The Biel Young Grandmasters event this year featured a feast of interesting chess with ten chess prodigies (perhaps including future world champions) battling one another. Of course, these days prodigies would not get very far if they did not play like mature adults and not that many of the games were decisive....
Round 1 featured a game between the brightest hopes of their respective countries, English GM David Howell and Filipino GM Wesley So. David had a fine result last year when he was undefeated at the London Classic drawing Carlsen, Kramnik, Nakamura and Short among others while Wesley turned in a fine performance at the FIDE World Cup eliminating Ivanchuk and Kamsky in succession. The game itself was surprisingly onesided after David made a strange King move in the opening. Wesley's win entrenches the feeling that he is a difficult opponent for David, who has only scored two draws in their five encounters to date.
Early King walks are not always bad- sometimes they are necessary and even strong moves. For example, in the King's Gambit 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 White's usual continuation is 3. Nf3. But Bobby Fischer was partial to 3. Bc4, when 3... Qh4+ (3... d5 is recommended) 4. Kf1 favors White who will develop rapidly while the Black Queen is misplaced. Meanwhile, few today like the variation 3. Nc3 Qh4+ 4. Ke2, a favorite of Steinitz and the young Keres, as praxis shows the King on e2 to be quite exposed.
Indeed, every possible White King move from its original square has its place in opening theory besides f1 and e2 above: King to d2 occurs in the mainline French McCutcheon after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. bxc3 Ne4 8. Qg4 g6/Kf8 9. Bd3 Nxd2 10. Kxd2; King to d1 in the Sicilian Alapin 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. dxc5 Qxd1+ 7. Kxd1 which Howell himself played against Negi later at Biel to score his only win; King to f2 in the f3 Nimzoindian 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 0-0 7. cxd5 exd5 8. e3 Nh5 9. Qc2 Re8 10. g4 Nf4 11. h4 c5 12. Kf2.
Howell,David (2616) - So,Wesley (2674) [B13]
Biel 2010
1. e4 c6
'The Caro-Kann? It is so difficult to tempt one's opponent into a risky attack with it.'-Botvinnik. Maybe, but if White really wants to draw it is difficult to avoid this outcome with any opening. Suffice to say that the Caro-Kann was the main defence for two of the greatest chessplayers ever, Kasparov (in his youth) and Karpov (in his later years). It also featured significantly in the repertoire of world champions Capablanca, Botvinnik, Smyslov and Petrosian.
The Exchange Variation, least common of White's options against the Caro-Kann. Fischer scored a fine victory against Petrosian with it in the USSR v Rest of the World match, Belgrade 1970. Since Fischer was a highly principled player with a firm belief in 'chess truth', any opening he played must be taken seriously. Yet, maybe the truth against the Caro-Kann was elusive, or he considered it second-rate enough that White had more than one solution. Indeed, Fischer played everything against the Caro-Kann: the King's Indian Attack 2. d3 and the Two Knights 2. Nc3/3. Nf3 as well as 2. d4 followed by the Exchange Variation, Panov Attack or the mainlines with 3. Nc3. In fact, the only line he avoided was the now popular Advance Variation but the modern theory was only developed long after Fischer had quit playing chess.
Essentially, White is playing the QGD Exchange Variation 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 with an extra tempo. This allows him to place the Bishops on f4 and d3, Knights on e5 and f3 strongpointing e5 with prospects for a Kingside attack- a setup that can be achieved as Black in the QGD only if White is cooperative.
David's adoption of the Exchange Variation in this game comes as a surprise as he had exclusively played the Panov with 4. c4 before. Had he prepared a new idea, or did he want to avoid Wesley's preparation?
Perhaps the most accurate move order is 5...Qc7 as Anand played against Illescas, making it difficult for White to develop the Bishop to f4.
Only six days after the Howell game, the Exchange Variation was repeated in the last round encounter Ponomariov-Le Quang, Dortmund 2010. Ponomariov, leading the tournament a point ahead of Le, chose 6. h3 Qc7 (the books suggest 6... e5 with free piece development in return for an isolated QP) 7. Nf3 g6 8. O-O Bf5 9. Re1 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Bg7 11. Nbd2 O-O and later drifted into an inferior middlegame before holding the draw.
