chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Fabiano Caruana vs Magnus Carlsen
Carlsen - Caruana World Championship Match (2018), London ENG, rd 1, Nov-09
Sicilian Defense: Nezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack. Fianchetto Variation (B31)  ·  1/2-1/2

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

explore this opening
find similar games 159 more Caruana/Carlsen games
PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: Games that have been used in game collections will have a section at the bottom which shows collections which include it. For more information, see "What are Game Collections?" on our Help Page.

PGN Viewer:  What is this?
For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.
PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

A COMPUTER ANNOTATED SCORE OF THIS GAME IS AVAILABLE.  [CLICK HERE]

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 28 OF 28 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Nov-10-18  Ulhumbrus: It may be that 14...g5!! is Carlsen's move which improves on theory based on computer analysis and which avoids both Bxh6 and Bg5 after ...h5. Black pays less for it as he is going to castle on the queen side and when Caruana tries to occupy f5 by 18 Nh5 intending Ng3 Carlsen prevents it by 18...Be5!

This suggests that opening theory up to this game as well as the the computer analysis may have not included the move ...g5 and that Carlsen added his own thought to the computer analysis.

Nov-10-18
Premium Chessgames Member
  Dionysius1: Can someone tell me the evidence for this being a completely won game please? I've run through a lot of the positions with SF and not come across one better than -1.00

Cheers

Nov-10-18  lentil: <Offramp> You are correct that 40. ... Qg1 cramps white after 41. Nf1, but then what? Black is also boxed. Is ... Rg3 possible? I (B player on a good day) wouldn't like that position. <Dennis> On Chessbomb, Stockfish had evaluations of ~-2.5 after move 34, but maybe your version looks deeper.
Nov-10-18
Premium Chessgames Member
  OhioChessFan: Dion, Black's failure to play 38...Rg3 is the point most people cite.
Nov-10-18
Premium Chessgames Member
  Dionysius1: Ah, goodness, yes indeed. Thanks for the help <OhioChessFan>
Nov-10-18
Premium Chessgames Member
  MissScarlett: Spare a thought for our very own <Ray Keene>. Seven hours intently studying the game in the VIP lounge, then, no doubt, up all night further analysing it 'to the bone' for his forthcoming 'instant' match book. A few snatched hours sleep, and he's off again...
Nov-10-18
Premium Chessgames Member
  Penguincw: Video analysis of this game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWP....
Nov-10-18
Premium Chessgames Member
  Gypsy: <... Carlsen played 40...Bxc3, but 40...Qg1 would have cramped White right up.> Of course, the <40...Qg1 41.Nf1...> would have just re-establish the position that had already been on the board a few moves earlier.

But the point is this: While the <Qg1-g7 & Bxc3> maneuver of Black seems to be the correct way to make progress, it needs a bit more (tactical) preparation. Consider the following two positions. First position is the one that appeared in the game,


click for larger view

The second position (or a similar one) would have arised from the approach suggested by Stockfish (White can not really free himself in the meantime),


click for larger view

In the second position, Black has grabbed a bit more space of the Q-side and established a more menacing position. But the key difference is tactical. In the game, White was able to play (numbering from the position itself)

<1.Qxf4 Bd4 2.Qf7+ Ka6 3.QxQ RxQ 4.Re2...> and draw the game.

While White position is still inferior, it is probably fully drawn in the theoretical sense. But in the second position, Black king is not exposed on the seventh rank, and White can not force the trade of queens. White position thus collapses as the White K is far too open to survive it all if the Q's stay on board.

Nov-10-18  Saniyat24: Superman vs Spiderman...!
Nov-10-18  cormier:


click for larger view

Analysis by Houdini 4: d 22 dpa done

1. = / + (-0.44): 18.Nxd7 Qxd7 19.a4 a5 20.Ne2 Be5 21.Qe1 Bc7 22.Rf3 Qd6 23.Ng3 Kb7 24.R1f2 Rhg8 25.Qc1 Rde8 26.b3 Qe5 27.Qe1 h5 28.Bd2 h4 29.Bc3 Qd6 30.e5

