Morelia/Linares MEX/ESP 2007 (14), Leko, Peter - Carlsen, Magnus, 0-1, Queen's Indian Defense, 4.g3 (E15), Chess-Theory Viewer

ANALYSED GAME N^o 104
Updated: April 2008

Leko, P (2749) - Carlsen, M (2690)
[E15] - XXIV SuperGM Morelia-Linares
ESP/MEX (14), 10.03.2007

(Annotation: "Chess-Theory")

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X0

Queen' s Indian, 4.g3.

1.d4 X1 Nf6 X2 2.Nf3 X3 e6 X4 3.c4 X5 b6 X6 4.g3 X7 Bb4+ X8

Our comments are rather bountiful, indeed, but if you agree to follow us in our peregrinations, we will revel you some hidden features of this interesting game, which has not always been investigate in current online GM' s analysis!

[ Is more common: 4...Ba6 X9 or: 4...Bb7]

5.Bd2 X10 Bxd2+ X11

[ The great Romanishin' s specialty, many times also played by Victor Kortchnoij: 5...a5 X12 is currently practised by many great chess players, but rather neglected by Super-GMs. The game may continue by: 6.Bg2 X13 Ba6 X14 7.Ne5 X15 Ra7 X16 8.0-0 X17 0-0 X18 9.Bg5 X19 Be7 X20 10.Qc2 X21 h6 X22 11.Bf4 X23 with similar chances in both camps (Gelfand, Boris - Grischuk, Alexander, (26), ½-½, (E15), Monte Carlo, Amber blind, 2006)]

6.Qxd2 X24 Ba6 X25 7.b3 X26 0-0 X27

[ It is usal for Black to reinforce here the control of the strategic d5-square by the Semi-Slav scheme: 7...c6 X28 But then, in spite of the foreseeable opening of the c-file, prospects of winning are weak for each camp. e.g. 8.Bg2 X29 d5 X30 9.Nc3 X31 Nbd7 X32 10.cxd5 X33 cxd5 X34 11.0-0 X35 0-0 X36 12.Rfc1 X37 h6 X38 13.Ne5 X39 Rc8 X40 14.a4 X41 Nxe5 X42 15.dxe5 X43 Nd7 X44 16.Qe3= X45 Pelletier, Yannick (2610)]

8.Nc3 X46

A confidential line rarely played nowadays

8...d5 X47 9.cxd5 X48 exd5 X49 10.Bg2 X50 Re8 X51 11.Ne5 X52

This Knight-move, played from time to time since 1986, is thematic in such a position.

[ Is also playable: 11.0-0 X53 c5 X54 12.Rfd1 X55 Nc6 X56 13.e3 X57 Ne4 X58 14.Qb2 X59 Nxc3 X60 15.Qxc3 X61 Qf6 X62 16.Qb2 X63 Rad8 X64 17.Rac1 X65 h6 X66 18.Rd2 X67 c4 X68 19.Qa3 X69 +/=, but the Black play has perhaps been improved since (Eingom, Vereslav, (32), 1-0, (E15), Reykjavik Summit, 1990). ]

11...c5

The most entreprising Black retort; it is true that the d4-square is always at the heart of the debate.

X70 Nevertheless all the present line is obsolete since 1999.

[ It is certain that nobody today would have the idea to play: 11...Nbd7? X71 12.Nc6 X72 Qc8 X73 13.e3 X74 Nb8 X75 14.Nxd5 X76 Nxd5 X77 15.Bxd5 X78 Bb7 X79 16.Qc2 X80 Nxc6 X81 17.Bxc6 X82 Bxc6 X83 18.Qxc6 X84 Qa6 X85 19.Qc4 X86 +/- Vyzmanavin-Smirin/URS-ch/1990 - ChessBase Survey Opening, 1993 (Daulov).]

12.0-0 X87 Bb7 X88 13.Rfd1 X89

[ Leads to a draw by repetition: 13.e3 X90 Qe7 X91 14.Qc2 X92 Na6 X93 15.Rac1 X94 Nc7 X95 16.Rfe1 X96 Ne6 X97 17.Qb2 X98 Rad8 X99 18.Nd3 X100 Ba6 X101 19.Ne5 X102 Bb7 X103 20.Nd3 X104 Ba6 X105 21.Ne5 X106 Bb7 X107 ½-½, Hensen, Lars Bo (2650) - Epishin, Vladimir (2656), (E15), Tilburg, 1993]

13...Na6 X108

A typical maneuver in order to avoid the Knight-exchange in c6 or d7 and to put later the Queenside Knight on the active c7-square.

