Chinese Super GM's interesting positional sacrifice looks logical since two of the white pieces hadn't been developed yet and black pieces were ready for the attack!
🔺Carlsen could easily force his opponent to accept the perpetual by playing Qf3, but he played Nf1. Now to hold the game, he had to play so carefully and find some exact moves that were not easy at all.🔺
🔺It was more accurate that instead of playing B.d5 Calsen played Re2 with the idea of Rh2. Afterwards, If black played Qg4+ white could play Rg2 as white's queen was protected and if black played N.f4 white could force the exchange of queens by playing Rh2.🔺
🔺Aronian played the interesting move Rf3 to initiate an attack on the kingside. If he had played the premature f5 Black could have prevented the rook transfer to g3 by taking on f5 and playing Bd5.🔺
🔺With the strong move Ra3 Aronian dominates the a file by doubling with Q+R. He will put more pressure on d6 weakness by playing Ra6.🔺
🔺A nice idea from the Chinese grandmaster to attack the a4 pawn.🔺
🔺As a perfect square for white's bishop is not available on board it is logical to exchange it with black's knight to increase control over light central squares.🔺
🔺The Indian grandmaster missed a beautiful winning combination by playing the weak Rdb8. He could have won by playing:
1...Qg4+ 2.Kh1 Be5!! 3.Re1 (N.e5? Qh4+ 4.Kg1 Q.g5+ 6.Kh1 Q.c1) Kg7!
4.Bg2 Rh8+ 5.Kg1 Rh2!! 6.N.h2 B.h2+ 7.K.h2 Rh8+ 8.Kg1 Nf4 0-1🔺
1...Qg4+ 2.Kh1 Be5!! 3.Re1 (N.e5? Qh4+ 4.Kg1 Q.g5+ 6.Kh1 Q.c1) Kg7!
4.Bg2 Rh8+ 5.Kg1 Rh2!! 6.N.h2 B.h2+ 7.K.h2 Rh8+ 8.Kg1 Nf4 0-1🔺
Unity Chess Club
⚪️ #11 (Strategy - White To Move)
🔹#11
A position Karpov has been (with
his last few moves) aiming for: White
(due to Black's b-file pressure) cannot
transfer his knight to as. Black has to
finish his development and .... then it looks like (more-or-less) a regular balanced hedgehog doesn't it? Here, however (due to the knight being developed to d2) White has a plan usually
never applicable or available in a (normal hedgehog'. White's rook on e1 will, by means of a 'rook lift>, come to target the black queenside! 1.Re3!± Yes! With his knight developed to d2, the 3rd rank is an <open highway' for White's ei-rook to access the
queensidd Black is in deep trouble! This strategy is worth remembering, as you may easily find yourself
in a situation in which you can use it! 🔹
A position Karpov has been (with
his last few moves) aiming for: White
(due to Black's b-file pressure) cannot
transfer his knight to as. Black has to
finish his development and .... then it looks like (more-or-less) a regular balanced hedgehog doesn't it? Here, however (due to the knight being developed to d2) White has a plan usually
never applicable or available in a (normal hedgehog'. White's rook on e1 will, by means of a 'rook lift>, come to target the black queenside! 1.Re3!± Yes! With his knight developed to d2, the 3rd rank is an <open highway' for White's ei-rook to access the
queensidd Black is in deep trouble! This strategy is worth remembering, as you may easily find yourself
in a situation in which you can use it! 🔹
Unity Chess Club
⚪️ #12 (Strategy - White To Move)
🔹#12
How to regroup for White? 1.Ne1! White's bishop aims for g4 striking along the h3-C8 diagonal (and at Black's knight on d7), while his
knight heads to d3 increasing pressure on Black's c5 pawn. Black now needs to be smart, keeping a central
. . . d4-break possibility (to maintain the dynamic balance). 🔹
How to regroup for White? 1.Ne1! White's bishop aims for g4 striking along the h3-C8 diagonal (and at Black's knight on d7), while his
knight heads to d3 increasing pressure on Black's c5 pawn. Black now needs to be smart, keeping a central
. . . d4-break possibility (to maintain the dynamic balance). 🔹