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Magnus Carlsen vs Levon Aronian
World Championship Candidates (2007), Elista RUS, rd 1, Jun-01
Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation. Kasparov Attack (E12)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Given 36 times; par: 75 [what's this?]

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Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 3 OF 3 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Jun-01-07  Ulhumbrus: 6...Nxd5 concedes an advantage in space to White , while 8...Nxc3 not only loses time but strengthens White's centre. It is true that Black does this in the exchange variation of the Grunfeld defence but there too White's centre has to become a target, otherwise it will become a weapon instead. Instead of 11...Qc7, 11...cxd4 12 cxd4 opens the c file, and every opened file is unwelcome to a player trying to attack the King side.Then with the c3 pawn removed from the board, 13...Nc6 attacks the d4 pawn. 13...c4?! removes the pressure on White's centre, although it prepares to advance the Q side. One reason why the move 20 Qe4 gets Black into trouble by forcing ..g6 is that following Bf6, in the event of ..Nd5, White is able to attack this N by Be4! and then by Bxd5 remove the Nd5 guarding f6. This makes Qh6 followed by Qg7 a threat then, and Black's attempt to avoid the threat of Qh6 after that gets him a lost ending. Once again the move Bg5! has performed wonderfully against a King side, and it suggests the question why. In the present case the Bg5 is able to go to f6 after Qe4 forces ...g6 and then Qh4 supports Bf6. It seems that White's Q has assisted the Bg5 in two ways. First she has prepared the f6 square for the B by inducing ...g6 and then she has supported the B's invasion of this square. So we can answer now the question of why Bg5 has worked so well: because the White Queen assists that White Queen's Bishop on g5 to become a terrible Bishop.
Jun-01-07  Pulse: <Ulhumbrus: 6...Nxd5 concedes an advantage in space to White , while 8...Nxc3 not only loses time but strengthens White's centre.>

This is a popular opening system, though. For example:

Ponomariov vs Karjakin, 2006

Zappa vs Rybka, 2005

Radjabov vs Leko, 2003

Jun-01-07  LivBlockade: I expected 35. Nxg6, but White found a better plan, keeping the Knight, activating the Rook, and creating a strong passed pawn on f7, all of which combined to attack Black's King.
Jun-01-07  sheaf: <The rest of the game is a masterclass of technique from Carlsen.> its hard to tell whether the game after 29.Be6 was played by leko or carlsen. he showed lekovian precision in grinding aronian after winning the pawn. I think even carlsen would be surprised with his technique.
Jun-01-07  sheaf: this is easily the best game of carlsen i have seen so far. even better than his previous win over aronian. Carlsen exposes the weaknesses in aronians repretoire.
Jun-01-07  percyblakeney: This was Carlsen's sixth win against 2740+ opposition since February this year.
Jun-01-07  zapzowie: Pretty amazing stuff from a 16 year old!
Jun-01-07  MaxxLange: 36 f4!! He must have seen the clear win even before he played that.

And I thought he had seen a forced draw - look at that c-pawn after this brilliant sacrifice. I was terrified of it, but Magnus showed that Black's threats were useless.

Jun-02-07  Ulhumbrus: <Pulse: <Ulhumbrus: 6...Nxd5 concedes an advantage in space to White , while 8...Nxc3 not only loses time but strengthens White's centre.> This is a popular opening system, though. For example:>

Ponomariov vs Karjakin, 2006

Zappa vs Rybka, 2005

Radjabov vs Leko, 2003

I have not looked attentively and completely at the three games above, however they all have one thing in common: In all of the three games above, Black played the exchange ...cxd4, thereby opening the c file and removing the c3 pawn supporting White's centre. As I said in my preceding note, every opened file is unwelcome to a player trying to attack the opposing King side.

Jun-02-07  Philidor: Carlsen seems to have found Aronian's weak spot: the Kingside corner! Go young Carlsen! Go!
Jun-02-07  notyetagm: 37 h4-h5! attacks the Black g6-pawn defender (<REMOVE THE GUARD>) of the f5-square in order to play 39 f4-f5! and attack the Black e6-bishop defender (<REMOVE THE GUARD>) of the f7-pawn . So, in effect, Carlsen <REMOVES THE GUARD> with 37 h4-h5! in order to be able to <REMOVE THE GUARD> with 39 f4-f5!. Very ingenius.

Position after 37 h4-h5! attacking Black g6-pawn defender of f5-square


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Position after 39 f4-f5! attacking Black e6-bishop defender of f7-pawn


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Jun-02-07  notyetagm: <KamikazeAttack: Just played this end game again, what a beauty. This kid is dangerous with white. That endgame is a 2770+ stuff. Aro probably didn't realise he was gonna lose . >

No, this endgame is like 3000-level stuff. This is the most imaginative endgame I think I have ever seen. Giving Black that dangerous-looking passed c4-pawn just so he can get in 37 h5! and 39 f5! is just brilliant beyond words.

Carlsen's wins in this game and Game 3 of the match lead me to the conclusion that the others are right when they say that Magnus is going to be the World Champion someday. Maybe sooner rather than later.

I am just awestruck by this game.

Jun-02-07  notyetagm: 37 h4-h5! together with 39 f4-f5! form an incredible double <REMOVAL OF THE GUARD> combination.
Jun-02-07  Pulse: <Ulhumbrus> I suppose that's a good general rule of thumb, but I was just pointing out that it was wrong in criticizing black's 6th and 8th. Still, even with Aronian's mistakes, one had to be attentive and alert, which Carlsen passed without a doubt. :)
Jun-04-07  charms: Speelman claims that 24. Ne5! was an immediate win for White, as Black has nothing to defend against f4, Rf3-h3. He also remarks that 17...b4 is a blunder, as White can simpy take the pawn: 18 axb4 axb4 19. Rxb4! Black can't take as 18... Bxb4 permits Bxh7+. Nevertheless, a great game by Carlsen.
Oct-12-07  computer chess guy: I don't see how 24. ♘e5 is winning. 24 .. bxc3, then if White tries 25. f4, play might go 25 .. ♖b7 26. ♖xb7 ♗xb7 27. ♖f3 ♕d6 28. ♖h3 ♘xf6. If White takes the Knight, then 29 .. ♕xd4+, after which a couple engines I have tried indicate Black can force a draw. Granted, this is a narrow path for Black to escape on, but does White have anything better?
Nov-30-07  spirit: Nice win by Carlsen...but definitely not a candidate for "Game of the Decade"!
Nov-30-07  Xaurus: <spirit>

I believe they referred to this game:

Carlsen vs Aronian, 2007

(Game of the Day May 30th 2007 - Magnus Opus)

Not the one you see on this page.

Dec-13-15  scholes: <notyetagm> highly prescient words.
May-28-16  cormier:


click for larger view

Analysis by Houdini d 30

1. (0.52): 31...Rb3 32.Rxb3 cxb3 33.Rb1 Rb8 34.g4 Bc8 35.Ne5 Rb6 36.f4 h6 37.Rb2 Ba6 38.Nd7 Rd6 39.Nc5 Bc4 40.g5 Rb6 41.Kf2 Rb8 42.Rb1 Kh7 43.Ke3 Re8+ 44.Kf3 Rb8 45.Rb2 Ra8 46.Rb1 Ra3 47.Kg4 Be2+ 48.Kg3 Bc4

2. (0.76): 31...h6 32.Ne5 Ra1 33.Rb8+ Kh7 34.Rbb1 Rxb1 35.Rxb1

May-29-16  cormier:


click for larger view

Analysis by Houdini d 28

1. (0.46): 29...Be6

2. (0.55): 29...g5 30.Nf3 g4 31.Ne5 Be6

Sep-02-17  Dave12: Question: was this a classic time game?
Letting users know these important details in all the games in Chessgames.com may improve this amazing website.
Sep-02-17
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: <dave12> Yes, this was a classical game. Agree that CG should break down the match games between classical, rapid, and blitz.

Candidates Match: Aronian - Carlsen (2007)

It was because of this match that I realized Carlsen was really special. I'm kind of slow on the uptake -- lots of people had figured that out already.

Sep-02-17  Arconax: When you see a 16-year old play such a game, and look at the endgame, then you know there is something special.
Mar-06-18  SpiritedReposte: What a perfect final position for white.
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