Sicilian Defence: Moscow Variation, 3...Nd7 4.O-O a6
Carlsen–Grischuk, London Chess Classic 2015 · Caruana–Donchenko, Saint Louis Masters 2024 · 6:54 · ECO B51
Position as text
FEN:
In this video
Game 1: Magnus Carlsen (2834) vs Alexander Grischuk (2747)
London Chess Classic 2015, 13 December 2015 · White won (1-0) · 38 moves
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Key moments
- 5.Bd3The first move after the opening line0:26
- 32...Qe1+The evaluation moves from 0.00 to +2.922:32
- 34.Kxg2White stays more than two pawns ahead from here2:39
- 34...Qxd2+The evaluation moves from +2.02 to +4.412:42
- 37...Qe1+The evaluation moves from +3.78 to +6.822:56
- 38.Kg2White wins after 38 moves2:59
Evaluation
Above the line, White is better; below it, Black. Scores are in pawns, capped at five either way.
Game 2: Fabiano Caruana (2805) vs Alexander Donchenko (2618)
Saint Louis Masters 2024, 7 December 2024 · Black won (0-1) · 46 moves
Click a move to jump the video to it. Dotted moves are the opening line the video is about.
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Key moments
- 5.Be2The first move after the opening line3:24
- 18.exd6The evaluation moves from −0.41 to −2.454:18
- 27.Kh1Black stays more than two pawns ahead from here5:02
- 30.Qc2The evaluation moves from −2.48 to −3.995:18
- 31...Rf6The evaluation moves from −4.02 to −5.495:25
- 45...Rxf5The queens come off6:35
- 46...c4Black wins after 46 moves6:40
Evaluation
Above the line, White is better; below it, Black. Scores are in pawns, capped at five either way.
About these games
After 3.Bb5+ Black blocks the check with 3...Nd7 instead of a bishop or knight on c6, so the pieces stay flexible and no bishop trade is forced. White castles, and 4...a6 asks the bishop to make up its mind: give up the bishop on d7 or retreat and keep it. Both games retreat. White then sets up a central grip with c4 while Black looks for queenside space with ...b5.
Carlsen–Grischuk began 5.Bd3 with 6.Re1 and 7.c4. Grischuk replied with 6...b5 and the pawn sacrifice 7...g5, and 13...Nxb2 won back the b-pawn. Carlsen castled into a solid position, then pushed f4 and f5 at the kingside. Black stood better before 30.fxe6, which lost the advantage, but 30...fxe6 gave it back and the score returned to 0.00. Grischuk then sacrificed with 33...Rxg2+, but after 34.Kxg2 White was more than two pawns up. The checks that followed only increased the lead: +4.41 after 34...Qxd2+ and +6.82 after 37...Qe1+. White won after 38.Kg2.
Caruana–Donchenko went the quieter way with 5.Be2, d3 and c4. Black fianchettoed, played ...e5 and moved the knight through f8 to e6. Then ...b5-b4 sent the white knight to a4. The central break 18.exd6 dropped the score from −0.41 to −2.45. After 21...f5, at −1.15, White was still in the game, but 30.Qc2 made it −3.99. The fork 33...Nxf1+ won the exchange, the queens came off with 45...Rxf5, and Black won after 46...c4. This game was won by queenside space and piece play, whereas Game 1 was decided by tactics on the kingside.