Tata Steel 2020, Rd 10: Carlsen Wins Again. Caruana Retains Lead After Beating Firouzja

[Event “82nd Tata Steel, Masters”]
[Site “Wijk aan Zee NED”]
[Date “2020.01.22”]
[Round “10.1”]
[White “Carlsen, Magnus”]
[Black “Kovalev, Vladislav”]
[Result “1-0”]
[BlackElo “2660”]
[BlackFideId “13504398”]
[BlackTitle “GM”]
[ECO “D55”]
[EventDate “2020.01.11”]
[Opening “QGD”]
[Variation “Neo-orthodox variation”]
[WhiteElo “2872”]
[WhiteFideId “1503014”]
[WhiteTitle “GM”]

{ Annotations by John Lee Shaw for www.hotoffthechess.com. } 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 O-O 6.e3 h6 7.Bf4 { Normally, the bishop goes to h4, keeping eyes along the h4-d8 diagonal. What White is trying to do with that, is to annoy Black enough to make him play …g7-g5. With the air around the Black King, White will then strongly consider castling Queenside and trying to open files on the Kingside. } 7…c5 { Played after a bit of a think — was Magnus already making Vladislav twitchy? There are very many games after 7.Bf4, so I would be surprised. Kovalev was probably just trying to straighten out his preparation. Anyway, this is an important move, challenging White in the centre before playing …Nc6. It is possible to just play …Nc6 immediately, but White has things much easier. } 8.dxc5 { Opening things up a bit, and pulling the bishop to c5, where it can become a target of a Queenside expansion. } ( 8.Be2 cxd4 9.Nxd4 dxc4 10.Bxc4 Qa5 { vacating the d8-square for the Rf8, while also having …Ne4 and …Bb4 possibilities, depending upon what White plays. Black wont be too unhappy here. } ) 8…Bxc5 { …Nc6 was also playable, here. } 9.a3 { Perhaps thinking of b4 and c5, taking space on the Queenside and pushing the Bc5 around. However, I think it is more likely that this is just a useful move for the future — covering …Nb4 possibilities, for example, because White wants his Queen on c2. } 9…Nc6 10.Qc2 Nh5 { This move was the invention of Jozsef Foldi, against Istvan Polgar (no relation to Judit, Susan or Sofia, as far as I can find) at the 1965 Hungarian Championships. The game was a very quick draw in 19. If Kovalev is hoping for the same, he will be rather disappointed. } 11.Bg3 dxc4 { A new move. In the afore-mentioned game, Black took on g3. Kovalev obviously doesn’t think it is wise to do that and hand Carlsen the h-file, especially having played …h6. He would like Carlsen to commit his King first. } 12.Bxc4 Be7 { It was probably prudent to do something with this bishop, because its position on the c-file was not a comfortable one. Not only was it exposed to b2-b4, but discovery shenanigans could come up in the future. However, it is sure indication that White has the best of things out of the opening. } 13.Ba2 { This withdrawal has a bit more sting to it — the bishop is heading to b1, supporting the Queen in targeting h7, which the Nh5 has deserted. } 13…a6 14.Rd1 { Wisely centralising the rook before playing Bb1, and what better way to do it. } 14…Qa5 15.Bb1 f5 { The best way to cover the threat to h7, and with White now likely to be intending to castle Kingside, not without possible future punch. } 16.O-O Nxg3 { Whether Black felt safer in opening the h-file with White having castled, or he was fearful of Bd6, or just wanted to trade off his bad knight for White’s good bishop, answers on a postcard. Personally, I think it is flawed positionally. However, there wasn’t much better, and that tells us how much trouble Black is in. } 17.hxg3 { Here we see the problem straight away with taking on g3, White now has two pawns with which to target f5. } 17…Bf6 18.e4 { ! The engines all want Na4, here, but Magnus stays true to his plan, excellent human chess. } 18…Bxc3 19.bxc3 { ! Giving a pawn rather than making the concession of undoubling Queen and bishop. } 19…Qxa3 20.exf5 exf5 21.Rfe1 { White’s position is absolutely sublime, here. All of Carlsen’s pieces are well placed and ready to take constructive action. It is a matter of time before he plays Nh4, targeting not only f5, but also g6. On top of everything, the White King is also very safe and secure, in complete contrast to his opposite number. } 21…Qa5 22.g4 { Played with no cost to his King safety — thanks to Black’s earlier exchange of knight for bishop on g3. } 22…Qc7 { Preparing to try to organise some kind of defence, but also supporting the d7-square, perhaps. Black is yet to move his Bc8 and really needs every possible piece playing a part. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have the time. } 23.Nh4 g5 24.Nxf5 { There were alternatives to this move, but Magnus sticks to what he knows to be very good. And with threats not only towards h6, but also e7 (cutting off the Queen’s defence along the 7th rank), the knight simply has to go. } 24…Bxf5 { Finally, the bishop does something. } 25.gxf5 { Replacing one threat with another, f5-f6 would see the White Queen coming to g6. } 25…Rf6 { Blockading the pawn was all that Kovalev could do. } 26.Re6 { Wonderful play. Not only is the rook on a good square on e6, where it can’t be taken as it would open up the b1-h7 diagonal, but Carlsen simply attacks the obstacle to his pawn. } 26…Raf8 { Not …Qf7, which would be a horrible blunder and Black would likely resign after Ba2. } 27.Rxf6 Rxf6 { And now, if we look at this position, we see that Black’s rook is playing a purely defensive position on f6, as is his Queen on c7, While White’s pieces are waiting to pounce. } 28.Ba2+ { The bishop now switches to where it can be of better use, likely heading to e6, where it can defend the pawn. } 28…Kf8 29.Qd3 { Heading to d5, targeting g8. } 29…Ne5 30.Qe4 { Keeping the pawn covered until he can play Be6. } 30…Rd6 { Trying to exchange, when he would have a good chance to save the point. However, this walks into a pin. } 31.Qb4 { Black is utterly tied in knots here. } 31…Ke7 32.f6+ Kd7 33.Re1 { There is no defence here, Black is lost. } 33…Rxf6 34.Qd4+ Qd6 35.Qxe5 Qxe5 36.Rxe5 Rc6 37.Re3 { And here, Vladislav Kovalev resigned. A very nice strategic game by Magnus Carlsen. } 1-0

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