The Five-Minute Tale

The 5th Altibox Norway Chess started today in Stavanger, Norway with a Blitz tournament aimed to determine the pairings for tomorrow’s official “grand beginning”. Guess who won today? Of course, Magnus Carlsen, world’s number one as well as the reigning World Chess Champion. This year’s format, indeed, doesn’t leave room for surprise and novelty. It’s a super élite tournament in which participate only and exclusively the world Top Ten with no wild card for any “Children of a Lesser God”. The organisers have thought about any details: there is TV, Anglo-Saxon commentators, and the contracted broadcast of chess24.com. There are all the ingredients for the auto-celebration of the Magnificent Ten, and we hope for them it will be a success, of course.

Here’s the venue of today’s Blitz tournament at Clarion Hotel Air, just five-minute walk from Stavanger Airport. Photo: Altibox Norway Chess (Instagram).

Pleasure Before Duty

李超 (Lǐ Chāo) (@lichaochess)

A Sleeping Giant

李超 (Lǐ Chāo) – Anish Giri
4th Altibox Norway Chess; Stavanger, April 29, 2016
Grünfeld Defence D84

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 0-0 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Nxd5 Qxd5 8. Bxc7 Na6 9. Bxa6 Qxg2 10. Qf3 Qxf3 11. Nxf3 bxa6 12. Rc1 f6 13. Rg1 Rf7 14. b3. The alternative is 14. Ke2, e.g. 14. ... Bd7 15. Nd2 e5 16. d5 Bb5+ 17. Kf3 f5 18. b3 e4+ 19. Kg2 Bb2 20. Rc2 Bd3 21. Rc6 Bb5 22. Rc2 Bd3 23. Rc6 ½ : ½ Radjabov – Ivanchuk, 23rd SuperGrandMasters Chess Tournament, Morelia/Linares 2006. 14. ... Bb7 15. Ke2 Bf8 16. Ba5 e6 17. Nd2 Re8 18. h4 e5 19. h5 exd4 20. hxg6 hxg6 21. Rxg6+ Kh7 22. Rg3 Bh6 23. Nc4 Re6 24. Rd1 dxe3 25. Rd6 Re4 26. fxe3 Rh4 27. Rd8 Bf8 28. Nd2 Bc6 29. Kd3 Rh5 30. Bc3 Be7 31. Rc8 Bb5+ 32. Kc2 Bf8 33. a4 Bd7 34. Rd8 Bf5+ 35. Kb2 Rh2 36. Rf3 Be7 37. Rd4 Bg6 38. Rdf4 Bc5 39. b4 Rb7 40. Ka3 Be7 41. Nb3. 李超 (Lǐ Chāo) does his best to give Giri some vague chances, but, indeed, not enough for risking to lose. 41. ... Rc7 42. Bxf6 Rcc2 43. Rh4+ Rxh4 44. Bxh4 Bxh4 45. Rh3 Bf7 46. Rxh4+ Kg7 47. Rh1 Rc3 48. Rb1 Rxe3 49. a5 Bc4

50. b5. The right way. It should be noted that, even in the worst case, Black is left with the wrong Bishop for the a-Pawn. 50. ... axb5 51. a6 Kf6 52. Kb4 Bd3 53. Rc1 Re4+ 54. Kc3 Be2 55. Kb2 Rb4 56. Rc6+ Ke5 57. Kc3 Rh4 58. Rc7 b4+ 59. Kb2 Bxa6 60. Na5 Kd5 61. Rxa7 Bb5 62. Rg7 Ba4 63. Rg2 Rh3 64. Rg5+ Ke6 65. Rg6+ Kf5 66. Rb6 Rh2+ 67. Ka1 Rh4 68. Nc6 b3 69. Na5 Rh1+ 70. Kb2 Rh2+ 71. Kb1 Rh1+ 72. Kb2 Rh2+ 73. Kb1 Ke5 ½ : ½.

