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Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Variation — Part 2 of 3

Almasi–Navara, TCh-Eur Novi Sad 2009 · Hou–Caruana, Tata Steel 2018 · 8:44 · ECO C96

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In this video

Game 1: Zoltan Almasi (2685) vs David Navara (2692)

TCh-Eur Novi Sad 2009, 25 October 2009 · White won (1-0) · 48 moves

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Key moments

  1. 11...Nd7The first move after the opening line0:46
  2. 29.Bd3The evaluation moves from +2.51 to +1.472:14
  3. 30...d5The evaluation moves from +1.16 to +2.982:22
  4. 38...Qf5White stays more than two pawns ahead from here3:02
  5. 41.Kh2The evaluation moves from +2.79 to +4.093:14
  6. 48.Qc4+White wins after 48 moves3:49

Evaluation

Above the line, White is better; below it, Black. Scores are in pawns, capped at five either way.

Game 2: Hou Yifan (2680) vs Fabiano Caruana (2811)

Tata Steel 2018, 21 January 2018 · Black won (0-1) · 58 moves

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Key moments

  1. 11...Nd7The first move after the opening line4:35
  2. 33.Qd2The evaluation moves from +0.69 to −2.116:22
  3. 36.Kf1The evaluation moves from −2.07 to −3.256:38
  4. 47.gxh4The evaluation moves from −1.77 to −5.24, and Black stays more than two pawns ahead from here7:32
  5. 53.exf5The queens come off8:02
  6. 58...Rxc4Black wins after 58 moves8:30

Evaluation

Above the line, White is better; below it, Black. Scores are in pawns, capped at five either way.

About these games

After 9...Na5 Black chases the bishop from b3 to c2, and 10...c5 with 11.d4 sets up the Chigorin structure: Black has pawns on e5, d6, c5 and b5 and wants queenside space, while White keeps a broad centre and a bishop aimed at the kingside. Both games continue with Keres's 11...Nd7, which frees f6 for the bishop and prepares to challenge d4 or to bring the knight to b6.

Almasi–Navara, Novi Sad 2009: after 12.Nbd2 exd4 13.cxd4 Nc6 14.d5, White traded knights on e5 and then pushed f4, f5, g4 and g5, reaching +3.33 by 26.axb5. The score dropped from +2.51 to +1.47 with 29.Bd3 and then rose from +1.16 to +2.98 after 30...d5. From 38...Qf5 White stayed more than two pawns ahead, 41.Kh2 took it to +4.09, and White won after 48.Qc4+.

Hou–Caruana, Tata Steel 2018: 12.d5 Nb6 locked the centre, and Black played ...a5 and ...c4 on the queenside and planted a knight on c4. White was better until 33.Qd2 swung the score from +0.69 to −2.11, and 36.Kf1 made it −3.25. After 47.gxh4 (−1.77 to −5.24) Black stayed more than two pawns ahead, the queens came off at 53.exf5, and Black won after 58...Rxc4. Where Game 1 opened the centre for a kingside pawn storm, this game kept it closed and Black won on the queenside.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Introduction and the opening line
  2. 0:10Game 1: Almasi vs Navara, TCh-Eur Novi Sad 2009
  3. 3:58Game 2: Hou vs Caruana, Tata Steel 2018

The opening line

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4

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