"Capablanca-like play", by A.J. Goldsby

A.J. Goldsby writes -

According to the date on the bottom of my last "blogback" article, it has been almost a year since I wrote a piece ... specifically with the idea of a contribution to the Impala blog.

Have you ever played over a chess game, and saw a move - and while it looked perfectly reasonable to you - the annotator awarded it a "?" (a 'question mark'), which is a symbol for a bad move. (And you could not grasp the real reason for this harsh judgement by the author?)

Have you ever heard of a horror-story ... of a player who was badly mislead by one of these annotation symbols?

What if I told you the following fairy tale: Once upon a time, there was a perfectly legitimate chess move. However, the authors of several opening books all roundly condemned this move. And then a "Top Ten" GM plays this move ... and wins a model game with it. Would you say that such a yarn stretched your credibility to the maximum extent? What if I told you that it was ALL true?

HERE is my newest/latest effort.

This contains AJ's analysis of a recent game in the contest between Levon Aronian (Armenia) and Magnus Carlsen (Denmark). AJ praises Aronian for his "Capablanca-like play". In my tour of Ray Keene's DUELS OF THE MIND DVDs, I hadn't quite reached Keene's treatment of World Champion José Raúl Capablanca, but Capablanca's play is noted for its seeming simplicity and logic.

The Impala Publications blog cannot reproduce AJ's diagrams, but we give AJ's commentary, somewhat edited, below. Furthermore, you can play through the Aronian-Carlsen game in question on ChessGames.com.-Ed

GM Lev Aronian (2759) - GM M. Carlsen (2693)
[E14]
World Championship Candidates, Semi-Finals (s/f)
Elista, RUSSIA; (R#1.4) / 31,05,2007.

1.d4 Nf6; 2.Nf3 e6; 3.c4 Bb4+; 4.Nbd2!?,

One old book that I used to have gave this move a dubious appellation. (The reasons? It places the QN on a less than optimum square, blocks in the White QB, and generally mucks up White's whole Queenside.)

However, if it is so bad, why is such a good player as Aronian using it ...
in such an important competition? (To me, it looks like a perfectly normal opening move.)

After the moves of: (3...Bb4+) 4.Bd2 Qe7; we have reached
the opening system known as: "The Bogo-Indian Defense."

Also playable is the try: 4...a5!?; with complex and interesting play.

Today, the main line is considered to be:
(>/=) 4.Bd2 Qe7; 5.g3, "+/="
when White normally retains a slight pull out of the opening.

4...b6;
This is the number one choice in the Fritz "Power-Book," it is played twice as much as the flexible 4...0-0. (Which ... BTW ... does nothing about the center.) This move also has the best winning percentages of all the plays in the db, which is probably why it is so popular.

Perhaps - after this contest - Black may want to examine the more energetic move of 4...d5.

5.a3!?, (Maybe - '!')
Again, an older book that I have criticizes this play as possibly premature and perhaps a waste of time as well. However, as I see it, that's a real important Bishop out there on b4. Black must now exchange off the cleric, or lose time by retreating it.

White could play almost any move here, like: 5.g3, "+/=" which also will yield White a relatively solid edge out of the opening phase of the game.

5...Bxd2+; 6.Qxd2!?
Hmmm. White places his Queen on a square where it may be in jeopardy if Black ever plays his Knight to the e4-square.

The authors of "Modern Chess Openings," [GM Nick de Firmian and also Walter Korn.] assign this move a DUBIOUS symbol, ("?!"); ... which usually means that this line is (grossly?!?) INFERIOR to other moves that White might make at this particular point in the chess game.

6...Bb7;
A perfectly normal developing move, and in keeping with the manner that Black has conducted
his entire opening.

7.e3,
White prepares to develop his K-side. He seems to be daring Black to capture on f3, but this would give White 2 Bishops vs. two Knights, and also a half-open g-file ... which would be especially important, if Black castles K-side.

White could avoid getting a set of doubled Pawns by playing 7.Qf4 0-0; "=" but Black looks OK here.

7...0-0; 8.b4!?,
White's plans have been revealed. (He plans to place his QB on the long diagonal. He is not concerned about a possible ...Ne4; as he will just move his Queen, possibly to the c2-square. Meanwhile, he is grabbing some valuable space here on the Q-side.)

White could have prevented Black from playing ...Ne4; by playing Bd3. But this did not look like the most efficient way for White to try and finish his development.