李超 (Lǐ Chāo)
Photo: Joachim Steinbru/4th Altibox Norway Chess

Empire State Building Cometh

Magnus Carlsen – Pavel Eljanov
4th Altibox Norway Chess; Stavanger, April 29, 2016
Dutch Defence A90

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 0-0 7. 0-0 c6 8. Qc2 Nbd7 9. a4 a5 10. Rc1 Ne4. Eljanov decides to transpose his anti-Catalan into a Stonewall Dutch – very questionable opening strategy against a superb positional player such as Carlsen. For 10. ... h6 11. Be1 b6 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Nc3 Bb7 14. Nb5 Rc8 see Sandipan – G. Meier, ZMDI Open, Dresden 2012. 11. Be1 f5 12. Nbd2 Bd6 13. e3 Ra7 14. Qd1 b6 15. cxd5 cxd5 16. Nb1! “Magnus says game plan was to get into mutually unknown territory and just (out)play”, Grandmaster Jonathan David Tisdall said. 16. ... Ba6 17. Na3 Qa8. Very involute, very compressed. It will be easy for Magnus making his dream come true. 18. Nb5 Bxb5 19. axb5. Eljanov has got rid of his “bad” Bishop, but at the cost of leaving SuperMagnus the Bishop pair and a much freer game. 19. ... Rc8 20. Bf1! Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Rc7 22. Rxc7 Bxc7 23. Qa4! Qb8 24. b4 axb4 25. Bxb4 h6 26. Qc2! Bd6 27. Qc6? The paralyzing irruption, but too hasty. First he should have played 27. Bxd6. 27. ... Ndf6? Eljanov crashes off. Even worse was 27. ... Qc7? 28. Nd2! winning on the spot. However, Black could defend by 27. ... Qa7! 28. Bd3 (both 28. Bxd6? Qa2! and 28. Qc8+ Nf8 29. Bxd6 Qa2! would lead only to a draw) 28. ... Bxb4 29. Qxe6+ Kh8 30. Qxd5 Qa3 31. Bxe4 fxe4 32. Qxe4 when White has three Pawns for the Bishop, but no win in sight. 28. Bxd6 Qxd6. After 28. ... Nxd6 29. Ne5 White stands much better anyway.

29. Qc8+ Kh7 30. Ne5. That’s (almost) all. 30. ... Qe7 31. Qc6 Ng4 32. Nxg4 fxg4 33. Bd3! g6 34. Bxe4 dxe4 35. Qxb6 1 : 0. “I’m incredibly delighted to be able to win here”, then Magnus said.

Magnus finally propheta in patria!
Photo © Jose Huwaidi 2016

From Earth to Sky

Pavel Eljanov – 李超 (Lǐ Chāo)
4th Altibox Norway Chess; Stavanger, April 28, 2016
Queen’s Pawn Game D02

And, finally, our hero 李超 (Lǐ Chāo) has the honour to be challenged to duel by Pavel Eljanov. 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 Bf5 4. e3 e6 5. Bd3 Ne4 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. Bxe4 dxe4 8. Ne5 f6 9. g4 fxe5 10. dxe5 Be7 11. gxf5 exf5 12. Rg1 g6 13. Qe2 Qd5 14. 0-0-0 Nc6 15. Nb3 Qe6 16. Qb5 0-0 17. Kb1 a5 18. Nd4 Nxd4 19. exd4 c6 20. Qb6 Rfd8 21. a4 Rd7 22. d5 Rxd5 23. Rxd5 Qxd5 24. Qxb7 Re8 25. b3 Ba3 26. h4 Qd4 27. Bc1 Bxc1 28. Rxc1 f4 29. h5 g5 30. h6 Qxe5 31. Rd1 Re7 32. Qxc6