Howell's TN, but was it actually intended or did he pick up the King and accidentally release it before placing it on g1?! The sequel does not indicate that the move was linked with a specific plan. Indeed, in this game White will play Ke1-f1-g1, Ph2-h4 and Rh1-h3 to try and coordinate his pieces-a total of four tempi when the normal 0-0 reaches the same result in one!
A typical move in this variation- Black plays Bh5-g6 to neutralize the White Bishop. Browne-Larsen, San Antonio 1972 is a good illustration of the Kingside dangers Black faces otherwise.
Instead of castling, Wesley starts his Queenside minority attack right away.
12. Qc2 b5 13. b4
A strategy seen in the QGD against White's minority attack- White fixes the pawn on b5, and steers his Knight towards the outpost on c5. However, here the idea does not work so well due to his arrested development.
13... Bg6 14. Bxg6
Naturally, the immediate 14. Nb3? fails to Nxb4.
Black is already better and White has only a choice of evils: the text move or 16. Qxb5 axb4 17. Ne5 Qa6 or 16. a4 bxa4 17. b5 Na7 18. b6 Nc6.
Finally castling, but Herr Fritz prefers the sharper Ra3 here and on the next move.
Instead following his plan by 19. Nc5 fails to 19... Bxc5 20. bxc5 (or 20. dxc5 Ra2 21. h4 Ne4) 20... b4.
19... Ne4 20. Nfd2 Ra3 21. Rb1
Both 21. Nxe4 dxe4 22. Qc2 f5 or 21. h5 g5 are unattractive.
21... Rfa8 22. Kg1
A variation that shows the consequence of Kf1 is 22. Nxe4 dxe4 23. Qxe4 Rxb3 24. Rxb3 Nxd4!
Freeing the c-file and with ideas of rerouting the Knight but the simpler 22... Nf6 may be more accurate.
23. Rh3 Qc6 24. Na5?
Howell,David (2616) - So,Wesley (2674) [B13]
Biel 2010
1. e4 c6
'The Caro-Kann? It is so difficult to tempt one's opponent into a risky attack with it.'-Botvinnik. Maybe, but if White really wants to draw it is difficult to avoid this outcome with any opening. Suffice to say that the Caro-Kann was the main defence for two of the greatest chessplayers ever, Kasparov (in his youth) and Karpov (in his later years). It also featured significantly in the repertoire of world champions Capablanca, Botvinnik, Smyslov and Petrosian.
2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3
The Exchange Variation, least common of White's options against the Caro-Kann. Fischer scored a fine victory against Petrosian with it in the USSR v Rest of the World match, Belgrade 1970. Since Fischer was a highly principled player with a firm belief in 'chess truth', any opening he played must be taken seriously. Yet, maybe the truth against the Caro-Kann was elusive, or he considered it second-rate enough that White had more than one solution. Indeed, Fischer played everything against the Caro-Kann: the King's Indian Attack 2. d3 and the Two Knights 2. Nc3/3. Nf3 as well as 2. d4 followed by the Exchange Variation, Panov Attack or the mainlines with 3. Nc3. In fact, the only line he avoided was the now popular Advance Variation but the modern theory was only developed long after Fischer had quit playing chess.
Essentially, White is playing the QGD Exchange Variation 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 with an extra tempo. This allows him to place the Bishops on f4 and d3, Knights on e5 and f3 strongpointing e5 with prospects for a Kingside attack- a setup that can be achieved as Black in the QGD only if White is cooperative.
David's adoption of the Exchange Variation in this game comes as a surprise as he had exclusively played the Panov with 4. c4 before. Had he prepared a new idea, or did he want to avoid Wesley's preparation?
4... Nc6 5. c3 Nf6
Perhaps the most accurate move order is 5...Qc7 as Anand played against Illescas, making it difficult for White to develop the Bishop to f4.
6. Bf4
Only six days after the Howell game, the Exchange Variation was repeated in the last round encounter Ponomariov-Le Quang, Dortmund 2010. Ponomariov, leading the tournament a point ahead of Le, chose 6. h3 Qc7 (the books suggest 6... e5 with free piece development in return for an isolated QP) 7. Nf3 g6 8. O-O Bf5 9. Re1 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Bg7 11. Nbd2 O-O and later drifted into an inferior middlegame before holding the draw.