8...d5!?;
Black immediately hits the center, and reinforces his grip on the (key) e4-square ... perhaps with the intent of later landing a Knight on this vital outpost. (In terms of pure application of the opening principles, this would be Black's best move.)

This might sound strange, but this could be the place for Black to begin his search for improvements in this tough contest. Maybe this P.O.D. (plan of development) would have been better than the actual game.

Maybe Black should have tried: 8...d6; (Hits the center, covers the e5-square.) Now Black plays the following moves: 9...Nbd7; 10...Qe7; 11...Ne4; and then possibly 12...f5. (With a grip on e4.)

9.Bb2 Nbd7; 10.Bd3 dxc4;
The first choice of Fritz ... (and several other programs). Perhaps 10...c5; would have been a different try for Black?

The idea of this move is that Black frees his QB ... and prepares ...c7-c5; an attempt to simplify and reach an equal position.

11.Bxc4 c5;
This is - seemingly - the correct and indicated Pawn break for Black in this position. [ Instead, after the continuation: 11...Ne4; 12.Qe2 Ndf6; 13.0-0 Qe7; 14.Ne5, "+/=" when White (also) will have a solid advantage here. ]

12.0-0 Rc8; 13.Qe2!,
White gets off the d-file, avoids any hit to his Queen, (after a later ...Ne4; by Black); and also prepares Ba6. (Which softens up Black on the Q-side by eliminating his main defender of the light squares.)

This would be a good place to stop and study this position carefully. [ Also, the try of: 13.Rac1, "+/=" would be good for White. ]

13...Qe7; 14.Rfc1 cxd4;
This appears to be the correct capture here for Black. [ But of course not: 14...cxb4?!; 15.axb4 Qxb4??; 16.Ba3, "+/-" and White wins material. ]

15.Nxd4, "+/="
Take a look at this position.

White has more space, two B's, and the slightly freer overall development. Thus - White stands slightly better. (White could have also recaptured on d4 with his Bishop, but the Knight move was probably best, and also the most thematic.)

15...h6?!;
Its too soon for Black to be concerned about back-rank mates. (Black, who is somewhat cramped, needs to look for healthy, active counterplay from this position.) The computer's suggestion of 15...a7-a5; looks like Black's best bet here.

Now White exchanges off Black's QB, preparing a slow and steady invasion on the Q-side.

16.Ba6! Bxa6; 17.Qxa6 Rxc1+;
Now this is forced, Black has no good way of holding the c-file.

18.Rxc1 Nb8;
Now Fritz shows that this is forced, otherwise Black will drop his QRP. [ The alternative was: 18...Ra8?; but after the simple line of 19.Qb7 Qe8; 20.Nc6, '±' Black appears to lose his QRP without gaining anything concrete for his loss. ]

19.Qc4 Rd8; 20.h3!,
Now White frees his position from the worry of a back-rank mate.

The justification of this move can be found in the following variation: 20.Qc7? QxQ/c7; 21.RxQ/c7, e5!; and if White moves his Knight, he will be mated on his home row. [ An alternative was: 20.Kf1, "+/=" with some advantage for White. ]

20...Ne8;
This move is designed to prevent the WQ from reaching the seventh rank. Instead, if 20...Nd5; 21.e4, kicks the Knight away and allows White to occupy the 7th rank with his Queen and/or his Rook.

White's following move freezes Black's Knight on the b8-square ... perhaps for the rest of the game.

21.b5! Rd5; 22.Qe2 Rc5;
Black offers to exchange Rooks.

Perhaps with the heavy pieces off, Black could try to reach the safety of a drawn game?

23.Rd1!, (Maybe - '!!')
White avoids the exchange of Rooks and cedes Black the only open file.

Has White gone nuts? The purpose of this strategic retreat will not be revealed until several moves later.

White could have also played: 23.Rxc5 Qxc5; 24.Qd3, "+/=" with a clear edge.

23...Rc8; 24.Qf3,
White eyes the c6-outpost, and perhaps dares Black to try and play 24...e5. The move of 24.e4 also gave White a very solid advantage.

24...Rd8;
Black voluntarily surrenders the c-file.

While it is easy to condemn Black's moves, it is very difficult to come up with a constructive plan for Black.

Black could have also played: 24...a6!?; 25.a4! a5; 26.Qe4, "+/" . However Fritz assures us that White remains in full control and that Aronian is clearly better.

25.Rc1 Nd6;
Criticized by some pundits on the Internet, but there is no way that Black could have played the rest of the game with his both of his Knights stuck on the first row! (25...Nd6 is also the first choice of Fritz!!)