Forget about computers as now 李超 (Lǐ Chāo)’s technique in the conduct of the ending is worth a study composer! 32. ... e3!! 33. fxe3 fxe3 34. Rd5. It is very natural, from a human point of view. After a whole night’s struggling and deep computer questioning, “they” say 34. Qc4+ would have won for White... Their main analysis runs: 34. Qc4+ Re6 35. Rd5 Qf6 36. Qc7 Re7 37. Qc8+ Kf7 38. Rf5 e2 39. Rxf6+ Kxf6 40. Qc3+ Kf5 (on 40. ... Kf7 41. Qe1 wins) 41. Qxa5+ Kf4 42. Qe1 g4± “is an engine-proposal to improve White’s play in the game”, writes André Schulz, but 41. ... Re5! (instead than 41. ... Kf4) 42. Qe1 g4 is an improvement that suggests itself, after which Black certainly cannot lose. Maybe he could not win, since unlike the actual game there is no Black Pawn at a5, but surely he won’t lose. It is quite evident, however paradoxical it may appear, that only Black can win this game – from a human point of view, of course. 34. ... e2!! The pointe. 35. Rxe5 Rxe5 36. Qa8+ Kf7 37. Qa7+ Re7 38. Qf2+ Ke8 39. Qe1 g4 40. Kc1 g3 41. Kd2 g2 42. c3 Re6!! Fantastic! A waiting move, and the only move which wins. 43. b4 Kd7 44. b5 Rd6+ 45. Kc2 Rg6 46. Qd2+ Kc8 47. Qxe2 g1=Q 48. Qe8+ Kb7 49. Qe7+ Kb6 50. Qd8+ Kc5 51. Qf8+ Kd5 52. Qf5+ Kd6 53. Qf4+ Ke7 54. Qe4+ Re6 55. Qxh7+ Ke8 56. Qh8+ Kd7 57. Qh7+ Kc8 0 : 1. 李超 (Lǐ Chāo) painted his own masterpiece, the same day when Garry Kimovich Kasparov came back to chessboard!

Jonathan David Tisdall (‏@GMjtis)

Pavel Eljanov vs. 李超 (Lǐ Chāo)
Photo: Fiona Steil-Antoni

长城 (The Great Wall)

Nils Axel Grandelius – 李超 (Lǐ Chāo)
4th Altibox Norway Chess; Stavanger, April 27, 2016
Caro-Kann B16

Nobody ever says a word about how 李超 (Lǐ Chāo) used to spend his free days in Stavanger. Did you notice that? 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ gxf6!? The Bronstein-Larsen Variation. My friend Doriano Tocchioni should be very happy that his ancient sword is not yet hung on the wall. 6. c3 Bf5 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. g3 Qc7 9. Bg2 e6 10. Nh4 Bg6 11. Bf4. An anthologic miniature is 11. 0-0 0-0-0 12. Qe2 Bd6 13. Be3 f5 14. Bg5 Rde8 15. c4 c5 16. b4 cxd4 17. c5 Bf8 18. Rac1 Nb8 19. b5 Bg7 20. b6 1 : 0 Chiburdanidze – Borner, 24th Masters Tournament Open, Biel/Bienne 1991. 11. ... Bd6 12. Bxd6 Qxd6 13. 0-0 f5 14. b4 Nf6 15. a4 a6 16. Re1 0-0 17. a5 Rad8 18. Qc1. Black has no counterplay worth the opening variation, while White has got a very comfortable position, with much more space. That doesn’t mean, however, that the game is already won as Black’s position is fundamentally sound. 18. ... Kg7 19. Nf3 Nd7 20. Nd2 Qc7 21. Nc4 Rfe8 24. Re3 Nf6 25. Ne5 Ng4 26. Nxg4 Bxg4 27. Re5 Bh5 28. Bf1 Rd5 29. R5e3. Faithful to the rule to avoid exchanges with a space advantage. 29. ... Qe7 30. Bc4 Rdd8 31. Re5 Qg5 32. R1e3 Bg6 33. Bb3 Rd6 34. h4 Qf6 35. Re1 Red8 36. Qf4 Bh5 37. Kh2 Bg6 38. R1e3 h5 39. Re1 Bh7 40. Kg2 Qh6 41. Qg5+ Bg6 42. R5e3 R8d7 43. Kf1 Rd8 44. Ke2 R6d7 45. Kd2 Rd6 46. Kc1 R6d7 47. Kb2 Rd6. Black cannot but wait his opponent’s breakthrough; on the other hand, White must find a way to break in. 48. Bc4 Re8 49. Kb3 Rd7 50. Bf1 Qxg5 51. hxg5 Rh8 52. Bg2 Rdd8 53. Rh1 f6 54. gxf6+ Kxf6 55. Kc4 Ke7 56. Kc5 Bf7 57. Rh4 Kd7 58. Kb6 Kc8 59. Bf3 Kb8 60. Re1 Rh6 61. Re5 Rd6 62. Kc5 Kc7 63. Re1 Rd8 64. c4 Rh7 65. Reh1 Rdh8 66. Rb1 Be8 67. Re1 Bd7 68. Re5 Rh6

