In a week’s time, Magnus Carlsen will begin the defence of his world title, against Sergey Karjakin in New York City. In a 12-game match, the first to 6.5 points will be declared the winner. Many fancy the World Champion to retain his title, with his challenger being regarded as a clear underdog. And perhaps this is true, but few things in chess can be taken for granted. No one expects Karjakin to be simply looking to make up numbers and settle for the runner-up’s purse.
Between now and the start of the match, I will be taking a look at both players, culminating with my opening report next Thursday. But first, I will be taking a look at a couple of decisive games between the two.
I will start with the following game, which was played at the 2013 edition of the Norway Chess Tournament. It sees Sergey Karjakin as White in a Ruy Lopez. He handles Carlsen’s novelty of 17…Qc7 rather well and indeed Black spends some time defending. However, a couple of quiet moves from White, allow Black to turn the tables with his extremely well coordinated pieces. This is one thing that Karjakin must watch out for during the match, one of the many strengths of his opponent is his ability to be able to seize every opportunity with both hands. Mistimed quiet moves wont do and are likely to be punished — this game is clear illustration.
[Site “Sandnes NOR”]
[Date “2013.05.13”]
[Round “5”]
[White “Sergey Karjakin”]
[Black “Magnus Carlsen”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “C95”]
[EventDate “2013.05.07”]
{ Annotations by John Lee Shaw for www.hotoffthechess.com. } 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O 9.h3 Nb8 10.d4 Nbd7 11.Nbd2 Bb7 12.Bc2 Re8 13.a4 Bf8 14.Bd3 c6 15.Qc2 Rc8 16.axb5 axb5 17.b4 { This is a move of Nigel Short’s, I believe, who played it against Lajos Portisch in the 1990 Hoogevens tournament at Wijk aan Zee. The game was a draw. The idea, it seems, is to restrict Black’s play along the c-file. } 17…Qc7 { A new move by Magnus, lending extra support to the advance c6-c5. The point of the move is to reinforce e5. The reason for this can be seen in the variation. } ( { It seems that Black can safely make the c6-c5 thrust, but White has few problems. It could actually lead to a rather quick draw. } 17…c5 18.bxc5 exd4 { this seems the best way to proceed. } ( 18…dxc5 19.dxe5 c4 { this is the better option than …Nxe5 } ( 19…Nxe5 20.Nxe5 Rxe5 21.Bxb5 { and White is better. } ) 20.exf6 cxd3 21.Qxd3 Nxf6 { = with options of Qxd8, Qb1, Qxb5. } ) 19.cxd4 dxc5 20.Qb1 c4 ( 20…cxd4 21.e5 Nd5 22.Bb2 h6 23.Bxd4 { When White’s greater activity and threat to b5 must give him a slight initiative. } ) 21.Qxb5 Bc6 22.Qxc4 Bxe4 23.Qb3 Rb8 24.Qc2 Rc8 25.Qb1 { is equal and could lead to repetition via …Rb8, Qc2 Rc8 etc. } ) 18.Bb2 { Connecting rooks and also placing the bishop on a good square along the a1-h8 diagonal. } 18…Ra8 { …Nh5 may have been worth a try also. } ( 18…Nh5 19.c4 bxc4 20.Nxc4 Nf4 21.dxe5 Nxe5 22.Nfxe5 dxe5 { Ra4 or Bc3 to follow. = } ) 19.Rad1 { Excersising patience — there was nothing stopping White from playing the immediate c3-c4. } ( 19.c4 bxc4 ( 19…Rxa1 20.Rxa1 bxc4 21.Bxc4 exd4 22.Bxd4 h6 { and White is the slightly better situated. } ) 20.Bxc4 Rxa1 21.Rxa1 exd4 22.Bxd4 h6 { with a slight edge to White. } ) 19…Nb6 20.c4 bxc4 21.Nxc4 Nxc4 22.Bxc4 h6 { stopping the knight coming to g5 of course. } 23.dxe5 dxe5 24.Bc3 { White is undeniably better, here, pure piece actiivity stands out a mile, but Black is holding things together. } 24…Ba6 25.Bb3 { White is better, therefore attacking, and wanting to maintain pieces — especially this bishop along the a2-h8 diagonal. } 25…c5 26.Qb2 { Exchanging on c5 was perhaps better, stopping White’s next. } ( 26.bxc5 Bxc5 27.Qb2 { with the initiative. } ) 26…c4 27.Ba4 Re6 28.Nxe5 Bb7 { Carlsen showing very calm defence and a cool head under pressure. } 29.Bc2 { This is a bit out of context, it was not necessary for White to be so defensive and marks a turning point in the game. } ( 29.Bb5 Bxe4 30.Bxc4 { This looks awesome for White. Alarmingly, Black is probably compelled to sacrifice the exchange due to the over-whelming quality of White’s pieces. } 30…Rxe5 31.Bxe5 Qxc4 32.Rd4 { is very difficult for Black. } ) 29…Rae8 30.f4 Bd6 31.Kh2 { Again, a little too slow and out of context. Re3 was much more positive, here. } ( 31.Re3 Rc8 32.Bd4 Qe7 33.b5 { keeps the initiative } ) 31…Nh5 { The game turns with this move. White goes from a promising stance to a difficult one in the space of a couple of quiet moves. We now notice that although Black has been defending for a while, he has never-the-less concentrated his forces very effectively — towards the e5-square, and along the e-file and h2-b8 diagonal. Black’s …Nh5 is the perfect way the illustrate it. } 32.g3 ( 32.Ba4 Nxf4 { and only accurate defence will do here } 33.Rxd6 Qxd6 { the only good move, White must also be careful. } 34.Bxe8 Rxe8 35.Qf2 Rxe5 36.Qxf4 { and from here, a resolution will likely follow. } 36…Re6 37.Qxd6 Rxd6 38.Re3 { = } ) 32…f6 33.Ng6 ( 33.Rxd6 Rxd6 { (if …Qxd6, Nxc4 obviously) } 34.Ng4 Red8 { if anyone is better, here, it’s Black, who has completely turned the activity in pieces around. } ) 33…Nxf4 { Black seizes a firm grip on the game. This was the only way to go if Carlsen wanted the full point. } 34.Rxd6 { Karjakin isn’t going down without a fight, this was the optimum way to defend. } 34…Nxg6 35.Rxe6 Rxe6 36.Bd4 f5 { Carlsen pours fuel on the flames, not wanting to give his opponent any time to re-group. } 37.e5 { this is inadequate, but there wasn’t a lot better. White’s position has come apart at the seams, here. There is nothing left but to go with the flow and hope for a mistake from Black. This, however, is highly unlikely. } 37…Nxe5 38.Bxe5 Qc6 { With a steadily growing dominance. } 39.Rg1 Qd5 { This move is really decisive, the Bd5 being fixed in place due to the threat of …Re2+ should it move, when White is getting mated. } 40.Bxf5 Rxe5 41.Bg4 { White is putting up a very resourceful defence, but it is all futile. } 41…h5 42.Bd1 c3 { Super play by Carlsen, all of his pieces are perfectly coordinated. } 43.Qf2 Rf5 { This move is made possible by the total prowess of the Bb7. } 44.Qe3 Qf7 45.g4 Re5 46.Qd4 Qc7 { And here, Sergey Karjakin resigned. Magnus Carlsen just has too many threats. } 0-1[/pgn]
