Chess (August): Wang Hao sqeeks by Magnus to win Biel

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Caruana - Kramnik, Round 8

Fabiano Caruana, who has been red hot all year, won the grandmaster tournament at the Spakassen Chess Meeting in Dortmund.

His eighth round victory over former world champion Vladimir Kramnik was crucial to his tournament championship.

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[center]Fabiano Caruana[/center]
[font size="1"]Photo by Ted Cross( http://www.flickr.com/people/39649493@N00) from flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/39649493@N00/2307926939)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
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Fabiano Caruana - Vladimir Kramnik
Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Round 8
Dortmund, 21 July 2012

Petit Spanish Royal Game: Neo-Classical Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.0-0 d6 6.c3 0-0 7.Nbd2 Ne7

• For a discussion of this opening up to here, see McShane-Kramnik, IT, London, 2011.

8.d4

• [font color="red"]8.h3 Ng6 9.Re1 c6 10.Ba4 Re8 11.d4 Bb6[/font] is equal (Aronian-Kramnik, Match, Zürich, 2012).

8...exd4 9.cxd4 Bb6 10.b3 (N)

• [font color="red"]10.Bd3 Bg4 11.Qa4 Ng6 12.e5 dxe5 13.Bxg6 fxg6 14.dxe5 Qd7[/font] gives Black a slight advantange (Zhang Xiaowen-Shen Yang, Chinese League, Beijing, 2012).

10...d5!?

• White has a small advantage in space.
• [font color="red"]10...Ng6 11.h3 c6 12.Bd3 Re8 13.Re1[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik[/center]

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[center]WHITE: Fabiano Caruana[/center][center]Position after 10...d6d5[/center]

11.e5!

• The pawn at e5 will prove an irritant to Black.

11...Ne4 12.Bd3 Bf5 13.Qe2 Nc6

• If [font color="red"]13...Nxd2 14.Bxd2[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]14...Qd7 15.Rfe1[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]15...h5 16.h3 Rfe8 17.Rac1 a5 18.Be3 Bxd3 19.Qxd3[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.
• [font color="burgundy"]15...Bxd3 16.Qxd3 Qf5 17.Re3 Qxd3 18.Rxd3 Rfe8 19.Re1[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.
• If [font color="darkred"]14...Bxd3 15.Qxd3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]15...Qd7 16.Rae1 Qf5 17.Re3 Qxd3 18.Rxd3[/font] continues to gives White a small advantage in space.
• [font color="magenta"]15...Ng6?! 16.Rfe1 h6 17.Rac1 a5 18.Re2 Nh4 19.Re3[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space.

14.Bb2 Nxd2 15.Qxd2 Be4 16.Be2!?

• Black gives his opponent time to counterattack in the center.
• If [font color="red"]16.Qe3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]16...f5 17.Be2 f4 18.Qd2 h6 19.h3[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.
• [font color="darkred"]16...f6? 17.Bxe4! dxe4 18.Qxe4 a5 19.Rfd1![/font] gives White a winning position.

16...f6!

• This move, which is a loser in the previous note, works like a charm here. The game is again equal.

17.b4 fxe5 18.dxe5 Kh8!?

• Black's King is perfectly safe at g8; the move could have been used for something more active.
• [font color="red"]18...Qe7 19.b5 Na5 20.Rae1 Rad8 21.Qg5 Rfe8 22.Qg4[/font] continues to give White a slight edge.

19.b5!

• White seizes the initiative and drives the Knight back.

19...Ne7

• [font color="red"]19...Na5 20.Ng5! Rf5 21.Nxe4 dxe4 22.Qxd8+ Rxd8 23.e6[/font] gives White a comfortable game with an advancing passer.

