The Blitz Whisperer Maxim Dlugy What if the World Championship match is decided in blitz games?

Two years ago, in , rating system, I learnt that the differ- ence in ratings is just an indication of defended his title by winning the rapid the expected score between players in the long run, and in no way an indica- tiebreaker. Traditionalists will shudder at the tion of a foregone conclusion. In fact, Prof. Elo was annoyed when FIDE thought of blitz games deciding the world decided to use his system to include and exclude players from certain championship match in London. MAXIM DLUGY events, merely on the basis of these looks at the players’ chances if that scenario numbers – he never meant it to be used that way. becomes reality and has suggestions for how Notwithstanding this, we live in a , despite a whopping rating practical world, and it does seem to us that if a player is 170 points lower, he gap of 172(!) points, might beat the odds. is the underdog, even if we shouldn’t expect the top dog to automatically score 7½ points in a 10-game match, as predicted by the rating system. This doesn’t bode well for Caruana, who it s the World Champion- that Magnus has the pleasant option of seems has shown serious weakness in ship between Magnus just coasting to the tiebreaker, as he did playing blitz against the top players Carlsen and Fabiano against Karjakin once he had equal- in the world. His recent 20½-6½ loss A Caruana is around the ized the score with two games to go? Is to in the .com corner, and the bookmakers’ odds are the champ such a clear favourite in the championship created a sensation, only slightly in favour of the World faster time-controls that his challenger while his struggling in the blitz part of Champion, there seems to be every will have to steer clear of the tiebreak the has become the reason to wonder what would happen at all cost and put all his efforts into the , rather than the exception. if, after 12 classical games, we’d see a first 12 games? Does that mean that Magnus only tiebreaker with a faster time-control. On the face of it – Yes! At the time of needs to tie the match, split the four Whether there would be rapid games, writing, the difference between the two rapid games and finish Fabiano off as we saw in New York two years ago, players in the classical time-control in the two-game blitz playoff? I don’t when Magnus faced , is 12 rating points, while the differ- think it will be that simple. First of all, or whether we would even go to blitz ence in the rapid ratings is 91 points, as any odds player knows, the positive games if the rapid games yield no and the gap in the blitz ratings even a expectation of results plays out very decision either. whopping 172 points! well over the long haul, but in a short While Magnus Carlsen also excels From my discussions with former match, anything can happen. Even if in rapid and blitz chess, Fabiano Caru- World Champion , Fabiano’s expectation in a two-game ana’s strength clearly lies in the clas- who had the privilege of talking to blitz match is half a point out of 2, sical time-control. Does this mean Arpad Elo, the inventor of the current it’s very easy to beat the odds, either

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by catching your opponent with an opening novelty and winning one game or simply by managing to both games, which would take the match to a totally unpredictable Armageddon shoot-out. The nervous tension in those two blitz games What if the World Championship would be as high as with a throw-in in the final seconds of a basketball game with the shooter’s team down match is decided in blitz games? one point. Here, too, the ability to control your nerves will be the main factor.

To showcase what can happen when time runs short, I would like to direct

the reader to the following incredible LENNART OOTES game, which may hopefully demon- , 2017. A nod, a quick handshake, another blitz game. Clearly, Magnus Carlsen strate the kind of situation that could and Fabiano Caruana have no idea of the blunderfest ahead of them. arise in the final countdown. This blitz game, played last year between Fabiano and Magnus in the Paris leg of the Grand Chess Tour, demon- A dubious decision, extending the 16.♖d1 ♕c7 17.♘xd5 ♘xd5 strates how a lack of time can make scope of Black’s light-squared bishop 18.a3 c4 19.♘d4 ♖fd8 the best players in the world come up on the b1-h7 diagonal. with seemingly random moves. 11...♘d7 12.g4 ♗g6 13.♘c4 T_.t._M_ ♘b4 14.♘e3 ♘b6 15.♕e2 Fabiano Caruana jJd.lJjJ Magnus Carlsen T_.d.tM_ ._._J_L_ Paris blitz 2017 _._Si._. 1.♘f3 d5 2.g3 ♘f6 3.♗g2 ♗g4 jJ_.lJjJ .s._J_L_ ._Jn._I_ 4.0-0 e6 5.d3 ♗e7 6.h3 ♗h5 i._._._I 7.♘bd2 c5 8.e4 ♘c6 9.♖e1 dxe4 _.j.i._. 10.dxe4 0-0 11.e5?! .s._._I_ .iI_QiB_ _._.nN_I r.bR_.k. T_.d.tM_ IiI_QiB_ jJ_.lJjJ 20.♔h1 r.b.r.k. It was better to simplify the position ._S_Js._ with 20.♘f5 exf5 21.♗xd5, since _.j.i._L 15...♘6d5 White’s d4-knight has a smaller radius ._._._._ With more time on the clock, Magnus of action than its colleague on d5. _._._NiI would probably have preferred a 20...c3 21.b4 ♕b6 22.♘b3 ♖d7 gradual improvement of his already 23.f4 ♖ad8 24.♖f1 IiIn.iB_ comfortable position with 15...♕c7, r.bQr.k. with ideas of ...♘c6 and ...c4, when ._.t._M_ Black is already significantly better. jJ_TlJjJ .d._J_L_ ‘The nervous tension would be as high as _._Si._. .i._.iI_ with a throw-in in the final seconds of a iNj._._I basketball game with the shooter’s team ._I_Q_B_ down one point.’ r.b._R_K

