2017 “Your Next Move” Grand Chess Tour Rapid, Leuven 2017. 11. Rd1 Rad8 12. Na3 a6 13. Rac1 Rfe8 14. Qe1 Qb8 15. Nc2 b5!? 16. c5!? d5!? 17. cxd6. It seems like she’s playing (a little too much) for a draw. Best appears to be 17. Ne3(!) e6 18. Qa5(!) with a definite edge for White. 17. ... Rxd6 18. Rxd6 Qxd6 19. Nfd4 Nd5 20. Ba3 Qd7 21. Nxc6 Bxc6 22. e4 Nc7 23. Nb4 Bb7 24. Rd1 Qc8 25. Qe3. 25. Rc1 seems simpler, aiming for a draw by repetition after 25. ... Qd7 26. Rd1 Qc8, as 26. Bh3! Qd6 27. Nxa6 Qxa6 28. Rxc7 Qxa3 29. Rxb7 Qxa2 (eventually followed by ... Qa2-b2) doesn’t seem to yield White more than a draw either. 25. ... a5! 26. Nd3 b4 27. Bb2 Bxb2 28. Nxb2 Nb5 29. Nc4 Nc3 30. Rd2 Rd8! The trickiest bet. Black gives up the a-Pawn in order to gain a formidable initiative. 31. Nxa5? It’s easy to say that she should have not grabbed it, but sometimes good and/or bad things happen one knows one doesn’t deserve. 31. a4! was called for, with quite a tenable game. 31. ... Rxd2 32. Qxd2 Ba6! Perhaps White had overlooked this move. Now though trouble will come her way.

33. Bf1? A tremendous mistake. White’s only move was 33. Bf3(!), after which Black would have probably played 33. ... Qc5! with the initiative. 33. ... Bxf1 34. Kxf1 Qa8 35. Nc4 Qxe4. Now Black has regained his Pawn with the most interest, and pretty soon the terrible threats of his battery of Queen and Knight will compel White to surrender her game. 36. Kg1 Ne2+ 37. Kf1 Nd4. Now a Pawn must fall. 38. f3 Qxf3+ 39. Qf2 Qh1+ 40. Qg1 Qe4 41. Qf2 f6 42. Ne3 Kf7 43. h4 Qh1+ 44. Qg1 Qxg1+ 45. Kxg1 Ne2+ 46. Kf2 Nc3 0 : 1. A second Pawn falls, and that’s enough even for a pre-holiday day.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (right) vs. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (left). Photo: Georgios Souleidis/GRENKE Chess Classic.

April Fools’ Day

Magnus Carlsen – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
5th GRENKE Chess Classic; Karlsruhe, April 1, 2018
Bishop’s Opening C24

