Filippov, Anton (2500) - Karjakin, Sergey (2661) [B46]
Turin ol (Men) 37th (4), 24.05.2006
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6
Black is heading for the Paulsen Variation of the Sicilian Defense. Another alternative is
the flexible 4...a6 delaying the knight development and preparing to gain space on the
queenside with “b5” as soon as possible. Probably black wanted to avoid a 5.c4 advance,
which often leads to a Hedgehog type of position.
5.Nc3
Now a 5.c4 advance isn’t that great since after 5…Nf6 6.Nc3 Bb4 black has little trouble
equalizing.
5…a6
Nowadays the most testing move is considered 5...Qc7 which leads to a complicated and
sharp middle game.
6.Nxc6
Generally speaking this move shouldn’t pose black too many problems since it allows
him to increase his influence over the center. White intends to allow this and increase the
pressure with a “c4” advance. Still, with accurate play black can easily keep the balance.
The main alternatives are 6.Be2, 6.g3 (both leading to positional play) or the aggressive
6.Be3 which leads to sharper play.
6...bxc6 7.Bd3
White decides to go for the previously mentioned idea; it allows black to expand his
influence over the center with “d5” in order to apply pressure later with a “c4” advance,
after completing development.
Another option that makes sense is to advance 7.e5 in order to keep a “d5” advance under
control. After 7…Qc7 this move is very important since it forces white’s next move 8.f4
which leads after 8…d5 9.exd6 Bxd6 10.Ne4 Be7 11.Bd3 to a position where white is
slightly better due to his structure. Still, with the pawn on “f4”, the king isn’t that
comfortable on the kingside and the dark squares bishop is closed. With precise play
black won’t have too much trouble in keeping the balance.
7...d5 8.0–0 Nf6 9.Qe2
Another way to place the pieces is with 9.Re1 Be7 10.e5 Nd7 11.Qg4 g6 12.Bh6 which
also leads to a complicated position. Instead white intends to develop the bishop on “b2”
in order to have the “e5” pawn well defended.
9...Be7 10.b3 0–0 11.Bb2 Bb7
Black is keeping things safe. A more aggressive continuation is 11...c5 12.Rad1 Bb7
13.exd5 exd5 14.Na4. Still, white’s strong pressure against the hanging pawns will force
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black to advance “d4” and afterwards white has an edge due to his better [Link]
the central pawns blocked it’s harder for black to create dangerous counter play.
12.Na4
White immediately goes for the previously mentioned plan and makes room for the “c”
pawn. The alternative 12.Rad1 Qc7 13.Na4 leads to the same type of position but white’s
move is more flexible since later on he can place the rook on another file if necessary.
12...Qc7
The tempting 12…dxe4 13.Bxe4 Nxe4 which wins the bishop pair isn’t that great since
after 14.Qxe4 Qc7 15.Be5 black has a hard time advancing “c5”. Therefore the light
squares bishop remains out of play for a long time. Note that if white manages to make a
blockade on “c5” then black is strategically lost; the light squares bishop will never get
out since white will play “c4” at some point.
13.e5
In order to preserve any advantage this move is necessary. The immediate 13.c4 is less
strong since after 13…dxe4 14.Bxe4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 compared with the previous sideline,
black can play 15…c5 opening the bishop. The game is balanced since white’s superior
structure is offset by the bishop pair.
13...Nd7 14.c4 dxc4
Although this move looks like a poor positional decision since it spoils the pawn
structure, the reverse is true; this is a sound positional decision. White was threatening to
take on “d5” followed by “Bd4” getting a large positional advantage; afterwards he can
prepare to put the queenside pawns in motion while black is left with no counter play.
15.Bxc4 c5
Black is opening the bishop and delays as long as possible the obvious 15...Nb6 which
leads after 16.Nxb6 Qxb6 17.Rad1 to a position where white has an edge; the advantage
is too small for white to convert if black defends well. The reason for doing so is that
afterwards the chances of gaining anything are close to zero; black shows that he is not
yet ready for a draw.
16.Rad1
Trying to open the game on the kingside with 16.f4 is met with 16…g6, keeping a “f5”
advance under control.
16...Rfd8 17.Rd3
This is a double-purpose move. It prepares a doubling on the “d” file and enables the
rook to reach the kingside using the 3rd rank if necessary.
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17…Bc6
In the desire to keep his winning chances alive black is avoiding the logical move.
Although in this game he succeeded in outplaying his opponent, from a general point of
view this is at least a questionable decision. Black is threatening to take on “a4” followed
by “Nb6” but white can easily defend improving the position at the same time. With
natural moves white managed to put his pieces on natural squares and has some chances
for a kingside attack; therefore in order to keep things under control black’s best choice is
to trade some pieces. With fewer pieces on the board white’s chances for a successful
attack are close to zero. Note that for the moment black has no chances of getting any
counter play on the queenside; this is another reason for trading pieces.
