WC 2017: Bu bullies ...!

"There is a time for living and a time for giving expression to life. There is also a time for creating, which is less natural. For me, it is enough to live with my whole body and bear witness with my whole heart. Herein lies a freedom." - Alburt Camus


Meursault - the protagonist in Camus's phenomenal novel "The Stranger" said....after he was imprisoned and sentenced to death for an unintended......accidental crime....."When I was first imprisoned, the hardest thing was that my thoughts were still those of a free man".

Does not we Chess players harbour a similar feeling after committing something which disturbed the equilibrium in a position......much later though, when the position turns hostile at us...indicting us for the crime which we committed unintentionally.....accidentally......!

Like in life, in Chess too, things happen in-spite of us......and therefore....Chess is an Art!

.....and like in life, in Chess too, we think we are in control of things....when we are not.....
.....and like in life, in Chess too, we try to control things which are not in our control.....and....



Carlsen - Bu Xiangzhi, WC 2017, Rd-3; Game - 1


How will you comprehend Black's last move 9......Rab8!?

A waiting move!!?

....perhaps!

A perplexing move....or more precisely...a 'parking' move...which Magnus himself does often....when he is unsure of where to put a particular piece...or did not decide on what to do next....and hence pass on the move to the opponent!

Don't read too much into it.....and get fooled.....even if Bu Xiangzhi pretends to give it a meaning in a subsequent analysis!

10.Bc2

Magnus ignores it

10.....d5!

Now then, the precondition for this move is White's Bc2....perhaps!  And this, possibly explains .....Rab8!

It is like Aronian playing.....10.Bc2!?....in the following position.....waiting for Magnus's 10.....Rfd8 a prerequisite for what followed in that fantastic game!



Coming back to Carlsen - Bu...

11.h3 h6 12.ed5 Nd5 13.Ne5 Ne5 14.Re5 Bd6 15.Re1




15.....Bh3!!

Don't delve too much into this sacrifice.....and for heaven sake do not switch on the engine and subject the move and the game to a rape......Even if you try to dissect it thoroughly, you will not attain immunity to such a sortie in future....

.....only a true understanding of its spirit will take you far!

Just that, the position has a tinge of Ruy Marshall flavour .....where the move h3 doesn't find a place.


16.gh3 Qh3 17.Nf1 Rbe8!


The principle is simple. When you are attacking, try and eliminate those pieces of the defender which are potentially good. Here if White exchanges the Rook, it would only merely develop Black's other Rook.

The issue for White here is that.....he has no apparently smooth way to develop his Queenside and bring a piece to the defence of his King.  The Knight on f1 is priceless .....and the lone defender.....and he too will fall short once a Black Rook lands on g6!

18.d4 f5!

This pawn move is not as much to advance it.....but to provide a cover for his Rook to land on g6!

19.Bb3 c6 20.f4?!

A very difficult decision to weaken the King further.  Perhaps even Magnus who is known to fend of vigorous attack .....apparently unemotionally.....is shaken enough.  Don't forget, it is easy to dub the move dubious....dubious only to the extent that it opens up the King cover further and does nothing to bring another piece to the defence.....but if one has to suggest an alternative....it is most difficult!

One only finds themselves in the place of Meursault!!

20.....Kh7!

Bu plays with great calmness.....in the style of his famed opponent!

21.Bd5 cd5 22.Re3

Would 22.Re5!? alleviate the trouble a bit.....!? Very difficult to imagine its consequences too. That is the point of creating  material imbalance in Chess.....its consequence would never be clear.....but choices are made merely on hunches and how one feels during the game.




22.....Re3 23.Be3 g5!

Now, black pawns pounce like fierce police dogs......and Carlsen decides to return back the piece....but yet....

24.Kf2 gf4 25.Qf3 fe3 26.Ne3 Qh2 27.Kf1 Rg8 28.Qf5 Rg6 29.Ke1 h5 30.Kd1 Kh6!

Another cool move by Bu. The King and the World Champion cannot run far....

31.Nc2 h4 32.Ne1 h3 33.Nf3 Qg2 34.Ne1 Qg4 35.Qg4 Rg4 36.Nf3 Rg1!!  0 - 1


As Camus said, Bu perhaps might have felt enough to live the day with whole body and bear witness with his whole heart.....and enjoyed freedom of present.....and mother caissa presented him with a gift in the form of ......!

.....The World Champion too can have an off day.....after all, Chess does not differentiate between the players......but only cares about the art. And as in life, whomsoever it may be.....ups and downs are inevitable.....
......and it is only right comprehension of this and recover fast and bounce back that makes one great!


END


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