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Recently his career has reached a new peak , at the tournament of Bilbao he has momentarily taken the lead and became virtually the N° 1 player in the world based on the unofficial up-to-date rankings, but after 2 defeats he loses this place before the ranking becomes official. Now it is clear for everyone that Magnus will become one day the world champion and even his colleagues GMI recognize this is only a question of time. Today Carlsen is, according to the official FIDE rating classement, the 4th chess player in the world, at the age of almost 18.
We choose, as an illustration of the Carlsen's style, a recent game played by the young prodigy, aged 16 years, against the better English chess player, Grandmaster Michael Adams (currently No9 in the FIDE Rating). We will take profit of this opportunity to put into practice our ideas on the "cutting" of a chess game (see in the "New Chess Theory" Lecture:
NCT IV - "Unfolding of a game" ).
Carlsen, Magnus (2646) - Adams, Michael (2720)
Always a rather popular opening (Mainly: A17). Main continuations are: 4.d4 (Main line), 4.Qc2 (significant line), 4.g3 (secondary line) and 4.Qb3 (secondary line). Other moves are tested from time to time: 4.g4?!, 4.a3, 4.e3, 4.b3. We wish refer now to another important aspect put forward in our theoretical study (see in the "New Chess Theory" Lecture:
NCT V - "Opening new understanding"),
concerning a refinement of the classical Opening Classification.
At this subject we can say that 3...Bb4 (Nimzovitch), in the
present context, is an "ambiguous move". Flagrantly, this last move
leads to an A17-Relatively Mixed Position (A17, A32, A33,
D30, D34, D38, E07, E12, E13, E20, E21, E22, E24, E27, E29, E30 to
E39, E41, E43, E50 to E59).
DIAG 1
:
About the concept of "purity of an opening", we notice the essential fact that 6.d4 is a "purifier" move. Indeed, after 5...d5 we reach an A17-Quasi Pure Position (A17, D30, D34, E07, E20) and suddenly, with 6.d4, we obtain an E20-Totally Pure Position. It is the fundamental reason for which the right classification of all this opening is E20 and not A17; thus, the present game is a typical case of an E20-Opening, initially disguised in an A17-Opening. More precisely the natural order of moves is 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.g3 constituting the E20 Nimzo-Indian: Romanishing-Kasparov (Steiner) System. Like usually in the Nimzo-Indian, d5 and e4 are the two critical points of all this position (DIAG 1).
All this beginning belong to the Opening Theoretical Phase (OPTP:). Is also played: 6...c5!? 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Bd2 = (Alekhine, Alexander - Golombek, Harry 1-0 (E20) Margate, 1938).
With this last move ends the Opening Theoretical Phase and we enter the Opening Speculative Phase (OPSP:). Effectively, the "Opening Theory" is now uncertain and you may hesitate between many alternatives:
DIAG 2
:
The usual answer is: 8...Be7 like in the game Osberg, Peter (2300) - Renman, Nils Gustaf (2400) 0-1 (E20) SWE-ch Boras, 1979. Also the game reaches this time the Opening Critical Phase (OPCP:).
DIAG 3
:
Here is the beginning of the Thematic Middle Game (THMG:). Adams seems to have natural perspectives for attacking on the Queenside, whereas Magnus has to define a correct plan not so evident!... Is known here:
Now, with first exchanges, we reach the Deep Middle Game (DEMG:). Adams' choice 12...e5 is the best one; after 12...g5?! 13.Nxg5 hxg5 14.Bxg5 e5 (practically forced) 15.f4 exd4 (only move) 16.e5 dxc3 (only move) 17.Bxc6 +/= White has a better game.
DIAG 4
:
Might be considered: 16.e6!? fxe6 (forced) 17.f4 e5! 18.f5 Rf7 19.g4 a6 20.a4 c6 =/unclear; in addition, instead of 16...Re8, Black may opt for 16...Nxe5!? 17.fxe5 g5 18.Bxg5 hxg5 19.Rd5 =; perhaps, most interesting is, for White, after 16...Re8, the sharp play line: 17.Rd5!? a6 18.Rad1 Nb6 19.Rd8 Bb7 20.Rxb8 Rxb8 21.Bd8! Na4! 22.e6 fxe6 23.Bxc7 Re8 24.Be5 Nc5 25.Rd6 +/= ... Nevertheless, this little White advantage is perhaps insufficient for winning. In fact, the present game offers to each camp only few prospects and perhaps it is necessary to play in the manner of Petrossian to end up withdrawing benefit from it.
DIAG 5
:
18...g5! 19.fxg5 Nxe5 20.gxh6 Bb7 21.Bf6 Nd3! = maintains the game in a strict equality. Now, White may accept without risk the pseudo-sacrifice: 19.fxe5 g5 20.Rd4 =. And, in addition, after the Magnus' move 19.Bd8!, Adams finds the best answer; anyway, better than 19...Bb7?! 20.Bxc7 Nd3 21.Bxb8 Rxb8 22.Bf1 +/=.
DIAG 6
:
This rather long "Deep Middle Game" (DEMG:), without Queens, is frankly difficult to play, because each player (Michael and Magnus!) has very often to choose between two or three candidat moves not at all equivalent, but whose respective merits and disadvantages are compensated mainly, making their classification almost inaccessible. One can thus admire both players to maintain a so good level of play! By the way, we may consider that starts now the endgame; we want to say precisely the Phase of simplification or Pre-Endgame (PENG:) (see in the "New Chess Theory" Lecture:
NCT IV - "Unfolding of a game" ).
In spite of borders between various phases of a Chess game are not always clearly determined, one can judge that begins this time the Endgame strictly speaking or Full-Endgame (FENG:) (see in the "New Chess Theory" Lecture:
NCT IV - "Unfolding of a game" ).
After 27...g5 28.Kf1 Kd7 29.Be5 Bb5! 30.Ke2 Kc6 =/+ the draw is quite obvious.
It is completely clear that Magnus is courageously searching a way towards the win. As for the English grandmaster Michael Adams, one would like to know if he also plays for winning, or if he would be satisfied with a draw. Be able to answer this kind of question has its importance.
DIAG 7
:
In these conditions the game can last a very long time. But Magnus' stubbornness may be finally rewarded!
DIAG 8
:
Curiously, whereas Michael Adams continues to play credible moves, Magnus Carlson manages to create a pressure expressing a certain positional advantage. Thus, after 40.Re7 Black has only two eventual moves at his disposal: 40...Bd5, like in the game, or 40...Ng4+ 41.Ke2 Bd5 42.Kd2 Nh6 +/-
Magnus finds an excellent strategy by putting in action his King. Anyway, Black owns the initiative.
Does not go: 47...Kc6? 48.Ra5 Bc2 49.Rc5+ Kb6 50.Rxc4-+.
DIAG 9
:
This Break move, the best chance for White, is played by Magnus at the right time!
DIAG 10
:
56...Nc1? is a serious mistake. The only correct defense is: 56...Nd2 57.Ke3 Nf1+ (Nb3) 58.Kd4 +/-. Now Michael is likely to have some worrying problems.
Was also interesting: 57.Ra8!? Bc2 58.Ke5! Kb6 59.Kd5 Kb7 60.Re8 Bd3 61.Kc5 Nb3+ 62.Kb5 Nd2 63.Re7+ Kc8 64.Kxa4 -+.
DIAG 11
:
Magnus is now able to develop an efficient strategy on the Kingside.
DIAG 12
:
A magnificent and surprising Magnus' game!
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