Skype coaching session, 28 September 2014. The following game was examined, the game 29 moves) is given with annotations and then again without annotations. Paul Benson. * * * Annotated game. White: M. Carlsen, 2484. Black: S. Ernst, 2474. Event: Wijk aan Zee, Group C, 2004. Result: 1-0 in 29 moves. Opening: Caro-Kann Defence, Classical Variation, B19. | Time for some nostalgia. Please, however long ago, can you try and remember what you were doing at the age of 12 Years? My opening repertoire had just undergone a drastic improvement. The Neanderthal-like white opening system, 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. Qf3, had become a victim of evolutionary processes, as the chess survival of the fittest fight for places in the school chess team took place, it had to change due to pressure of selection, naturally. It was replaced with the more sophisticated opening system of, 1. g3, 2. Bg2, 3. Nf3, 4. O-O, followed by a puzzled look of, "So, what do I do now?" Some chess-educated 12 year old of the 21st century are sufficiently advanced as to have earned Master titles. Their knowledge of how to play opening systems would astound Steinitz and Lasker. However once the middlegame begins, the hidden Neanderthal genes can begin to express themselves again. Here we witness a 12 year old white produce a mature blend of sophistication and Neanderthalism. Enjoy. || 1. e4 c6 | White was expecting, 1. ... e5, heading into a Ruy Lopez. Such repertoire departures should not create a panic, but should at least set off a few quiet alarm bells. || 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 | A relatively comfortable variation for both players. There are no tactics to be calculated for a good while. Each player just gets on with their own development before settling down to starting to think about the fight in the middlegame, around move 16 or so. Instead, 4. ... Nd7, is popular here. There is also the more aggressive, 4. ... Nf6, offering white the opportunity to double pawns with, 5. Nxf6+, when black intends to show the doubled pawns are not obviously weak and the pawn structure imbalance gives chances for active play. Black can capture with either pawn, some study of how to handle the 2 different captures will be necessary if, 4. Nf6, is to be placed in the repertoire. || 5. Ng3 Bg6 | The white g3 knight and the black g6 bishop, 2 squares apart on the same file, have entered into a formation of mutual restriction. Neither is actually better or worse, it is all the other units on the board which will determine who has an advantage. || 6. h4 | White intends to claim space on the kingside while keeping the centre under control. || 6. ... h6 7. Nf3 | It is white in the Classical Variation, 4. ... Bf5, who has more flexibility of development. The game move is the most popular choice, but 7. Nh3, and, 7. N1e2, have their merits. || 7. ... Nd7 | Black keeps a white knight out of the e5 square, because 8. Ne5 Nxe5 9. dxe5 Qa5+, and black wins the white e5 pawn. || 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 | Instead, 10. ... Qc7, is quite popular here. The idea is to prevent white establishing a bishop on the f4 square. || 11. Bf4 Ngf6 | Black can still force the white bishop back with, 11. ... Qa5+. White can block the check in 4 ways, only one seems satisfactory. If, 12. c3, white will have problems organising castling queenside, the a2 pawn would be undefended. If, 12. Qd2, black will trade queens to reduce the pressure of the middlegame. If, 12. Nd2, white loses some control of the e5 square and still has the a-pawn problem concerning castling queenside. So, 12. Bd2, is forced. The black queen simply retreats, 12. ... Qc7, and the position is as if the moves, Bf4, and, Qa5, had not been played. || 12. O-O-O Be7 | This move order by black indicates kingside castling is in mind, setting up an opposite-wing attack middlegame. || 13. Ne4 | A piece which has moved 3-timesis given another move. However, black traded a bishop on d3 which also cost 3 moves, so no-one is really falling behind in development. It is not so much the centralisation of the knight which is the reason, but removing the blockage of the white g-pawn, now free to start any kingside action. || 13. ... Qa5 | Slightly unusual. There is some pressure across the white 5th rank, the h5 pawn being a potential target. However, experience suggests black gives white much play should the h-pawn be gobbled up. || 14. Kb1 O-O 15. Nxf6+ | White is planning for a simple game where the remaining white minor pieces are