6... Bg4 7. Qb3 Qc8 8. Nd2 e6 9. Ngf3 Be7 10. Kf1?!
Howell's TN, but was it actually intended or did he pick up the King and accidentally release it before placing it on g1?! The sequel does not indicate that the move was linked with a specific plan. Indeed, in this game White will play Ke1-f1-g1, Ph2-h4 and Rh1-h3 to try and coordinate his pieces-a total of four tempi when the normal 0-0 reaches the same result in one!
10... Bh5
A typical move in this variation- Black plays Bh5-g6 to neutralize the White Bishop. Browne-Larsen, San Antonio 1972 is a good illustration of the Kingside dangers Black faces otherwise.
11. Re1 a6
Instead of castling, Wesley starts his Queenside minority attack right away.
12. Qc2 b5 13. b4
A strategy seen in the QGD against White's minority attack- White fixes the pawn on b5, and steers his Knight towards the outpost on c5. However, here the idea does not work so well due to his arrested development.
13... Bg6 14. Bxg6
Naturally, the immediate 14. Nb3? fails to Nxb4.
14... hxg6 15. Qd3 a5! 16. a3
Black is already better and White has only a choice of evils: the text move or 16. Qxb5 axb4 17. Ne5 Qa6 or 16. a4 bxa4 17. b5 Na7 18. b6 Nc6.
16... axb4 17. axb4 Qb7 18. Nb3 O-O
Finally castling, but Herr Fritz prefers the sharper Ra3 here and on the next move.
19. h4
Instead following his plan by 19. Nc5 fails to 19... Bxc5 20. bxc5 (or 20. dxc5 Ra2 21. h4 Ne4) 20... b4.
19... Ne4 20. Nfd2 Ra3 21. Rb1
Both 21. Nxe4 dxe4 22. Qc2 f5 or 21. h5 g5 are unattractive.
21... Rfa8 22. Kg1
A variation that shows the consequence of Kf1 is 22. Nxe4 dxe4 23. Qxe4 Rxb3 24. Rxb3 Nxd4!
22... Nd8
Freeing the c-file and with ideas of rerouting the Knight but the simpler 22... Nf6 may be more accurate.
23. Rh3 Qc6 24. Na5?
There are two kinds of players: those who habitually get short of time and those who don't. David belongs in the first category and time pressure probably explains the scrappy play hereabouts. A better try was 24. Nxe4 dxe4 25. Qe3 which Fritz considers equal.
24... R8xa5!
Straightforward for a GM: he removes a key defensive piece, gets a pawn for the Exchange immediately and maintains the pressure against White's uncoordinated forces.
25. bxa5 Nxc3 26. Rb3 Ra1+ 27. Nb1
After 27. Kh2, 27... b4 follows as in the game but with even greater effect.
27... b4 28. Bd2 Na2 29. Re3?
A time trouble collapse. After 29. Rb2 Qa4 30. a6 Nc6 the worst would be over for White and he would have good chances to hold.
29... Nc1 30. Bxc1 Qxc1+ 31. Kh2 Nc6 32. g3 Nxa5 0-1
The first round of a tournament is an important bellwether for a player and provides important clues of his form. Howell, as one of the lowest ranked participants, would be a clear target for the others and this game would have reinforced that impression. He would finish on -2, losing to Andreikin and Vachier-Lagrave before winning one against Negi.
So would go on to beat Rodshtein and lead the tournament in the early rounds, before calculation errors led to losses against Caruana and Giri. Overall, a disappointing performance:+2 against the weakest players and -2 against the rest. Still, with young and rapidly improving prodigies, we can expect greater things from both players in the future.
Links to David's and Weslsey's Facebook and web pages:
http://www.facebook.com/wesleyso
http://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Howell/112517305426986
http://www.gmwesleyso.com/
http://www.davidhowellchess.com/
The official tournament site:
http://www.bielchessfestival.ch/
Coverage of the tournament on Chessbase:
http://www.chessbase.com/
Replay the game:
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