69. d5. Swedish Grandmaster pushes hard to win – maybe a bit impatiently. 69. ... exd5 70. cxd5 cxd5 71. Bxd5 b6+ 72. Kd4 bxa5 73. bxa5 Rb8 74. Bc4 Rb2 75. Rc5+ Kd6 76. Rd5+ Kc7 77. Rf4 Rc6 78. Rc5 Rd2+ 79. Kc3 Rxc5 80. Kxd2 Rxa5 81. Bf7 Kd6 82. Rd4+ Ke7 83. Bxh5 Re5 84. g4 fxg4 85. Bxg4 Bxg4 86. Rxg4 a5 87. Kc3 Rf5 88. Ra4 Rxf2 89. Rxa5 Rf3+ 90. Kb4 Rf4+ 91. Kb5 Rf5+ 92. Ka4 Rxa5+ 93. Kxa5 ½ : ½. A hard-fought draw! Bravo to both the outsiders for their combativity.

Nils Grandelius vs. 李超 (Lǐ Chāo)
Photo: 4th Altibox Norway Chess (‏@NorwayChess)

聘礼

李超 (Lǐ Chāo) – Veselin Aleksandrov Topalov
4th Altibox Norway Chess; Stavanger, April 25, 2016
Queen’s Gambit Declined D43

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. g3 Nd7 8. Bg2 dxc4 9. 0-0 Be7 10. Ne4 Qf5 11. Ned2 e5 12. e4 Qe6 13. Rc1 b5. For 13. ... exd4 14. Nxd4 Qf6 15. Nxc4 0-0 16. Nf5 Nb6 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Qd6 Qd8 19. Rfd1 Bg4 see Kramnik – Anand, 5th Classic KO, London 2013. 14. b3 c3 15. Rxc3 Bb7

16. d5! A very powerful Pawn sacrifice by 李超 (Lǐ Chāo), who suddenly feels the strength coming back to him. On the other hand, if 16. dxe5 then 16. ... c5 with equality. 16. ... cxd5 17. Rc7 Rb8 18. exd5 Bxd5 19. Re1 Rd8 20. Nd4 Qb6 21. Bxd5 Qxc7 22. Ne6 Qb6 23. Nxd8 Qxd8 24. Nf3 0-0 25. Bc6 Nf6 26. Qxd8 Bxd8 27. Nxe5. Peace after the storm. Topalov defended very well, even though he was a bit lucky because his moves were pretty forced. 27. ... Ba5 28. Re2 Rb8. The draw may well have been agreed within a few moves, but a warrior cannot indulge in lazy sweetness. 29. Kg2 Kf8 30. f4 Bc3 31. g4 Rb6 32. Bf3 Rd6 33. Nc6 a6 34. Nb8 Rb6 35. Nc6 Nxg4 36. Bxg4 Rxc6 37. Bd7 Rg6+ 38. Kf3 f5 39. Re8+ Kf7 40. Re3 Rd6 41. Be8+ Kf8 42. Bh5 g6 43. Bxg6 Rxg6 44. Rxc3 Rd6 45. Ke3 Kf7 46. a4 Re6+ 47. Kf3 bxa4 48. bxa4 Rb6 49. Ke3 Rb4 50. a5 Rb5 51. Rc7+ Kg8 52. Rc8+ Kg7 53. Rc7+ Kg8 54. Rc8+ Kg7 ½ : ½.

