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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 Be7 The QGD specialists Kramnik and Short often used this line, which means it cannot be bad for Black. 7.cxd5 It was great to see the return at least in online games of two living chess legends in the following game last year: 7.e3 0-0 8.Bd3 c5 9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.Bxe7 Nxe7 11.0-0 b6 12.Be4 Rb8 13.Rc1 Ba6 14.Re1 cxd4 15.Nxd4 Nc5 when Black did not have any problems out of the opening in Lautier,J (2658) -Kramnik,V (2753) Chess.com 2020 7...Nxd5 8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.e4 Now after the knight trade... 9.Rc1!? 9...Nxc3 10.bxc3 0-0 ...the position is similar to the Neo-Tarrasch Defense. It should be noted though that Carlsen has a lot of remarkable wins in this pawn structure (although he typically gets it from the Grunfeld Defense.) 11.Bd3 c5 12.0-0 cxd4 13.cxd4 b6 14.a4 N A logical novelty. White frees himself of the isolated pawn and creates a weakness for the opponent instead. An earlier game saw White trading way too many pieces after 14.Rc1 Nf6 15.Qe2 Bb7 16.Rfd1 Rac8 17.h3 Rfd8 18.Rxc8 Rxc8 19.e5 Nd5 20.Qe4 g6 21.Qg4 Kg7 22.Nh4 Qg5 23.Qxg5 hxg5 Obolentseva,A (2324)-Girya,O (2456) Moscow 2019 14...Bb7 15.a5 bxa5 16.Rxa5 Nf6 17.Re1 Rfd8 18.Qa1 The world champion puts pressure on the queenside, but in reality he is waiting for a good moment to strike in the center. Qc7! A cool move by Firouzja. The pawn is not in danger. 19.h3 After 19.Rxa7 Rxa7 20.Qxa7 Black would regain it with a draw after Ra8 21.Qc5 Qxc5 22.dxc5 Rc8 19...a6 20.Rc5 Before doing anything concrete in the center, Carlsen tries a couple of other ideas. The breakthrough is already possible: 20.d5 exd5 21.e5 Ne4 22.Nd4 with compensation for the pawn, but the world champion waits for a better moment. 20...Qf4 21.Re5 Intending to trap the queen with g2-g3. Nd7 22.Ra5 Nf6 Not much progress here. Then it is time for the standard break: 23.d5! exd5 24.e5 The point behind the sacrifice. Diagonals and files are opened for the white pieces, as well as a fabulous outpost in the center. Ne4 This diagonal should be locked. 25.Qd4 That is the difference with the similar line from above. Carlsen wants to gain a few tempi chasing the enemy queen backwards. Rdc8 So far, Firouzja has defended well and now he threatens to swap a pair of rooks with Rc8-c1. 26.Raa1 Instead, White could have set a trap with 26.Bf1 since then Rc1? drops material due to However, Black can repeat the moves with 26...Qf5 27.Bd3 Qf4 27.g3 26...a5 27.Rab1 Bc6 Firouzja wants to keep his extra pawn. However, a more cautious player, like Peter Leko or Tigran Petrosian, might have chosen the relieving 27...Ba6!? Black gives back the pawn but successfully dries the game after 28.Bxa6 Rxa6 29.Qxd5 Nc3 29...Ng5!? in order to swap the knights also makes perfect sense. 