Caruana, Gelfand set pace

Fabiano Caruana of Italy and Boris Gelfand of Israel kept first place in the ongoing FIDE Grand Prix with five points after eight rounds of play in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Caruana, 22, whose undefeated streak ended with a seventh-round loss to Russian Dmitry Andreikin, settled for a draw in a slightly inferior position against Uzbek GM Rustam Kasimdzhanov.

Kasimdzhanov, one of the four unbeaten players in the 12-man event, was in a group of three players in a tie for second with 4.5 points.

Local bet Teimour Radjabov and the Russian tandem of Peter Svidler and Sergey Kariakin were tied with Kasimdzhanov.

The rest of the standings were Nakamura, (USA), 4.0 and Dominguez (Cuba), Andrekin, Grischuk and Tomashevsky (Russia) at 3.0 apiece.

The grand prix is the first leg in a series of events leading to the next world championship cycle.

Below is a fine win by the tournament leader.

2014 FIDE Grand Prix

W) F. Caruana (ITA)

B)  P. Svidler (RUS)

Gruenfeld Defense

1. d4            Nf6

2. c4            g6

3. f3             ...

Nowadays, this flexible move has become a respectable and popular method of opening the game, though some decades ago, it had a less attractive reputation. At this point there is no saying what the opening will be. 3...Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nc3 leads to the King’s Indian.

3...               d5

After the text move, it may just as likely become a Gruenfeld.  

4. cxd5        Nxd5

5. e4           Nb6

6. Nc3         Bg7

7. Be3         0-0

Transposition of moves had led to a variant of the Gruenfeld.

8. Qd2        Nc6

9. 0-0-0      Qd6

This line of play has become quite usual lately. The engine- suggested 9...e5 is interesting. For example 10. d5 Nd4 11. Nb5 c5 12. dxc6 Qe7 13. Nxd4 exd4 14. Bxd4  Rd8 15. Ne2 bxc6 16. Qc2 Bh6ch 17. Kb1 c5, and Black has enough play for the pawn. 

10. Kb1      a6

Both players must have studied this line a great deal in their pre-game preparation, since it has occurred frequently in recent games.

11. h4!N     ...

A new move which is also the computer’s choice. 11. b3 Rd8 12. Nge2 Qb4 13. Qd3 Na5 leads to an early equality. Svensson-Eksmyr, Sweden 2010.

11...           Rd8

12. d5        Ne5?!

Seems dubious. 12...Na5 13. h5 Nac4 14. Bxc4 Nxc4 15. Qc1 Nxe3 16. Qxe3 Bd7 gives Black equal chances.

13. Qf2       h5

This natural restraining move has been criticized by some commentators. But at this early, it is already difficult to find a good plan for Black.

14. Bc5      Qf6

15. Bd4      Qd6

White gains an important tempo here which will pave the way for his next reply.

16. g4!        hxg4

17. f4          ...

Early in the middle game, Black’s position is unsatisfactory.

17...           Ned7

18. e5        dxe5

19. fxe5     Bxe5

20. Bg2     Bxd4

21. Rxd4   Bf5ch

22. Ka1     e5

Black has won three pawns for the piece. Theoretically, material should be in the balance, but Black has no confirmation of an immediate effect.

23. Rd1     Nc4

24. h5       Qb6

25. Qe2    Ne3

26. Rd2    Kg7

27. Be4    Rh8?

The only chance according to the computer is 27...Bxe4 which is not easy for humans to calculate.

28. Rd3!   Nc4

29. b3       Nd6

30. Bxf5    Nxf5

31. Qxg4   ...

Now with material plus and a solid King position, White has a win.

31...          e4?

32. Nxe4   Rae8

33. Ne2     1:0