Cyrus Lakdawala

Carlsen

move by move

www.everymanchess.com

About the Author

Cyrus Lakdawala is an International Master, a former National Open and American Open
Champion, and a six-time State Champion. He has been teaching chess for over 30 years,
and coaches some of the top junior players in the US.
Also by the Author:
Play the London System
A Ferocious Opening Repertoire
The Slav: Move by Move
1...d6: Move by Move
The Caro-Kann: Move by Move
The Four Knights: Move by Move
Capablanca: Move by Move
The Modern Defence: Move by Move
Kramnik: Move by Move
The Colle: Move by Move
The Scandinavian: Move by Move
Botvinnik: Move by Move
The Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Move by Move
The Alekhine Defence: Move by Move
The Trompowsky Attack: Move by Move
Korchnoi: Move by Move

Contents
About the author

Series Foreword

Bibliography

Introduction

1 Carlsen on the Attack

23

2 Carlsen on Defence and Counterattack

88

3 Carlsen on the Dynamic Element

166

4 Carlsen on Exploiting Imbalances

231

5 Carlsen on Accumulating Advantages

294

6 Carlsen on Endgames

357

Index of Openings

428

Index of Complete Games

429

Series Foreword

The Move by Move format is designed to be interactive, and is based on questions asked by
both teachers and students. It aims as much as possible to replicate chess lessons. All
the way through, readers will be challenged to answer searching questions and to complete exercises, to test their skills in key aspects of the game. Its our firm belief that practising your skills like this is an excellent way to study chess.
Many thanks go to all those who have been kind enough to offer inspiration, advice and
assistance in the creation of Move by Move. Were really excited by this series and hope that
readers will share our enthusiasm.
John Emms,
Everyman Chess

Carlsen on the Attack

Game 9
M.Carlsen-H.Nakamura
Monaco (rapid) 2011
Slav Defence
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 c3 f6 4 e3 a6 5 c2
5 f3 is Whites main line.
5...e6
This is quite common, but Im not a big believer in Blacks move order, since the SemiSlav formation doesnt always fit well with an early ...a6. In my opinion 5...b5 and 5...g6 feel
like a better fit with an early ...a6.
6 f3 bd7 7 d2
Also logical is to back up c4 with a pawn: 7 b3 d6 8 b2 e5!? 9 cxd5 cxd5 10 dxe5
xe5 11 xe5 xe5 12 d3 0-0 13 e2 a5+ 14 c3 xc3+ 15 xc3 xc3+ 16 xc3 d7
17 f3 fc8 18 d2 gave White a pleasant edge in the ending, with control over d4, as well
an isolated d-pawn and a potentially bad bishop for Black, P.Leko-Ni Hua, Saratov 2011.

W________W
[rDb1kgW4]
[DpDnDp0p]
[pDpDphWD]
[DWDpDWDW]
[WDP)WDWD]
[DWHW)NDW]
[P)QGW)P)]
[$WDWIBDR]
W--------W
7...dxc4!?
Question: Isnt the rule of thumb for Black in such positions to always
wait for Whites light-squared bishop to move, before playing ...dxc4?
Answer: Correct, since taking immediately on c4 essentially hands White a free move. Still,
Nakamuras choice is book. Blacks slightly passive position in V.Tkachiev-M.Sebenik, Legnica 2013, after 7...d6 8 e4 dxe4 9 xe4 xe4 10 xe4 f6 11 h4 c5 12 0-0-0 probably
didnt appeal to Nakamura.
8 a4!
73

Carlsen: Move by Move

The pawn isnt running away. I think this is Whites most accurate move, preventing the
tempo-regaining ...b5. Following 8 xc4 b5 9 e2 b7 10 e4 xe4 11 xe4 b8! (perhaps slightly more accurate than 11...b6) 12 0-0 c5 13 h4 e7 Black equalized after
achieving the freeing ...c5 break, C.Bauer-E.Reinhart, Kemer 2007.
8...c5
8...b5? of course fails to 9 axb5 cxb5 10 xb5 b7 11 a3 when c4 is certain to fall.
9 xc4 cxd4 10 exd4

