Title: A Fantastic Rook Endgame! - Carlsen vs Vachier-Lagrave | London Chess Classic 2019 Opening: King's Indian
Hello Chess Friends and Welcome to the Channel. We are in the blitz session of the London Chess Classic. Carlsen and Vachier-Lagrave drew all their previous games. But the game that we are going to watch, the second blitz game will be decisive. Let's get started
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 {the King's Indian} 3. Nbd2 d5 4. b3 Bg7 5. Bb2 a5 {
only two games in database and not between grandmasters and two victories for
Black but the game will transpose} 6. a4 O-O 7. e3 Bf5 8. Be2 Nc6 {the game is
now original} 9. O-O Nb4 10. Ne1 Ne4 11. c3 Nxd2 12. Qxd2 Nc6 13. Nd3 e5 {
is a good move} 14. Nxe5 {but better than to capture is to centralize the rooks
} Nxe5 15. dxe5 Bxe5 {the game is completely equal} 16. Rfd1 Qd6 17. Ba3 (17.
Qxd5 {is a little inaccurancy} Bxh2+ 18. Kh1 Qxd5 19. Rxd5 Bd6) 17... c5 18.
Qxd5 Qxd5 19. Rxd5 Bxc3 20. Rad1 Bb4 21. Bxb4 cxb4 22. Bc4 Be6 23. Rb5 Rfd8 {
an inaccurancy that gives a small advantage to Carlsen} (23... Bxc4 24. bxc4 b6
25. Rxb6 Rfc8 {and the game is equal} 26. Rc1 Rc5) 24. Rd4 {also an inaccurancy
} (24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. h3 Bxc4 26. bxc4 Rd1+ 27. Kh2 b6 28. Rxb6 Ra1 {there is
an advantage for White}) 24... Rac8 {Bxc4 is the move to play} 25. Rxd8+ Rxd8
26. Kf1 Bxc4+ 27. bxc4 Rd2 28. Rxb7 Ra2 29. c5 Rxa4 30. Ke2 Ra3 31. c6 Rc3 32.
c7 Kg7 33. Ra7 {impossible to be precise with some seconds on the clock in
these complicated rook endgames} b3 34. Rxa5 Rxc7 35. Rb5 {this seems good but
there is a good move for Black} Rc2+ {and Black is winning} 36. Kf3 b2 37. Rb6
{wants to cut off the Black King} h5 38. h3 Kf8 {if Black wants to win the
endgame the king must come to the queenside to help} 39. g4 h4 40. g5 {is a
mistake. Stockfish finds a line that can help white to draw} (40. Kf4 Rxf2+ 41.
Kg5 Ke8 42. Kxh4 Rg2 43. Kg5 Kd8 44. Kf6 Rf2+ 45. Ke5) 40... Ke7 41. e4 Kd7 42.
Ke3 Kc7 {here is the contact} 43. Rb5 Kc6 44. Rb8 Kc5 45. f4 (45. Rc8+ {
is useless} Kb4 46. Rxc2 b1=Q) 45... Kc4 46. f5 Kc3 47. Kf4 Rg2 48. fxg6 fxg6
49. e5 Re2 {behind the only passed pawn} 50. Rb6 Kc2 51. Rc6+ Kd1 52. Rd6+ Kc1
53. Rc6+ Rc2 54. Rb6 (54. Rxc2+ Kxc2 55. e6 b1=Q 56. e7 Qe1 {is enough}) 54...
Rc4+ {Carlsen resigns.} 0-1
MVL is up two points but anything can happen. in the meanwhile we enjoy this beautiful rook endgame. Our analysis is over, thank you very much for watchign and see you soon.
Photos by:
Lennart Ootes
FIDE Master and Professional Photographer
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