Carlsen’s King’s Indian Attack
The 2017 Sinquefield Cup, the third leg on the grand chess tour schedule, has gotten underway at St. Louis Chess Club and Scholastic Center in the Missouri, USA.
With Norwegian world champion Magnus Carlsen leading the way, the world’s top players are seeing action in the tour’s strongest tournament.
Three rounds have been played and we have the early leaders – Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana (USA) and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France) – scoring 2.0 points in the Cat. 22, 10-player, all-play-all event.
The rest of the standings read: Vishy Anand (India), Sergey Kariakin (Russia), Levon Aronian (Armenia), Americans Wesley So and Hikaru Nakamura, at 1.5 and Russians Peter Svidler, 1.0 and Ian Nepomniachtchi, 0.5.
The top two finishers after four legs will be seeded in next year’s Candidates tournament.
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Meanwhile, the Commecial Chess League of New York, the longest-running yearly team event anywhere, has successfully organized its 2016-2017 season held recently in New York City.
For the fifth straight year, the Albano Law Office I won the league’s Division A title, with a dominating 10.5 match points and 36.5 game points record. STI took second, while Azzurri landed third.
Conceived of and started in 1923, the 94th edition of the chess league has attracted 16 teams.
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In the following game, the struggle for supremacy is all on the Queenside. When the decision comes through, it is on the Kingside, with a series of sharp moves – sudden and unexpected. A well-executed and sparkling performance by the world champion.
Sinquefield Cup 2017
W) M. Carlsen (Norway)
B) S. Kariakin (Russia)
King’s Indian Attack
1. Nf3 ...
This is the move which appears in many openings, some of them reachable by one transposition or another. At this point, there is no saying what the opening will be.
1... Nf6
2. g3 c5
3. Bg2 Nc6
4. O-O e5
5. e4 d6
6. d3 ...
The King’s Indian Attack, a well-known opening with varying chances for both sides. In the usual course of events, White’s long-range prospect is for a Kingside attack, and Black must improvise counter play on the Queen’s wing.
6... g6
7. a3 Bg7
8. c3 O-O
9. b4 a6
10. Nbd2 b5
11. Rb1 Nd7
The developing 11...Be6 seems better than the text.
12. Nb3 cxb4
13. axb4 Nb6
13...a5 14. bxa5 Nxa5 15. Be3 Qc7 16. Re1 Bb7, is about even – Computer.
14. Be3 Be6
15. Qd2 Rc8
16. Rfc1 Re8
17. h4 Na4
18. c4 h5
19. Kh2 Bg4
20. cxb5 axb5
21. Na5! ...
A neat positional point which nets White the advantage as he gains activity on the open c file.
21... Nd4
After 21...Bd7 22. Nxc6 Bxd7 23. Qa2 Rc7 24. Rc2 Bb7 25. Rbc1 Rxc2 26. Qxc2 d5 27. Qc7 Qxc7 28. Rxc7 d4 29. Bd2 Rb8, White obtains a slight advantage=Engine.
22. Rxc8 Qxc8
23. Rc1 Qd1
24. Nxd4 exd4
25. Bh6 Bh8
26. Rc6 Nc3
27. f3 Be6
28. Bf4 Be5
29. Bxe5 dxe5
30. f4 Qe7
31. Rc5 Rc8
32. Rxc8ch Bxc8
33. Nc6 Qd6
34. Nxe5 Qxb4
35. f5 ...
With a centralized Knight, White starts Kingside action.
35... Qd6
36. Nf3 gxf5?!
36...b4 probably offers a longer resistance.
37. Qg5ch Kh7
After 37...Kf8 38. exf5 b4 39. f6 Nd5, although White has the initiative, Black has better chances than the text.
38. e5 ...
38. exf5 Qh6 39. Qe7 Kg8 40. Nxd4 Qf8 41. Nc6 also wins, according to the engine.
38... Qg6
Neither 38...Qb6 39. Qxh5ch nor 38...Qe6 39. Qd8 Kg7 40. Ng5 could save Black’s game.
39. Qd8 Be6
40. Ng5ch Kg7
41. Qxd4 Na4
42. Nh3 1:0
Further resistance would make no sense after 42...Kh8 43. Nf4, and 42...Qh6 43. Nf4 Kh7 44. Qb4, etc.
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Solution to last week’s puzzle:
Black to move and win. White=Kg1, Qf2, Re1, Nd2, Pb4, Pc4, Pd4, Pe3, Pg3 Black=Kg7, Qa2, Rh6, Bg4, Pa6, Pb7, Pd6, Pe4, Pf5, Pg5
1... Bf3!
2. Nxf3 Rh1ch!
3. Kg2 ... 3. Kxh1 Qxf2.
3... exf3ch
4. Kxf3 g4ch
5. Kg2 Rh2ch
6. Kxh2 Qxf2ch
0:1
White to move and win.
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