Lahno, Kateryna (2472) - Carlsen, Magnus (2567) [B56] Lausanne YM 5th (3.2), 20.09.2004 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bd7 From a wide range of main lines (e.g., 5...a6; 5...e6; 5...Nc6; 5...g6), black goes for a rare one. It seems that even at an early age, Carlsen preferred to avoid theoretical disputes and head for a thought fight in the middle game; he is not fighting for an advantage right from the beginning. From this standpoint he is an atypical top player. Nowadays he is the only one who doesn t put much effort into openings. From a general point of view this seems like a major drawback, but such an approach has gotten him to the top, so who can argue with success? The point of this move is quite obvious; black intends to put early pressure on e4, either with the direct Bc6 or after playing e5 first. Note that the bishop will also support a d5 advance. 6.Be2 This approach is too soft and doesn t give much chance to gain an advantage. In order to gain an opening advantage, white has to speculate on black s previous move, which is a committal one. This can be done by entering into normal lines where black s move isn t particularly good. The idea of entering the Richter Rauzer Attack 6.Bg5 doesn t achieve much since after 6 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.0 0 0 Nc6 the game enters into normal theoretical lines were Bd7 is a good move. Defending the e4 pawn in advance with 6.f3 heading for an English Attack type of position also doesn t give that much since after 6 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Be3 0 0 9.Qd2 black has the possibility of 9 a5 10.a4 Na6 which leads to a balanced game. The best way to meet black s idea is to head for the Sozin Attack, 6.Bc4. After 6 Nc6 7.0 0 black s best try is 7 g6 which enters theoretical lines of the Accelerated Dragon Variation that is considered by the theory to be in white s favor. The point is that if black enters into typical positions of the Sozin Attack based on an e6 advance, then not only 1
is the bishop poorly placed here, but black loses an important tempo that doesn t allow him to get counterplay in time. When facing a rather normal, yet atypical, opening move, the best course of action is to try to direct the game in lines where such a move is less useful. By doing so the chances of gaining an opening advantage are high. 6...Bc6 Black puts pressure on e4 and is not revealing his future plans for the moment. The fact that he can lose the pair of bishops isn t that important since in the middle game white s d4 knight is usually stronger than black s bishop. Another alternative was to start active operations in the center at once with 6...e5. After 7.Nb3 Bc6 8.Bg5 Nbd7 9.f3 the game is complicated yet balanced. 7.0 0 e6 So, black decides to finish his development before taking any active actions. Note that taking the pawn is bad. After 7...Nxe4 8.Nxc6 Nxc3 9.Nxd8 Nxd1 10.Nxb7 white has a decisive advantage since black s knight is trapped. After 7...Bxe4 8.Nxe4 Nxe4 9.Bf3 d5 10.c4 white has a big advantage since black is unable to keep things under control in the center. 8.Nxc6 This is a good call since sooner or later white will have to take this bishop; he prefers to do it at once since the e pawn cannot be defended in a favorable way. 8 Nxc6 There would be some point in playing 8...bxc6 in order to support a d5 advance. After 9.Bf4 Be7 10.Qd2 0 0 11.Rfd1 d5 the game is balanced. 9.Bf4 White prepares to put pressure on d6 by doubling the heavy pieces on the d file hoping to force black to advance e5. 9.Be7 10.Qd2 0 0 11.Rad1 Qa5 It would have been a positional mistake to play 11...e5. After the rather forced line 12.Bg5 Nd4 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Nd5 Rc8 15.c3 Bg5 16.Qd3 Nxe2+ 17.Qxe2 white gains a small yet lasting advantage due to the powerful knight while black s bishop would remain a passive piece. Note that black would have no counterplay, so white could slowly increase the pressure. Instead, black gets the queen out, indirectly defending the d pawn due to the Rd8 possibility. 2