Former FIDE World Chess Champion Veselin Aleksandrov Topalov, ever more committed to his role of justitiarius errans, likes to show off his skill as a swordsman. Photo: Fiona Steil-Antoni.

李超 (Lǐ Chāo)
Photo: Rolf Haug/Matt & Patt

Nothing else matters but love

Pentala Harikrishna – 李超 (Lǐ Chāo)
4th Altibox Norway Chess; Stavanger, April 24, 2016
King’s Indian Defence E60

Yesterday 李超 (Lǐ Chāo) forgot all about his secret love’s dilemmas and enjoyed practising at target archery, so today he should feel like Superman. Well, almost officially :). 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. e4 Bg7 6. Ne2 0-0 7. Nec3 e5 8. g4!? Much more common is 8. Bg5; the text could well be a novelty. 8. ... h5 9. h3 Nh7 10. Be3 h4 11. Qd2 Bf6. Black’s position looks like an hybrid between King’s Indian Defence and the Old Benoni. 12. Rg1 Bg5 13. Bxg5 Qxg5 14. Nb5 Qe7 15. g5! Black must make up something quickly for avoiding a positional crush. 15. ... a6 16. N5c3 Nd7 17. Qg2 Kg7. Most chess engines urge for the very unclear line 17. ... f6 18. gxf6 Rxf6 19. Qf2 g5 20. Qxh4 Rxf3 21. Nd2 Kh8 followed by ... Rf3-f4, but 李超 (Lǐ Chāo) is understandably reluctant to bid farewell to the human race. 18. Nd2 f6 19. gxf6+ Qxf6 20. Nd1! Harikrishna demonstrates superb positional understanding. If 20. 0-0-0 there might follow 20. ... g5! with unclear consequences. 20. ... Rf7! 21. Nf2 Ndf8. After long thought. 22. Nd3 b5! Alternating defence and offense. 23. 0-0-0 g5?? That’s the hero’s “tragic flaw”. Correct was 23. ... Kh8!∞ in order to answer 24. f4!? by 24. ... exf4 25. e5 dxe5 26. Ne4 Qg7 and Black looks fine.

24. f4! Now this is devastating. 24. ... exf4 25. e5! Qf5. Also after 25. ... dxe5 26. Ne4 Qh6 27. Nxe5 Black’s position falls apart. 26. e6 f3 27. Qh2 Bxe6. What else? 28. dxe6 Qxe6 29. Nf2 Qe3 30. Ng4 Qf4 31. Qxf4 Rxf4 32. Nxf3! bxc4. On 32. ... Rxf3 33. Bg2 skewers two Rooks. 33. Ngh2 Ne6 34. Rxd6 Nd4 35. Rd7+ Kh8 36. Ne5 Nf8 37. Rf7 Re4 38. Rxg5 Rd8 39. Rxf8+ Rxf8 40. Ng6+ Kg7 41. Nxf8+ Kxf8 42. Rxc5 1 : 0.

Pentala Harikrishna and 李超 (Lǐ Chāo)
Photo © Jose Huwaidi 2016

Night’s on Fire

李超 (Lǐ Chāo) – Magnus Carlsen
4th Altibox Norway Chess; Stavanger, April 22, 2016
Queen’s Gambit Declined D14

