ODT091103

=**Carlsen receives pearls of wisdom**=




 * Problem:** White to play and mate in three.

The eyes of the chess world were turned to the Pearl Spring tournament in Nanjing, China last month. Not just because the elite event is the first in the Grand Slam cycle, but because of the participation of Norway's Magnus Carlsen. Carlsen recently revealed that he had spent much of this year in intensive training with the retired former world champion, Garry Kasparov. Pearl Spring was the first chance to see the benefits of Kasparov's wisdom.Up against Carlsen in the six player double round-robin were the current number one, Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria, Peter Leko of Hungary, Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan, Dmitry Jakovenko of Russia and China's top player, Wang Yue.

The result was a resounding success for Carlsen: an unbeaten 8/10 including wins over all the other players and a rating performance of over 3000. That has pushed Carlsen to number two in the world, still behind Topalov but over the historic 2800 mark – only the fifth player ever to do so. The other scores were Topalov 5½, Wang 4½, Radjabov, Leko & Jakovenko 4.

Today's game is Carlsen's portentous second round win with the White pieces over Topalov - Still the world number one, but for how long? media type="custom" key="26360574" This move in the King's Indian defence signals White's intention to castle queenside and storm the black king with pawns – contrary to the more typical plan where Black attacks on the kingside and White on the queenside. It is unusual to weaken the pawns on the side where you intend to castle, but the sequel shows White does not fear Black's attack. Both attacks are building slowly, but behind this aggressive move is the radical idea of switching the bishop from defensive duties to take part in Black's queenside assault. Following up by offering a pawn – but this is a little too optimistic, even for Topalov. White grabs the pawn and shows Black's compensation to be insufficient. Having consolidated his extra pawn White presses his own attack against the black king, which proves the more vulnerable. If instead 31...hxg6 then 32 Rxg6+! Kxg6 33 Qg3+ regains the pawn and leaves the black king denuded. The threat was 36 Nxg5 hxg5 37 Qe3 forking b6 and g5. No good was 35...Rc1+ 36 Rxc1 Bxc1 37 Ngxe5! dxe5 38 Kxc1 picking up another pawn, but 35...Rf8! was the best chance as 36 Nxg5 hxg5 37 Qe3?! Qb5! 38 Qxg5? Qd3+! 39 Ka1 Rf1+ forces a draw by perpetual check. The silicon finish was 37 Qh3! (threatening 38 Qh6+ Kg8 39 Nf6 mate) 37...Nd2+ 38 Ka2 Rh8 39 Qxh8+! Kxh8 40 Rh1+ Kg7 41 Rh7+ winning a whole rook. But the move made (in time trouble) has its own subtleties – if 37 ...Qb5 38 Nf5+! Kxg6 39 Rxg5+! and the rook cannot be captured because of mate. White has safely made the time control and the check on c7 next move is killing.
 * 1.d4 Nf6**
 * 2.c4 g6**
 * 3.Nc3 Bg7**
 * 4.e4 d6**
 * 5.Nf3 O-O**
 * 6.h3 ---**
 * 6. --- Na6**
 * 7.Be3 e5**
 * 8.d5 c6**
 * 9.g4 Nc5**
 * 10.Nd2 a5**
 * 11.a3!? ---**
 * 12.--- Nfd7**
 * 12.Rg1 a4**
 * 13.Qc2 Nb6**
 * 14.O-O-O Bd7**
 * 15.Kb1 cxd5**
 * 16.cxd5 Rc8**
 * 17.Bb5 Bxb5**
 * 18.Nxb5 Qd7**
 * 19.Nc3 Bf6!?**
 * 20.g5 Bd8**
 * 21.h4 Na8?!**
 * 22.Bxc5! Rxc5**
 * 23.Qxa4 Qc8**
 * 24.Rc1 Nb6**
 * 25.Qd1 Qh3**
 * 26.Qf3 Qd7**
 * 27.Qd3 Kg7**
 * 28.Rc2 f6**
 * 29.gxf6+ Rxf6**
 * 30.h5! ---**
 * 30. --- Rxf2**
 * 31.hxg6 h6**
 * 32.Nd1 Rxc2**
 * 33.Nxf2 Rc8**
 * 34.Ng4 Bg5**
 * 35.Nf3! Nc4**
 * 36.Nxg5 hxg5**
 * 37.Ne3 ---**
 * 37.--- Nxe3**
 * 38.Qxe3 Qa4**
 * 39.Qxg5 Qxe4+**
 * 40.Ka1 Re8**
 * 41.Rc1 Resigns**


 * 1-0**


 * Solution:** 1 Qxg5+! fxg5 (1... Kf8 2 Qg8#; 1...Kh8 2 Nf7#) 2 Rf7+ Kxh6 (or 2...Kh8) 3 Rxh7#.