ODT080212

=**New guard win Corus**=


 * Problem:** Black to play and force mate.

The first major international event in 2008 was the annual Corus Chess Tournament held at Wijk aan Zee in the Netherlands last month. With the three top ranked players in the world taking part, there would have been few bets on someone other than Anand, Kramnik or Topalov taking first place. But from the start all three, aged in their 30s, had to chase the two leaders Levon Aronian (25) of Armenia and Norwegian Magnus Carlsen (17). The lead was swapped between these two until the end when they finished tied for first place on 8/13, half a point ahead of Anand (India) and Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan).

This was the second victory at Wijk aan Zee for Aronian, who finished in a three-way tie last year. In that same event Carlsen finished last, so his win here is a testament to his rapid improvement, which looks set to scale the heights of the chess Olympus.

Today's game is the crucial and significant win with Black by Carlsen over Vladimir Kramnik in the penultimate round. Kramnik is the strongest player in the world with the white pieces. media type="custom" key="26690774" The Hedgehog pawn structure adopted by Black is essentially a counter-punching strategy. A new move - designed to support either of the key pawn breaks b6-b5 or d6-d5. Another strong idea. Black risks a weakened centre to expand on the kingside. The knight returns to exploit the e4 outpost. Preparing 26 ... Ne4 by stopping 27 Qh8 mate. A serious oversight by Kramnik. Accompanied by a draw offer. The planned 30 Qxb6 runs into Reb7 31 Qd4 Bf6! and the queen will be lost to 32 ... Nf3+. Hmm. No thanks! The black rooks now invade. Again missing a tactical point, which Black exploits by exchanging bishops to gain entry to the back rank and set up mating threats. Or 39 Rxb6 Ra1 40 Kf1 Nf3 41 Re2 Rd7 with Rd7-d1-e1 mating. Black now wins with the extra pawn but 41 Rxb6 Raa1 loses since 42 Ng2 walks into mate (see today's diagram). Or 51 Rxb4 Rxb4 52 Rxb4 Rd1 53 Ne2 Ne1+ 54 Kf1 Nd3+ winning the rook. White resigns as 58 Rxc2 bxc2 59 Kf1 Nd2+ 60 Ke1 Nb3 and the b-pawn costs the knight.
 * 1. Nf3 Nf6**
 * 2. c4 e6**
 * 3. Nc3 c5**
 * 4. g3 b6**
 * 5. Bg2 Bb7**
 * 6. O-O Be7**
 * 7. d4 cxd4**
 * 8. Qxd4 d6**
 * 9. Rd1 a6**
 * 10. Ng5 Bxg2**
 * 11. Kxg2 Nc6**
 * 12. Qf4 O-O**
 * 13. Nce4 Ne8**
 * 14. b3 Ra7**
 * 15. Bb2 Rd7**
 * 16. Rac1 Nc7!**
 * 17. Nf3 f5!**
 * 18. Nc3 g5**
 * 19. Qd2 g4**
 * 20. Ne1 Bg5**
 * 21. e3 Rff7**
 * 22. Kg1 Ne8**
 * 23. Ne2 Nf6**
 * 24. Nf4 Qe8**
 * 25. Qc3 Rg7!**
 * 26. b4 Ne4**
 * 27. Qb3 Rge7**
 * 28. Qa4?! Ne5!**
 * 29. Qxa6? ---**
 * 29. --- Ra7**
 * 30. Qb5 ---**
 * 30. --- Qxb5**
 * 31. cxb5 Rxa2**
 * 32. Rc8+ Kf7**
 * 33. Nfd3 Bf6**
 * 34. Nxe5+ dxe5**
 * 35. Rc2 Rea7**
 * 36. Kg2 Ng5**
 * 37. Rd6?! ---**
 * 37. --- e4!**
 * 38. Bxf6 Kxf6**
 * 39. Kf1 ---**
 * 39. --- Ra1**
 * 40. Ke2 Rb1**
 * 41. Rd1---**
 * 41. --- Rxb4**
 * 42. Ng2 Rxb5**
 * 43. Nf4 Rc5**
 * 44. Rb2 b5**
 * 45. Kf1 Rac7**
 * 46. Rbb1 Rb7**
 * 47. Rb4 Rc4**
 * 48. Rb2 b4**
 * 49. Rdb1 Nf3**
 * 50. Kg2 Rd7**
 * 51. h3 ---**
 * 51 --- e5**
 * 52. Ne2 Rd2**
 * 53. hxg4 fxg4**
 * 54. Rxd2 Nxd2**
 * 55. Rb2 Nf3**
 * 56. Kf1 b3**
 * 57. Kg2 Rc2**


 * 0-1**


 * Solution:** 1 ... Nf3 and 2... Re1+ 3. Nxe1 Rxe1# can only be delayed.