2. = / + (-0.68): 18.Ng4 Kb7 19.b3 Qc7 20.Nh2 Be5 21.Nf3 Bg3 22.Re2 Ne5 23.Nxe5 Bxe5 24.Ref2 Bh2+ 25.Kh1 Bg3 26.Rf3 Be5 27.a4 a5 28.Ne2 Rhe8 29.Kg1 Rd7 30.R3f2 Qd6 31.Rf3

<3. - / + (-0.77): 18.Nh5> Be5 19.a4 a5 20.Nb1 Rhe8 21.g4 f5 22.gxf5 Bf7 23.Qe2 Bxb2 24.Kg2 Kb7 25.Nd2 Ne5 26.Ng7 Rf8 27.Rb1 Bc3 28.f6 Ka7 29.Rbf1 Bg6 30.Nb1 Bb4 31.Bd2 c4 32.Bxb4 axb4 33.dxc4 Qd4 34.Nd2

Nov-10-18  cormier:


click for larger view

Analysis by Houdini 4:d 24 dpa done ..... no 17.Nf6 yet

1. = (-0.22): 17.a4 Nd7 18.a5 Kb7 19.Ra1 Rhg8 20.Qe2 Rgf8 21.Raf1 Rde8 22.e5 Bxg4 23.Qxg4 Qe7 24.Ne4 Bxe5 25.Qh5 f6 26.c4 f5 27.Rxf5 Rxf5 28.Rxf5 Rf8 29.Rxf8 Qxf8 30.Qg4 Qf7 31.Qe2 Qe6 32.axb6

2. = (-0.24): 17.e5 Bxe5 18.Ne4 Qc7 19.Nxe5 Qxe5 20.Qe1 Qc7 21.Bd2 Nd7 22.a4 c4 23.Bb4 c5 24.Bc3 Rhg8 25.Rd2 g4 26.hxg4 Ne5 27.Nd6+ Qxd6 28.Bxe5 Qc6 29.Bf6 Rd7 30.dxc4 Rxg4 31.b3

3. = / + (-0.34): 17.Qe2 Ng6 18.Nf6 Kb7 19.a4 a5 20.Nd1 Nf8 21.b3 Nd7 22.Nh5 Be5 23.Bd2 Rhg8 24.Ne3 Bd4 25.Kh1 Qc7 26.Kg1 Qe5 27.Nf6 Nxf6 28.Rxf6 Rg6 29.R6f2 g4 30.hxg4 Rdg8 31.Rxf7+ Bxf7

Nov-10-18  Ulhumbrus: It may be that 15 Raf1? is an error. The move 14...g5! which avoids both Bxh6 and Bg5 does weaken further the king side and while it declares that Black intends to castle on the queesn side it also commits Black more to doing that. In that case the move Raf1 loses time towards a queen side attack by eg the pawn attack a4 and a5.

This suggests that the right reply to 14...g5 is to start to prepare a queen side attack without delay by eg 15 a4 or 15 a3 or even 15 Rf2-f1 followed by Rf1-b1.

A similar stratagem might have been advisable for Black in the games Steinitz vs Chigorin, 1892 (kibitz #150) and Capablanca vs C H Alexander, 1936 (kibitz #12)

Nov-10-18  cormier:


click for larger view

Analysis by Houdini 4: d 23 dpa

<1. = (0.00): 15.a4> Ng6 16.a5 0-0 17.Raf1 Qd6 18.Qe2 Bd4 19.Nf3 Bg7 20.Nh2 Bd4

2. = (-0.13): 15.Ng4 Bxg4 16.hxg4 Ng6 17.Raf1 0-0 18.Qd1 Qd7 19.g3 Bd4 20.Bxd4 cxd4 21.Nb1 Ne5 22.Rf5 Rae8 23.Nd2 f6 24.Kg2 Qd6 25.Qe2 a5 26.a3 a4 27.Rh1 Kg7 28.Rff1 Rf7 29.Rh5 b5

Nov-11-18  Christoforus Polacco: I can't find Peter Swidler's analysis made after game... :(
Nov-11-18  jabinjikanza: What a game brilliance after brilliance
Nov-11-18  Alichuk: I think magnus will win by 1 win or draw all clasicsl games
Nov-11-18
Premium Chessgames Member
  Clement Fraud: With his superior center and greater development, it does seen odd that white should've found himself under all the pressure that he did in this game. I can only conclude that white's anti Sicilian capture of the Knight (4.Bxc6) made too much of a concession: In this game white really needed his light squared Bishop; without said Bishop, white was unable to exploit the weaknesses created by moves like 3... g6 and 8... e5 from black.

