M.Carlsen, R.Fischer, Early Mistakes & The New View (Part 1)
(by Yury V. Bukayev)
My new analytical research includes the comparison of three very important games (2020, 2023 and 1964).
Almost three years ago the World Champion Top GM Magnus Carlsen (as White) has played a very weak game against Top GM Ian Nepomniachtchi (the tournament ‘Magnus Carlsen Invitational’, rapid, 2020):
1.e4 c5
2.Nf3 d6
3.d4 cxd4
4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Bc4?! Nxe4
6.Qh5 e6
7.Nxe6? Bxe6
8.Bxe6 Qe7
9.Bxf7+? Qxf7
10.Qe2 Qe7 ,
where Black got an enormous advantage and won in 28 moves, although White’s position didn’t permit to fight seriously on the grandmaster level after White’s 9th move already, in my opinion.
It is interesting that the possible 10.Qxf7?! (it plays no role how to play here: Black must win rapidly and easily in any case) 10…Kxf7 leads to the position which is enough similar to the Jerome gambit with exchanged Queens. Thus, the Bishop on c4 and the King’s Knight were sacrificed for Black’s pawns f7 and “e” and for Black’s minor piece. The Knight’s way Ng8-f6xe4 before Bxf7+ is similar to some new systems of the Jerome gambit – look, please, at my analytical research ‘Lose Never with a Strong Deferred Jerome Gambit (Part 3)’ (2023).
Recently the Russian chess author Valery P. Golshev has told me, without analyses or appraisals, about the existence of this M.Carlsen’s game. After that I made a look at this game and said him that 9.Bxf7+ isn’t a good move and that M.Carlsen could try (!) to save his rapid game with 9.0-0! instead. And Mr. Golshev (his nickname on Lichess.org is ‘WaleraG’) suggested me to play this mistaken variation against him with a rapid time control. I have accepted his challenge. Thus, here is our recent game.
Yury_V_Bukayev – WaleraG
10+0 tempo,
B57, “Carlsen Variation” thematic game,
Lichess.org, 2023
1.e4 c5
2.Nf3 d6
3.d4 cxd4
4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Bc4 Nxe4
6.Qh5 e6
7.Nxe6 Bxe6
8.Bxe6 Qe7
9.0-0! Qxe6
10.Re1 d5
11.Nc3! Nc6
12.f3 Bc5+
13.Kf1 Bb4
14.fxe4 Bxc3
15.bxc3 dxe4
16.Qe2 f5
17.Qb5 0-0-0
18.Rb1 Rd7
19.Bf4 Qf6
20.Red1 Rxd1+
21.Rxd1 Rd8
22.Rxd8 Nxd8
23.Qc5+ Nc6
24.Qd5 Qf8
25.Qe6+ Kd8
26.Bg5+ Kc7
27.Bf4+ Kd8
28.Bg5+ Kc7
29.Bf4+ Kd8
½ - ½
It is clear, Valery Golshev’s play was strong: he has made some inaccurate moves only including the last of them – 24…Qf8?! – when he has had a serious lack of time. My new attack has been played here, and it has brought the result.
Comparing to it, I.Nepomniachtchi has had much better situation in his above game: his advantage was much more, the time control (15+10) was more large. But even these conditions couldn’t prevent his further mistakes in his above game. That is why, I’m sure, M.Carlsen has had an absolutely real practical chance to fight after the possible move 9.0-0!.
It is very valuable to compare this M.Carlsen – I.Nepomniachtchi game with the game Richard Lunenfeld – Top GM Robert J. Fischer (the simultaneous exhibition, USA, 1964), where 9.0-0! has been played in a very similar situation, and we get the same position. I’d like to add my commentaries to the beginning of this game.
1.e4 c5
2.Nf3 d6
3.d4 cxd4
4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Bc4?! Nxe4
6.Qh5 e6
7.Bxe6? Bxe6
8.Nxe6 Qe7
9.0-0! Qxe6
10.Re1 Be7? [10…d5! with Black’s advantage]
11.Qb5+ Qd7?! [11…Kf8!! 12.f3 a6! 13.Qf1 d5 14.fxe4 d4! = ]
12.Qxd7+ [with White’s advantage].
Due to White’s further mistakes Black won, but this game shows that under conditions of a simultaneous exhibition the very strong grandmaster (Black) can make serious mistakes rapidly, so White can get an advantage here.
Contact the author: istinayubukayev@yandex.ru
© 2023 Yury V. Bukayev (Copyright © Bukayev Yury Vyacheslavovich 2023). All rights reserved.
[A legal using of this investigation with a reference to it is permitted
and doesn’t require author’s consent.]
