Nakamura makes breakthrough
Problem: White to play and mate in 3.
The annual supertournament at Wijk aan Zee in the Netherlands is thriving despite the global economic downturn. While other elite events are suffering from a shortage of sponsorship, the dutch event simply renamed itself after Indian conglomerate Tata Steel, who had taken over the former sponsor, the dutch steel company, Corus.
The A group tournament at Wijk aan Zee proved to be a milestone event for the young US number one, Hikaru Nakamura (23). Having just reached the top ten in the world rankings, this was his first victory in a supertournament. He finished on 9/13, ahead of world champion, Vishy Anand (India) on 8½, while Magnus Carlsen (Norway) and Levon Aronian (Armenia) shared third on 8 points. That he finished ahead of these three, the top three ranked players in the world, is a testament to the power of Nakamura's performance.
Today's game was Nakamura's shortest victory in the event, playing White against French number one, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.
1.d4 Nf6
2.c4 g6
3.Nc3 d5
4.cxd5 ---
The exchange variation is White's most aggressive response to the Gruenfeld defence. White erects a big pawn centre and frequently develops a kingside attack.
4.--- Nxd5
5.e4 Nxc3
6.bxc3 Bg7
7.Bc4 c5
8.Ne2 Nc6
9.Be3 O-O
10.O-O Na5
11.Bd3 b6
12.Qd2 e5!?
A recent innovation in a position that has been reached many times before, putting pressure on d4. If White accepts the pawn with 13 dxc5 then 13... Be6! (threatening 14...Nc4) 14 Rfd1 Qc7 15 cxb6 axb6 and Black's control of c4 and pressure against the a and c pawns gives him a comfortable game. Instead White chooses to exchange dark squared bishops, to loosen the black king's protection.
13.Bg5 Qd7
14.Bh6 Bb7
15.Bxg7 Kxg7
16.d5 ---
The first new move of the game. White establishes a passed d-pawn, while Black immediately works to undermine its support.
17.--- f5
17.f3 Rf7
18.exf5 c4?
Black should have grabbed the d-pawn while he could – 18...Qxd5! 19 Qe3 gxf5 20 Qg5+ Kh8 21 Bxf5 Rg8 gives plenty of counterplay.
19.Bc2 gxf5
If 19...Qxd5 then 20 Qxd5 Bxd5 21 Rad1 Bb7 22 Ng3 and the white pieces spring to life while the e5 pawn looks very weak. Black's knight is now shut out of the game.
20.Rad1 f4
21.g3! Qd6
22.gxf4 exf4
23.Kh1 ---
Black's attempt to close down access to his weak kingside dark squares with 20 ...f4 has just lead to the opening of other pathways in – the g-file and the d4 square.
23.--- Re8
24.Rg1+ Kf8
25.Be4 Bc8
There is no way to prevent 26 Nd4 (25...a6 26 Nd4! Bxd5 27 Bxd5 Qxd5 28 Qg2! with decisive penetration down the g file: e.g. Rd7 29 Nf5! Qxf5 30 Qg8+ Ke7 31 Rge1+ winning), so the bishop moves to defend e6.
26.Nd4 Qf6
Unfortunately 26...Bh3 to cover g2 and forestall Ne6 fails to 27 Qc2 Qd7 (or Qh6) 28 Ne6! as in the game.
27.Ne6+! Bxe6
The knight must be taken – resulting the the loss of the exchange. The alternative 27...Ke7 results in calamity after 28 Bc2! a6 29 Rde1 Kd6 30 Ba4! b5 31 Qf2! with the queen again getting into the black position – this time via c5.
28.dxe6 Qxe6
29.Bd5 Qh3
30.Bxf7 Qxf3+
Black gets one check, but it is his own king that will shortly perish.
31.Rg2 Kxf7
32.Qd7+ Kf6
33.Qg7+ Resigns
The e8 rook goes after either 33... Kf5 34 Qf7+ or 33... Ke6 34 Re1+
1-0
Solution: 1 Rxd6+! Qxd6 (1...Bd7 2 Rfxd7#; 1...Ke8 2 Qg8#) 2 Qf6+ Ke8 3 Ng7#.