12.a3 It is obvious that white hasn t gotten much of an advantage from the opening. For the moment her main problem is finding a viable plan in order to put some pressure on black s position. The point of this move is to prepare a b4 advance gaining space on queenside. Still, afterwards she remains with a backward pawn on the c file that cannot be advanced and needs constant care; therefore this plan doesn t give any real advantage. On the kingside she has little chance of creating real threats, and increasing the pressure on d6 is also not possible since black would place a rook on the d file on the next move. Since neither plan has real chances of success, the idea of forcing matters strongly suggests itself; therefore white should check the forced variation that occurs by taking on d6. After 12.Bxd6 Rad8 Placing the other rook on d8 12...Rfd8 changes nothing since white will head for the main sideline. 13.e5 Nxe5 (this is the only way of leveling the material balance) 14.Nd5 Qxd5 Of course not 14...Qxd2 15.Nxe7+ and white has a decisive advantage. 15.Qxd5 Nxd5 16.Bxe5 Bf6 (leaving white without the bishop pair) 17.Bxf6 Nxf6 18.c3 white has slightly better prospects. The bishop is better than the knight and white has the possibility of creating a passed pawn later on in the game. Although black should hold since he has no weaknesses, it is obvious that only white can press forward. So, this line is superior to white s choice. 12...Rfd8 13.Qe3 White starts playing without any particular plan and slowly allows black to gain the initiative. A better alternative was to use the previous move in order to gain space on the queenside; after all it is better to play with a plan. After 13.b4 Qb6 Taking the pawn 13...Qxa3 is bad since after 14.Rb1 Nxb4 (this is the only way to defend against the deadly Rb3 threat) 15.Ra1 Qb2 16.Rfb1 Qxc2 17.Rxb4 Qxd2 18.Bxd2 white has a large advantage; black s pawns don t offer sufficient compensation. 14.Be3 Qc7 15.f4 the position is complicated. 3
13...Rac8 14.Qg3 Preparing the doubling of the rooks on the d file with 14.Rd2 allows black to strike in the center at once by 14 d5 15.exd5 exd5 with a balanced position. 14...Ne5 15.Rd4 Ng6 Black isn t content with the draw that could occur after 15...Nc6 16.Rd2 Ne5. 16.Be3 a6 Quite an interesting alternative is 16...Rxc3 17.bxc3 Qxa3 and black has sufficient compensation for the exchange due to white s weak queenside. It seems that black doesn t feels such drastic measures are required and prepares a b5 advance. 17.f4 White decides that the time has come for active play on the kingside, but this advance only helps black since he will gain stable squares for the knights. The restrained 17.Rfd1 was better and leads after 17 b5 to a balanced position. 17...e5 This is the right call; afterwards black gains control over the important e5 square. Also, if white advances the pawn, then black will have problems defending the e6 pawn after fe6. Note that taking on f5 is even worse since it gives white good prospects on the kingside. 18.Ra4 exf4 This is an important intermediary move; otherwise, white advances f5 gaining the advantage. 19.Rxa5 Trying to keep the kingside structure intact with 19.Rxf4 Qe5 20.Rf3 allows black to strike in the center at once with 20 d5 which leads after 21.Qxe5 Nxe5 22.Rf5 Nc4 23.Bxc4 dxc4 to a position where black is better; his pieces are well coordinated and he has a superior pawn structure. 19...fxg3 20.hxg3 Ne5 21.Rd1 Bringing the rook back into play at once with 21.Ra4 was better since it takes control over the important c4 square. 21...Rc6 Black is slowly preparing to play on the queenside; he defends the a6 pawn in advance so that he can play b5 at some point and double the rooks on the c file. Still, such a slow plan allows white to coordinate his pieces by bringing the passive rook into play. It seems better to leave white without the bishop s pair. After 21...Nc4 22.Bxc4 Rxc4 black is slightly better. 4