If Caruana is to repeat the Nezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack tomorrow, then he needs to prepare variations that don't swap Bishop for Knight.

Nov-12-18  Albion 1959: Phew, what a marathon !! Usually the first game of a World Championship ends in a quick draw, followed by the next one. It can take up about four games before the players really start to push themselves. If this is the shape of things to come, then let's have more. Good to see that they are going to try and squeeze the position and push hard for a win, rather than coast along on a steady diet of short draws !
Nov-18-18  jdc2: I had cutechess play a 10 game gauntlet between 6 different Stockfish versions from white's 33.Ke2, 10sec + 0.1 sec. Black won all 10 games. The most common continuation was 33...Qg5 34. Qf2 h5 35. Nh2 Qg7 36. Nf3 Qb2 37. Qe1 Qxc2+ 38. Qd2 Qxd2+ 39. Nxd2 Rg2+ 40. Rf2 Rg3 41. Nf3 b5 42. Rf1 Rxh3 43. Rc1 Bb6 44. a4 Rg3


click for larger view

Shortest game was 79 moves, longest 105, so it wasn't easy.

Nov-27-18  cehertan: I’ve yet to discern what happens on 35...Qe5 instead of 35...Qg1. The simple idea is the dual threat 36...Rg3 or 36...Qb2. Anyone have an engine handy? I thought it looked good during the game, especially after Carlsen’s move ran into the star defensive shot 36.Nf1.
Nov-28-18  cehertan: Stockfish seems to like my suggestion 35...Qe5.
Dec-10-18  technical win: But there were quite a few more criteria to fulfill in order to win in the technical evaluation process.
Dec-18-18  talwnbe4: 34.. Qe5 or 35.. Qe5 or 35.. Qg1 or 35.. b5 would have won..

34.. Qe5 35. Rb1 Rg3 threatening Re3 and Caruana is all tied up.. so he has to lose the a-pawn when it's till all tied up. 34.. Qe5 35.Qf2 Qg8 threatening to win the queen or 34..Qe5 35. Ng4 Qb2 and the a-pawn is gone and Rg3 is still threatened.

35..Qe5 36. Rg2 Rxg2+ 37. Qxg2 Qb2 38. Nf3 Qxc2+ 39. Nd2 Qxa2 -+

or 35..Qg1 36. Nf1 Qg7 37. Nd2 Kb7 38. Qh1 Qb2 -+

35..b5 36. Qh1 c4 37. d4 Qg6 38. h4 Re8 39. Kf1 Rxe4 -+ 3.0

Dec-18-18  talwnbe4: 36..Qg7 37. Kd2 b5 -+
Sep-04-21  DouglasGomes: Totally busted for White here (40... Qg1)
SF20210904:
<-6.06 d41> 40...Qg1 41.Nf1 b5 42.Rd2 b4 43.d4 bxc3 44.Kxc3 cxd4+ 45.Kc2 a5 46.Rd1 Rg2+ 47.Rd2 Rg5 48.Kd3 Rg8 49.Rc2 Qg5 50.Rc4 Qe7 51.Qh1 Qe6 52.Rc2 a4 53.b4 Bd6 54.Rc4 Qe5 55.Qh2 Qb5 56.Qf2 Bc7 57.Qf3 Rg1 58.Qf2 Qh5 59.Rc1 Rg8 60.Qe2 [you may examine other moves, nothing is saving White] Qxe2+ 61.Kxe2 Rg2+ 62.Kd3 f3 63.Rc2 Bf4 64.e5 Bxe5 65.Nd2


click for larger view

Jump to page #    (enter # from 1 to 28)
search thread:   
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 28 OF 28 ·  Later Kibitzing>

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific game only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

This game is type: CLASSICAL. Please report incorrect or missing information by submitting a correction slip to help us improve the quality of our content.

Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC