this post has 
Source: https://www.marca.com/ajedrez/2021/12/25/61c70c0022601d
Since a few weeks ago I'm getting the taste for chess again, this community and the constant tournaments that are played every week have done a great part to bring my desire back so I was thinking, I have to give it back somehow! So I will be posting more often in the community bringing a bit of chess news around the world and all these posts will have as beneficiary
In this post I would like to review some of the highlights of another day in the Tata Steel Chess tournament that brings together some of the best players of today and that is being the center of attention of the entire chess world in recent weeks having as main attraction the world champion Magnus Carlsen who has been leading with an iron fist in each of the rounds that have been played, behind him come a set of Grandmasters already consolidated as the Dutch Anish Giri but more exciting has been the journey of Mamedyarov Shakhriyar who has stood up and has met with the champion in one of the most exciting games of the whole circuit, I share them with you!
Source: https://www.chess.com/es/article/view/el-secreto-de-mamedyarov
Carlsen vs. Mamedyarov
This is a unique game that I will be covering in this post, the truth is that there were many others that were a real pitched battle but this one personally takes the post to analyze, first of all we are seeing a Magnus Carlsen unleashed on the board, playing much of his preparation for the world championship and putting into practice many openings that he is not used to using in the classical tempo like the Catalan, which is proving to be his sharpest weapon to beat stoic and brilliant players like his opponent in round 9. Mamedyarov is having one of the best tournaments in his career and sits opposite the champion in a very good moment knowing much of the Norwegian's repertoire, but will this be enough to stop the champion? let's see....
1. d4, Kf6.. 2. Kf3, d5.. 3. c4, e6.. 4. g3, dxc4
the move g3 has been the nightmare of many of Carlsen's opponents in this tournament, playing a variation that so far in his career he has only played a couple of times as a sideline, in this edition of the Tata Steel he has already played this variation 3 games.
5. Bg2, Bb4+.. 6. Bd2, a5.. 7. 0-0, 0-0
Mamedyarov starts playing a variation already seen in one of the world championships (Topalov-Krammik) taking space with the a5 pawn and hoping to launch a queenside attack.
8. e3, Ra6.. 9. Qc2, b5
Mameyarov defines his plan on the queenside with two very interesting moves, first Ra6 taking the rook off the enemy bishop diagonal to then make the interesting b5 and start consolidating and taking space in the position.
10. a4, c6.. 11. Kc3, Rb6.. 12. e4, Be7.. 13. e5, Kd5
After Kd5 Carlsen finds a rather interesting sequence to win an exchange in the position, of course Mamedyarov's style is to take risks in the position and enter dubious or strange positions where he is very good at calculating attacks.
14. axb5, cxb5.. 15. Kxd5, exd5.. 16. Ba5, Kc6.. 17. Bxb6, Qxb6..
After the dust clears it is clear what Mamedyarov is going to play, a solid attack with two pawns that look very dangerous for the white position, plus all the pieces are pointing in that direction ready to attack it.
18. Ra8, h6.. 19. Rfa1, Be6.. 20. Qd1!, b4..
The black position is gradually cracking and the world champion begins to unleash some brilliant moves to deliver the final blow.
21. b3!, c3.. 22. R8a6, Qc7, 23. Ke1!, f6..
An exquisite piece of play by Carlsen playing all the top engine moves and consolidating his space and development advantage, preparing for the march of the kingside pawns as well as improving his position one move at a time.
24. Kd3, fxe5.. 25. Kxe5, Kxe5.. 26. Rxe6. 1-0
A spectacular final hook to end the game in an elegant way, Carlsen's Catalan opening finds no rival and Mamedyarov again succumbs to the champion in a close game full of emotions and new ways of understanding this kind of positions, something very incredible to see coming from two of the best players today!
So far Carlsen is leading alone with 0.5 points above his pursuer Anish Giri who is also doing a magnificent tournament, let's hope to see the confrontation of these two giants but above all see good chess in what remains of the tournament, thank you very much for stopping by this post and have a good day!
Note: If you want to see the most recent games of the Tata Steel Chess I recommend this Youtube video or the Chess.com channel, there they are always commenting on all the games that are played and it is very didactic!