After 17...Nb6 18.Nxb6 Qxb6 19.Rfd1 the position is equal; white’s better structure isn’t
at all important since he is unable to attack black’s weak pawns.
We are quite sure that black assessed the position correctly but in the desire to win he
took risks. This shows an important improvement, from a psychological point of view,
Karjakin’s confidence in his strength has grown.
18.Bc3
White is improving the bishop’s position and defends against black’s threat.
18…g6
The planned move 18...Bxa4 isn’t that great now since after 19.bxa4 Nb6 20.Ba5 (this is
the point of white’s previous move) 20…Qc6 21.Bxb6 Qxb6 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8
After 22...Bxd8 23.Qe4 Rb8 24.Bd3 g6 25.Rb1 Qa7 26.Rxb8 Qxb8 27.Bxa6 the
character of the position doesn’t change much compared with the main sideline.
23.Bxa6 white keeps a small yet lasting advantage. His bishop is a little more active and
he has a distant passed pawn that may prove decisive in the endgame. Instead black takes
defensive measures on the kingside in advance.
19.Rfd1 Rdb8
Black is moving the rook away from the “d” file in order to avoid trading the heavy
pieces if he moves his knight.
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20.Qg4
White is trying to put pressure on the kingside by bringing the queen closer.
20…Rb7
Taking the pawn 20...Nxe5 leads to disaster since after 21.Qf4 f6 22.Nxc5 white has a
decisive advantage; the knight is immune due to “Qxf6”.
21.Qf4
21…Bxa4
This time black is pushing things too far. This move is bad allowing white to gain a big
advantage. It is quite obvious that black lost focus at this moment since he was
acquainted with intermediary moves even from an early age; the first game clearly shows
this. In order to leave white only with an edge it was necessary to play 21…Bf8. By
taking defensive measures on the kingside in advance black keeps things under control.
22.bxa4
White fails to punish black for the careless decision by not spotting a strong intermediary
move 22.Rf3 which makes sense since the “f7” square is weak.
After 22…Rf8 white has another strong reply 23.Qh6 that threatens the deadly “Rh3” so
black has nothing better than 23….Bg5, but after 24.Qxg5 Bc6 25.Rh3 white has a large
advantage. White has gained the bishop pair without spoiling the structure and has good
attacking prospects due to the weakness of the kingside dark squares.
22...Nb6
Now black is O.K since with the 7th rank clear black can defend against “Rf3” by moving
the bishop.
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23.Ba5
This move is rather forced. Otherwise black takes the light squares bishop getting
comfortable play; practically he will remain a pawn up since the doubled “a” pawns are
unimportant.
23…Qc6 24.Bxb6 Rxb6
Black must have been slightly upset; all his efforts to keep the game alive, for him, were
in vain since this position is equal with little chance of unbalancing it. Still, to his praise
black keeps on fighting and at the end is rewarded; of course with white’s generous help.
25.Rf3 Qe8
The careless 25...Rf8 allows white to carry out the idea mentioned previously of playing
26.Qh6 which leads after the forced 26…f5 27.exf6 Rxf6 28.Rxf6 Bxf6 29.Re1 to a
position were white has the advantage due to black’s numerous weaknesses.
26.h4
This is typical move in this kind of position; white not only makes an escape route for the
king but by advancing the pawn he will further weaken black’s kingside structure. The
point is that afterwards he can sacrifice the bishop, if allowed, in order to get a strong
attack; with the “h” pawn on the board this is out of the question.
26…Rb4
Black is still hoping; therefore he avoids the obvious line 26...Rd8 27.Rxd8 Bxd8 28.h5
Bc7 that leads to a position where neither side can make any progress.
27.a3 Rbb8
Too risky is 27...Rxa4 since after 28.h5 white will simply strengthen his position slowly
since the rook will be out of play for a long time.
28.h5 Bf8
Black anticipates that the “h” file will open; therefore he is bringing the bishop to “g7” in
order to defend against any surprise along the “h” file.
29.hxg6 hxg6 30.Rfd3 Ra7 31.Qh4
Better would have been 31.a5 Rab7 32.Kh2 with an equal position; there is no point in
giving up the “a” pawn unnecessarily.
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31...Raa8
This is another strange decision. For the entire game black has intended to complicate
matters and now that he has the chance to do so he refuses to take it. The point of this
move is too keep an eye on the “Rd8” threat that intends to trade a pair of rooks keeping
black tied to the 8th rank. Still, this isn’t a dangerous threat since black hasa simple
means to defend against it. Therefore black had no reason not to take the pawn.
After 31...Qxa4 32.Rd8 Raa8 white is now unable to take advantage of the 8th rank and
the good looking “R8d7” is met in the same way as in the game with “Rb1”. Black keeps
everything under control, gaining a pawn in the meantime.
32.f4
This is an unnecessary move that only weakens the king and covers the “f” file so any
“Rf3” threat is no longer possible. A better alternative was to play 32.Rh3 Bg7 33.Qh7+
Kf8 34.Rf3 and black is under pressure; he has to play with accuracy in order to hold the
balance. With the king misplaced on “f8” white has the constant threat of playing either
“Qxg6” or “Bd3-g6”.