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 Bf5! SuperMagnus evidently doesn’t want to take responsibility for the possibility of a marriage breaking down. 7. e3. “We don’t know how he spent his birthday. Maybe he had a heavy night?”, Grandmaster Pyotr Veniaminovich Svidler wondered. It is a philosophical question that perhaps should not be addressed immediately to the FIDE Ethics Commission! They’re so envious... 7. ... e6 8. Bd3 Bxd3 9. Qxd3 Bd6 10. Bxd6 Qxd6 11. 0-0. “Not the most ambitious opening 李超 (Lǐ Chāo) has ever played in his life”, Svidler said. 11. ... 0-0 12. Rac1 Rfc8 13. h3 h6 14. Nd2 Nd7. Chess openings are such a drag... 15. a3 Nb6. For 15. ... a6 16. Na4 Rc7 17. Rc2 Rac8 see Paragua – 周唯奇 (Zhōu Wéiqí), 3rd HDBank Cup International Chess Open, Ho Chi Minh City 2013. 16. Qb5 Qd8 17. Na4 Nxa4 18. Qxa4 Qa5 19. Qd1 Ne7 20. Qe2 Qa4 21. Qd3 Nf5 22. Qb3 Qa6 23. Qb4 Nd6 24. a4 Qb6 25. Qa3 a5 26. Rc5 Qb4 27. Qxb4 axb4 28. Rfc1 Rxc5 29. dxc5

29. ... Rc8. “I think Black is quite seriously better”, Grandmaster Jon Ludvig Nilssen Hammer said. He’s even more optimistic than Danish Grandmaster Bent Larsen was! 30. Kf1 Nc4 31. Nxc4 Rxc5 32. b3 dxc4 33. bxc4 Ra5 34. Ra1 Rc5 35. Rc1 Ra5 36. Ra1 Rc5 37. Rc1 ½ : ½. “After last game I had a big headache until now”, 李超 (Lǐ Chāo) said. “[I decided] to get a draw & go to the hotel & rest”. They all say so, before the night’s fire :).

李超 (Lǐ Chāo) vs. Magnus Carlsen
Photo: Tarjei J. Svensen/Matt & Patt

Before the Dawn

Magnus Carlsen – Nils Axel Grandelius
4th Altibox Norway Chess; Stavanger, April 21, 2016
Sicilian Defence B22

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nc3 Nxc3 5. dxc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 Qb6!? “6. ... Qb6!? by Grandelius is one of those annoying little moves to impede White’s plan of effortless development”, Grandmaster Nigel David Short tweeted. 7. Qc1 f6!? With the understandable aim of improving on 7. ... h6 8. Bd3 d5 9. exd6 exd6 10. Qe3+ Be6 11. Bc4 Nd8 12. 0-0-0 Be7 13. Rhe1 0-0 14. Bxh6 d5 15. Bg5 Bxg5 16. Nxg5 dxc4 17. Qe4 g6 18. Qh4 Kg7 19. Qh7+ Kf6 20. Ne4+ Ke7 21. Qg7 Re8 22. Nf6 Qb5 23. a4 Qc6 24. Nd5+ 1 : 0 Bok – Reinderman, Dutch Chess Championship Qualifying Tournament, Amsterdam 2015. 8. Bc4 g5!? 9. Bg3 g4 10. exf6!! It’s a very difficult sacrifice, half positional and half tactical. 10. ... gxf3 11. Qf4 fxg2 12. Rg1 Na5 13. f7+! Kd8 14. Bd5

14. ... Bh6? Grandmaster Pyotr Veniaminovich Svidler called it “A weird bit of miscalculation”. And really it is so! The critical line appears to be 14. ... d6 15. 0-0-0! when White’s enormous advantage in development and mobility more than compensate for the sacrificed Knight. 15. Qe5. You cannot give Magnus such a look as to not send him an invitation to 李超 (Lǐ Chāo)’s wedding! 15. ... Rf8 16. Bh4 Rxf7. Sadly forced. 17. Bxf7 Nc6 18. Qg3 Qxb2 19. Rd1. “I love the way Carlsen keeps his pieces coordinated even in very messy positions”, Short said. 19. ... Qxc2 20. Bd5 Qf5 21. Rxg2 Bf4 22. Qf3 Kc7 23. Rg5 Qf8 24. Bg3 e5 25. Rh5 a5 26. Rxh7 Ra6 27. Rf7 Qe8 28. Kf1 Bxg3 29. hxg3 Qh8 30. Kg2 Nd8 31. Rf8 Qg7 32. Rh1 Rh6 33. Rxh6 Qxh6 34. Qf6 Qxf6 35. Rxf6 d6 36. Kf3 b5 37. g4 Kd7 38. Rh6 1 : 0. Black’s light-square Bishop never saw the light of sun. “Magnus played better than the computers today”, Grandmaster Jon Ludvig Nilssen Hammer said. No doubt Mr. Carlsen very often plays better than computers!

