[Event "Pro Chess League 2023"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2023.02.14"] [Round "3"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Naroditsky, Daniel"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2852"] [BlackElo "2618"] [Annotator "Lang,JJ"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "E71"] [Opening "King's Indian Defense: Makogonov Variation"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/r4rOm8dU/YYyrgzT9"] [Orientation "white"] { Attacking the exposed king. } 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. h3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 Na6 8. g4 Nc5 9. Qc2 c6 10. Nge2 cxd5 11. cxd5 Qa5 12. Ng3 Bd7 13. Rb1 Na4 14. Qd2 Nxc3 15. bxc3 b6 16. g5 Ne8 17. c4 Qxd2+ 18. Bxd2 f6 19. h4 fxg5 20. hxg5 Rf7 21. Ne2 Nc7 22. Nc3 Na6 23. Be3 Nc5 24. Kd2 Bf8 25. Bh3 Bxh3 26. Rxh3 Rc8 27. Rb4 Be7 28. Ke2 Bd8 29. Rh1 Na6 30. Ra4 Nc5 31. Ra3 a5 32. Rb1 Kf8 33. f3 Ke8 34. Nb5 Rd7 35. Rh1 Kf8 36. Rc3 Kg8 37. Rcc1 Be7 38. Rh3 Bd8 39. Rch1 Nb7 40. Kd3 Nc5+ 41. Bxc5 Rxc5 42. f4 exf4 43. Nxd6! { A doubly picturesque "sham" sacrifice (meaning a sac that does not actually result in a loss of material). First, we appreciate the power of the half-open h-file in contributing to Black's d-rook's predicament. Second, we appreciate what it means to "control the center". There is no obvious "ladder mate" (Danya would never allow this!) even after the rooks crash through the h-file. And, usually, White cannot simply trot the king to the d4-square to support e4-e5 when there are still so many pieces on the board. But with such a dominating center, Magnus can do exactly this! } 43... Bxg5 (43... Rxd6 44. Rxh7! Bxg5 45. Rh8+ Kf7 46. R1h7+ Kf6 47. Rf8+ Ke5 48. Re8+ Kf6 49. Kd4! $18) 44. e5 Bd8 45. Ne4 Rc8 46. e6 Rg7 47. d6 g5 48. Rh6 g4 49. e7 Bxe7 50. dxe7 Rxe7 51. Nf6+ Kf8 52. Nxg4 Rd8+ 53. Kc3 Rdd7 54. Rxb6 Rc7 55. Rf6+ Rf7 56. Rxh7 Rxf6 57. Nxf6 Rc6 58. Nd7+ Kg8 59. Rh4! { This position should be easily winning, but the way White goes after the weakest pawn is instructive. } 59... Rd6 { Black says that if the knight leaves the d7-square, the rook can cover the pawn "from behind". } 60. Rg4+! { So White uncorks some geometric magic. } 60... Kh8 61. Ne5 Rf6 { This is what Black wanted, right? } 62. Rxf4 { Not exactly! The king's misplacement on the h8-square means the king and rook will be forked. } 1-0