W________W
[rDb1kgW4]
[DpDnDp0p]
[pDWDphWD]
[DWDWDWDW]
[PDB)WDWD]
[DWHWDNDW]
[W)QGW)P)]
[$WDWIWDR]
W--------W
The position reached is a Queens Gambit Accepted, but with Whites extra c2 for free,
since Black took two moves to achieve the ...c5 break.
Question: Is the extra c2 so great for White? After all, the queen
sits on the open c-file and may be misplaced. Also, if White later
plays d3, he may be vulnerable to ...d5 and ...b4 tricks.
Answer: I think this is exactly Nakamuras thought: Whites free move comes at a cost.
10...b6
Nakamura has experience from Whites side as well: 10...e7 11 0-0 0-0 12 ac1 b6
13 d3 h6 14 b3 (White returned his free move) 14...bd5 15 xd5 xd5 16 c4 d7!?
17 xd5 exd5 18 e5 and White continues to exert nagging strategic pressure,
H.Nakamura-Ni Hua, London 2009.
11 d3
A new move in the position. Whites bishop takes direct aim at Blacks kingside. The
more strategic route is to keep watch over d5, with 11 b3 e7 12 0-0 0-0 13 ac1 d7 14
e5 c8 15 d3 c6, G.Meier-P.Acs, German League 2011. Here also, I prefer White.
11...bd5 12 xd5 xd5?!
A questionable pawn offer. This move distracts a defender from the kingside and leaves
Black seriously lagging in development. 12...xd5 13 0-0 e7 may be Blacks best shot at
equality.
74

Carlsen on the Attack

W________W
[rDb1kgW4]
[DpDWDp0p]
[pDWDpDWD]
[DWDnDWDW]
[PDW)WDWD]
[DWDBDNDW]
[W)QGW)P)]
[$WDWIWDR]
W--------W
13 0-0
Carlsen ignores the offer and increases his growing development lead.
Question: Can White grab h7 and get away with it?
Answer: Houdini says yes, but to my human eyes it appears as if Black gets compensation
with a gain of time and an open h-file after 13 xh7 d7 14 e4 c6 15 b3 d6 16 0-0
f6 17 fe1 f7. Houdini isnt intimidated and still prefers White.
13...b4?!
When momentum goes careening out of control, it is then that we are in danger of losing our footing. Nakamura, a habitual embracer of chaos, goes too far in this overly optimistic idea to provoke and complicate. This attempt to delve counterplay where none exists, only makes his situation worse. When we try an eccentric idea and then lose the game,
later on our suffering increases upon the sickening realization that it was self-inflicted,
and therefore deserved.
After the text, Black falls dangerously behind in development. There are some chess sins
for which atonement is beyond reach. I speak of course of the original sin: falling behind in
development in the opening. Maybe Black should cut his losses with 13...d6 14 e5 c7
15 b3!? 0-0 (or 15...xe5 16 dxe5 xe5!? 17 fe1 d6 18 e4 0-0 19 ad1 when White
exerts strong pressure for the pawn and can probably soon win it back, while maintaining
an edge) 16 fe1 d7 17 ac1 c6 18 e4, although I still prefer White who exerts central
pressure and may soon begin a kingside attack by swinging his queen to h3.
14 xb4 xb4 15 xh7!

75

Carlsen: Move by Move

W________W
[rDb1kDW4]
[DpDWDp0B]
[pDWDpDWD]
[DWDWDWDW]
[PgW)WDWD]
[DWDWDNDW]
[W)QDW)P)]
[$WDWDRIW]
W--------W
Excellent judgment. Whites three pawns plus enduring initiative are worth more than
Blacks extra piece.
15...g6
Not much choice since Black is just down a pawn with zero compensation after 15...d7
16 e4.
16 xg6 fxg6 17 xg6+ f8
The startled king swallows a gasp and attempts to regain his composure, as best he can.
18 e5
Threatening mate on the move. White stands clearly better since Black continues to lag
in development, with his queenside still dormant.
18...e7 19 ac1 h7
Nakamura threatens his own mate in one.
20 g3!?
White can also partially ignore the threat and act like nothing has changed with 20
fd1! xh2+ 21 f1 h1+ 22 e2 h5+ 23 f3 h6 24 xh5 xh5 25 c4! d6 26 dc1.
White regains the sacrificed piece and emerges a pawn ahead in the ending after 26...e7
27 xc8 xc8 28 xc8 xe5 29 dxe5 xe5+ 30 f2, with good chances for White to convert.
20...e8 21 d5!

