M. Carlsen - G. Kamsky
Baku (Round 5), 04/25/2008
Hello, dear friends! It is GM Sergey Shipov who is again on the battle field. I would
like to invite you to watch the 5th round of the Grand Prix Baku 2008. I am trying to vary the players
of the game online. It is not always possible because the attention of the viewers is usually concentrated
on the leaders of this tournament. However, I will try to bring up to your attention the games of every
single player. Finally, we have reached the main hero of the previous years- the young player- Carlsen.
Today we will have a historical game! Kamsky has stopped the advance of the Norwegian player in the semi-final
of the World Cup, but, to my mind, this was only due to the superiority of the experienced player. At
the moment, Magnus is still in good spirits. He will probably try to take a revenge from Gata. The other
games of the 5th round: Cheparinov- Svidler( do we have to expect 5th loss?), Karjakin- Wang Yue, Grischuk-
Adams, Radjabov- Inarkiev, Gashimov- Mamedyarov, Navara- Bacrot.
1.e4
c6 Caro-Kann defense. A very reliable and
solid debut.
2.d4 d5
3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4
Bf5 This is advantage of this debut in comparison
with the French defense- the black pieces quickly solve the problem of the development of lightsquared
bishop. The cost of it is the concession in space.
5.Ng3
Bg6 6.h4 The
development of the bishop is not enough, it is also necessary to save him from the move h4-h5.
6...h6
7.Nf3 Nd7 And
the next attempt to attack on the bishop with the move Nf3-e5 is neutralized.
8.h5
Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 It
is necessary to exchange the bishop.
10.Qxd3 e6 The
black bishop and knights have good prospectives.
11.Bf4 The
white pieces try to take over the position c7 of the black king.
11...Qa5+ A
good attack in return.
12.Bd2
[In case of
12.c3 Ngf6 the
weakness of the pawn on a2 doesn't allow the white pieces to make a long castle.]
12...Bb4 13.c3
Be7 14.c4 The
black queen made its own move.
14...Qc7 The
queen can leave now.
[14...Bb4? 15.Ne4!
Ngf6 16.Nd6+ Ke7
17.c5!]
15.
15...Ngf6 Only
one move is left for the black pieces till the end of allocation of the pieces. This move will determine
the rest of the game! To which side will the black king go?
16.Kb1 A
very beneficial manoeuvre. It is quite interesting that Magnus was thinking so much over this move.
16...
17.Ne4
[Till the beginning of the new millennium this was known as a main position
17.Rhe1 Here
is a new move:
17...a5 18.Bc1
Rfd8 19.Qc2 a4
20.Ne5 Nxe5 21.dxe5
Rxd1 22.Qxd1 Nd7
23.f4 Nc5 24.Ne4 A
very popular continuation. The path for pawn g2 is open. It would be against the laws, but moving the
pawn to g5 would be marvelous! This is a very well-known position.
24...Rd8
25.Qc2 Nxe4 26.Rxe4
Qb6! 27.Qxa4 Qg1
28.Qc2 Rd1 29.Re2
Rf1! and the black pieces received a great
initiative in the game Leko- Ivanchuk, Morelia- Linares, 2008.]
17...Rad8 Gata is arranging his army
with all forces. The main principle- centralization!In addition to it, he pays attention to the rival's
threats and makes a good coordination of his pieces.
[In the game Kombalija- Grigoriants, Tomsk, 2006 the struggle was short
17...c5
18.Nxf6+ Nxf6
19.Bc3 b5!? 20.dxc5
Rfd8 and they rapidly decided to make a
compromise. An interesting beginning but a very dull ending...]]
18.Nxf6+
[A sudden attack
18.g4 doesn't
come yet. The white pieces are not ready to make any decisive actions. This is how the famous world champion
proved it:
18...Nxg4 19.Qe2
Kh8 20.Rdg1 f5!
21.Nc3 Rde8 22.Nh4
Bxh4 23.Rxh4
e5 24.d5 e4! and
the black pieces took over the initiative by saving an extra pawn, Guliyev- Karpov, Corsica 2007]
18...Nxf6 19.g4!? Carslen,
a player from North, takes very decisive actions! This is a novice. So to say, the new formation of the
previously known idea in this kind of situations. In the beginning, the white pieces are sacrifying the
pawn in order to open up the vertical path to the black king. This may sound very illogical, but, I guess,
it is crucial to accept the sacrifice.
