The elite tournament at Zurich has ended in overall victory for the American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, who also took the trophy at the Tradewise tournament in Gibraltar. The scoring system involved complex calculations after three different phases involving blitz, rapidplay and classical time limits. In my opinion, Anand deserved the greatest accolade, since he was the clear winner of the Classical section. The following game shows the ease with which a world class grandmaster is overwhelmed by a former world champion.
White: Viswanathan Anand. Black: Fabiano Caruana. Zurich Rapidplay 2015. Modern Defence.
1 d4 d6 2 e4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4 f4 c6 Not the most challenging against White’s system. 4... Nf6 is simpler and stronger. 5 Nf3 b5 Wasting too much time on the wing and failing to challenge White’s central hegemony. 6 Bd3 Nd7 7 e5 Nb6 8 0-0 Nh6 This sideways development is a sure sign that something has gone wrong. In particular the pawn on e5 creates a wedge which suffocates Black’s king’s bishop. 9 a4 b4 10 Ne4 0-0 11 c4 Bg4 12 Nf2 Bf5 13 Bxf5 Nxf5 14 g4 Nh6 15 b3 f5 16 g5 Ng4 A desperate measure which is destined to lose material as Black’s knight becomes stranded. But the choice was between an end with horror or horror without end after 16... Nf7 17 e6 Nh8 18 a5 Nc8 when Black loses the services of all of his minor pieces. 17 Nd3 c5 18 h3 h5 19 hxg4 fxg4 20 Nh4 cxd4 21 Nxg6 Qd7 22 a5 Black resigns
Spot the Move 949: White to move
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This position is a variation from Nakamura-Grandelius, Gibraltar 2015. The structure is symmetrical but a classic tactical vulnerability in the black position allows White a quick kill. Can you see how?
Send your solution (first move only), to Sunday Times Spot the Move 949, The Sunday Times, 1 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9GF, or email to puzzle.entries@sunday-times.co.uk. The first correct answer drawn after next Saturday wins £20.
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Solution to Spot the Move 947:
1 Qxb5! and after 1... exf3 2 Qb7 traps the black rook on a8.
Chess 946
Gareth Anthony, Forest Row, East Sussex