| Mar-20-20 | | Sergash: Kjetil Aleksander Lie was born on November 18, 1980 in Porsgrunn (Norway) and was 21 years old at the time of the actual game. He became Norway's 8th GM in History and the first to come from Oslo's vicinity. He was Norway's chess champion in 2009 and 2010. He had started playing chess when he was 8 and, in 1994, he became Cadet Champion (age 14-15). He also won Norway's Open Championship in 2000. He earned the IM title in 2002, and the GM title in 2005. For this game, Lie was rated 2388, according to Chessbase. During the 2007 Candidates matches, Lie served as Magnus Carlsen's second, helping him with analysis and preparations. On the other hand, when the actual game was played Magnus Carlsen was 11 years old (as the tournament was held in April and Carlsen was born in November) and was a 5th grader in elementary school. Magnus could have been considered a candidate national master, or a chess Expert at the time, being rated at 2127. <2...e6 3.Ng1-f3> First time this move was played against Carlsen, and also the 2nd most played move in this position. Until then, Carlsen had played against 2...Nb8-c6 3.Ng1-f3 g7-g6 4.Bf1-b5 Bf8-g7 5.0-0 Ng8-f6 6.e4-e5! Nf6-g4 7.Bb5xc6 d7xc6 8.Qd1-e2 0-0 9.d2-d3 Ng4-h6! 10.Nc3-e4 b7-b6 11.Bc1-f4 Nh6-f5 ⩲ Carlsen vs D Wallin, 2002, draw. <3...a7-a6 4.d2-d4 c5xd4> Black refrains from developing a first piece, which doesn't seem in accordance with general principles at first sight, but in this Closed Sicilian, there is no bad consequences. 3...a7-a6 is the 2nd most played move here but, true, the most played move here is the development of a knight : 3...Nb8-c6. Carlsen opens up the centre, being better developed than Lie. <5.Nf3xd4 Qd8-c7 6.Bf1-d3> After 5.Nf3xd4, we are transposed in the game Carlsen vs A Caoili, 2001, draw. This game had continued with 5...b7-b5 6.Bf1-d3 Qd8-b6 7.Bc1-e3 Bf8-c5! 8.Nc3-e2 Ng8-f6 9.0-0 Nf6-g4 10. Be3-d2! =. The Queen move 5...Qd8-c7 is the most played in this position. |
|
| Mar-20-20 | | Sergash: <7.Qd1-f3!?> This is a marginally played move, compared with the obvious 7.0-0 ⩲ (Winawer vs Paulsen, 1881, 1-0), or even 7.Qd1-e2 = / ⩲ as played in Suetin vs Kotov, 1958, 0-1. It seems the played queen move's goal is to discourage Black from playing b7-b5. For instance: 7...b7-b5 8.0-0! (if 8.e4-e5? Qc7xe5+ 9.Bc1-e3! d7-d5 P Ofstad vs B Malich, 1963, 0-1) Bc8-b7! 9.Rf1-e1 ⩲ / ± Igor Zaitsev vs. Antti Pyhala, 4th Heart of Finland Open in Jyvaskyla 1994, 1-0. Also worth mentioning 7...d7-d6 = Rainer Gollnick (1483) vs. Matthias Branshorst (1283), Sparkassen Open in Dortmund (Germany) 2006, section B, round 4, 0-1. <7...Nb8-c6!? 8.Bc1-e3?! Nc6-e5! ⩱> The strongest appears to be 8.Nd4xc6! d7xc6! ⩲ Jonny Hector (2540) vs. Aleksa Strikovich (2485), Aceimar Open in Mondariz (Spain) 1995, 1-0. <9.Qf3-e2> Better is 9.Qf3-g3! Ne5xd3+ 10.c2xd3 Qc7xg3 ▢ 11.h2xg3 Nf6-g4! 12.Nd4-c2! Ng4xe3 13.Nc2xe3 ▢ b7-b5 ⩱ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. <9...Nf6-g4?! 10.Be3-d2!=> Better is 9...b7-b5 ⩱ / ∓ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. 