[this 19.Qe2 logical
move was usually made; for example:
19...b5
20.g4 bxc4
21.g5 hxg5
22.Bxg5 Rb8
23.Rdg1 Nd5
24.Qxc4 Bxg5
25.Nxg5 Qf4
26.Qc2 Qf5
27.Qxf5 exf5
28.Rc1 Rb6]
19...Nxg4 20.Rhg1 Magnus
is demonstrating efforts comparing to my express-analysis. He also offers a second sacrifice - a pawn
on f2.
[I would propose the following line
20.Rdg1
Nxf2 21.Qe3
Nxh1 22.Rxg7+
(22.Qxh6? Ng3!)
22...Kxg7 23.Qxh6+
Kg8 24.Ng5
Bxg5 25.Qxg5+
Kh7 26.Qh6+
Kg8 27.Qg5+ and
a draw.]]
20...f5! Kamsky is aware. The knight
g4 is strongly defended.
[Now 20...Nxf2? doesn't
compare well with
21.Qe3 Nxd1
22.Qxh6! Bg5
23.Bxg5!! gxh6
24.Bxd8+ Kh7
25.Bxc7 and the White is piece up]
21.Qe2 An attack of the pawn is e6.
21...Bf6 The
wise decision. Kamsky is returning the pawn to his generous rival but doesn't give up the initiative.
22.Qxe6+ Here,
the situation is disputable.
22...Kh8
[The continuation
22...Qf7
23.Qxf5 Nxf2
24.Rdf1 Bxd4
25.Nxd4 Rxd4
26.Qc2 indeed, it's looks very risky....
but after
26...Qxh5 it is
difficult to point out the active continuation of the white pieces' attack.]
[[The safest move
22...Rf7! and
the Black are greatly complicating the White planned attack on f5.]]
23.Bb4 Now, the Black has some problems.
If the rook is taking away to e8, then the White will take the queen on f5. Gata is strenuously counting
the lines and comes up to the same timing: 1.04 - 1.07. The brave seizure of the pawn f2 leads not only
to uncompromising struggle, but also to advance of the queen on f4. In this case the retreat of the rook
on f7 and e8 is also possible. The variety of choice is very wide - one should not hurry to make a move.
Counting is needed....
23...Rf7 A
practical Kramsky-style decision - minimun counting and maximum reliability. It's time for Carlsen to
think... In any case, GMs are always thinking even during rival's counting. However, this work is less
effective rather than in his own turn. This is because the rival can make an unexpected move. As a result,
all the calculations will be worthless...
[[In the line
23...Nxf2!? 24.Rdf1 it
would be wise to foresee this move
24...c5! and
afterwards
25.Bxc5 Rfe8
26.Qxf5 to retreat rapidly with the knight
26...Ne4! In
this case it's not recommended
27.Ba3? due
to 27...Bxd4! 28.Nxd4
Nd2+!]
[[And here is the continuation
23...Qf4 we
should critisize due to
24.Bxf8 Qxf3
25.Qf7 a naive seizure
25...Qxf2? is
confronting a strong attack
26.Rxg4! fxg4
27.Bxg7+! with an instant win of the
White]
24.Rd2 Magnus is matching the aggresive
and defensive moves. He is protecting the pawn f2 and is preparing the g1 rook's move to the centre.Surprisingly,
the rivals are equally timing: 0.48 - 0.48 What should the Black do? The rook f7 feels very uncomfortable
under the pressure of the white queen. Even if one plays Kh8-g8! Obviously, it's pitiful to lose the
time on king's return. So, it's more logical to make an exchange of queens 24...Qd7!? The position of
the Black is very solid- there is no reason to panic.
24...Qd7 My
analysis of Kamsky's mind was successful. He came to the same conclusion.... I'm ready to film in the
movie "Being Gata Kamsky" (instead of John Malkovich)
25.Re1
[The retreat is also possible
25.Qe2 but
psychologically it's more difficult rather than to attack and to save the pieces in front.]