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 c6 4. Qe2. An old move that both Judit Polgár and 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) successfully played in the past. 4. ... Be7. Here is the record for 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán): 4. ... d5 5. exd5 cxd5 6. Bb5+ Nc6 7. Qxe5+ Be7 8. Nf3 0-0 9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. 0-0 Bd6 11. Qe2 Re8 12. Qd1 Rb8 13. b3 h6 14. Bb2 Nh5 15. Re1 Bg4 16. Nbd2 Nf4 17. Re3 Qd7 18. Qf1 f6 19. Rxe8+ Qxe8 20. h3 Bd7 21. Kh1 c5 22. Ng1 Qh5 23. Re1 a5 24. Ndf3 d4 25. Bc1 Nd5 26. a4 Nb4 27. Re2 g5 28. Nd2 Qg6 29. Nc4 Bc7 30. Ba3 Nd5 31. Bxc5 Nf4 32. Re7 Qf5 33. Bxd4 Kf8 34. Ne3 Kxe7 35. Nxf5+ Bxf5 36. Qe1+ Kf7 37. Qc3 Rc8 38. Nf3 Bd6 39. Qxa5 Be6 40. Qa7+ Kg6 41. Qa6 1 : 0 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Salem, 9th Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2010. 5. Nf3 d6 6. c3 Nbd7 7. Bb3 0-0 8. 0-0 a5 9. d4!? And here Magnus departs from Judit’s game: 9. a4 b5 10. Bc2 Ba6 11. axb5 cxb5 12. Nbd2 Qc7 13. d4 a4 14. Bd3 Rfb8 15. Nh4 g6 16. f4 exf4 17. Ndf3 Nh5 18. Bd2 Nb6 19. g4!? fxg3 20. Ng5 Nc4 (20. ... Bxg5 seems better) 21. Nf5 (21. Rxf7!) 21. ... Bxg5 22. Bxg5 f6 23. Bh4 gxh2+ 24. Qxh2 Rf8 25. Be2 gxf5 (25. ... Nd2! might have been even better) 26. Bxh5 fxe4? [26. ... Qg7+! 27. Kh1 (27. Kf2 Qh6) 27. ... Bb7! 28. d5 Qe7 would have left Black on top] 27. Qf4 f5 28. Kh1! Kh8 29. Rg1 Rf7 30. Bxf7 Qxf7 31. Qh6! Rf8 32. Rg6! 1 : 0 J. Polgár – Gelfand, 3rd Chess World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk 2009, match game 2. 9. ... a4 10. Bc2 Re8 11. Re1 Bf8 12. Qd1 b5 13. Nbd2 Qc7 14. Nf1 g6 15. Bg5 h6 16. Bd2 Bg7 17. Ng3 Nb6 18. b3 axb3 19. axb3 Rxa1 20. Qxa1 Bg4 21. Qc1 Bxf3 22. gxf3 h5 23. Bh6 (Δ 24. Bxg7 Kxg7 25. Nf5+!) 23. ... Qe7 24. Bxg7 Kxg7 25. Qg5 Kh7 26. f4 Nfd7 27. Qxe7 Rxe7 28. fxe5 dxe5 29. Rd1 Re8 30. dxe5 Nxe5 31. f4 Ng4 32. Rd6 Re6 33. Rd8 Kg7 34. Nf1 Rf6? Carlsen had obtained nothing special so far, but with the text Black seriously compromises her own position. 34. ... Nf6! 35. Nd2 h4 would have kept the game approximately balanced. 35. h3 Nh6 36. f5! gxf5 37. Ng3! Rg6 38. Kf2? (38. Kh2!) 38. ... fxe4? This seems the losing move, leading Black to suffer the loss of a valuable Pawn for no compensation. Black ought to have played 38. ... Rg5! 39. Bd1 (with the King on h2, White might instead play 39. h4 Rg4 40. Kh3) 39. ... fxe4 40. Nxh5+ Kh7 41. Nf6+ Kg7 42. Nxe4 Rd5 with equality. 39. Nxh5+ Kh7 40. Bxe4 f5 41. Bg2 Nf7 42. Rf8 Ne5 43. Nf4 Rd6 44. Rxf5 Nbd7 45. Ke2 Kg7 46. h4 Nf7 47. Be4 Nde5 48. Nh5+ Kh6 49. Ng3 Re6 50. Ke3 Kg7 51. Rf1 Kf8 52. Nf5 Ng4+ 53. Kf4 Nf6 54. Bf3. Only one seat is free on the f-file! But the show won’t last much longer.

54. ... Nd5+ 55. Bxd5 cxd5 56. Ra1 Kg8 57. Ra8+ Kh7 58. Ra7 Rf6 59. h5 Kg8 60. Rd7 b4 61. cxb4 1 : 0.

Magnus Carlsen (right) vs. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (left). Photo: Georgios Souleidis/GRENKE Chess Classic.

A Long Way to Go

Fabiano Caruana – Magnus Carlsen
5th GRENKE Chess Classic; Karlsruhe, March 31, 2018
8/p1r5/5Pk1/8/3p2P1/P1p5/7P/5RK1 w - - 0 40

Position after 39. ... Rb7xc7

Fabiano Caruana has today experienced how much hard work and study he will need to be competitive in the next World Chess Championship match against Magnus Carlsen. After suffering for the past 39 moves, Fabiano got into the extremely difficult Rook endgame position shown in the diagram. One feels that whatever White does, mighty Magnus will find the way to win, but fortunately one may still cling to Savielly Tartakower’s old saying that “all Rook endgames are drawn”. Of course it isn’t always true, but it isn’t always untrue. 40. Kf2 c2 41. Rc1 d3 42. Ke3 Rd7 43. Kd2 Kxf6 44. h4 Ke5 45. Rf1 Kd4 46. h5 Re7 47. Rf4+ Kd5 48. Rf1 Kc4 49. Rf4+ Kd5 50. Rf1 Kc4 51. Rf4+ Kb3 52. Rb4+ Kxa3 53. Rc4 Kb3 54. Rc8 a5? Carlsen apparently misses the only winning move 54. ... Rh7! 55. Rb8+ Ka2 56. Rc8 a5 57. Ra8 (or 57. Kxd3 Kb1−+) 57. ... Rc7 58. Rxa5+ Kb3 59. Ra1 Kb2 60. Rg1 Rg7 61. Kxd3 Rxg4 62. Rxg4 c1=Q with a technical win for Black. 55. h6 Re2+ 56. Kxd3 Rh2 57. g5 Rh3+ 58. Kd2 Rh2+ 59. Kd3 ½ : ½.

Fabiano Caruana (right) vs. Magnus Carlsen (left). Photo: Georgios Souleidis/GRENKE Chess Classic.

