Magnus Carlsen vs Peter Leko (2007)

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Magnus Carlsen vs Peter Leko
Dortmund Sparkassen (2007), Dortmund, GER, rd 1, Jun-23
Spanish Game: Closed Variations (C84) · 1/2-1/2

White to move.

ANALYSIS [x]

1/2-1/2

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1

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Jun-23-07		Marmot PFL: Carlsen has been doing better recently with 1.d4 than with the Ruy Lopez. Actually outside of Anand I haven't seen many big wins for white in the Ruy lately.

Jun-24-07		acirce: <In round 1 as white against Leko, Magnus chose 1.e4. They entered a Ruy Lopez line where Magnus played 8.d4, somewhat unusual at top level. After 8... Nxd4 they quickly entered a quite symmetrical open position, but it is not that easy to defend as black. Both players thought black was in trouble after 20.Rad1 and agreed that Rad8 is the only move in this position. Magnus continued to press for some moves. Leko spent most of his time on the clock at this stage and found the best defense. After Magnus mistakenly played 26.Rd3 black is suddenly equal or slightly better. Magnus offered a draw after 29.Re3 and maybe Leko still was happy to have escaped when he accepted, or maybe he considered the remaining 18-19 minutes on 12 moves as inadequate for a serious winning attempt.> http://blog.magnuschess.com/1182623... I wouldn't have thought Black was in "trouble". I noted he had some problems due to slower development but I thought these were of slight and transient nature.

Jun-24-07		Ulhumbrus: An alternative to 11 Qxd4 is 11 c3 dc 12 Nxc3 When White's advantage in development and greater space may provide enough compensation for the pawn. After 11 Qxd4 White has a Q on d4. The Q on d4 can in some opening variations invite the pawn advance 11...c5 and ...c4 trapping White's KB, an attack named the Noah's ark trap or the Noah's ark attack or something like that. The pawn advance does not work here, because Black's d pawn is still on d7, so after 11..c5 12 Qe4 Black can't defend his R with tempo by 12...Be6 in reply. According to Irving Chernev this trap was employed first by Noah against Japheth aboard the Noah's ark. I don't know where Chernev got this story from. 12 c4 opens partly the c file. but it also exchanges the b5 pawn for the c pawn, a pawn which can be considered more valuable in the middle game. Because Black's d pawn is backward, it is not as easy for Black to make his c and d pawns count by advancing them. Instead of 13...d5, 13...Kh8 unpins the f7 pawn so as to be able to play ..f6, exchange the f pawn for the e pawn and then turn the c and d pawns into a mobile pawn centre. However White's advantage in development may give him more long before this eg Nd5 and Nxe7 gains the bishop pair - if White is content with no more.

Jun-24-07		euripides: <After 11 Qxd4 White has a Q on d4. > There's no arguing with that.

Jun-25-07		Shajmaty: <euripides: <After 11 Qxd4 White has a Q on d4. > There's no arguing with that.> LOL, LOL!!!

Jun-25-07		Shajmaty: Is 15...Nb5 a novelty by Lékó? Or was it just a mistake (intending to play the more usual 15...Bf6; 16. Nc3, Nb5)?

Jun-25-07		stagnation genius: I typed up a reply but ran into 'account activation', and after all that my post didn't show up. Thank you, chessgames. Something to add to the suggestion box. Anyway, basically we won't know until Leko comments on it himself, but I doubt he got himself into such an unusual position without knowing what he was doing.

Jun-25-07		stagnation genius: Do you suppose Carlsen avoided 8. c3 fearing what Leko might have left over from Brisago after ...d5?

Jun-25-07		stagnation genius: Then again, the Marshall is pretty heavily analysed, and doesn't really feel like the kind of thing Carlsen would go in to.

Jun-26-07		rogl: There is a nice video of Carlsen and Leko doing a post mortem of this game at http://www.chessvibes.com/. Other stuff on this tourney can be found there as well.

Jun-26-07		Knight13: Since 8. d4 gives black trouble maybe it should be used at top levels... Just mabye.

Jun-27-07		whiteshark: Footage of the Carlsen-Leko post-mortem. Direct link: http://www.chessvibes.com/?p=979&lp... Scroll down.

Jun-27-07		achieve: <Carlsen-Leko post-mortem.> Thank you both for posting that. Leko looked very passionate in the way he talked and analysed - I expected him to be a more 'quiet' person but was pleasantly surprised after watching that clip. (A nice lengthy one as well)

Feb-27-09		WhiteRook48: "Say hello to the Queen and Rook"

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