click for larger view
<10...Bf8-c5! 11.h2-h3 ▢ => Lie was apparently counting on the move 10...Bf8-c5 to gain an edge. <11...Bc5xd4 12.h3xg4 ▢ b7-b5 13.f2-f4!? Ne5-c4 14.Bd3xc4! Qc7xc4 ▢ 15.Qe2xc4 b5xc4 => Also good is 11...Ne5xd3+ 12.c2xd3 ▢ Bc5xd4! 13.h3xg4= or 1.Qe2xg4= Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. |
|
| Mar-22-20 | | Sergash: <16.Nc3-d1?! Bc8-b7 17.Bd2-c3 Bd4-c5 18.Rh1-h5! ⩱ / ∓> It is obvious that Bc8-b7 is about to be played, putting the e4 pawn and, to a lesser extent, the g2 pawn at risk because of the possible Bd4xc3. Moreover, the white King is in a difficult position, with e3 and f2 controlled by the black bishop on d4. Despite having 2 open files vs. 1 (d and h vs. b), Black appears to have a small edge here with the 2 bishops. One could think of 
click for larger viewA) 16.Ke1-e2!? Bc8-b7 and now not 17.Ke2-f3?! as I thought because of 17..f7-f5 (17...0-0 ⩱ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT) 18.g4xf5 e6xf5 ⩱, but 17.Ra1-d1 f7-f6 ⩱ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. B) Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT comes with 16.0-0-0 Bc8-b7 17.Rh1-e1 ⩱ (also 17.Rh1-h5!? h7-h6! = / ⩱). C) The "best" move could be 16.g4-g5 Bc8-b7 17.Rh1-h5! =/ ⩱ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. White's slight disadvantage could come from the move 13.f2-f4?!; instead, it could be better to play something else, like 13.a2-a4 = Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. <18...Ra8-c8?! 19.Nd1-f2! Bc5xf2+ 20.Ke1xf2 Bb7xe4 ⩱> My first idea here, which is also favored by the computer, was 18...d7-d6! after which Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT gives 19.Nd1-f2! Bc5xf2+ 20.Ke1xf2 Bb7xe4 21.Ra1-d1 d6-d5! 22.Rh5-g5! Be4xc2 23.Rd1-h1! 0-0-0 ⩱ / ∓ <21.f4-f5?!> Carlsen missed 21.Rh5-g5! Rh8-g8 (21...Be4xc2 22.Rg5xg7 d7-d6 ⩱ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT) 22.Rg5xg7 Rg8xg7 23.Bc3xg7 Be4xc2 ⩱ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. <21...e6xf5?!> Two moves seem better than this pawn trade : A) 21...Rh8-g8! 22.Rh5xh7 f7-f6! 23.Ra1-h1! e6-e5 ∓ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. B) 21...0-0 22.Ra1-h1 f7-f6! 23.Rh5xh7 e6-e5! ⩱ / ∓ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. <22.Ra1-e1?! d7-d5! ∓> Again, 22.Rh5-g5! A) 22...g7-g6! 23.Bc3xh8 h7-h6 ▢ 24.Rg5xf5 g6xf5 ▢ 25.g4xf5 (also 25.Ra1-e1 d7-d5
26.g4xf5 ⩱ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT) Ke8-e7 (or 25...Be4xf5 ⩱ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT) 26.Ra1-e1! d7-d5 ▢ 27.Bh8-d4 ⩱ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. B) 22...h7-h6 23.Rg5xg7 Rc8-c6 = Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. C) 22...Rc8-c6 23.Rg5xg7 Rh8-f8= or 23...h7-h6 transposing in B) 22...h7-h6. Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. |
|
| Mar-23-20 | | Sergash: <23.Bc3xg7?! Rh8-g8 ∓> Better are are: A) 23.Re1-e2 ∓ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. B) 23.g4xf5 f7-f6 ∓ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. C) 23.Rh5-g5 Rh8-g8! 24.Rg5xf5 (Δ Rf5xd5) Rc8-d8 ▢ 25.Rf5-e5+ Ke8-d7 ▢ (of course not 25...Ke8-f8?? 26.Bc3-b4! Rd8-d6 27.Bb4xd6 #) 26.Re1-d1 (Δ Re5xe4) Rd8-e8 27.Re5xe8 Kd7-e8 ∓ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. <24.Bg7-c3 Rg8xg4 ∓> Interesting is here 24.Rh5xh7 f5xg4 25.Bg7-d4 g4-g3+! 26.Kf2-f1 ∓ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. <25.g2-g3 f5-f4! 26.g3xf4 Rg4xf4+ 27.Kf2-e3 ∓> The move I would have played too, but there is also 25.Rh5xf5!? Rg4xg2+ 26.Kf2-f1 ▢ Rg2-g4! 27.Rf5xd5 Rg4-f4+! 28.Kf1-g1 ▢ f7-f5 ▢ 29.Rd5-d2 ∓ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. <27...Rf4-g4 28.Re1-f1 Rc8-c6 ∓> Lie misses 27...Rf4-f3+! 28.Ke3-d2 Ke8-d7 ∓ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. <29.Rh5-e5?! Rc6-e6 30.Rf1-f4 Rg4-g2! -+> A mistake in already very difficult position. Necessary is here 29.Rf1-f2! ∓ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. <31.Rf4-f6 Ke8-e7! -+> Better is 31.Ke3-d4 Rg2xc2 32.Re5-g5 -+ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. <32.Rf6-f4?!> 32.Rf6-h6 -+ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. <32...Rg2xc2 33.Ke3-d4 -+> Obvious move, but there was a stronger one : 32...Ke7-d6! 33.Re5xe6+ f7xe6 ▢ -+ |
