9...e×f3
Almost three decades have passed since Kasparov surprised Karpov by introducing the English Opening as a main weapon in the 1987 Seville match, but the theoretical discussion still seems far from reaching an end. In the first match of the game the surprise turned out to be a boomerang when Karpov reacted here with 9...e3!? , a novelty he had prepared for his earlier matches with Korchnoi but which he had never got the chance to use. Taken away from his analysed lines, Kasparov thought a lot before playing 10.d3 , eventually got into severe time trouble and lost. Based on the fact that Karpov did not repeat 9...e3 in later games, many commentators including Kasparov and some of his seconds claimed that 10.d3 was some sort of refutation of Karpov's idea. But then I wonder why in a much later game Kasparov,G (2827)-Sadvakasov,D (2585) Astana 2001 (½-½, 43) Kasparov deviated with 10.dxe3.
Be it as it may, the game Svidler,P (2757)-Karjakin,S (2760) Moscow 2016 (½-½, 50) played two rounds earlier than Caruana-Anand went 10.d3 and Black eventually came under serious positional pressure.
10.N×f3 d5 11.d4 d×x4 12.Bg5
Almost three decades have passed since Kasparov surprised Karpov by introducing the English Opening as a main weapon in the 1987 Seville match, but the theoretical discussion still seems far from reaching an end. In the first match of the game the surprise turned out to be a boomerang when Karpov reacted here with 9...e3!? , a novelty he had prepared for his earlier matches with Korchnoi but which he had never got the chance to use. Taken away from his analysed lines, Kasparov thought a lot before playing 10.d3 , eventually got into severe time trouble and lost. Based on the fact that Karpov did not repeat 9...e3 in later games, many commentators including Kasparov and some of his seconds claimed that 10.d3 was some sort of refutation of Karpov's idea. But then I wonder why in a much later game Kasparov,G (2827)-Sadvakasov,D (2585) Astana 2001 (½-½, 43) Kasparov deviated with 10.dxe3.
Be it as it may, the game Svidler,P (2757)-Karjakin,S (2760) Moscow 2016 (½-½, 50) played two rounds earlier than Caruana-Anand went 10.d3 and Black eventually came under serious positional pressure.
10.N×f3 d5 11.d4 d×x4 12.Bg5
19. Nf6+!
A typical Knight sacrifice by Nakamura.
19...Kh8
19... gxf6 20. Rxf6 Qf8 21. Rxh6 Qg7 22. Be4 Kf8 23. Rh7 Qg4 24. Rxf7+ Bxf7 25. Qxg4 +-
20. d5 Bxd5 21. Bxd5 Rxd5 22. Nxe8 Rxe5 23. Qxf7 Qxe8 24. Qxe8+ Rxe8 25. Rae1 +-
A typical Knight sacrifice by Nakamura.
19...Kh8
19... gxf6 20. Rxf6 Qf8 21. Rxh6 Qg7 22. Be4 Kf8 23. Rh7 Qg4 24. Rxf7+ Bxf7 25. Qxg4 +-
20. d5 Bxd5 21. Bxd5 Rxd5 22. Nxe8 Rxe5 23. Qxf7 Qxe8 24. Qxe8+ Rxe8 25. Rae1 +-
20.Re2!
A deep strategic move in order to clear the e1-square for the knight. White intends to regroup his pieces more harmoniously: Ne1 >Bc2 > Bb3 >Nd3.
20...Raf8 21.Ne1 Ne7 22.Bc2 a5 23.Bb3 Rg7 24.Qd3 Bd7! 25.a4 Kh8 26.Qd2 h5 27.Nd3
A deep strategic move in order to clear the e1-square for the knight. White intends to regroup his pieces more harmoniously: Ne1 >Bc2 > Bb3 >Nd3.
20...Raf8 21.Ne1 Ne7 22.Bc2 a5 23.Bb3 Rg7 24.Qd3 Bd7! 25.a4 Kh8 26.Qd2 h5 27.Nd3
42...Ra8
White's most powerful move to finish the game was 42...Kg7! (with the idea of ...g4).
43.Ke2! Ra1 44.Kd3 b5 45.c4 b×c4 46.K×c4 Qf4! 47.Qe2?
47.Q×f4 offers more resistance.
47...Qc1+ 48.Kb5 Qc8 49.Kb6 Qb8+ 50.Kc6 Rc1+ 0-1
White's most powerful move to finish the game was 42...Kg7! (with the idea of ...g4).
43.Ke2! Ra1 44.Kd3 b5 45.c4 b×c4 46.K×c4 Qf4! 47.Qe2?
47.Q×f4 offers more resistance.