slightly better than the black pair. || 15. ... Nxf6 | If, 15. Bxf6 16. g4, gives white a good kingside initiative. Now the black knight is on the f6 square the e5 square invites a white knight. || 16. Ne5 | In 2003 at Wijk aan Zee the game Polgar - Anand continued: 16. g4 Nxg4 17. Rdg1 Qf5 18. Qd2 g5 19. hxg6 fxg6 20. Bxh6 Qxf3 21. Bxf8 Rxf8 22. d5 cxd5 23. Qd4 Nf6 24. Rxg6+ Kf7 25. Rhg1 Rc8 26. Rg7+ Kf8 27. Qh4 Ke8 28. Qa4+ Kf8 29. Qh4 Ke8 30. Qa4+ Kf8 1/2-1/2. Anand wisely chose to avoid the prepared complications arising from, 16. g4 Nxg4 17. Rdg1 Nxf2 18. Qf1 Nxh1 19. Bxh6 Kh7 20. Bxg7 Rg8 21. h6. This game will have been given the full-Fritz treatment, and since Ernst has deliberately strayed from his usual defences, Carlsen chooses to avoid a potential minefield. || 16. ... Rad8 | Perhaps, 16. ... c5, is more advisable for black here. The rook centralisation only assists white. || 17. Qe2 | Just where her majesty wishes to be, out of danger but still influencing the light squares. || 17. ... c5 | this natural move causes black a lot of problems. Instead, 17. ... Qb6, doubly attacking the white d4 pawn, followed by, 18. c3 c5, seems a better plan for black. The extra moves of white, pawn c3, and black, Qb6, make a very big difference. Now white to play, who so far has been studiously avoiding complications, decides to entertain the crowd. || 18. Ng6 | A concept quite well-known to theory. The factors to note are the white queen on the e2 square, the white pawn on the h5 square, the white rook still at home on the h1 square, the d1 rook with flexibility of movement, and the dark square bishop pointing at the black h6 pawn. In essence, every white piece is better than every black piece. With all these factors present, a passive sacrifice to destroy the light square protection of the black king is now possible. || 18. ... fxg6 | Instead, 18. ... Rfe8 19. Nxe7+ Rxe7 20. dxc5, and white is winning a pawn. If black continues, 20. ... Rxd1+ 21. Rxd1 Qxc5 22. Bd6, black loses a rook. So black takes the offered piece on the grounds that white might go astray in the upcoming complications. || 19. Qxe6+ Kh8 20. hxg6 | White must not fall for, 20. Qxe7 Nd5, forking queen and bishop, the latter now doubly attacked by black f8 rook and knight, and therefore lost. White can not snatch more pawns with, 21. Qxc5 Qxc5 22. dxc5 Nxf4, as black is now attacking both the g2 and h5 pawns. So after, hxg6, white has 2 pawns for the knight and a serious grip on the light squares in front of the black king, but how is white to continue the attack? A planning trick taught me by John Littlewood might assist. He says, "Just imagine your pieces on their best squares, and then work out how to get them there". Well, where is the best square for the white queen? Hopefully the h7 square came to mind. Now we have an idea of what to aim for, the only problem is how to achieve it... || 20. ... Ng8 | So simple. Black defends the e7 bishop and strengthens the h6 pawn, just in case white was getting any ideas about blasting away with everything available. The choices black had to reject were: (a). 20. ... Qb6 21. Qxe7, threatening a painful, Bc7, skewer, so, 21. Rde8 22. dxc5 Qc6 23. Qc7. Very miserable for black but not lost. Warning: Options (b) and (c) immediately below might reveal strategic and tactical ideas relevant to the game. Those wishing to anticipate the game moves for study purposes should return to this point after black move 23. (b). 20. ... Rde8, receives the strong sequence, 21. Rxh6+ gxh6 22. Bxh6 Rg8 23. Qf7 cxd4 24. Bg5. The h-file is now open for a rook check and white threatens to undermine the defence of the h7 square with, Bxf6+. If, 24. ... Qxg5 25. Rh1+, when if the black knight blocks the check then, Qh7+ mate, occurs. Instead, if the black queen blocks the check, the white rook captures with check and yet again the overloaded black f6 knight has been deflected from the focal point for the mate, h7. (c). 