32...Bg7 33.Rd7
A logical continuation of the previous move was 33.f5 gxf5
After 33...exf5 34.e6 fxe6 35.Rd6 white has a decisive attack since all his pieces
take part while black’s rooks are only spectators.
34.Rg3 Rd8 35.Rxg7+ Kxg7 36.Qg5+ with a draw. Instead white makes a common
mistake. This move is threatening the deadly “Re7” followed by “Rdd7” which should
put an end to the game. It is hard to believe that black doesn’t have anything prepared;
therefore white should check even the most unexpected moves before making it.
33...Rb1
The punishment has come with the speed of light. After this move white is in very bad
psychological shape; not only are his wining dreams in the past, but has to play well in
order to hold. As we will see he wasn’t able to pull himself together and lost the game
eventually; although for quite some time he played well.
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34.Kf2 Rxd1 35.Rxd1 Qxa4 36.Rd8+
For the moment, after losing the pawn, white is going in the right direction and trades the
rooks keeping the king safe.
Worse would have been 36.Be2 Qxa3 since white lost another pawn gaining nothing in
return.
36...Rxd8 37.Qxd8+ Bf8 38.Qd3 a5 39.g4
This is a good idea; white intends to open the position as soon as possible in order to get
drawing chances based on perpetual checks.
The solid 39.g3 Qc6 is less accurate since black is keeping up the pressure.
39...Be7 40.f5
This is the good and logical continuation of the previous move.
40…gxf5
Trying to keep the position closed with 40...Bh4+ 41.Ke3 Kg7 doesn’t work since after
42.fxe6 fxe6 43.Bxe6 black is unable to make dangerous threats.
41.gxf5 exf5 42.e6
Until now, white has been playing well and the draw is within his grasp. Starting with
this move, which although it doesn’t lose isn’t the simplest way to equalize, white will
play less accurately allowing black to obtain a decisive advantage.
Better would have been 42.Qd5 Qe8 43.e6 fxe6 44.Qxf5 and since “Qxe6” follows the
game should soon end in a draw.
42...fxe6 43.Bxe6+ Kg7 44.Qc3+
This is another inaccuracy; this time the effect is decisive.
Necessary was 44.Qxf5 such a move should be made without any hesitation since it
secures a drawn endgame if the queens are traded; so in addition to the perpetual checks
threat white can blackmail black with the queens’ swap 44…Qd4+ 45.Ke2 Bf6 46.Qg4+
Qxg4+ 47.Bxg4 with an obvious draw.
44...Bf6
Now black has everything under control; with the “f” pawn on the board it is black that
can blackmail white with the queen’s swap since the endgame is won.
45.Qg3+ Kh6 46.Qe3+
After 46.Bb3 Qd7
A huge mistake is 46...Qxa3 since after 47.Qh2+ Kg6 48.Qg3+ black is unable to
escape perpetual checks.
47.Qh3+ Kg6 48.Qg2+ Bg5 49.Qd5 Qxd5 50.Bxd5 Kf6 the endgame is lost since the “a”
pawns are on the board; otherwise the endgame is a draw since there are only two
columns between black’s pawns.
46...Kg6 47.Qg3+ Bg5 48.Qe5 Qc2+
Much simpler was 48...Qf4+ 49.Qxf4 Bxf4 with the same won endgame.
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49.Kf3 Qd3+ 50.Kg2 c4 51.Bd5 Bf6 52.Qe8+ Kg5 53.Qg8+ Kf4
White is trying very hard to achieve perpetual check but in the process he has allowed
black’s king to become active; suddenly black has a strong attack.
54.Bxc4 Qf3+ 55.Kh2 Qxa3
The immediate 55...Be5 56.Qg2 Qxa3 was also sufficient.
56.Bf1 Be5
Suddenly white’s king is in danger.
57.Qe6 Qg3+ 58.Kh1 Qf3+ 59.Bg2 Qh5+
Black enters by force into a won endgame. Quicker was 59...Qd1+ 60.Kh2 Qe1 and white
cannot avoid the mate.
60.Kg1 Bd4+ 61.Kf1 Qd1+
This is the point of black’s previous play; white is forced to trade queens.
62.Qe1 Qxe1+ 63.Kxe1 Ke3 64.Bc6 f4 65.Bd7 f3 66.Bb5 f2+ 67.Kd1 Kf3
Since the “f” pawn will cost white the bishop and the “a” pawn is on the right corner,
white resigned.
0–1
CONCLUSIONS: Age 15
Strengths.
1. Karjakin has improved his game from a psychological point of view since he is
able to take more risks and play any equal position without getting bored; this
can be seen in every top player.
Weaknesses.
1. For the moment the main weakness is that he is unable to maintain focus for the
entire game.
We can assess that from a chess standpoint, his game didn’t improve at all.
