Carlsen reigns in Norway Classic

Not unexpectedly, Magnus Carlsen ran away with the top  prize at the Norway Tournament Classic (Cat. 21). Magnus, 25,  scored 6.0 points (four wins, four draws and one loss) in the 10-man field that  included two former world  champions and the reigning  world champion. It was Carlsen’s second consecutive major plum this year, having won earlier the prestigious Wijk aan Zee super tourney in the Netherlands.

The world champion suffered a lone defeat from Armenian star Levon Aronian, who finished second with 5.5. Tied for third-fifth were Frenchman Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and former world  champions Vaselin Topalov of Bulgaria and Vladimir Kramnik of Russia, one point off the pace. Other scores were China’s Li Chao and Pentala Harikrishna of India at 4.5 apiece, Dutch GM Anish Giri with 4.0, Ukrainian Pavel Eljanov, 3.0 and Norwegian Nils Grandelius, 2.5.

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The world champion has often shown his skill in difficult endgame positions. Nothing pleases him more than  squeezing out a win from  a microscopic advantage. Here despite the level  material, Kramnik gets zugzwanged to defeat.

2016 Norway Classic

W) M. Carlsen (NOR)

B)  V. Kramnik (RUS)

Queen’s Gambit Declined

1. d4                           d5

2. c4                                e6

3. Nc3                              Nf6

4. cxd5                            exd5

5. Bg5                             c6

The Exchange Variation, in which White has a center pawn majority, while Black enjoys a majority on the  Queenside.

6. e3                                ...

Standard here is 6. Qc2. which prevents an early development of Black’s light-colored bishop. The  move is played purely for surprise value.

6...                                  Bf5

By exchanging on d5,  Black has no problem  developing this piece unlike in other lines  of the QGD. The only snag in this variant, however, is the doubled pawn  weakness which may  cause Black problems  in the ensuing endgame. Avoiding this with 6...Nbd7 may be preferable.

7. Qf3                              Bg6

8. Bxf6                            Qxf6

9. Qxf6                            gxf6

10. Nf3                            Nd7

11. Nh4                           Be7

After 11...Bb4 12. Rc1  Nb6 13. a3 Bxc3ch 14. Rxc3, White is slightly better. Carlsen-Azmaiparashvili, WCC 2005.

12. Ne2!?                         ...

A novelty. Usual here is 12. g3 and after Nb6 13. f3 a5 the game is probably equal, Van Wely- Short, Wijk aan Zee 2005.

12...                                Nb6

13. Ng3                           Bb4ch

14. Kd1                           Na4

Seems a tempo-losing move. Better is 14...Nc4.

15. Ngf5!?                       Kd7

Obviously 15...Nxb2ch?! is met by 16. Kc2 Nc4 17. Bxc4 dxc4 18. Rhb1 and White has a clear advantage.

16. Rb1                           Ke6

17. Bd3                           Rhc8

18. Ke2                            Bf8

19. g4                             c5

20. Ng2                           cxd4

21. exd4                          Bd6

22. h4                              h5

This loses a pawn, but there’s nothing better. For instance 22...Rh8 23. Rhe1 Bxf5 24. Bxf5ch Ke7 25. b3 Nb6 26. Kf3ch Kf8 27. Nf4 Re8 28. Nh5, and White  is winning. From hereon Black’s game is in the toils.

23. Ng7ch                        Ke7

24. gxh5                          Bxd3ch

25. Kxd3                          Kd7

26. Ne3                            Nb6

27. Ng4                           Rh8

28. Rhe1                          Be7

29. Nf5                            Bd8

30. h6                             Rc8

31. b3                             Rc6

32. Nge3                         Bc7

33. Rbc1                         Rxc1

34. Rxc1                          Bf4

35. Rc5                            Ke6

Also hopeless is  35...Bxh6 36. Nxd5 Nxd5 37. Rxd5ch Kc7 38. Rd6, etc.

36. Ng7ch                        Kd6

37. Ng4                           Nd7

38. Rc2                            f5

Or 38...Ke7 39. Re2ch Kd8 40. Nf5ch and White should win if he plays his  cards carefully.

39. Nxf5ch                       Ke6

40. Ng7ch                        Kd6

41. Re2                            ...

We draw the curtains here as White’s two-pawn advantage is decisive.

41...                                Kc6

42. Re8                            Rxe8

43. Nxe8                          Nf8

44. Ne5ch                        Bxe5

45. dxe5                          Kd7

46. Nf6ch                         Ke6

47. h5                              Kxe5?

48. Nd7ch                        Nxd7

49. h7                              Nc5ch

50. Ke2                            1:0

Solution to last week’s puzzle:

Black to play and win.

White=Ke2, Ba1

Black=Kc2, Nd3, Pa2

1...  Nc5

If 1...Nb2? 2. Ke1 Kb1 3. Kd2 Kxa1 4. Kc1 Nc4 5. Kc2 and draw as the White King cannot be driven away from c1 and c2 squares.

2. Ke1 ...

If 2. Bf6 Na4 3. Ba1 Kc1! or 2. Ke3 Kb1 3. Be5 (3. Kd2 Nb3!) Na4 4. Kd2 Nb2 and wins.

2...     Kb1

3. Kd1 Nd3

4. Kd2  Nb2

and wins.