[Event "World Rapid Chess Championship 2017"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.12.27"] [Round "?"] [White "Karjakin, Sergey"] [Black "Esipenko, Andrei"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B11"] [Annotator "FM Ataman"] [PlyCount "58"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] {“Everything working together so harmoniously... How beautiful!” These words were from a comment, posted on the ChessBomb website by a chess enthusiast, about then 16-year-old Esipenko’s victory over the former candidate Karjakin. All forces involved in Black’s attack on the queenside, like the pieces of a puzzle coming together, ultimately created a magnificent picture...} 1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3 {Two Knights Variation against the Caro-Kann Defense. One might encounter this system in the practice of top-level players such as Nezhmetdinov and even Fischer.} Bg4 {Black, before placing his central pawns on the light- squares, develops his bishop out, to avoid it being restrained behind the chain that will be formed. White, however, must be thinking that the advantage of having the bishop pair will give him the upper hand.} 4. h3 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 Nf6 6. d3 {6 d4 is another valid option.} ( 6. d4) 6... e6 7. Bd2 {[#] After d3 and subsequently Bd2, it can be assumed that White has only a modest development plan in the opening. However, the probable aim is to quickly castle queenside and advance the pawns on the other wing to launch an attack.} Qb6 {Although not the most popular move, it might be the most logical decision from a practical standpoint: In the limited amount of time in rapid chess (15'+10"), 'life' has always been easier for the attacking side than for the defending side.} 8. O-O-O d4 {With this advance, Black solidifies his attacking plan on the queenside, which he initiated with . ..Qb6.} 9. Ne2 c5 {9...e5 is met by 10 Qg3 Nbd7 11 f4, which would assist White’s plan to open up the position.} (9... e5 10. Qg3 Nbd7 11. f4) 10. e5 $6 {10 g4 Nc6 11 g5 Nd7 12 Qg3 could have been another way.} (10. g4 Nc6 11. g5 Nd7 12. Qg3) 10... Nd5 11. Nf4 Nb4 12. Kb1 {12 Bxb4, while appearing to slow down Black’s potential assault, can turn the resulting semi-open c- file into Black's attacking line: 12...cxb4 13 g4 Nc6 14 Bg2 Rc8 and subsequently .. .Qc5.} (12. Bxb4 cxb4 13. g4 Nc6 14. Bg2 Rc8) 12... Nd7 13. Qe4 Nc6 14. Nh5 { An interesting pawn sacrifice from Karjakin. Black does not accept the ‘offer’, but let's see the idea:} O-O-O {14...Ndxe5 15 f4 Nd7 16 f5! e5 17 g4 would have been quite unclear.} (14... Ndxe5 15. f4 Nd7 16. f5 e5 17. g4) 15. f4 {[#]} c4 $1 {An excellent clearance sacrifice: c5- will become an important transition square for Black’s forces. After Esipenko’s thematic sacrifice, Black gets a serious initiative.} 16. dxc4 Ba3 17. Bc1 {17 b3 would not allow White to improve his king’s position: 17...Nc5 18 Qf3 d3! with a strong attack.} (17. b3 Nc5 18. Qf3 d3) 17... Nc5 18. Qf3 {[#] Not the ideal square, but the queen must maintain her position on the third rank against the tactical idea of ...Bxb2 and ...Na4; e.g. 18 Qe1?! Bxb2! 19 Bxb2 Na4-+.} (18. Qe1 Bxb2 19. Bxb2 Na4 $19) 18... d3 $1 {Another effective clearance sacrifice! d4- is cleared for the knight’s upcoming maneuver, and White’s queen is removed from her role of defending the king.} 19. cxd3 {After 19 c3 Bxb2! 20 Bxb2 Na4 21 Rd2 Nxc3+ 22 Ka1 Nd4, Black would have a decisive advantage.} (19. c3 Bxb2 20. Bxb2 Na4 21. Rd2 Nxc3+ 22. Ka1 Nd4) 19... Na4 20. Rd2 Nd4 $1 { An excellent position. The fact that all developments are taking place on the queenside, is not a good sign for White! The knights have been deployed at outposts which are very close to the probable targets at opponent’s camp.} 21. Qf2 Nc3+ 22. Ka1 {[#]} Qb3 $1 {The star move of the game! Black’s all four pieces have surrounded opponent’s king. The game could have ended right at this moment, but Karjakin, under time pressure, decides to keep fighting instead of resigning. Needless to say, this is a futile effort!} 23. bxc3 Qxc3+ 24. Bb2 Bxb2+ 25. Rxb2 Qc1+ 26. Rb1 Nc2+ {Thus, the queen was captured. The lack of even the slightest coordination among White’s forces led the game ending in just a few moves.} 27. Qxc2 Qxc2 28. g3 b5 $1 {Just like a computer! Black predicts that the fastest way to activate his rooks is through this pawn push, which will seemingly weaken his king.} 29. cxb5 {29 Rxb5 Qc1+ 30 Rb1 Qc3+ 31 Rb2 Kd7! followed by ...Rb8 would have ended the game.} (29. Rxb5 Qc1+ 30. Rb1 Qc3+ 31. Rb2 Kd7) 29... Rd4 0-1