30.Qd7 Qc4 31.Rb7 Qe6 with a likely draw. 28.e6! Carlsen is not shy to sacrifice a second pawn in return for another fabulous outpost and more initiative! fxe6 29.Ne5 Qf6 30.f3 Apparently, White did not sacrifice a couple of pawns only to chicken out and go into defense after 30.Bxe4 dxe4 31.Nxc6 Rxc6 32.Qxe4 Rca6 33.Ra1 30...Ng5 31.Rb6 Pushing the black pieces even further. Be8 32.Qe3! The most dangerous move for the second player. The more forcing option 32.f4 Ne4 33.f5 allows Black a chance to trade the queens with Once again 33.Bxe4 dxe4 34.Qxe4 a4 makes little sense for White. 33...Qe7! 34.fxe6 Or 34.Rxe6 Qa7! But beware of the trap 34...Qc5? 35.Rxe4! dxe4 36.Rxe8+! 34...Qc5 and Black is safe. 32...a4 If you do not know what to do, why not promote a new queen? Instead: 32...Nf7 is not solidifying the position. It only helps White after 33.Ng4 Qc3 34.Rxe6 32...Qe7! 33.f4 Ne4 34.Bxe4 dxe4 35.Kh2 a4 36.Qxe4 a3 33.Ng4 Qd8! As expected, the machine is not impressed by White's play so far and promises a large advantage for the second player. Until Carlsen captures the pawn: Instead: 33...Qe7 would have forced Black into gloomy defense with 34.h4 Nf7 35.Rxe6 As: Qxh4?? loses on the spot: Therefore, the ugly 35...Qf8 should be played, but White is definitely happier here. 36.Rxe8+ Rxe8 37.Qxe8+ Rxe8 38.Rxe8# 34.Rxe6! Then all is re-evaluated... Now 34.h4 is not possible due to d4 35.Qf4 Nh3+ 36.gxh3 Qxb6 34...Nxe6 34...a3 35.f4 Nxe6 36.Qxe6+ Kh8 37.Nxh6 Bh5! 38.Re5 Rc1+ 39.Kh2 Qf8 40.Rf5 Qe8 stockfish evaluates this complicated position as 0.0 41.Qxd5 Rd8 42.Qa5 Ra8 42...Rxd3 43.Rxh5 g6 44.Rh4 43.Qd5 35.Qxe6+ Bf7?? An automatic defense and a human instinct to bring more defenders around the king that loses on the spot! The only defense is 35...Kh8! The point is that after 36.Nxh6 Black is not forced to take and has a chance to organize his defenders with Bh5‼ 37.Ng4 Or else the pin saves the day after 37.Re5 Rc1+ 38.Kh2 Qc7! 39.f4 Rc6! 37...Qf8 It seems as White has nothing better than 38.Re5 when Black even has a choice to go for the risky double-edged position with Rc1+ Or he can practically force a draw instead with 38...Qf7 39.Rxh5+ Qxh5 40.Ne5 Re8 when White has a choice of perpetual checks but nothing more: 41.Ng6+ Or 41.Nf7+ Kg8 42.Nh6+ Kh8 43.Nf7+ 41...Kh7 42.Nf4+ Kh8 39.Kf2 Qf7 and anything can still happen. 36.Nxh6+! Of course! gxh6 37.Qxh6 The light-squared bishop stands on the road of the black pieces and, therefore, he cannot survive. Qc7 After this, mate is inevitable. More resilient is 37...Rc7 38.Re5! Be8 39.Rg5+ Qxg5 40.Qxg5+ Kf8 Although here too White should win, for instance after 41.Qf4+ Rf7 42.Qd6+ Re7 43.Qf6+ Rf7 44.Qh8+ Ke7 45.Qe5+ Kf8 46.Qxd5 37...a3 38.Bh7+ Kh8 39.Bg6+ Kg8 40.Qh7+ Kf8 41.Qxf7# 37...Ra7 38.Bh7+ Kh8 39.Bf5+ Kg8 40.f4! Re7 40...a3 41.Bh7+ Kh8 42.Bg6+ Kg8 43.Qh7+ Kf8 44.Bxf7 Qb6+ 45.Kh2+- 41.Bh7+ Kh8 42.Bd3+ Kg8 43.Re5 Rxe5 43...Bg6 44.Qxg6+ Rg7 45.Qe6+ 44.Bh7+ Kh8 45.Bg6+ Kg8 46.Qh7+ Kf8 47.Qxf7# 38.Qh7+ Kf8 39.Qh8+ Bg8 40.Qh6+ And Firouzja resigned, not waiting for the mate. 40.Qh6+ Kf7 40...Qg7 41.Qd6+ Kf7 42.Qe7# 41.Bg6+ Kf6 42.Bh5+ Kf5 43.g4# 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2862Firouzja,A27491–02021D53Tata Steel Masters1.1