Dubov possessed by Tal’s spirit plays a brilliant attacking game against Karjakin
Greetings fellow lovers of the chess game!
It was the final round of the Russian chess championship. Sergey Karjakin was leading the tournament alongside Ian Nepomniatchi. The tension was in the air when Karjakin sat down to play Daniil Dubov while Ian Nepomniatchi was playing against Maksim Chigaev.
Dubov is notorious for his opening preparation and his aggressive style of play. Sometimes even refereed to as the modern-day Mikhail Tal. This game more than lived up to these expectations.
It all started out as an Italian. However already on move six Dubov surprised Karjakin with the incredibly rare 6.b4!? Karjakin went into the thinking tank and came up with 6...Ne4. Dubov played 7.Bd5 with lightning fast speed and it was apparent that Karjakin had entered Dubov’s infamous preparation.
As a slight digression there was a game in 2017 where Anand faced the same opening as Karjakin. He played 6...d5 and played an absolutely gorgeous game.
After a few moves had been played Karjakin had the choice between 12...0-0 and 12...g5. To begin with the computer screams for 12...g5 to be played. However, after it reaches a greater depth it understand that 13.Nxg5 gives white sufficient compensation for the piece. From a human perspective 12...0-0 is a very natural move from Karjakin.
After the move 16.Bf6 Ian Nepomniatchi agrees to a draw with Maksim Chigaev. This means that if Karjakin loses the game Nepomniatchi wins the Russian chess championship and if Karjakin draws he plays a playoff with Nepomniatchi. Given that Karjakin is victorious he wins the Russian chess championship 2020.
Some moves later Daniil Dubov has installed a bishop on f6 breathing in the neck of the black king on g8 and has many active piece ready for decisive action. It is then he plays the move of the year perhaps. 19.Qxg6!!! He sacrifices his queen for an initiative on blacks king.
His sacrifice of the queen appears to pay off as Karjakin has to sacrfice material back in order to survive. Eventually Dubov obtains a winning position which he goes on to convert with ease.
I cover the game in greater detail in a YouTube video. Feel free to check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZng8DDasWU
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