Corus Chess 2009, Wijk aan Zee Images, Carlsen, Magnus (2776)-Dominguez Perez, L (2717) [D81] Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (10), Chess-Theory Viewer

ANALYSED GAME N^o 125
Updated: January 2009

Carlsen, Magus (2776) -
Dominguez Perez, L (2717) [D81]
Corus A 2009 Wijk aan Zee
NED (10), 28.01.2009

(Annotation: "Chess-Theory")

"Chessbase - Corus Chess 2009 -
The start of round ten in Wijk aan
Zee - Photograph by Fred Lucas"
image Copyright: www.fredlucas.eu/

X0 Gruendfeld, Russian (Botvinnik) variation: 4.Qb3 [D81]

1.d4 X1 Nf6 X2 2.c4 X3 g6 X4 3.Nc3 X5 d5 X6 4.Qb3 X7

A secondary line, introduced in 1933 in the game Botvinnik-Leventish 8th URS-ch 1933 and regularly played since 1935. We may notice that this beginning has been practiced by many famous Russian Grandmasters, and in particular three times in the 1935 World Chess Championship, Euwe, Max vs Alekhine, Alexander.

4...dxc4 X8

The most popular Black reply.

5.Qxc4 X9 Bg7 X10 6.e4 X11

The most logical choice in relation with the Botvinnik variation. White has a perfect center and Black is deprived of the classical Bishop attack against the f3-Knight.

[ It is advised to remark that 6.Nf3 X12 is a significant crossroad allowing to meet, by inversion of moves, most significant variations of the Gruenfeld; mainly: [D96], [D97], [D98], [D99].]

6...0-0 X13 7.Be2 X14 Nfd7!? X15

A Vassily Smyslov' s idea in view to open the great diagonal a1-h8 at the profit of the g7-Bishop.

[ Insteed Botvinnik chose in the following classical game: 7...Nc6 X16 8.Nf3 X17 Nd7 X18 9.Be3 X19 Nb6 X20 10.Qc5 X21 Bg4 X22 11.d5 X23 ( 11.Rd1 X24 Qd6 X25 Botvinnik - Fischer, Varna (ol) 1963 ) 11...Nd7 X26 12.Qa3 X27 Bxf3 X28 13.Bxf3 X29 Nd4 X30 14.0-0-0 X31 Nxf3 X32 15.gxf3 X33 Nb6 X34 16.Qb3 X35 Qd7 X36 17.h4! X37 Petrosian, Tigran V - Botvinnik, Mikhail 1-0 (58 m.) [D97] World Championship 28th 29.04.1963]

8.Be3 X38 Nb6 X39 9.Qd3! X40

Probably the best choice.

[ Is equally playable, but more risky: 9.Qc5?! X41 and then Black does not always find the refutation: 9...f5 X42 10.Rd1 X43 N8d7 X44 11.Qa3 X45 fxe4 X46 12.Qb3+ X47 Kh8 X48 = Yakovich, Yuri (2580) - Smikovski, Ivan (2492) 0-1 [D81] RUS-ch 53rd Samara 17.06.2000. ]

9...f5 X49

This thematic move marks temporarily the end of the pressure on the d4-pawn and means a change of objective.

[ The Cuban GM played recently: 9...Nc6 X50 10.Rd1 X51 f5 X52 11.Nf3 X53 f4 X54 12.Bc1 X55 Bg4 X56 13.e5 X57 Qd7 X58 14.Ne4 X59 Rad8 X60 15.Nc5 X61 Qc8 X62 16.Qc3 X63 e6 X64 17.h3 X65 with an unclear position where Black is not without possibilities (Vladimir Kramnik vs Leinier Dominguez-Perez 2008 Olympiad 2008 · Gruenfeld Defense: Russian. Accelerated Variation (D81) · 1/2-1/2).]

10.Rd1 X66

White overprotects the d4-pawn and menages a retreat in c1 for his Bishop on dark squares.

10...f4 X67 11.Bc1 X68 e5!? X69

An interesting idea compelling White to a crucial choice, while, in any cases, the c-pawn stays available to face the d-pawn.

12.d5! X70

"Chessbase - Corus Chess 2009 -
Grandmaster Leinier Dominguez from
Cuba - Photograph by Fred Lucas"
image Copyright: www.fredlucas.eu/

Without any doubt the best answer. The first idea is that White had better to avoid the Queen exchange.

