© Provided by The Philippine Star
Not unexpectedly, Magnus Carlsen ran away with the top prize at the Norway Tournament Classic (Cat. 21). Magnus, 25, scored 6.0 points (four wins, four draws and one loss) in the 10-man field that included two former world champions and the reigning world champion. It was Carlsen’s second consecutive major plum this year, having won earlier the prestigious Wijk aan Zee super tourney in the Netherlands.
The world champion suffered a lone defeat from Armenian star Levon Aronian, who finished second with 5.5. Tied for third-fifth were Frenchman Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and former world champions Vaselin Topalov of Bulgaria and Vladimir Kramnik of Russia, one point off the pace. Other scores were China’s Li Chao and Pentala Harikrishna of India at 4.5 apiece, Dutch GM Anish Giri with 4.0, Ukrainian Pavel Eljanov, 3.0 and Norwegian Nils Grandelius, 2.5.
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The world champion has often shown his skill in difficult endgame positions. Nothing pleases him more than squeezing out a win from a microscopic advantage. Here despite the level material, Kramnik gets zugzwanged to defeat.
2016 Norway Classic
W) M. Carlsen (NOR)
B) V. Kramnik (RUS)
Queen’s Gambit Declined
1. d4 d5
2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. cxd5 exd5
5. Bg5 c6
The Exchange Variation, in which White has a center pawn majority, while Black enjoys a majority on the Queenside.
6. e3 ...
Standard here is 6. Qc2. which prevents an early development of Black’s light-colored bishop. The move is played purely for surprise value.
6... Bf5
By exchanging on d5, Black has no problem developing this piece unlike in other lines of the QGD. The only snag in this variant, however, is the doubled pawn weakness which may cause Black problems in the ensuing endgame. Avoiding this with 6...Nbd7 may be preferable.
7. Qf3 Bg6
8. Bxf6 Qxf6
9. Qxf6 gxf6
10. Nf3 Nd7
11. Nh4 Be7
After 11...Bb4 12. Rc1 Nb6 13. a3 Bxc3ch 14. Rxc3, White is slightly better. Carlsen-Azmaiparashvili, WCC 2005.
12. Ne2!? ...
A novelty. Usual here is 12. g3 and after Nb6 13. f3 a5 the game is probably equal, Van Wely- Short, Wijk aan Zee 2005.
12... Nb6
13. Ng3 Bb4ch
14. Kd1 Na4
Seems a tempo-losing move. Better is 14...Nc4.
15. Ngf5!? Kd7
Obviously 15...Nxb2ch?! is met by 16. Kc2 Nc4 17. Bxc4 dxc4 18. Rhb1 and White has a clear advantage.
16. Rb1 Ke6
17. Bd3 Rhc8
18. Ke2 Bf8
19. g4 c5
20. Ng2 cxd4
21. exd4 Bd6
22. h4 h5
This loses a pawn, but there’s nothing better. For instance 22...Rh8 23. Rhe1 Bxf5 24. Bxf5ch Ke7 25. b3 Nb6 26. Kf3ch Kf8 27. Nf4 Re8 28. Nh5, and White is winning. From hereon Black’s game is in the toils.
23. Ng7ch Ke7
24. gxh5 Bxd3ch
25. Kxd3 Kd7
26. Ne3 Nb6
27. Ng4 Rh8
28. Rhe1 Be7
29. Nf5 Bd8
30. h6 Rc8
31. b3 Rc6
32. Nge3 Bc7
33. Rbc1 Rxc1
34. Rxc1 Bf4
35. Rc5 Ke6
Also hopeless is 35...Bxh6 36. Nxd5 Nxd5 37. Rxd5ch Kc7 38. Rd6, etc.
36. Ng7ch Kd6
37. Ng4 Nd7
38. Rc2 f5
Or 38...Ke7 39. Re2ch Kd8 40. Nf5ch and White should win if he plays his cards carefully.
39. Nxf5ch Ke6
40. Ng7ch Kd6
41. Re2 ...
We draw the curtains here as White’s two-pawn advantage is decisive.
41... Kc6
42. Re8 Rxe8
43. Nxe8 Nf8
44. Ne5ch Bxe5
45. dxe5 Kd7
46. Nf6ch Ke6
47. h5 Kxe5?
48. Nd7ch Nxd7
49. h7 Nc5ch
50. Ke2 1:0
Solution to last week’s puzzle:
Black to play and win.
White=Ke2, Ba1
Black=Kc2, Nd3, Pa2
1... Nc5
If 1...Nb2? 2. Ke1 Kb1 3. Kd2 Kxa1 4. Kc1 Nc4 5. Kc2 and draw as the White King cannot be driven away from c1 and c2 squares.
2. Ke1 ...
If 2. Bf6 Na4 3. Ba1 Kc1! or 2. Ke3 Kb1 3. Be5 (3. Kd2 Nb3!) Na4 4. Kd2 Nb2 and wins.
2... Kb1
3. Kd1 Nd3
4. Kd2 Nb2
and wins.