Sergey Karjakin vs Magnus Carlsen (2018)

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Sergey Karjakin vs Magnus Carlsen
Tata Steel Masters (2018), Wijk aan Zee NED, rd 13, Jan-28
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

FEN COPIED

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< Earlier Kibitzing · PAGE 2 OF 2 · Later Kibitzing>
Jan-28-18		Penguincw: (grr, gotta retype my whole comment) < Classical games: Magnus Carlsen beat Sergey Karjakin 7 to 2, with 28 draws. > When Karjakin has white, he's +0,-2,=17. Ah, nice matchup. Last round of the last major tournament 'til the Candidates, and we have a rematch of the last World Championship match. Karjakin (+2) and Carlsen are one of 3 undefeated players in the tournament, the other being co-leader Giri. Giri has black vs. Wei Yi (-2). Mamedyarov is just half a point back, but has white vs. Anand (+3). I can see Carlsen and Giri getting quick draws and then squaring off in the rapid/blitz tiebreaks (Mamedyarov could also, but probably won't, join them). Or maybe not... (on a minor note, if Karjakin beats Carlsen here, he will be the 13th player to beat the reigning champ in a non-WCC rematch (see Game Collection: Consolation Prize for more info)

Jan-28-18		Richard Taylor: I'm watching for now as, paradoxically, the time change means it is not quite too late -- but nearly 12.30 p.m. here (NZ) I suspect the others are waking up...or something.

Jan-28-18		Ulhumbrus: In the position after 13...Bc5 if the c pawns were removed from the board Black's entire queenside might be called a weakness owing to the pawns on b4 and a5 as in the game Petrosian vs Unzicker, 1960. However the c pawns are still on the board and this may make it easier for Black and more difficult for White.

Jan-28-18		Richard Taylor: Almost every move, esp. with a pawn creates a weakness. The pawns there arise as a response to the anti-Marshall a4. In the ending it also depends where the Kings are. In any case the gods have placed the Middle Game...

Jan-28-18		ChessHigherCat: Two sets of bishops of opposite colors and they haven't agreed to a draw yet?

Jan-28-18		HeMateMe: Carlsen seems to be up a tempo here. Grab the d file.

Jan-28-18		JPi: Still in draw zone, yet Black has a more pleasant position.

Jan-28-18		moronovich: Big decission.Ng5 or Ree1 ?

Jan-28-18		ChessHigherCat: Ng4 was a magnusiphant intermezzo. With the rook off the third rank, bxc3 isolates the c pawn and lets black gain a tempo by attacking the bishop

Jan-28-18		JPi: On 20.Ree1 bxc 21.bxc Rab8 all black pieces are more active than white. Else 20.Ng5 NxR 21.Bxf7+ kf8 22.BxR RxB 23.fxN is B vs N in open position.

Jan-28-18		moronovich: Meanwhile:Shak-Anand seems to be heading for a draw.Giri has euaqalized,but the moves are not that easy to find.Anything can happen here.

Jan-28-18		ChessHigherCat: But Moronovich is right, Ng5!

Jan-28-18		morfishine: <23...h6> followed by <24...bxc3> and White's pawns are fragmented

Jan-28-18		morfishine: <25...Bd3> and its time for happy hour

Jan-28-18		ChessHigherCat: Lots of juicy isolated white pawns for the bishop. Bb7 and Bc6 and he's attacking two of the mofos

Jan-28-18		ChessHigherCat: Bxf3 and Re7 maintains equality but looks kind of drawish

Jan-28-18		JPi: Bishop is worth than a knight here.

Jan-28-18		HeMateMe: karjakin is in trouble after losing that a file pawn.

Jan-28-18		Ulhumbrus: If other things are equal Carlsen has the superior minor piece and Karjakin may have to struggle to draw the game.

Jan-28-18		ChessHigherCat: That's true, but now after Bxa4 Nxa5 there will be fewer players on the field. Sorry JPi, you saw Ng5, too (retroactive credit is granted)

Jan-28-18		Ulhumbrus: If Carlsen does not try to test Karjakin's technique because he thinks highly enough of it, that counts as a high compliment to Karjakin on the part of Carlsen.

Jan-28-18		Richard Taylor: <JPi: On 20.Ree1 bxc 21.bxc Rab8 all black pieces are more active than white. Else 20.Ng5 NxR 21.Bxf7+ kf8 22.BxR RxB 23.fxN is B vs N in open position.> Well summarized. It's hard to calculate those sequences in an actual game I always feel that "something will go wrong" during an actual game. Earlier I saw that Karjakin had forseen that 16...Bxe2 17. Bxe7 Rfe8 18. Bxf6 Bxf3 loses material. Not difficult (for a strong player or someone who isn't prone to my "paranoic-philosophic hallucinations" such as "the laws of the Universe* might change, there is nothing to say they cant between the beginning of the sequence and its 'end'") but essential to get right. The point being that the R on f8 is attacked on move 17. *The Universe I know for many here means the chessboard itself but there is a real world if you look up from it.

Jan-28-18		Richard Taylor: I suppose the tactical point, not deep but "obvious" is in this: 16...Bxe2 17. Bxe7 Rfe8 18. Rxe2 Rxe7... "Obvious" but the kind of thing easy to get wrong. Of course not for strong chess players and elementary for masters and other boffins. Still the mind / brain somehow has to process that. Amazing it can be done.

Jan-28-18		Richard Taylor: I don't think the B was significantly better at the end. I wonder if 19. h3 was better. 19. h3 h6 20. c3 bxc3 21. Rxc3 Rac8 22. Re1 Red8 23. Rc5... I suppose after 19. h3 c5 is annoying.

Jan-28-18		chancho: Karjakin did not lose a single game in this event. <+2 -0 =11> I suspect he badly wants another shot at Carlsen's title in November, and the candidates are (for him) most imperative at achieving that aim.

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