20.Ng5

• If [font color="red"]20.Nd4 Nf5 21.a4 Qh4 22.Nf3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]22...Qg4 23.a5 Bc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]24.Rac1 b6 25.Qg5![/font] then:
• [font color="red"]25...Bxf3 26.Qxg4 Bxg4 27.Bxg4 Rae8 28.Rcd1 d4 29.axb6 axb6 30.Rfe1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
• [font color="burgundy"]25...Qxg5!? 26.Nxg5 Rae8 27.Rfd1 h6 28.Nxe4 dxe4 29.Rc4[/font] gives White a comfortable game.
• If [font color="darkred"]24.Qg5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]24...Qxg5 25.Nxg5 Nd4 26.Bc4 dxc4 27.Nxe4 Ne2+ 28.Kh1[/font] gives White a small advantage.
• [font color="magenta"]24...Bxf3!? 25.Qxg4! Bxg4 26.Bxg4 Rae8 27.Rad1 d4 28.Rfe1[/font]
• If [font color="darkred"]22...Bxf3 23.Bxf3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]23...Nd4 24.Bxd4 Qxd4 25.Qxd4 Bxd4 26.Rad1 Bxe5 27.Rxd5[/font]
• If [font color="magenta"]23...c6 24.a5 Bd4 25.a6[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]25...Rab8 26.axb7 Rxb7 27.Bxd4 Qxd4 28.Qxd4 Nxd4 29.bxc6[/font] gives White two advanced passers and the initiative.
• If [font color="darkorange"]25...Bxb2? 26.Qxb2 Qe7 27.Qa3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]27...b6 28.bxc6 Rac8 29.Rfd1 Rfd8 30.g4[/font] leaves White with an extra pawn and the initiative.
• [font color="purple"]27...bxa6 28.bxc6 Qxe5 29.Rae1 Qd4 30.c7[/font] gives White a winning position.

20...Ng6?!

• Here is another move that fails to satisfy the demands of the position.
• If [font color="red"]20...Nf5![/font] then:
• [font color="red"]21.e6 Qe7 22.a4 Be3 23.fxe3 Qxg5 24.Bd3[/font] gives White a small advantage
• [font color="darkred"]21.Bf3!? Ne3! 22.Ne6 Nxf1 23.Rxf1 Qe7 24.Nxf8 Rxf8[/font] is equal.

21.g3!

• White prevents the Knight at g6 from moving forward. White has a passed pawn and, if he advances the passed e-pawn, command of the long dark diagonal leading to the Black King

21...Qe7?!

• This is not the best way to block the pawn. It doesn'[t stop the pawn from coming to e6, where it would be protected by the Knight. Therefore, Black should drive the Knight away.
• [font color="red"]21...Rf5 22.Nxe4 dxe4 23.Qb4 Nxe5 24.Qxe4[/font] succeeds in removing many of White's threats, leaving White with a fair advantage.
• Less good is [font color="blue"]21...h6 22.Nxe4 dxe4[/font] when:
• If [font color="blue"]23.Qc2! Qg5[/font] then:
• [font color="blue"]24.Kh1 Nxe5 25.Qxe4 Rfe8 26.Rad1 Nf7 27.Qxb7[/font] gives White an extra pawn, the Bishop pair sweep over an open center and a gigantic advantage in space.
• If [font color="#0040C0"]24.Qxe4?! Rf4! 25.Qxb7 Raf8 26.Bc1 Rxf2 27.Bxg5[/font] gives White a small advantage.
• If [font color="darkblue"]23.Qxd8 Raxd8 24.Rad1 Rxd1[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]25.Bxd1 Rf5 26.Kg2[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]26...Nxe5 27.g4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]27...Nxg4 28.Bxg4 Rxb5 29.Bc1[/font] gives Black three pawns for a Bishop; White's Bishop pair give him greater activity.
• [font color="slateblue"]27...Rg5??[/font] drops a piece to [font color="slateblue"]28.h4 Rxg4+ 29.Bxg4.[/font]
• [font color="darkcyan"]26...Rg5?? 27.Bc2! Nxe5 28.h4[/font] wins a piece.
• [font color="dodgerblue"]25.Rxd1??[/font] drops a piece to [font color="dodgerblue"]25...Rxf2! 26.Bd4 Rxe2.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Vladimitr Kramnik[/center]

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[center]WHITE: Fabiano Carauana[/center][center]Position after 21...Qd8e7[/center]

22.e6!