White's next move tightens his grip on the position and prepares a nasty pin, (after Ba3).

26.a4! e5; ('!?')
This looks like something close to panic, but Black (understandably) did not want to allow White a lot of time to improve his position.

27.Nf5! Nxf5; 28.Qxf5 f6;
Black had to protect the button on e5, and
It has been very instructive to see how White has slowly and patiently increased his advantage with every one of his artful moves.

It is White to move here.

29.Qe4!,
White prevents ...Qb4 by Black while preparing a battery on the c-file with Rc4 and Qc2.
(The try 29.Rc8 was also good for White.)

29...Qf7; 30.Ba3!,
A nice move, Aronian is playing this simplified position in a commendable manner.

This Bishop is seemingly striking at empty air, but it cuts through the heart of Black's position and takes away many good squares ... which are no longer available to GM Magnus Carlsen's pieces.

30...Kh8;
Black is running out of ideas. (30...Qd7; was marginally better than this move, yet it would not have freed Black from White's grip on the position.)

Because of the obvious superiority of Black's position, White has the time to make any number of moves to prepare the final blows. (White's next gets the King to safety, and avoids any tactical tricks.)

31.Kh2 Kg8; 32.Bd6!,
This prepares the decisive penetration of White's Rook to the seventh rank.

In the meantime, Black cannot capture the Rook on the d6-square, as Rc8+ would cost Black his Queen.

32...Qd7; 33.Bc7 Rf8;
It did not matter where Black's Rook went. (After 33...Rc8; then 34.Qb7 is a decisive penetration, and Black will eventually lose both of his Q-side Pawns, just as in the actual game here.)

34.Rc2 Re8;
Because of the poor way that Black handled his game earlier, he is reduced to just shifting wood around. Meanwhile, Aronian is free to wait and watch and figure out exactly how he wants to finish his opponent off.

[ The computer shows that after: 34...Qd1!?; 35.Bxb8 Rxb8; 36.Rc7, "+/-" White is already winning. ]

35.Rc4 Qf7; 36.Bd6!,
This prepares the decisive blow of landing the WR on the key c7-square here. Take a look at this position, all of White's pieces clearly occupy better squares than their Black counterparts.

Another idea would be for White to play: 36.g4!?, '±' so as to maintain the WQ on the important e4-square.

36...Rd8?!; (hmmm) [Maybe just -'?']
A final bobble, Black had to try a desperate attempt for counterplay, perhaps >/= 36...f5!? was the way for Carlsen to go.

( AJ's note: I have two good reasons for not attaching a full question mark to this move.
#1.) Black may already be lost, even with the best defense.
#2.) Both players were short of time,
finding the best move in such situations is always a difficult proposition. )

The rest needs little comment. (Black cannot stop the White Rook from coming to the c7-square, and both Black's Queenside pawns will fall as a result.)

37.Rc7 Nd7[]; (Only move.)
This was forced, 37...Rd7?? is simply and decisively met by 38.Rc8+, winning.

[ 37...Qe8?!; 38.Re7 Qf8; 39.Bb4 Kh8; 40.Rxa7, "+/-" ]

38.Qc6 Qe6; 39.Rxa7 Kf7; 40.Qxb6, "+/-" Black Resigns.
A nearly flawless game by the inscrutable Lev Aronian. Where did the young GM Magnus Carlsen go wrong?

I cannot praise Aronian's handling of his forces enough, his play reminds me of the one and only Jose R. Capablanca at his very best.

The entire story for this game ... (and this round of the Candidates matches) ... can be found on the CB website, at http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3898. (If you scroll down to the end of this article, there is a link to download all of the games in the popular PGN format.)

If you have the "Adobe Reader" program, you can click here, to see the FIDE link and annotations for this game. (You can also save a copy to your computer, if you wish.)

Thanks, AJ! Yes, the play of the great Cuban World Champion, José Raúl Capablanca, at his best, also left his defeated opponents mystified as to where they went wrong. Yet Carlsen, the young Dane, gave Aronian a tough tussle and only succumbed in the play-off.

Capablanca

I have already discussed Capablanca here, in relation to the great tournament at Carlsbad 1929; and I'd plan to discuss the Cuban World champion again soon, in relation to the DUELS OF THE MIND DVDs which are now available.-Ed

-To see the full list of Impala Publications available go to http://stores.ebay.co.uk/IMPALA-PRESS