14.Qf4! X109 Nc7!?N X110

This Carlsen' s novelty seems here a reasonable alternative and, at all events, a courageous choice; indeed it appears that Magnus refuses the draw, but his position is, objectively speaking, slightly substandard.

[ The configuration is not clear after: 14...Qc7 X111 15.Nc4 X112 Rad8 X113 16.Ne3 X114 Qxf4 X115 17.gxf4 X116 Nc7 X117 18.dxc5 X118 bxc5 X119 19.Na4 X120 Ba6 X121 20.Rd2 X122 =/+ Tukmakov, Vladimir B (2590) - Van der Viel, John TH (2540), (' 33), ½-½, (E15), EUCup Rotterdam, 1988.]

15.Ng4! X123 Nxg4 X124

Practically forced.

16.Qxg4 X125 Qf6 X126

The best choice in view to contest the White initiative.

17.e3?! X127

[ This positional move does not seem adequate in this open position; it is more accurate to develop quickly an active figural play as follows 17.Rac1 X128 Rad8 X129 18.dxc5 X130 bxc5 X131 19.Na4 X132 +/=]

17...Rad8 X133 18.Rac1 X134 Qe7!? X135

Carlsen's play is not easy at all and one cannot actually criticize his choices because finding here a credible Black counterplay seems to be impossible.

[ Nevertheless, it would be preferable to try to contest the White Queen influence by playing: 18...Bc8 X136 19.Qh5 X137 cxd4 X138 20.Rxd4 X139 Re5 X140 +/=]

19.dxc5! X141

The most energetic retort; by this simple move Peter Leko gives prominence to the weaknesses of the Black Queenside.

19...bxc5 X142 20.Qa4! X143 Rd7?! X144

This indirect protection of the a7-pawn is not without justifications...But it is without taking into account the strong Leko' s retort. [ After the natural: 20...a6 X145 the Black position becomes quickly not easily bearable: 21.Qa5 X146 Bc6 X147 22.Ne2! X148 threatening: Nd4 22...Ne6 X149 23.Nf4! X150 Rd6 X151 +/-]

21.Ne4! X152

The strongest continuation.

[ Of course: 21.Qxa7? X153 is a fault: 21...Ne6! X154 with the threat of d4 22.Qa4 X155 Red8 X156 23.Qg4 X157 d4! X158 24.Bxb7 X159 Rxb7 X160 25.Na4 X161 dxe3 X162 26.fxe3 X163 Rbd7 X164 and Black may try to resist validly.]

21...d4 X165

[ Obviously the Knight is taboo: 21...dxe4?? X166 22.Rxd7 X167 +-]

22.exd4

[ It is amusing to think that Peter perhaps integrated into his analysis the X168 sharp continuation: 22.Nf6+!? X169 gxf6 X170 23.Bxb7 X171 Red8 X172 24.Bc6 X173 Rd6 X174 25.exd4 X175 Rxd4 X176 26.Rxd4 X177 cxd4 X178 27.Qxa7 X179 d3 X180 28.Qe3 X181 d2 X182 29.Rd1 X183 Qxe3 X184 30.fxe3 X185 Rd6! X186 31.Ba4 X187 the only way to maintain the White advantage 31...Ne6 X188 32.b4 X189 Ng5 X190 +/- and then, in spite of an incontestable White advantage, the ending is not obvious]

22...Bxe4 X191

It is clear, Black is submitted to the White law and does not have here any other choice.

23.Bxe4 X192 Ne6 X193

What other?

24.d5! X194

The most radical choice.

[ Is also playable: 24.Bc6 X195 Rxd4 X196 25.Bxe8 X197 Rxa4 X198 26.Bxa4 X199 g6 X200 27.Rd7 X201 Qf6 X202 28.Rxa7 X203 Qb2 X204 29.Rc4 X205 Qxa2 X206 30.Kg2 X207 leading to an unclear endgame.]

24...Nd4 X208

Again Black is under the constraint and has no other possibility.

. 25.Re1 X209 Qd8 X210 26.Kf1 X211

In any case, this move prevents the risk of Knight-fork in g3 and, in addition, does not grant any respite to Black.

[ Or: 26.d6 X212 Re5 X213 27.Kf1 X214 +/-]

26...Rde7 X215 27.Bd3 X216 Qc8 X217 28.g4! X218

The only winning move.

[ Does not work: 28.Rxe7?? X219 Qh3+ X220 29.Ke1 X221 Rxe7+ X222 30.Kd2 X223 Qh6+ X224 31.f4 X225 Only move avoiding the mate 31...Qxh2+ X226 32.Kc3 X227 Qxg3 X228 -/+ with a significant Black advantage.]