25...Re8
26.Qd3]
25...Qxe6 26.Rxe6
Rfd7 The situation became more simplified.
The chances of both sides are almost equal. The weakness of pawns d4 and f2 is holding White from making
an attack.
27.Ba5 The next
attack of the bishop on black rooks. Magnus is provocating the move b7-b6 which is weakening the structure
of Black
27...b6 Unexpectedly,
Gata falls for his rival's provocation! It seems that he analyses the situation better....
28.Bc3 Now
there is the problem with a pawn c6....
28...Rd6 The
threat is relieved. Anyway, I still didn't change my mind - the configuration of pawns on queenside is
beneficial for the White. The main actor contradicts the hero he plays.....
29.Rxd6
Rxd6 30.Re2 The
White is keeping control over the only unsafe vertical path. Now, their king is approaching the centre.
Later, it's possible to start the pawn attack on queenside. I estimate the chances of White higher than
that of the Black...
30...Kg8
[A sudden counterplay connected with the g7-g6 advance didn't happen.
30...Kh7
31.Kc2 g6
32.c5! Rd7
33.hxg6+ Kxg6
34.Re6! Re7
35.Rxc6 Re2+
36.Kd3 Rxf2
37.Ne5+ Kg5
38.Nd7! h5
39.Nxf6 Nxf6
40.Re6 and the white passedpawn is approaching
the final...]]
31.Kc2 GMs are doing the centralization
of the kings simultaneously, but here comes the timing difference 0.33 - 0.20. There is no time trouble
- there few moves left for a control to happen.
31...Kf7
[This move didn't promise the equality-
31...c5
32.d5! Bxc3
33.Kxc3 Nf6
34.Nh4!]
32.Ne5+ It's a very responsible move
- the pawn structure will definetely change.
32...Nxe5
[In the case of
32...Bxe5 33.dxe5
Re6 34.Kd3! suddenly,
the black knight fell within a very difficult situation. A trap is menacing him on the way f2-f3.]
33.dxe5 Re6 This
is the only way not to lose the bishop.
34.f4
Be7 The counterplay of the Black is obvious-
the g7-g6 advance followed by the activation of the rook and the run of pawn from h6 to h1.
35.Rh2 An
interesting move. Indeed, the Black can accomplish the plan...
35...g6
36.hxg6+ Rxg6 The
rook is free- the chances of the Black increases.
37.Kd2
Bf8 Before making an attack on the white
camp, it is necessary to defend the weak pawn.
38.Bd4 Carslen
reduces his rival's activation chances. The white pieces are neutralizing the intrusion of black rook
with fruitful efforts of all the pieces.
38...Rg4 Kamsky
is steadily improving his position. The king will replace the rook on g6. Now, it is definetely possible
to say about the equality in the position.
39.Be3
Kg6 The pawn on the edge is ready for
the struggle.
40.Ke2 The
white is hostile towards the Black.
40...h5 Control
is passed.
41.Kf3 Be7
42.Bf2 The White pulled all their reserves
to the battlefield. The black pawn won't pass! Indeed, the White cannot create threats. If one tries
to replace the rook on d7, then it is possible to miss the quick winger. The very first impression is
the position of static equality.
42...h4 Gata
is demonstrating great ambitions or just frees the king from its defensive functions. Possibly for directing
it to e6.
43.Rh1 Kf7 That
is it. The constuction of the mutual unbreakable castle is about to finish. The draw is inevitable.
44.Rg1 The
last try to avoid the draw.
44...h3 An
exact answer
45.Rh1 Bh4
46.Bxh4 Rxh4
47.Kg3 Rg4+ The
White is about to attack the black pawn
48.Kf3
Rh4 49.Kg3 DRAW!
It is so amazing, how Kramsky is managing to neutralize the activity of his rival in difficult positions.
He is a magician who is able to calm down the vigorous activity of his rivals. My report is finished.I
would like to thank you for your attention. Tomorrow is a free day. See you the day after tomorrow at
the same time- on the 6th round. Best regards, Sergey Shipov.
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