Sports

Norway assembles top GMs

LET’S PLAY CHESS - Edgar De Castro - The Philippine Star

June 10, 2017 | 4:00pm

Stavanger is Norway’s fourth largest city. It is also a tourist attraction and home of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Warfare Center. This week, Stavanger played host to 10 super GMs participating in the Fifth Norway Chess, the world’s strongest individual tournament.

Russian Vladimir Kramnik and American Hikaru Nakamura made charges to surge into the lead following third round play at Stavanger.

They had two points overall, and one half point better than Norwegian world champion Magnus Carlsen.

Carlsen was in a group of six players that included Wesley So (USA), Levon Aronian (ARM), Fabiano Caruana (USA), Sergey Kariakin (RUS) and Maxime Vachir-Lagrave (FRA)

Next at one point was Indian Vishy Anand, along with Dutchman Anish Giri.

The single round robin, category 22 event runs up to June 16.

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A rare sideline which Carlsen must have prepared, helps him to obtain a dangerous initiative. For some time the game is full of explosive possibilities with White pressing to convert and Black putting up stiff resistance. At the end, a little but surprising finesse saves the day for the American GM.

Altibox Norway Chess 2017

W) M. Carlsen (Norway)

B) H. Nakamura (USA)

Sicilian Defense

1. e4 c5

2. Nf3 d6

3. d4 cxd4

4. Nxd4 Nf6

5. Nc3 a6

6. h3 ...

White’s line is the Adams Attack, quite popular in the 60s and subject of a great deal of attention then, especially by Fischer, who essayed it with some regularity.

6... g6

The alternatives are 6...e5, 6...e6 and 6...Nc6.

7. g3 ...

Half a century ago, the enterprising double-edged 7. g4 was in vogue, but is now considered risky.

7... Nc6

8. Be3 Bg7

9. Bg2 O-O

10. O-O Nd7

Another system of development is 10...Bd7. E.g. 11. Qd2 Rc8 12. Rfd1 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Be6 and the game is probably in the balance= Engine.

11. b3 Nxd4

12. Bxd4 Bxd4

13. Qxd4 b6

14. Nd5 Bb7

15. c4 ...

Now the opening is a Dragon type Sicilian with the Maroczy Bind in good condition. White has the edge.

15... e5

16. Qe3 b5

Seems best, as the immediate 16...Bxd5 favors White according to the engine after 17. cxd5 a5 18. Rac1 Nc5 19. f4 exf4 20. gxf4 Qe7 21. e5 Rae8 22. Rce1. etc.

17. Rac1 bxc4

18. Rxc4 Bxd5

19. exd5 a5

20. Rfc1 Nc5

21. a3 f5

21...a4 is probably stronger For example 22. b4 Nb3 23. R1c3 Nd4 24. Bf1 f5, the game hangs in the balance. The text allows White to gain control of the open c file.

22. b4 axb4

23. axb4 Nd7

24. Rc6 ...

Now White has a chance to pressure the d6 pawn.

24... f4!

And here’s Black’s timely relief action. 24...Qf6 or 26...Qb8 instead, offers White a good game after 25. b5.

25. gxf4 exf4

White has the edge after 25... Rxf4 26. Rxd6 Qe7 27. Rc6 Qxb4 28. d6=Computer.

26. Qe6 Rf7

27. Qxd6 ...

Obviously 27. Rxd6?! is met by 27...f3! 28. Bxf3 Qg5ch.

27... Qg5!

Black’s whole counteraction is sound.

28. Kh1 f3

29. Bf1 Nf6

30. Qe6 ...

After 30. Qg3 Qxg3 31. fxg3 Ra2 32. b5 Rb2 (or 32...Kg7 33. R6c2 Rxc2 34. Rxc2 Nxd5) 33. Rc6 Nh5 34. g4 Ng3ch 35. Kg1 Nxf1 36. Kxf1 Rxb5, Black should hold.

30... Kg7

31. Rc7 ...

31. d6 is stronger according to the computer, although still inconclusive.

31... Rxc7

32. Rxc7ch Kh6

33. Qe1 Ra2

Threatening 22...Re2!

34. Re7 Ng4!

Here’s Black’s little finesse, which leads to a draw by repetition.

35. hxg4 Qh4ch

36. Kg1 Qxg4ch

37. Kh1 Qh4ch

38. Kg1 Qg4ch

39. Kh1 Qh4ch

40. Kg1 Qg4ch

Solution to last week’s puzzle:

White to play and mates in two.

W=Kf8, Rf1, Rh2

B=Kh8, Ng1, Pg6, Ph7

1. Rf6 ...

Threatening 2. Rxg6 and 3. Rg8 mate. If 1...Nh3 2. Rxg6 hxg6 3. Rxh3 mate. Or. 1...h5 2. Rxh5ch gxh5 3. Rh6 mate. And finally, 1...g5 2. Rg6, followed by mate on g8 or h6.

Black to move and win.