[ After: 12.Nf3 X71 exd4 X72 13.Nxd4 X73 Na6 X74 ( It may be played right now: 13...c5!? X75 14.Ndb5 X76 Qxd3 X77 15.Bxd3 X78 Nc6 X79 16.Nd5 X80 Nxd5 X81 17.Bc4 X82 Kh8 X83 18.exd5 X84 Nd4 X85 and Black does not have serious problems. ) 14.Qd2 X86 c5 X87 15.Ndb5 X88 Qg5 X89 16.g3 X90 Bh3 X91 unclear, White has no clear advantage.]

12...c6! X92

The right reply in view to contest the White domination in the center.

13.Nf3 X93

It is judicious to play now the recluse King side Knight.

13...cxd5 X94

[ White has played his Knight without fear for: 13...Bg4 X95 14.h3 X96 Bh5 X97 15.0-0 X98 +/=]

14.Nxd5 X99 Nxd5 X100 15.Qb3!N X101

An attractive Novelty! In any cases the pinned Knight is condemned.

[ The Magnus' Novelty is an improvement on: 15.Qxd5+ X102 Qxd5 X103 ( 15...Qxd5 X104 ) 16.exd5 X105 Bf5 X106 17.0-0 X107 Nd7 X108 18.Rfe1 X109 a6 X110 Dmitry Jakovenko vs Shakhriyar Mamedyarov 1/2-1/2 (57 m.) [D81] Elista Grand Prix 2008.]

15...Kh8 X111 16.Bc4! X112

White maintains the tension; the Black Knight is now relatively pinned.

16...Nc6 X113 17.Bxd5 X114 Qe7 X115 18.h3! X116

A good prophylactic move.

18...Nb4 X117 19.Bc4 X118 b5! X119

An excellent Black defense taking advantage of the vulnerability of the a2-pawn and the inacheved White development.

20.Bxb5 X120 Nxa2 X121

[ It is tempting to choose the agressive: 20...Be6 X122 but after: 21.Bc4 X123 Bxc4 X124 22.Qxc4 X125 Rac8 X126 23.Qb3 X127 Nc2+ X128 24.Kf1 X129 Rfd8 X130 25.Rxd8+ X131 Qxd8 X132 26.Ke2 X133 it is not sure that Black has sufficient compensation for the pawn.]

21.Bd2 X134

"CChessbase - Corus Chess 2009 -
A misty dawn in Wijk aan Zee
- Photograph by Fred Lucas"
image Copyright: www.fredlucas.eu/

It seems that the Black Knight is prisoner and lost, but it is an illusion! It will be only exchanged with the b5-Bishop.

21...Rb8 X135

The only move!

22.Qa4! X136 Qb7 X137 23.0-0 X138

There is not other alternative.

23...Qxb5 X139 24.Qxa2 X140 Qxb2 X141 25.Qxa7 X142 Qb7 X143 26.Qc5!? X144

[ 26.Ra1 X145 was probably a stronger answer.]

26...Be6! X146

The Black Bishop on light squares become active!

27.Qd6! X147

Increasing the pressure on the Black position.

27...Bb3! X148

A very strong retort!

28.Rb1 X149 Qxe4 X150 29.Bc3 X151 Rbd8 X152 30.Qa3 X153 Bc2?! X154 31.Rb5 X155 Qa4 X156

Of course the Queen exchange would allow Black to solve more easily his problems.

32.Qb2! X157

A strong continuation! All the battle is now concentrated on the long diagonal a1-h8.

32...Bd3? X158

A serious mistake. This Bishop Fork is a lure, because White owns a strong reply.

33.Rb7! X159 Qc2 X160

It is difficult to find another defense.

[ White has a winning game after: 33...Rd7 X161 34.Nxe5 X162 Bxe5 X163 35.Bxe5+ X164 Kg8 X165 36.Rxd7 X166 Qxd7 X167 37.Rc1 X168 + -; 33...Bxf1?? X169 34.Bxe5 X170 Rd7 X171 35.Bxg7+ X172 Kg8 X173 36.Rxd7 X174 Qxd7 X175 37.Bxf8 X176 Kxf8 X177 38.Qh8+ X178 Ke7 X179 39.Qxh7+ X180 Kd8 X181 40.Qxd7+ X182 Kxd7 X183 41.Kxf1 X184 ]

34.Qb4 X185 Rfe8 X186

[ After 34...Bxf1?? X187 35.Qe7 X188 Black is mate in 8.]

35.Re1?! X189

[ White wins very easily after: 35.Bxe5! X190 Bxe5 X191 36.Nxe5 X192 Ba6 X193 37.Ra7 X194 + -]

35...Be2 X195 36.Nxe5! X196 Bxe5 X197 37.Bxe5+ X198

This time Black is mate in some moves.

37...Rxe5 X199 38.Qxf4 X200 Qf5 X201 39.Qh6

1-0

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