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Black has somehow lost momentum, ♕xc5 32.♗xh6 ♗xc2, with an unclear 28.♘a5 a6 29.♘b3 ♘b6 30.♗f4 because the pawn on c3, although position. It’s not clear how exactly White wants strong in itself, is blocking Black’s 26...♕c7 27.♘c4 to break through on the kingside, since pieces from entering White’s position. A strange move, since the knight Black’s control of the d-file and of some Time for some fun! doesn’t really have anywhere to go to. key squares is extremely annoying. 24...h6 25.f5 ♗h7 Again, 27.f6 would have been better. 30...♘c4 31.♗g3

._.t._M_ ._.t._M_ ._.t._M_ jJ_TlJjL jJdTlJjL _.dTlJjL .d._J_.j ._._J_.j J_._J_.j _._SiI_. _._SiI_. _J_.iI_. .i._._I_ .iN_._I_ .iS_._I_ iNj._._I i.j._._I iNj._.bI ._I_Q_B_ ._I_Q_B_ ._I_Q_B_ r.b._R_K r.b._R_K r._._R_K 26.♘a5 The direct approach 26.f6 ♗f8 27.fxg7 27...b5 31...♗g5?! Entering the dragon with ♗xg7 28.♘c5 ♖c7 29.♕f2 looked Even stronger was 27...♖c8!, forcing 31...♘d2! was crushing. White cannot more promising, even though Black White to withdraw the knight or to allow Black a passed pawn on d2, could arrange for counterplay by sacri- a pawn by jumping to d6. and must start giving away a serious ficing the rook for the annoying knight Objectively, Black’s advantage would amount of material. with 29...♖dc8 30.♕h4 ♖xc5 31.bxc5 be nearly decisive in that case. 32.♖f3 ♖d2

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Nice, but not at all necessary. 32...♘d2 42...♗g6?? was still winning. ._._._M_ Black’s logical-looking reply is also 33.♘xd2 cxd2 34.h4 _.d._JjL a losing , turning a win into a J_._J_.j loss. Instead, Black should have given ._.t._M_ _J_.iIi. his king breathing room with a tempo _.d._JjL .i._._S_ as follows: 42...♗e4 43.♕b3 ♗xg2+ 44.♔xg2 ♕c6+ 45.♕f3 ♕xe6, with a J_._J_.j i._._RbK totally winning position. _J_.iIl. ._I_Q_B_ .iS_._Ii _._T_._. ._D_._M_ i._._Rb. 38...♖d4? _._._Rj. ._IjQ_B_ This logical-looking move, guarding J_._I_Lj r._._._K the knight on g4, is a losing mistake. _J_.i.j. Black could have kept the balance .i.t._S_ Now begins a series of the most incred- with the incisive 38...♕d7!! 39.g6 fxg6. i._._QbK ible mistakes recorded in a game Now the position is completely crazy, between two world top chess players. because Black has three viable options: ._I_._B_ _._._._.

‘Magnus once again plays a losing 43.♖e7?? The third double question mark in a row, returning the favour move in a winning position.’ again. The winning concept 43.♖d7! ♖xd7 44.exd7 ♕xd7 is now demon- Of course, it is a blitz game, but let’s ...g5, ...♖d2 and ...gxf5, all leading to strated with 45.♕d5+ ♕xd5 46.♗xd5+, just see what happens before drawing roughly level positions. For example: picking up the knight on g4. our own conclusions. 40.♔xg4 g5 41.♗f2!! ♗xf5+ 42.♔g3 43...♘xe5?? 34...♘e3? ♖d2 43.♕e1 ♖xc2 44.♔h2. Magnus once again plays a losing move A losing move. After the best sequence 39.g6 fxg6 40.fxe6 g5 in a winning position. The correct idea 34...♗e3 35.♖d1 ♘b2 36.♖xe3 ♕xc2 was to finally protect the knight on g4 37.♖xd2 ♖xd2 38.♕f3 ♕d1+ 39.♔h2 ._._._M_ with 43...h5!, whereupon White’s ♖d7 ♕xf3 40.♖xf3 exf5 41.gxf5 ♘c4 42.e6 _.d._.jL would no longer work. ♗xf5! 43.exf7+ (43.♖xf5 ♖xg2+!) 43...♔f8 44.♖f2 ♖xf2 45.♗xf2 ♔xf7 J_._I_.j ._D_._M_ the endgame should be a draw. _J_.i.j. 35.hxg5 d1♕+ 36.♖xd1 ♖xd1+ _._.r.j. .i.t._S_ J_._I_Lj i._._RbK ._._._M_ _J_.s.j. ._I_Q_B_ .i.t._._ _.d._JjL _._._._. J_._J_.j i._._QbK _J_.iIi. 41.♖f7 The unlikely 40.c3! was even ._I_._B_ .i._._I_ stronger, overloading the rook on d4, _._._._. i._.sRb. but Fabi’s move is also quite strong. Now we see that White needs to get rid 44.♕f2?? ._I_Q_B_ of Black’s defending knight on g4 as Fabiano is playing the same game. His _._T_._K quickly as possible. winning combination now started with 41...♕c8 But here White played: a as follows: 44.♗xe5!! 37.♔h2? Now it’s White’s turn to go 42.♕f3?? This move turns a winning g4+ 45.♕xg4 ♖xg4 46.♖xg7+ ♔f8 wrong. After 37.♗e1! Black’s knight position into a losing one and deserves 47.e7+ ♔e8 48.♖g8+ ♔xe7 49.♖xc8 cannot keep defending the rook on d1, two question marks. The only winning ♗f5 50.♖c5!, and Black is down a piece and White collects an exchange with a move, and a logical one, was 42.♖d7! without a significant discovered check winning position. ♖xd7 43.exd7 ♕xd7 44.e6, winning by the rook. 37...♘xg4+ 38.♔h3 the knight on g4. 44...♕d8??

