Malcolm Pein on…the Tata Steel Update

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There is a new Tata Steel Masters update in today’s Daily Telegraph chess column.

Malcolm presents a very combative game in the French Defense and there is a chance to test your strength on an interesting puzzle.

Malcolm Pein on…the Tata Steel Update

Magnus Carlsen was held to a draw by his Norwegian compatriot Aryan Tari in the third round of the Tata Steel Masters at Wijk aan Zee. Tari played extremely well – he was horribly crushed by Carlsen at Norway Chess last year.

Overnight leader Nils Grandelius went astray in a nice position and his opponent Pentala Harikrishna took full advantage to join Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana Anish Giri and Grandelius on 2/3.

Caruana outplayed Jan-Krzysztof Duda only to err near the time control and the Polish number one defended knight and six pawns vs rook and four pawns with great ingenuity

N. Grandelius – P. Harikrishna
French Advance

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Qb6 5.Nf3 Bd7 6.Be2 cxd4 7.cxd4 Bb5 8.0–0 Bxe2 9.Qxe2 Nc6 10.Nc3 Nge7 (10…Nxd4 11.Nxd4 Qxd4 12.Qb5+ wins) 11.Qd3 Rc8 12.Rd1 h6 13.Bd2 Ng6 14.h4 Bb4 15.Na4 Qc7 16.h5 Nge7 17.Bf4?! (Tempting, as it looks like Black’s bishop will struggle to find a home. White has an edge after the routine 17.Rac1 Bxd2 18.Qxd2, or 17.Bxb4 Nxb4 18.Qd2) 17…Qa5! 18.b3 (18.Nc3 Bxc3)

Tata Steel Update

18…b5! 19.Nb2 Ba3! 20.Qe2 0–0 21.Rab1 Rc7 22.Nd3 Qb6 23.b4 (Perhaps 23.Nde1 Nb4 24.g4 Rfc8 25.Qd2) 23…a5 24.bxa5 Nxa5 25.Bc1? (25.Nfe1! planning g4) 25…Bxc1 26.Rdxc1 Rxc1+ 27.Nxc1 Nc4 28.Nb3 Ra8 (d4 and a2 are weak. White’s position collapses with startling rapidity) 29.Rc1 Nc6 30.g3 Ra3 31.Kg2 Qa7 32.Rc2 Nb4

N. Grandelius – P. Harikrishna

33.Rc3 Nxa2 34.Rd3 Rxb3 35.Rxb3 Nc1 36.Qc2 Nxb3 37.Qxb3 Qa4 38.Qb1 b4 0–1

Test Your Strength

Dragun-Gledura
US Collegiate Online
Black to play and win

Highlight the space below this line to reveal the answer.

1…Ng4! 0-1 If 2.fxg4 Bxg4 3.Qf1 Bf3+ 4.Kg1 Qg4+ wins.

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