47...Qc1+ 48.Kb5 Qc8 49.Kb6 Qb8+ 50.Kc6 Rc1+ 0-1
15.Nb1!
The routine 15.Nf1 would have weakened White's fighting potential on the queenside – 15...cxd5 16.cxd5 Rac8 etc. But now he is planning an offensive with Nc3, Bd2, b2-b4 and so on.
15...Bf8?! 16.Nc3 c5?
And this is already a serious positional mistake (Tarrasch would have written 'decisive'), the direct consequence of Black's discomfort and psychological problems. Georgadze was aiming to avoid the 'dangerous' opening of the position and to play as solidly as possible, but here 'solidly' signifies passively. Even with a loss of time, he should have reverted to the plan with ...cxd5.
17.Ba4!
With this central pawn structure, it has become advantageous for White to exchange the light-squared bishops, especially since the prospects for the remaining dark-square bishops are so different.
The routine 15.Nf1 would have weakened White's fighting potential on the queenside – 15...cxd5 16.cxd5 Rac8 etc. But now he is planning an offensive with Nc3, Bd2, b2-b4 and so on.
15...Bf8?! 16.Nc3 c5?
And this is already a serious positional mistake (Tarrasch would have written 'decisive'), the direct consequence of Black's discomfort and psychological problems. Georgadze was aiming to avoid the 'dangerous' opening of the position and to play as solidly as possible, but here 'solidly' signifies passively. Even with a loss of time, he should have reverted to the plan with ...cxd5.
17.Ba4!
With this central pawn structure, it has become advantageous for White to exchange the light-squared bishops, especially since the prospects for the remaining dark-square bishops are so different.
14.g4!
The advance of the kingside pawns is fully justified – it seriously cramps the black knights (which in any case have restricted maneuvering possibilities), and in addition, the bishop on c5 will be unable to take part in the forthcoming battle. For me, g3-g4 was an obvious move, but on Csom it had an oppressive effect. From this point on the grandmaster began increasingly often thinking for a long time over his moves. White's plan of attack came as such a surprise to him that he was unable to do anything to oppose it. (Kasparov)
14...Be4 15.Ng3 Bxg2 16.Kxg2
The situation has changed sharply to White's advantage: the exchange of bishops has benefitted him, facilitating his offensive on the kingside.
The advance of the kingside pawns is fully justified – it seriously cramps the black knights (which in any case have restricted maneuvering possibilities), and in addition, the bishop on c5 will be unable to take part in the forthcoming battle. For me, g3-g4 was an obvious move, but on Csom it had an oppressive effect. From this point on the grandmaster began increasingly often thinking for a long time over his moves. White's plan of attack came as such a surprise to him that he was unable to do anything to oppose it. (Kasparov)
14...Be4 15.Ng3 Bxg2 16.Kxg2
The situation has changed sharply to White's advantage: the exchange of bishops has benefitted him, facilitating his offensive on the kingside.
Unity Chess Multiple Choice 487
public poll
C: Nd7 – 6
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 67%
@payam6661, Nikhil, Jayden, Mieke, @Sophia_Peng, @K_mosaddegh83
A: b5 – 3
👍👍👍👍 33%
@Shadowoffhollow, Gavin, Ramesh
B: Qb8
▫️ 0%
👥 9 people voted so far.
public poll
C: Nd7 – 6
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 67%
@payam6661, Nikhil, Jayden, Mieke, @Sophia_Peng, @K_mosaddegh83
A: b5 – 3
👍👍👍👍 33%
@Shadowoffhollow, Gavin, Ramesh
B: Qb8
▫️ 0%
👥 9 people voted so far.
Unity Chess Multiple Choice 488
public poll
B: Kh8 – 8
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 53%
Gavin, Nikhil, Ramesh, Jayden, رستم, Mieke, @Sophia_Peng, @Mahdishatrang
A: Ng4 – 4
👍👍👍👍 27%
@Hesamgrandterminator, @Shadowoffhollow, فیروزه, @aref_sbk
C: Ne7 – 3
👍👍👍 20%
@payam6661, @soheil_hooshdaran, رستم
👥 15 people voted so far.
public poll
B: Kh8 – 8
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 53%
Gavin, Nikhil, Ramesh, Jayden, رستم, Mieke, @Sophia_Peng, @Mahdishatrang
A: Ng4 – 4
👍👍👍👍 27%
@Hesamgrandterminator, @Shadowoffhollow, فیروزه, @aref_sbk
C: Ne7 – 3
👍👍👍 20%
@payam6661, @soheil_hooshdaran, رستم
👥 15 people voted so far.