22.Ra4 Rdc8 23.Rad4 This looks like the right move since it brings the rook back into play. Still, the rook is rather passive here; therefore better looking is 23.Rb4, pressing on b7. Black has to keep a piece to defend this pawn since advancing b5 allows white to start active play using the undermining move a4. 23...Kf8 Black could change the character of the game by giving up an exchange with 23...Rxc3. After 24.bxc3 Rxc3 25.Bg5 Rxa3 26.Bxf6 gxf6 it is obvious that black has more than enough compensation. Still, getting the advantage is problematic. Therefore he feels that such drastic measures aren t required so he brings the king closer to the center instead. 24.Kf1 Nfd7 25.Bf2 It seems that white has decided to wait and see how black intends to improve his position; this isn t the best course of action since black has the means to do it. A better alternative was to put some pressure on the queenside with 25.Rb4 intending to meet 25 b5 with 26.a4. That leads after 26 Nc4 27.Bxc4 Rxc4 28.Rxc4 bxc4 29.Nd5 Rb8 30.Bd4 to a rather balanced endgame since white has managed to put the light pieces on active squares. 25...Nc4 This time black makes no mistake and forces white to give up her light squares bishop since both Nb2 and Na3 are threatened. 26.Bxc4 Rxc4 27.Rxc4 Rxc4 28.Bd4 Nb8 From a strategic point of view, this move is the best since it threatens Nc6 followed by Bf6, putting strong pressure on the queenside. Still, it has a major drawback: it is a bit passive and allows white to get counterplay. Better would have been 28...Nf6 29.Ke2 and black holds on to the advantage. 29.e5 White too makes a good positional move and trades the central pawns. Afterwards her only weakness is the doubled g pawns; therefore she should hold with accurate defense. Still, a long and tough defense lies ahead; therefore white should look to see if there isn t a way to force events. The idea of playing Nd5 threatening Bg7 strongly suggests itself. Still, the immediate Nd5 is met with Rc2 and the b pawn will hang later on; therefore white has to remove the pawn from b2 first. Happily for him this can be done with a gain of tempo. So, better was 29.b3 Rc8 30.Nd5 Rxc2 After 30...Nc6 31.c4 Nxd4 32.Rxd4 with such a well placed knight, white has nothing to fear. 31.Bxg7+ Kxg7 32.Nxe7 The position is balanced, heading for a draw since massive trades of pawns cannot be avoided. 29...dxe5 30.Bxe5 Nc6 31.Bd6 This move is rather forced since after 31.Bf4 follows 31 Bxa3 winning a pawn. 5
31...Bxd6 32.Rxd6 Ke7 33.Rd2 Ke6 After a rather forced line, we have reached an endgame that favors black; he has the better structure and slightly better-placed pieces. Still, with only the kingside pawns weak, white should hold with careful defense; she has only one weakness. 34.Ne2 White is trying to improve the knight; this is the right call since on c3 it s quite misplaced. Another way of achieving the same goal was with 34.Nd5. After 34 Rd4 35.Nf4+ Kd6 36.Nd3 Trading the rooks with 36.Rxd4+ Nxd4 37.c3 Nb3 favors black since he can penetrate with the king more easily. 36...Rd5 37.Rf2 black is slightly better. Instead white drives the knight to f3 in order to leave the d file open. 34...g5 Black takes control over the f4 square and prepares to advance the pawns to gain space on the kingside. 35.c3 h5 36.Kf2 Re4 37.Ng1 This is the point of white s 34 th move; the knight heads to f3. Another idea was to improve the structure on the queenside with 37.b3 f6 38.a4. It seems that white keeps the pawn on b2 in order to defend it more easily if necessary. 