Tata Steel Masters 2019 / Round 1

by National Life Master Loal Davis

All Images Courtesy Of Derrick Bartotto

 

 

There were two decisive games in the first round of the Tata Steel Masters tournament for 2019.  

 

Ian Nepomniachtchi won a good game versus Anish Giri.  It is true that Giri was slightly outplayed in the opening despite having the White pieces.  However “slightly” does not mean that one has to lose and there is a good argument that could be made for the fact that Giri lost this game.  Well – he did lose, but he didn’t have to lose this way.  He got into a position where he was getting pressed and embarked on a speculative attack sacrificing material. It failed.  Some comment during play alluded to the fact that this was Giri’s worst game in a long time.  I’m not sure how chess fans out there are really keeping track of Giri’s games and/or can make such a statement.  It appears to me that this comment was made by some “arm chair GM wannabee” with a chess engine who thinks he can throw out a definitive assessment over someone who most likely would have him by the throat in ten to fifteen moves.  Be that as it may, Giri is to be commended for trying to mix it up and go for the point.  It just didn’t work in this game and there are more rounds to come.  

 

 

Tata Steel Masters 2019
Date “2019.01.12”
Round “1”
White “Giri, Anish (NED)”
Black “Nepomniachtchi, Ian (RUS)”

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 a6 5. Qd2 b5 6. f3 Nbd7 7. O-O-O Nb6 8. g4 Bb7 9. Nh3 Nfd7 10. Be2 e6 11. Bg5 Be7 12. Qe3 Bxg5 13. Nxg5 h6 14. Nh3 Qh4 15. Nf2 O-O-O 16. f4 f5 17. Bf3 b4

I think White has been outplayed.  Black has a good/solid position with good pressure down the long diagonal (b7/h1) coupled with an ‘f5’ stab.  Rather than retire the attacked Knight back to ‘b1’ and relocate, White tries to show that he has something here.  In retrospect it appears he does not, but further investigation may reveal otherwise.

18. exf5 ?!   bxc3 19. fxe6 cxb2+ 20. Kb1 Nf6 21. Bxb7+ Kxb7 22. Qf3+ d5

Good – Black has taken his material and nailed down some weakened central squares on ‘c4’ and ‘e4’.  It looks like the attack is running dry.

23. Nd3 Ne4 24. Nc5+ Ka7 25. Qa3 Nxc5 26. Qxc5 Kb7

Realizing that he has next to nothing, Giri resigns here.

0-1

 

 

Anand’s win in the first round with the Black pieces was very convincing.  Van Foreest played the Exchange variation of the Caro Kann and ended up with an open ‘g’ file against his King with Black castled safely on the Queen side.  The writing was on the wall when Vishy liquidated with a nice tactic.

 

 

Tata Steel Masters 2019
Date “2019.01.12”
Round “1”
White “Van Foreest, Jorden (NED)”
Black “Anand, Viswanathan (IND)”

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nf6 5. c3 Qc7 6. h3 g6

This is a rock solid method of completing development, especially as White has taken away the ‘f5’ and ‘h4’ squares from the Black light colored Bishop.

7. Nf3 Bf5

Excellent.  This idea of developing the Bishop was first played by Akiba Rubinstein; although he played it with the White pieces.  Here Black’s Pawns may get trashed, but he is parting with his Bad Bishop against White’s Good Bishop.  Add to this the ‘g’ file is opened and a Black Pawn triangle (d5/e6/f5) will work nicely with the remaining Bishop while nailing down the ‘e4’ square.  True ‘e4’ can be covered with a future ‘f3’, but that really weakens White’s King cover (f3/g2/h3) especially as he intends to castle on that wing; Black plans putting his King on the other side of the board.

8. Ne5 Nc6 9. Bf4 Qb6 10. Bxf5 gxf5 11. Nd3 e6 12. Nd2 Rg8 13. O-O O-O-O 14. a4 Ne4

Black’s game appears comfortable with good pressure against the White King.

15. Rc1 Bd6 16. Bxd6 Nxd6 17. b4 Kb8 18. Qe2 Qc7 19. Qe3 Ne7 20. f3

There are those King side holes.  However it’s difficult to suggest an improvement for White around here.

Ng6 21. Ne5 f4

A nice stab that nails down the weakened ‘e3’ square.

22. Qe1 Nf5 23. Nxg6 Rxg6 24. Rf2 Rdg8 25. c4 Ne3

White is getting hammered.  Look at those invasion points – f4/e3/g3/g2.  The ax soon falls.

26. cxd5 Nxg2 !

Good for Anand.  

27. Qe5 Qxe5 28. dxe5 Ne1+

Black will finish off with a Knight fork.

0-1

 

 

Liren Ding versus Magnus Carlsen (Game Drawn)

 

https://www.tatasteelchess.com/