• White's advanced passer gives him a strong game.

22...Rf5 23.Nxe4!?

• White misses an opportunity to convert his passed pawn into a material advantage.
• If [font color="red"]23.Nf7+! Rxf7 24.exf7 Qxf7 25.Bd3 Ba5 26.Qc2[/font] gives White the exchange and a comfortable game.

23...dxe4 24.Qd7 Raf8!?

• Black attack when defense against the passer is the the order of the moment.
• [font color="red"]24...Qxd7! 25.exd7 Rd8 26.Rad1 h5 27.Bc4 Ne5 28.Bxe5[/font] gives White nothing more than a slight advantage with his precious pawn blockaded.

25.Qxe7

• This is good, but the pawn sacrifice is even better.
• If [font color="red"]25.Rad1!! Rxf2 26.Rxf2[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]26...Bxf2+ 27.Kg2 Bc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]28.Qxe7 Nxe7 29.Bd4 Bd6 30.Bxa7[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]30...Nf5 31.g4 Nh4+ 32.Kh1 Re8 33.b6[/font] completely undermines White's position.
• [font color="burgundy"]30...b6? 31.Bxb6 cxb6 32.Rxd6[/font] gives White an extra pawn and an active Rook.
• [font color="darkpink"]28.Rf1 Rxf1 29.Bxf1 Nf8 30.Qxe7 Bxe7 31.Bc4[/font] gives White greater activity and space for the pawn.
• If [font color="darkred"]26...Rxf2?![/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]27.Bd4! Rf8 28.Qxe7 Nxe7 29.Bxb6 cxb6 30.Rd7[/font] wins material.
• [font color="magenta"]27.Kh1!? Bc5! 28.Qc8+ Rf8 29.Qxb7 Qxe6 30.Qxc7[/font] gives White a comfortable good.

25...Nxe7 26.Ba3 Re8

• If [font color="red"]26...Rxf2? 27.Kh1![/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]27...Rxf1+ 28.Rxf1 Rxf1+ 29.Bxf1 c5 30.bxc6.[/font]

27.Rad1 h5 28.Rd7 Nd5 29.Rf7!?

• The text move merely leaves White with a superior game; a better move would have put him on the brink of winning.
• If [font color="red"]29.Bc4! c6 30.e7 Rf3 31.Bd6 Rf6 32.Be2 h4 33.gxh4[/font] leaves Black with a difficult but possible defense.

29...Nf6?

• The failure of Black's x-ray vision costs his the game.
• [font color="red"]29...Re5![/font] (setting up the "x-ray" motif on the e-file) [font color="red"]30.e7 Nxe7 31.Bb2 Nf5 32.Bxe5 Rxe5 33.Bxh5[/font] leaves Black with a defensible game.

[center]BLACK: Vladimitr Kramnik[/center]

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[center]WHITE: Fabiano Carauana[/center][center]Position after 29...Nd5f6[/center]

30.Bc4!

• White should win.
• After [font color="red"]30.Be7? Bc5! 31.Bxf6 gxf6 32.Rxc7 Rxe6 33.Rxb7[/font] Black has realistic drawing chances.

30...Bc5 31.Bb2 Re7

• If [font color="red"]31...Bd6?[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]32.Re1 Re7 33.h3 Kg8 34.Rd1 Re8 35.Bd4.[/font]

32.Bd4 Bd6 33.Re1!?

• White loses some ground with this, although it is difficult to tell if it lets Black back into the game.
• Much stronger is [font color="red"]33.Rd1 b6 34.Kg2 Re8 35.h3 h4 36.g4[/font] when Black has trouble finding a move that doesn't lose material.

33...b6?