Спёртый мат (Smothered mate)

Matthias Blübaum – Nikita Kirillovich Vitiugov
5th GRENKE Chess Classic; Karlsruhe, March 31, 2018
3q2k1/Q4pp1/5np1/8/8/2r2B2/P4KPP/R7 b - - 0 24

Position after 24. Qa4xa7

24. ... Ne4+! 25. Kg1. If 25. Ke1 then 25. ... Rc2 finis. If, instead 25. Bxe4 then 25. ... Rc7!! forcing a won endgame in all variations. 25. ... Ra3!! 0 : 1. For if 26. Qxa3 then 26. ... Qd4+ 27. Kh1 Nf2+ 28. Kg1 Nh3++ 29. Kh1 Qg1+ 30. Rxg1 Nf2 mate.

Matthias Blübaum (right) vs. Nikita Kirillovich Vitiugov (left). Photo: Georgios Souleidis/GRENKE Chess Classic.

Laufmaschine

Karlsruhe, Germany: Two ferris wheels erected in the memory of Karl Drais, who was born in the city on 29 April 1785 and invented the running machine, a predecessor to the bicycle. Photo: Uli Deck/AP.

Walls and Vaults

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Arkadij Mikhailovich Naiditsch
4th GRENKE Chess Classic; Baden-Baden, April 22, 2017
French Defence C11

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 a6 7. Be3 Qb6 8. Rb1 Nc6 9. Qd2 Qc7. The alternative is 9. ... Qa7, e.g. 10. Ne2 b5 11. c3 Nb6 12. b3 c4 13. g4 cxb3 14. axb3 b4 15. Bg2 a5 16. 0-0 Ba6 17. Rfc1 bxc3 18. Nxc3 h5 19. h3 hxg4 20. hxg4 Nb4 21. Ne1 Qe7 22. Bf2 Qd8 ½ : ½ Alekseev – Fridman, 26th Paul Keres Memorial 2017, Tallinn 2017. 10. Be2 cxd4!? A variation in theme. For 10. ... Be7 11. 0-0 0-0 12. Nd1 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Nc5 14. Nf2 Bd7 15. c3 b5 see Timman – Bareev, 47th Moscow Blitz tournament, Moscow 1993. 11. Nxd4 Bc5 12. 0-0 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 14. Qxd4 Qc5 15. Qxc5 Nxc5 16. Kf2 Bd7 17. Bd3 Ke7 18. Ke3 Bb5 19. Bxb5 axb5 20. a3 Ra5 21. Rf3 Rc8!? After 21. ... Na4 22. Ne2 Nb6 the game seems rather balanced, but Naiditsch comes up with a very interesting Exchange sacrifice that locks down the position leaving Black with excellent dynamic compensation if White ever decides to open it up.

22. b4! Rxa3 23. Kd4 Ra4! Of course, both 23. ... Ne4 and 23. ... Na4 would be met by 24. Nxd5+ followed by Rf3xa3. 24. Nxa4 Nxa4 25. Kd3 g6 26. Kd2 h5 27. g3 Rc4 28. h3. White finally decides to break the wall, just to find out that she herself is who has to be content with a draw. 28. ... Kd7 29. g4 Rd4+ 30. Kc1 hxg4 31. hxg4 Kc6 32. Rbb3 Re4 33. Rf1 g5 34. fxg5 Rxg4 35. Rxf7 Rxg5 36. Rh3 Rxe5 37. Rhh7 Re4 38. c3 Kd6 39. Rd7+ Ke5 40. Rh5+ Kf6 41. Rh6+ Kf5 42. Rh3 b6 43. Rf7+ Ke5 44. Rf2 Rc4 45. Re2+ Kd6 46. Kd2 d4 47. cxd4 Rxb4 48. Rh4 Rb2+ 49. Kd3 Rb3+ 50. Kc2 Rc3+ 51. Kd2 Rc6 52. Rh6 Kd5 53. Re5+ Kxd4 54. Rhxe6 Rxe6 55. Rxe6 ½ : ½.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) vs. Arkadij Mikhailovich Naiditsch. Photo: Georgios Souleidis/GRENKE Chess Classic.

Tell Me What to Look If I Have Headaches

• Leonard Barden, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) shocks Fabiano Caruana and Magnus Carlsen at Grenke Classic, The Guardian, April 21, 2017

For the world champion matters are starting to become serious. Carlsen appeared at Karlsruhe wearing spectacles, explaining that he had always been near-sighted but had recently developed headaches for which glasses were the prescribed remedy. [Read more].

Lucky in love, unlucky at play

Here is 16th World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen suddenly becoming aware of being out of the running for first place at the 4th GRENKE Chess Classic. Armenian Grandmaster Levon Grigori Aronian, thanks to the grace of Her Majesty, won the Classic with a round yet to spare. But, after all, it is better to sleep in Hamlet’s night than burning in Othello’s tragedy. Photo: GRENKE Chess Classic (@GRENKEChess).