76

Carlsen on the Attack

W________W
[rDbDkDW4]
[DpDWDWDq]
[pDWDpDWD]
[DWDPHWDW]
[PgWDWDWD]
[DWDWDW!W]
[W)WDW)P)]
[DW$WDRIW]
W--------W
This is turning into a How to Attack clinic. Carlsen logically opens lines to Blacks exposed king.
21...d6
21...exd5? is met with 22 g6 e6 (22...g8?? 23 fe1+! is crushing) 23 e5 xg6 24
xh8+ f8 25 c7 when Black remains under severe pressure.
22 fe1 d7
Houdini doesnt like this move, but how else can Black bring out his queenside pieces?
23 h3
Carlsen rejects a pair of equally tempting alternatives:
a) 23 xd7 xg3 (or 23...xh2+ 24 xh2 xh2+ 25 f1 xd7 26 dxe6+ e7 27 g3
ac8 28 xc8 xc8 29 g2 xg3 30 xg3 and White should convert) 24 f6+ d8 25
xh7 h4 26 g3 xh7 (26...e7? is met with 27 d6!) 27 gxh4 exd5 28 ed1 xh4 29 xd5+
e7 30 c7+ e6 31 d3 g8+ 32 f1! with excellent conversion chances for White.
b) 23 f4, and if 23...g8 24 xd7 xd7 25 f3! g7 26 dxe6+ e8 27 cd1 when
Whites four pawns are worth more than Blacks lone extra bishop.
23...xe5!?
Houdini raises a censuring eyebrow at this move, which appears to be a high-risk attempt to ameliorate his numerous strategic difficulties. It certainly is tempting to eliminate Whites monster knight. In doing so, Nakamura hands over the key defender of his
dark squares. I played around with alternatives, and Black ended up losing every time, so
the move isnt a mistake if everything else loses.
24 xe5 g8 25 e3
Carlsen hammers away at e6.
25...g6 26 dxe6
26 c7 c8 27 xb7 also looks rough for Black.
26...c6

77

Carlsen: Move by Move

W________W
[rDWDkDWD]
[DpDWDWDq]
[pDbDPDrD]
[DWDW$WDW]
[PDWDWDWD]
[DWDW!WDP]
[W)WDW)PD]
[DW$WDWIW]
W--------W
Exercise (planning): On the surface, Blacks position doesnt appear
as a frayed old rope, on the verge of unravelling. Carlsen picked up four
pawns for the piece. On Blacks side of the ledger, Nakamuras king
looks safe and it appears as if he may be generating threats on Carlsens
king. Come up with a plan for White to seize the initiative for good.
Answer: Sacrifice the exchange, eliminating Blacks only active piece. Blacks extra rook
wont save his eternally exposed king.
27 xc6!
When an attack begins to run out of material to invest, we feel like strung out heroin
addicts, who lack further means to enter our private, drug-induced oblivion. Carlsen, now
virtually in the endgame stage, amazingly continues to sacrifice, never running out of his
drug of choice.
27...bxc6 28 e4!
Target: c6.
28...g7!
Nakamura defends accurately, while under tremendous pressure, avoiding:
a) 28...c8? hangs a rook to 29 g5! g7 30 xh7! xh7 31 g8+ e7 32 xc8, which
regains the lost rook, with a completely winning rook and pawn ending.
b) 28...e7 29 b4+ f6 30 d4 a7 31 c3 e7 32 e2+! (the e3-square must be
kept open for Whites queen) 32...g5 33 e3+ h5 34 g4+ h4 (34...xg4+ 35 hxg4+
xg4 36 f3+! forces mate) 35 f4! f6.

78

Carlsen on the Attack

W________W
[rDWDWDWD]
[DWDWDWDW]
[pDpDP1rD]
[DWDWDWDW]
[PDWDW!Pi]
[DWDWDWDP]
[W)WDR)WD]
[DWDWDWIW]
W--------W
Exercise (combination alert): Its White to play and force mate.
Answer: Overloaded defenders. Black has no good answer to the dual mate threats on h5
and g3 after 36 e5!!
29 xc6+
Thus c6 falls, after which Carlsen picks up his fifth pawn for the rook, plus an enduring
attack.
29...e7 30 c5+ e8 31 c6+ e7 32 e3 a7
This involuted byway fails to secure the rook.
33 c5+ e8 34 c6+ e7

W________W
[WDWDWDWD]
[4WDWiW1W]
[pDQDPDrD]
[DWDWDWDW]
[PDWDWDWD]
[DWDW$WDP]
[W)WDW)PD]
[DWDWDWIW]
W--------W
Exercise (combination alert): Blacks degraded position is
ripe for exploitation. How should Carlsen continue?

79

Carlsen: Move by Move

Answer: Ignore defence of g2 and run Blacks a7-rook out of squares. The sickly a7-rook
adds his needs to Blacks already ample burdens.
35 b6!!
The queens invisible leash of power oppresses and brings to heal the a7-rooks ambitions. Carlsens comp-like continuation is far more clear than a line like 35 c5+ e8 36
b3 c7.
35...xg2+
35...a8 is met with 36 c5+ e8 37 c6+ e7 38 xa8 when Blacks wishes elude his
grasp. White not only wins the rook, but furthers the insult by retaining coverage on g2.
36 f1
The time you could inflict harm upon my person is long past, and in fact, never even
existed, the king informs the rook.
36...g1+ 37 e2
Despite having an extra rook, Black is helpless, writes GM Mikhail Golubev.
37...a8 38 b7+ d6

W________W
[rDWDWDWD]
[DQDWDW1W]
[pDWiPDWD]
[DWDWDWDW]
[PDWDWDWD]
[DWDW$WDP]
[W)WDK)WD]
[DWDWDW4W]
W--------W
Exercise (critical decision): Should White grab the en prise a8-rook?
Answer: No. The attack comes first.
39 d3+!
The lash is applied to Blacks king, until the white of bone begins to show.
The hasty 39 xa8?? allows Black a draw: 39...xb2+ 40 f3 (40 d3 b1+ 41 d2
a2+ 42 d3 b1+ is perpetual check) 40...f6+ 41 e4 g6+ 42 d4 d1+ (the rook, a
willing co-conspirator, abets his queen in an attempt to frame in the Whites kings escape
routes) 43 c3 c1+ 44 b4 b1+ 45 b3 a5+! 46 xa5 (the kings face distorts into an
ugly grimace, in his futile efforts to evade pursuers) 46...c5+! 47 b4 e1+ 48 a3 a1+
and draw.
80

Carlsen on the Attack

39...xe6
After 39...e5 40 xa8 the trouble is Blacks king is in the way of his intended ...xb2+.
40 c6+! 1-0
The wraith-like queen materializes from nowhere, applies her taint, and then dematerializes before the enemy is able to pinpoint her location and strike back. After 40...f5 41
d5+, its mate if 41...f4 (or 41...e5+ 42 xe5+ xe5 43 xa8 and isnt it infuriating
when the wealthiest, who have the most to give, refuse to share the least?) 42 c4+ d4
43 xd4. Behold before you, the sum total of your lifes efforts, says the queen to Blacks
king, as she points to the gallows pole.

Game 10
M.Carlsen-H.Nakamura
Wijk aan Zee 2013
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 f3 c6 3 d4 cxd4 4 xd4 e5
The Kalashnikov Variation of the Sicilian.
Question: What separates the Kalashnikov from the Pelikan?
Answer: In the Kalashnikov, Black holds back ...f6 when ...e5 is played. 4...f6 5 c3 e5 is
the Pelikan.
5 b5 d6

W________W
[rDb1kgn4]
[0pDWDp0p]
[WDn0WDWD]
[DNDW0WDW]
[WDWDPDWD]
[DWDWDWDW]
[P)PDW)P)]
[$NGQIBDR]
W--------W
6 g3
Question: This line isnt supposed to be very dangerous for Black, is it?

81