|
| Mar-25-20 | | Sergash: <33...Re6xe5 34.Kd4xe5 -> Being 3 pawns up, it is very logical to trade pieces. Still, again better is 33...Ke7-d6 -+ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. <34...Rc2-e2 35.Bc3-b4+! Ke7-e8 36.Bb4-c3 -+> The kid is trying to hold! Better is simply 34...h7-h5 -+ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. <36...Re2-g2 -+> 36...Be4-g2+! 37.Ke5-d6 (37.Ke5-d4 Re2-e6 -+ avoiding the entry in an opposite bishops ending with 37...Re2-e4+... Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT) Re2-e6+ 38.Kd6-c5 Bg2-e4 -+ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. <37.Ke5-d6 Rg2-g6+ 38.Kd6-e5 Rg6-e6+ 39.Ke5-d4 -+> There is also 37.Rf4-f6 Rg2-g5+ (or 37...Rg2-g6 -+ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT) 38.Ke5-d4 (or 38.Ke5-f4 Rg5-g6 ▢ 39.Kf4-e5 h7-h5! -+ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT) Rg5-g6 ▢ 39.Rf6xg6 f7xg6! -+ with bishops of opposite colors but Black is winning according to Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. <39...h7-h5 40.Rf4-h4 -+> 39...f7-f6! -+ Δ Ke8-f7. Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. <40...Be4-f3 41.Kd4-c5 -+> The bishop move makes possible Re6-e4+, forcing a rook trade. This might explain Carlsen's king move. 40...Re6-h6! -+ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. <41...Ke8-e7> 41...Re6-e4! -+ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. <42.Rh4-f4 Bf3-e4 43.Rf4-h4 Re6-h6 -+> Possibly better is 42.Rh4-h3 Bf3-g4 43.Rh3-h4 -+ or 43.Rh3-h2 -+ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. <44.a2-a4 Ke7-e6! 45.a4-a5 Ke6-f5! 46.Bc3-d2! Rh6-h8 -+> Maybe more resilient is 44.Bc3-d2 Rh6-h8! 45.Bd2-c3 -+ etc. Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. <47.Kc5-b6? Rh8-b8+! 48.Kb6xa6 Rb8xb2! 49.Rh4xh5+ Kf5-g4! 50.Rh5-g5+ Kg4-f3! 51.Bd2-c3 Rb2-b3 52.Bc3-e5 -+> Without the game move, the computer gives Black an advantage of over the value of a free rook, and even more than a full queen after the played move. It is understandable that Carlsen, maybe short on time, decides to get his own passed pawn. But if White wants to keep playing here, there is 47. Kc5-d4 -+ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. |
|
| Mar-25-20 | | Sergash: <52...Kf3-e2> The best move here is 52...Be4-d3! -+ Stockfish 11 - 64 bits POPCNT. <53.Rg5-g3 Rb3xg3 54.Be5xg3 d5-d4 55.Ka6-b5 d4-d3 0-1> Carlsen finally decides to go for an opposite color bishop's ending, though it will make no difference here. This game is not Magnus best. But it was his 3rd game is three days, against stronger and more experienced players. Still, before the actual game Calsen was 1 win and 1 loss. What is notable in this game is that both players made a mistake before move 10. Carlsen could have gotten in trouble because of 8.Bc1-e3?!, while Lie missed getting a good advantage with Black when he played 9...Nf6-g4?!. After that, what made Magnus Carlsen's game difficult was 12.f2-f4, and 16.Nc3-d1?!, after which Lie maintained a solid advantage throughout the game. This game became winning for Black after move 29.Rh5-e5+?! This game took place on April 13, 2002 and it is interesting to note that Magnus Carlsen was rated 2127 at the beginning of this year, and 2250 at the end of the year! |
|
|
|
|
Kibitzing
Annotations by 