37...Ne5 38.Nf3 Ng4+ 39.Kf1 f6 40.Nd4+ Trading the rooks 40.Rd4 Rxd4 41.Nxd4+ Kd5 42.Ke2 also leaves black with the advantage. Although winning isn t at all easy, white s decision to keep the rooks looks better since white has hopes of counterplay; without the rooks her chances are slim. 40...Kd5 Black is taking the king to the queenside, keeping it close to the center at the same time. Keeping the king on the kingside with 40...Kf7 leads after 41.Nf5 Kg6 42.Nd6 Re7 to a position were black has the advantage too but it s quite difficult to come up with a plan to strengthen the position. Still, this line is slightly better since white is unable to get counterplay. 41.Nf5+ Kc5 42.Re2 Starting counterplay at once 42.Rd7 b6 43.Nd4 was also possible, but this move is better since it forces black to put the rook on a relatively passive square. 42...Ra4 Trading the rooks with 42...Rxe2 leads after 43.Kxe2 Kc4 44.Nd4 a5 45.a4 Ne5 to a position were black s advantage is too small; he is unable to penetrate on the queenside. 43.Re7 b5 44.Ke2 The immediate 44.Nd4 Ne5 45.Ke2 doesn t change much since black s best reply is Kd5 leading to the same position that occurs in the game. 6
44...Kd5 45.Nd4 Ne5 46.Rh7 Until now white has defended well and had managed to balance the game; black made a couple of inaccuracies in the process. White intends to win the h pawn, but this move allows black to gain a large advantage by hidden yet simple means. This is quite understandable from a psychological point of view; after leveling an inferior position, the level of concentration drops so mistakes are more common. She should ask herself, why such a strong player would be giving up a pawn. By doing so the hidden possibility that occurs in the game could be spotted. Better would have been 46.Rb7, not allowing black s next move. Black s best try is Nc4 but after 47.Rd7+ Ke4 48.Re7+ Ne5 49.Kd2 white has everything under control; she should hold without any trouble. 46...b4 Certainly this strong undermining move was missed by white; afterwards the rook penetrates white s camp with decisive effect. 47.axb4 Ra2 48.Nc2 Better chances were offered by 48.Rxh5 heading for an active defense and trying to trade as many pawns as possible 48 Rxb2+ 49.Ke3 Nc4+ Bad is 49...Rxg2 50.Ne2 and white has everything under control. 50.Kf3 Rd2. Although black has a large advantage, white s practical chances are greater than in the game. 48...Rxb2 49.Kd1 After 49.Kd2 Kc4 the terrible threat of Kb3 gives black a large advantage. 49...Kc4 50.Rc7+ Trying to drive the rook away from 2 nd rank with 50.Kc1 is not possible due to 50 Kb3. 7
50...Kd3 Now the king goes to the kingside, picking off the pawns. 51.Ne1+ Ke3 52.Nc2+ Kf2 53.Ra7 After 53.Kc1 Nd3+ 54.Kd1 Even worse is 54.Kd2 Ne1 since white loses the knight. 54...Kxg2 black has a decisive advantage. 53...Kxg2 54.Rxa6 Kxg3 55.Rxf6 h4 Although white has managed to restore the material balance, black s kingside pawns are too advanced and well supported. 56.Rf5 Bringing the knight to the kingside by 56.Ne3 solves nothing since after 56 h3 57.Nf1+ Kg4 58.Ne3+ Kh5 white is lost. 56...Nf3 57.Ne3 Rd2+ 58.Kc1 Re2 59.Nf1+ Kg2 Now the knight is lost; white could already resign. 60.b5 Re1+ 61.Kb2 Rxf1 62.b6 Re1 63.b7 Re8 64.c4 h3 Since the h pawn is unstoppable, white resigned. 0 1 CONCLUSIONS: Age 14 Strengths 1. His positional play has continued to improve. 2. His technique of converting the advantage has improved; although he made some inaccuracies, his technical play was good. 3. He has the ability to create some play in any type of position. Weaknesses The main weakness that will be a trademark of his later career is that he does not attach much weight to opening knowledge. This also can be an advantage since it sharpens the middle game, but it is quite difficult to create something out of nothing particularly at the highest levels. For the past year Carlsen has improved his play, becoming a strong grandmaster. 8