Magnus Carlsen vs. Nils Grandelius
Photo: 4th Altibox Norway Chess (@NorwayChess)

生日快乐！

Levon Grigori Aronian – 李超 (Lǐ Chāo)
4th Altibox Norway Chess; Stavanger, April 21, 2016
Grünfeld Defence D90

Today is 李超 (Lǐ Chāo)’s birthday! Will Levon Grigori be so kind as to give him a gift? 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 g6 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Bf4 Bg7 7. e3 Nc6 8. Bb5 Bd7 9. 0-0 0-0 10. Ne5 Ne4 11. Nxc6. For 11. Nxd7 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Qxd7 13. c4 a6 14. Bxc6 Qxc6 15. cxd5 Qxd5 16. Qb3 Qxb3 17. axb3 Rfc8 see Visier Segovia – Pfleger, 2nd International Tournament, Palma de Mallorca 1966. 11. ... Bxc6 12. Bxc6 Nxc3 13. Qd3 bxc6 14. Qxc3 Rc8 15. b4 Re8 16. Rac1 f6 17. Rc2 e5 18. Bg3 exd4 19. Qxd4 Re4 20. Qd2

20. ... d4! As once Bobby Fischer said: “I’ve done this so often I should patent it”. 21. Rd1 f5 22. Qc1 Qb6 23. exd4 Rce8 24. h3 Qxb4 25. Kh2 Rxd4 26. Rxd4 Qxd4 27. Rxc6 Qa4 28. Rc7 Qxa2 29. Rb7 Qe6 30. Qc7 Qf6 31. Qd7 Rd8 32. Qa4 Qd4 33. Qa2+ Qd5 34. Qxa7 Bd4 35. Qa6 Rf8 36. Qb5 Qxb5 37. Rxb5 Kg7 38. Be5+ Bxe5+ 39. Rxe5 Rf7 40. Ra5 Rd7 ½ : ½.

4th Altibox Norway Chess (@NorwayChess)

Betrothal

李超 (Lǐ Chāo) – Vladimir Borisovich Kramnik
4th Altibox Norway Chess; Stavanger, April 20, 2016
Vienna Game C26

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Bc5 4. Bg2 c6 5. Nge2 d5 6. exd5 cxd5 7. d4 exd4 8. Nxd4 0-0 9. 0-0 Bg4 10. Qd3 Bxd4 11. Qxd4 Nc6 12. Qc5. After 12. Qf4 Qd7 13. b3 Rfe8 14. Bb2 Bh3 Black is fine, Dmitriev – Lengyel, Budapest 1995. 12. ... d4 13. h3 Bxh3 14. Bxh3 dxc3 15. bxc3 Re8 16. Qb5 Qa5