• Regardless, this won't get Black back into the game.
• If [font color="red"]33...Kh7[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]34.h3 Kg6 35.Kg2 b6 36.Bxf6 gxf6 37.Rxe4[/font] still leaves White with an extra pawn.
• If [font color="darkred"]34.Rd1!?[/font] then [font color="darkred"]34...b6! 35.h3 Kg6 36.Kg2 Re8 37.Rd2 Rc8[/font] might be good enough to give Black a reprieve.

34.Rf8+! Kh7 35.Rxe4 Rxf2

• Black's best try is [font color="red"]35...Nxe4 36.Rxf5 Kg6 37.Rf3 Nc5 38.Bc3 Kh6 39.Bd2+[/font] but it won't save the game.

36.Kxf2?!

• White had a winning move, but this give away a great deal of the advantage.
• If [font color="red"]36.Re1 Rf3 37.Kg2 Ra3 38.Bb3[/font] limits the Rook's mobility and leaves White with victory in sight.

36...Nxe4+!

• This is good enought to at least raise some doubts about White's victory.

37.Kg2

• Stronger, but not enough to make any pratical difference, is [font color="red"]37.Ke3 Nc5 38.Rf7 Kg6 39.h4 Rxf7 40.exf7 Bf8.[/font]

37...Nc5 38.Ra8 Nxe6?

• Black takes the guard off d3, which gives White time to regroup his piece for an attack on the Black King.
• If [font color="red"]38...Kg6 39.Bxc5 Bxc5 40.Rxa7 Kf5 41.Kf3 g6 42.Ra8[/font] still keeps White's passed pawn blocked; if Rooks are exchanged, the opposite-colored Bishops give Black good drawing chances.

[center]BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik[/center]

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[center]WHITE: Fabiano Caruana[/center][center]Position after 38...Nc5e6:p[/center]

39.Bd3+!

• White needed to win the game over again, and does. The first step is to drive the enemy King away from the edge of the board.
• [font color="red"]39.Bxe6?! Rxe6 40.Kf3 Re1 41.Rxa7 Rf1+ 42.Kg2 Rd1[/font] gives Black a small advantage with the more active Rook.

39...Kh6 40.h4

• White threatens mate at h8.

40...g6 41.Rh8+ Rh7 42.Rg8 Rg7

• If [font color="red"]42...Rd7[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]43.Rxg6+ Kh7 44.Rxe6+.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Fabiano Caruana[/center][center]Position after 42...Rh7g7[/center]

43.Bxg7+!

• White wins the exchange.

43...Kh7 44.Re8 Nxg7

• If [font color="red"]44...Nf4+[/font] then White wins easily after [font color="red"]45.gxf4 Kxg7 46.Kf3 Kf7 47.Rd8 Be7 48.Rd7.[/font]

45.Re3 Kh6

• If [font color="red"]45...Nf5 46.Bxf5 gxf5 47.Kf3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]47...f4[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]48.gxf4 Kg6 49.Re8 Kh7 50.Ra8 Kg6 51.Rxa7.[/font]
• If [font color="darkred"]47...Kg6 48.Re6+[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]48...Kg7[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]49.a4 Kh7 50.Rf6 Kg7 51.Rxf5 Kh6 52.Rg5.[/font]
• If [font color="magenta"]48...Kf7[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]49.Rh6 Be5 50.Rxh5 Ke6 51.Rg5.[/font]

46.a4 Kh7 47.Kh3 Kh6 48.Bc2 Kh7

• If [font color="red"]48...Nf5[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]49.Bxf5 gxf5 50.Kg2 f4 51.gxf4 Bxf4 52.Re8.[/font]

49.g4 hxg4+ 50.Kxg4 Kh6 51.Re2 Bb4 52.Re5 Nh5

• This looks like a hari-kari move.
• Black won't suffer much longer after [font color="red"]52...Ba3 53.Rg5 Nf5 54.Bxf5 gxf5+ 55.Kxf5.[/font]

53.Re6 1-0

• If [font color="red"]53...Ng7[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]54.Rxg6+ Kh7 55.Rxb6+ Kg8 56.Bb3+ Kf8 57.Rf6+.[/font]
• Vladimir Borisovich resigns.