Master Games To Study: 2019

In some sources I see advice that I agree with, which is simply to commit these games to memory. As daunting of a task that this sounds, it is possible to do, especially if we absorb a little bit at a time. It also takes much repetition, but that is the nature of memory.

Over time I will add analysis to some of these games, but it is not necessary to have analysis to start learning from these games. Human beings learn by example, and even if we don't fully understand the games, we can slowly pick up ideas.

2019-11-04

Caro-Kann Defense

Corus Group C, Wijk aan Zee NED
Magnus Carlsen (2484) vs. Sipke Ernst (2474)


8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

a

b

c

d

e

f

g

h

-1

(white to move)

1.	e4	c6
2.	d4	d5
3.	Nc3	dxe4
4.	Nxe4	Bf5
5.	Ng3	Bg6
6.	h4	h6
7.	Nf3	Nd7
8.	h5	Bh7
9.	Bd3	Bxd3
10.	Qxd3	e6
11.	Bf4	Ngf6
12.	O-O-O	Be7
13.	Ne4	Qa5
14.	Kb1	O-O
15.	Nxf6+	Nxf6
16.	Ne5	Rad8
17.	Qe2	c5
18.	Ng6	fxg6
19.	Qxe6+	Kh8
20.	hxg6	Ng8
21.	Bxh6	gxh6
22.	Rxh6+	Nxh6
23.	Qxe7	Nf7
24.	gxf7	Kg7
25.	Rd3	Rd6
26.	Rg3+	Rg6
27.	Qe5+	Kxf7
28.	Qf5+	Rf6
29.	Qd7#

Click here for 19... Kh7.
Click here for 20... Rfe8.
Click here for 20... Qb6.
Click here for 20... Rde8.
Click here for 24... Qb6.
Click here for 24... Qa6.
Click here for 25... Qb6.
Click here for 27... Kh7.
Click here for 27... Kh6.
Click here for 28... Ke7.

2019-07-15

Master games to study

Blindfold simul, 8b, London ENG
Paul Morphy vs. James G Cunningham


8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

a

b

c

d

e

f

g

h

0

(white to move)

1.	e4	e5
2.	Bc4	Bc5
3.	c3	Nc6
4.	Nf3	Nf6
5.	d4	exd4
6.	e5	Qe7
7.	O-O	Ng8
8.	cxd4	Bb6
9.	d5	Qc5
10.	Na3	Nd4
11.	Be3	Nxf3+
12.	Qxf3	Qf8
13.	Bxb6	axb6
14.	Nb5	Kd8
15.	Rac1	d6
16.	exd6	cxd6
17.	Qe3	Ra6
18.	Nc7	Qe7
19.	Ne6+	fxe6
20.	Bxa6	Bd7
21.	Bb5	Ke8
22.	dxe6	Nf6
23.	Rc8+

Click here for 18... Kxc7.
Click here for 20... bxa6.
Click here for 21... Bxb5.

2019-07-08

An interesting continuation

Norway Chess, Stavanger NOR
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs. Alexander Grischuk


8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

a

b

c

d

e

f

g

h

0

(black to move)

1.	Nf3	Nf6
2.	c4	g6
3.	g3	Bg7
4.	Bg2	c6
5.	d4	d5
6.	cxd5	cxd5
7.	Ne5	Ne4
8.	Nd2	Nf6
9.	Qa4+	Bd7
10.	Qb3	Nc6
11.	Ndf3	Na5
12.	Qa3	O-O
13.	Bd2	Nc6
14.	O-O	Ne4
15.	Bf4	Nxe5
16.	Nxe5	Bb5
17.	Rfe1	Rc8
18.	Rac1	Rxc1
19.	Rxc1	Bxe2
20.	Qxa7	Ba6
21.	b4	Qe8
22.	Nc6	g5
23.	Be3	Nd6
24.	a4	bxc6
25.	Qxa6	Nc4
26.	Rxc4	dxc4
27.	Bxc6	Qb8
28.	Qxc4	Rc8
29.	a5	Qc7
30.	a6	e6
31.	b5	Qa5
32.	Kg2	h6
33.	d5	exd5
34.	Qxd5	Rd8
35.	Qxd8+

2019-07-06

Nimzovich-Rossolimo attack

GCT Croatia
Anish Giri (2779) vs. Magnus Carlsen (2872)


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

h

g

f

e

d

c

b

a

0

(black to move)

1.	e4	c5
2.	Nf3	Nc6
3.	Bb5	e6
4.	Bxc6	bxc6
5.	d3	Ne7
6.	h4	h5
7.	e5	d6
8.	exd6	Ng6
9.	Nfd2	Bxd6
10.	Nc4	Be7
11.	Nc3	Ba6
12.	Qf3	Bxc4
13.	Qxc6+	Kf8
14.	dxc4	Nxh4
15.	O-O	Nf5
16.	Ne2	Rc8
17.	Qa4	Rc7
18.	Bf4	Rd7
19.	c3	g5
20.	Rad1	Rxd1
21.	Rxd1	Qa8
22.	Bc7	h4
23.	f3	h3
24.	Qb3	hxg2
25.	Kf2	g4
26.	Qb8+	Qxb8
27.	Bxb8	Bh4+
28.	Bg3	gxf3
29.	Kxf3	Bxg3
30.	Rd8+	Kg7
31.	Rxh8	Kxh8
32.	Kxg2	Bd6

Click here for 7... f6.
Click here for 23. Rd3.
Click here for 24. Qc2.
Click here for 25. Kxg2.
Click here for 28. Kg1.
Click here for 30. Nxg3.

2019-03-06

Sicilian Dragon: Black’s Fantastic Win Against the Yugoslav Attack

Not the variation I play, but somewhat interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF6itO851ik

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