28...Rxe1+ X229 29.Rxe1 X230 Rf8 X231

Magnus continues, in this difficult situation, to play a credible defensive system

30.h3 X232 Qd8 X233 31.Be4 X234 Qb6 X235

White has a pawn more: the dangerous d5-passed pawn. Also it is extremely risked to allow the infiltration of the White Queen in d7 or e7 (via d7).

32.Bg2 X236 g6 X237 33.Kg1 X238 +/-

White has put his King in safety and keeps a total control of the open e-file.

33...Kg7 X239 34.Qd7 X240 Rd8?! X241

[ An ultimate tentative to save the game was: 34...Qa5 X242 35.Qe7 X243 Qxa2 X244 36.d6 X245 Qxb3 X246 37.d7 X247 Ne6 X248 38.g5! X249 Qb6 X250 39.Rxe6 X251 Qxe6 X252 40.Qxf8+ X253 Kxf8 X254 41.d8Q+ X255 Qe8 X256 42.Qa5 X257 Qe7 X258 +/- and Black, with two passed pawns for a Bishop, may try to struggle for the draw.]

35.Qe7 X259 a5 X260

This time the game is over: White wins in any case.

[ Is equally losing: 35...h6 X261 36.Rc1 X262 Rc8 X263 37.d6 X264 Rd8 X265 38.Bd5 X266 Qxd6 X267 39.Qxf7+ X268 Kh8 X269 40.Re1 X270 +-]

36.Kh1 X271 Nb5 X272

with the idea: Nd6. the Knight will go participate to the struggle against the passed pawn d5.

37.Re6! X273 Nd6 X274 38.Qf6+ X275 Kg8 X276 39.Re7 X277 a4? X278

A typical time-control mistake.

[ The only move to continue is: 39...Qb8 X279 and it may follow: 40.h4 X280 Qb4 X281 41.f4! X282 Qd2 X283 42.h5 X284 Qd1+ X285 43.Kh2 X286 Qd4 X287 44.Qe5 X288 +-]

40.bxa4? X289

In his turn, White commits a time-control blunder.

[ Wins immediately: 40.Rxf7 X290 Nxf7 X291 41.Qxb6 X292 +-]

40...c4 X293 41.Kh2 X294 Qb8 X295 42.f4 X296 Qc8 X297 43.Re3 X298

[ White wins easily after: 43.a5 X299 c3 X300 44.Re2! X301 Ne8 X302 45.Qc6 X303 Qb8 X304 46.d6 X305 +-]

43...Re8 X306 44.Rxe8+ X307 Nxe8 X308 45.Qc6 X309 Qxc6 X310 46.dxc6 X311 Kf8 X312 47.Kg3? X313

A new inaccurate move; but we have good reasons to think that both players are now tired.

[ White wins easily by playing: 47.a5! X314 Ke7 X315 48.a6 X316 Nc7 X317 49.a7! X318 Kd6 X319 50.Kg3 X320 c3 X321 51.Be4 X322 Kc5 X323 52.Kf3 X324 h6 X325 53.Ke3 X326 Kb6 X327 54.Kd3 X328 Kxa7 X329 55.Kxc3 X330 ]

47...Ke7?! X331

An inaccuracy answers to another!

[ Nevertheless, White wins equally after: 47...c3 X332 48.Be4 X333 Ke7 X334 49.Kf3 X335 Nf6 X336 50.Bc2 X337 Kd6 X338 51.Bb3! X339 Nd5 X340 52.a5! X341 f6 X342 53.a3! X343 +-]

48.Kf2 X344 Kd6 X345 49.Ke3 X346 Kc5 X347 50.g5 X348 Nc7 X349 51.a3 X350 Ne6 X351 52.Be4 X352 c3 X353 53.f5 +-

By a retrospective analysis, it is easy to prove that Black troubles became with the relatively doubtful novelty 14.Nc7!? and even previously with the choice, in the Queen' s Indian, 4.g3 (E15), of an obsolete variation offering to Black very few possibilities.

It seems judicious to add that both Super-GMs have played at a very high level, with lucidity and courage. Yes, this game was captivating to follow and, in particular, reveals , as well as a victory, the fantastic talent of young prodigy Magnus Carlsen...the new Bobby Fischer!

1-0

~ Magnus and father at the
Morelia closing coctail ~
image Copyright: ChessBase.com
~ Magnus and father at the
Morelia closing coctail ~
image Copyright: ChessBase.com

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