20. ... Rd7, keeping a rook guard on the f7 square to prevent the white mating master-plan. However, white just keeps hammering on with, 21. Rxh6+ gxh6 22. Bxh6, giving black some time to breathe and offer to return some material. Black could try, 22. ... Qb6 23. g7+ Kh7 24. gxf8=Q Bxf8, and now the black d7 rook guards the important f7 white queen entry square. However, the black forces do not coordinate, white has another plan, 25. Qf5+. Yes, giving up the h6 bishop, in order to set up a queen and rook mate on the edge of the board. After, 25. ... Kxh6 26. f4, black is struggling. White threatens, Qg5+, and, Rh1+, mating. The only satisfactory way to prevent this plan is, 26. ... Ne4, but this knight has again been shown to be overloaded. Simply, 27. Qxd7, and white must be content with a winning material advantage instead of mate. || 21. Bxh6 | Tactics flow from a superior position. White must now invest material to achieve the desired, Qh7+ mate. || 21. ... gxh6 | If instead, 21. ... Nxh6, white would continue exactly the same. || 22. Rxh6+ | Tactics are still flowing from a superior position. White must invest even more material to achieve the desired, Qh7+ mate. || 22. ... Nxh6 23. Qxe7 | The line clearances for the white queen to reach the h7 square are complete, at the cost of a rook and a knight. The scattered black forces, all on the edge of the board, are spectators. However, it only needs one good move available for the defence in such positions and the sacrificial attack flounders. || 23. ... Nf7 | The only other way to block the line to h7 was, 23. ... Rf7, but this just loses to, 24. gxf7, when the only way to prevent the pawn promotion costing black the other rook is, 24. ... Nxf7, 25. Qxf7, with the unstoppable threat of, Rh1+ mating. It might seem as if black is powerless, but there is now a constant threat against white. Either the white queen or rook must guard the vulnerable e1 square against black, Qe1+ mating. Being on the attack does not mean the opponent is helpless. || 24. gxf7 | A new move to theory. Previously known here is: 24. Qf6+ Kg8 25. Rh1 Nh6, the knight is untouchable due to Qe1+ mating. White continued, 26. Qe7 Nf7 27. Qf6 Nh6 28. Qe7, and a draw by repetition occurred. A pity. White could have won with, 24. Qf6+ Kg8 25. Rh1 Nh6 26. Qe7 Nf7, and now that the weak e1 square is backwardly protected, white has time for a rook lift with, 27. Rh3. Black is helpless, if, 27. ... Kg7 28. gxf7 threatens, Rg3+, and, Qh4+ mate, an adjacent files queen and rook mate. The only way to prevent this is, 27. ... Qe1+ 28. Qxe1, but temporarily deflecting the white queen from the attack is not enough to stop the attack, black has no coordination and the white g-pawn is still very strong. || 24. ... Kg7 25. Rd3 | Instead, 25. Qe5+, is equally entertaining. The idea is to create adjacent queen and rook sweeping to the edge of the board for mate. If, 25. ... Kxf7 26. Rd3, and black has no sensible options, perhaps, 26. ... Qb4, could be tried. White then has, 27. Rf3+ Kg6 28. Qe4+ Kg5 29. Rg3+, and there are now 3 forced mates. Firstly, 29. ... Kh6 30. Qh4+ mate. Secondly, 29. ... Kh5 30. Qg4+ Kh6 31. Rh3+ mate. Thirdly, 29. ... Kf6 30. Rg6+ Kf7 31. Qe6+ mate. || 25. ... Rd6 | An attempt to provide shelter for the black king along the 3rd rank. || 26. Rg3+ Rg6 27. Qe5+ | White can safely give up the strong f7 pawn, it is a matter of an active white queen and rook hunting a black king with only a rook to hide behind, wether the f7 pawn is present or not. || 27. ... Kxf7 | Instead, 27. ... Kh7, white can forcibly restrict the black king to the h-file and mate with, 28. Rh3+ Rh6 29. Qf5+ Kg7 30. Rg3+ Kh8 31. Qe5+ Kh7 32. Qg7+ mate. || 28. Qf5+ | The white queen and rook have achieved the desired adjacent files formation. An undefended king will not survive long in such positions. || 28. ... Rf6 | Almost certainly played with a smile. Instead, either 28. ... Ke7 / Ke8 28. Re3+ Kd8 29. Qxf8+ Kc7 30. Qf7+, picking up the black g6 rook, is just one winning line. The white attack has regained all the invested material with a healthy interest. At black move 23, white was a rook and knight down, now he would be a rook up, all in under 10 moves. So it must be true, tactics really do flow from a superior position. || 29. Qd7+ mate, 1-0 | This black piece formation is called an epaulette mate, because the 2 rooks appear as adornments on the shoulders of the black king. It is more common where the defeated king is on the edge of the board, here the white rook is needed on the g-file to prevente any flights from the checking white queen. || * * * ## Unannotated game. White: M. Carlsen, 2484. Black: S. Ernst, 2474. Event: Wijk aan Zee, Group C, 2004. Result: 1-0 in 29 moves. Opening: Caro-Kann Defence, Classical Variation, B19. 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bf4 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Be7 13. Ne4 Qa5 14. Kb1 O-O 15. Nxf6+ Nxf6 16. Ne5 Rad8 17. Qe2 c5 18. Ng6 fxg6 19. Qxe6+ Kh8 20. hxg6 Ng8 21. Bxh6 gxh6 22. Rxh6+ Nxh6 23. Qxe7 Nf7 24. gxf7 Kg7 25. Rd3 Rd6 26. Rg3+ Rg6 27. Qe5+ Kxf7 28. Qf5+ Rf6 29. Qd7+ mate, 1-0 * * *