Reply #5: Carlsen - Ivanchuk, Amber Blindfold, Round 1, Monaco

[Jack Rabbit]

Vassily Ivanchuk
Photo: Chess Theory

Loek van Wely vs. Vassily Ivanchuk
Melody Amber Blindfold, Round 1
Monaco, March 2007

Anglo-Indian Game: Nimzo-English Opening

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4 4. Qc2 0-0 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 7. e3 Bb7 8. Be2 d6

• This is a fairly recent opening and there is not yet a lot of theory attached to it.
• 8. -- c5 9. b4 d6 10. Bb2 Nbd7 11. 0-0 Qe7 12. d4 Rfc8 13. dxc5 dxc5 14. Rfd1 Ne8 15. b5 f6 16. a4 a5 17. bxa6 Rxa6 18. a5 Rca8 is level (Kramnik-Karpov, Eurotel Trophy, Prague 2002).

9. 0-0 a5!?

• Black breaks new ground early.
• 9. -- Nbd7 10. b4 c5 11. Bb2 Qe7 12. d4 Rfc8 13. Rfd1 a5 14. Qb3 Ra7 15. Nd2 Rca8 16. f3 axb4 17. axb4 is equal (Grischuk-Leko, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee 2005).

10. b3!?

• White choses to fortify his c-pawn, but a good way to answer a premature demonstration on a wing is to counter in the center.
• White stands better after 10. d4 d5 11. Nd2 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Qd7 13. f3 b5 14. Ba2.

10. -- Nbd7 11. Bb2 Qe7 12. d4 Ne4 13. Qc2

• The position is unclear. White has more space with a fortified pawn duo at c4 and d4, but the center is unresolved and Black has strong centralized Knight.
• 13. Qd3 f5 14. Nd2 Nxd2 15. Qxd2 Qg5 16. f3 is unclear.

13. -- f5 14. Ne1?!

• White redeploys his Knight. It had little future at f3, but it was a defensive asset at this post.
• Better is 14. Rad1 e5 15. Nd2 exd4 16. exd4 Rae8 17. Rde1 Qg5 18. Nf3 Qh6 with equality.

14. -- Qg5 15. Qc1 Rf6!?

• Black makes a risky move clearly aiming for a kingside attack.
• 15. -- Rae8 16. Qc2 e5 17. Nf3 Qg6 18. d5 Ndf6 is unclear and not very promising; White's Bishope pair counts for little with the center locked.

16. f3 Qh5 17. g4?

• White allows Black to open the kingside with devastated effect.
• Correct is 17. Bd1 Rh6 18. fxe4 Qxh2+ 19. Kf2 Bxe4 20. Nf3 when:
• 20. -- Qh5 21. Qd2 Nf6 22. Ke1 gives White more space on the queenside.
• After 20. -- Bxf3!? 21. Bxf3 Qh4+ 22. Ke2 White can successfully challange Black's command of the h-file.

Black: Vassily Ivanchuk
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White: Loek van Wely
Position after 17. g2g4

17. -- fxg4!!

• This begins a series of four consecutive hard hitting moves that crush White's position. First, Black opens the f-file at the cost of a Knight.

18. fxe4 Rh6!

• Now Black takes full command of the h-file.

19. Rf2 Bxe4!

• Black now has command of the open long diagonal, cutting off the King's escape via g2.

20. Qd2

• 20. Qd1 loses to 20. Rf8 21. Nd3 Rxf2 22. Nxf2 Qxh2+ 23. Kf1 Qg2+ 24. Ke1 Rh2.

20. -- Qh4!!

• Black seals the real deal.
• 20. Qg5 21. Rf2 Rxh2 22. Kxh2 Qh6+ 23. Kg1 Qh1+ 24. Kf2 Qh4+ 25. Kg1 Qh1+ 26. Kf2 Qh4+ 27. Kg1 only draws.
• Compare the following diagram with the previous one.

Black: Vassily Ivanchuk
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White: Loek van Wely
Position after 20. -- Qh5h4

21. Bd3

• After 21. Nf3 Qxf2+ 22. Kxf2 gxf3 23. h4 fxe2 24. Kxe2 Rxh4 Black has a Rook, a minor piece and two pawns for the Queen and all the piece hactivity his his.

21. -- g3 22. Rg2 gxh2+ 23. Kh1

• After 23. Rxh2 Qg3+ 24. Rg2 Bxg2 25. Qxg2 Qxe3+ 26. Qf2 Rh1+ White must either forfeit his Queen or submit to mate on the next move.
• After 23. Kf1 h1Q+ 24. Rg1 Rf8+ 25. Ke2 Qh5+ 26. Nf3 Q5xf3+ 27. Ke1 Qxg1+ Black delivers mate on the next move.

23. -- Rf8 24. Nc2 Rhf6 25. d5

• If 25. Qe2 Bxg2+ 26. Qxg2 Rf2 then:
• White would resign before the end of 27. Qe4 Rf1+ 28. Rxf1 Rxf1+ 29. Bxf1 Qxe4+.
• After 27. Ne1 Rxg2 White loses his Queen.

25. -- e5 26. Qe1

• 26. Qe2 Bxg2+ 27. Qxg2 Rf2 28. Qe4 Rf1+ 29. Rxf1 Rxf1+ 30. Bxf1 Qxe4+ is basically the same as the main line in the last note.

26. -- Bxg2+ 27. Kxg2 h1Q+ 28. 0-1

• After 28. Qxh1 Black mates in two.
• Mh. van Wely resigns.
• Ivanchuk's attack is as pleasing as any by the great combinative masters of bygone eras.