17. a4! 李超 (Lǐ Chāo) offers the temporary sacrifice of two Pawns as he feels that his Bishop pair compensates for it. 17. ... Qxc3 18. Bb2 Qxc2 19. Rac1 Qe2 20. Bg2 Qe7 21. Bxf6 Qxf6 22. Qxb7 Nd4 23. Rfe1 h5 24. Qxa8. So a betrothed husband does his best for the welfare of his own soon-to-be-family. 李超 (Lǐ Chāo) does not hesitate to unbalance the situation, even at risk to lose. 24. ... Rxa8 25. Bxa8 h4. The battery of Queen and Knight was regarded as very dangerous when the people of my age was young, but the world changes quickly. 26. Rc8+ Kh7 27. Be4+ g6 28. gxh4 Qe6. All chess engines advocate the immediate 28. ... Qxh4 with much greater chances of winning the lottery. Maybe that’s true. But maybe it doesn’t care. 29. Re8 Qg4+ 30. Kf1 Qxh4 31. Re7! Very elegant. In fact, the Rook is taboo for if 31. ... Qxe7?? then 32. Bxg6+ and wins. 31. ... Qh3+ 32. Kg1 Qg4+ 33. Kf1 Qh3+ 34. Kg1 Kg7 35. Bd5 Qg4+ 36. Kf1 Qh3+ 37. Kg1 Nf3+ 38. Bxf3 Qxf3 39. Rxa7 Qg4+ 40. Kf1 Qh3+ 41. Kg1 Qg4+ 42. Kf1 Qh3+ ½ : ½.

李超 (Lǐ Chāo)
Photo: Tarjei J. Svensen/Matt & Patt

Better three hours too soon, than a minute too late

chess24.com (@chess24com)

Fortressing

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave – 李超 (Lǐ Chāo)
4th Altibox Norway Chess; Stavanger, April 19, 2016
Russian Defence C42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 Nc6 8. Qd2 Be6 9. 0-0-0 Qd7 10. b3 a6. Also good is 10. ... 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 a dead equal position, Carlsen – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 78th Tata Steel Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 2016. 11. h3. Another try is 11. h4 Bf6 12. Bg5 Qe7 13. Qf4 h6 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. Qxf6 gxf6 16. g3 Ne5 17. Nd4 0-0-0 18. Bg2 Bg4 19. Rde1 Rhe8 20. Re3 Bd7 21. Rhe1 c5 22. Nf3 Ng4 23. Rxe8 Rxe8 24. Rxe8+ Bxe8 25. Bh3 f5 26. Kd2 Nxf2 27. Bxf5+ Bd7 28. Bxd7+ Kxd7 29. Ke3 Nd1+ 30. Kd2 Nf2 31. Ke3 Nd1+ 32. Ke4 ½ : ½ Lékó – 李超 (Lǐ Chāo), Szeged 2015, match game 6. 11. ... h5 12. Be2 0-0-0 13. Rhe1 Kb8 14. Kb2 d5!? 15. Nd4 Bf6 16. f4 g6. After long thought. 17. Bf3 Rhe8 18. Nxc6+ Qxc6 19. Bd4 Bh4 20. Bf2 Bf6. Black’s position appears rock solid. 21. Bd4 Bh4 22. Bf2 Bf6 23. g4 hxg4 24. hxg4

24. ... d4! A very elegant small combination that forces further liquidation. 25. Bxc6 dxc3+ 26. Qxc3 Bxc3+ 27. Kxc3 bxc6 28. g5 Rxd1 29. Rxd1 Bf5 30. Bd4 Re2 31. Rd2 Rxd2 32. Kxd2 Kc8. It’s a dead draw, but Maxime has still a doubt lingering in his mind... 33. c4 Bb1 34. Kc1 Be4. No, 李超 (Lǐ Chāo) is in no hurry to marry! Clearly not 34. ... Bxa2?? 25. Kb2 and the Bishop is trapped. 35. Kd2 Bb1 36. Kc1 Be4 37. Kd2 Bb1 ½ : ½.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs. 李超 (Lǐ Chāo)
Photo: 4th Altibox Norway Chess (‏@NorwayChess)

A wife yet to be married

The 4th Altibox Norway Chess starts today at 4 P.M. CET. 16th World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen thinks he is the center of the world, but, indeed, the super guest star is 李超 (Lǐ Chāo) from China, who goes all out to prove that he is the husband of all husbands, after postponing his wedding to join the Norwegian gang in Stavanger!

李超 (Lǐ Chāo) and his wife-to-be
Photo: Norway Chess/Dirk Jan ten Guezendam

Desperately Seeking Prince Charming

Tarjei J. Svensen (@TarjeiJS)