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The final mistake in this incredible completely right with this highly prac- by John Levitt in his excellent book battle of nerves. Black plays another tical decision, as Sergey, who had spent Genius in Chess. losing move instead of winning with all his energy preparing for a real fight 44...♕c3!! with the very unpleasant in Game 12, was left holding the bag ._._._._ threat of 45...♖h4 mate. After 45.♗a8 when the tiebreaker rolled in. _._._._. ♖d2 it becomes pretty clear that White Which begs the question: How can is simply lost. one prepare for a blitz or rapid playoff? ._._._._ One simple answer is to play blitz _._._._. ._.d._M_ and rapid (training) games against ._.d._._ _._.r.j. strong players, take note of where the _._._._. mistakes come in and then work on J_._I_Lj that area of the game. A major issue, ._._._._ _J_.s.j. though, no matter what your weak- _._._.n. .i.t._._ nesses are, will always be speed. Speed i._._.bK is essential. In order to improve your In this position, the task is to speed, your hand-eye coordination manoeuvre the knight to all squares ._I_.qB_ has to be improved, and this can best not covered by the black queen in _._._._. be done by good drills. a sequence starting with c1, e1 and When working on a player’s thinking turning after reaching the edge. So 45.♖xg7+! ♔xg7 46.♗xe5+ ♔g8 speed in my chess academy in New after h1, the knight has to go to h2 47.♗xd4 ♕d6 48.♕f6 g4+ 49.♔xg4 York, I give my students two drills, and then g2. The final square is g8. Of one of which they can practise on their course, you cannot capture the black ._._._M_ own. The first drill is quite simple: You queen or move to a square covered by it _._._._. get five minutes to find as many double during your journey. J_.dIqLj attacks as you can with a queen against Time yourself and then work to _J_._._. .i.b._K_ ‘To improve your speed, your hand-eye i._._._. ._I_._B_ coordination has to be improved, and this _._._._. can best be done by good drills.’ and the World Champion resigned. two randomly placed knights, pressing improve your time once or twice a day. You just witnessed a series of six(!) the clock after each correct attack. After a week you will see a marked double blunders in a row from the two Your coach then places the queen back improvement in your ability to make top players in the world. Added to this on its original square and resets the decisions and you will be less likely was a whole slew of other, lesser but clock. When the attacks run out, he to miss a strong knight manoeuvre in still significant, mistakes that disfig- changes the position and you go again, your games! ured this game. until the five minutes are up. I had My current best time is 1 minute and The big question arising from this seven-year-old kids go from 50 attacks 24 seconds. I think it can be seriously is: Can a player train to avoid such to 246 attacks in five minutes over the improved. Of course, as you get bored mistakes in the key blitz and rapid course of this training. Their speed with this position, you can put the games? As we know from Magnus’ and overview of the board improved queen on some other central square, comments after his previous match together with their rating. and the position will become another with Sergey Karjakin, that’s in a way Unfortunately, this drill can only be tough drill to work out. Improve- precisely what he did in New York performed with a very strong coach ment in blitz is a result of hard work, after Game 11, when the score was who is able to quickly spot the double just like improvement in chess or any level and he was White in the only attacks himself, and set up positions other endeavour. If Fabiano focuses on remaining classical game of the match. in a split second in which at least one this area of his game, he will be able to He planned to make a quick draw and double attack is possible, to keep the match Magnus in the tiebreaker and concentrate all his energy on winning momentum of the drill going. we will be seeing an extremely exciting the rapid tiebreak. He turned out to be The second drill was described match, no matter what the outcome. ■

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