Caruana super-GM opening prep !!

Fabiano Caruana won again the Rapid Chess Championship K-O week 3.

While he won against Jeffery Xiong in the finals (see previous post for Hedgehog opening comment), Fabiano @FabianoCaruana defeated @Hikaru in a crucial game in the semi-finals.

The opening : The Italian Game.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4!? exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+

Position after move 6

7. Nbd2 Nxe4 8. d5 Nxd2 9. Bxd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 Ne7 11. h4

First surprise 11.h2-h4!?

Clearly, Fabiano wants to play 0-0-0 and go for the attack. This was all prepared and checked with engines as we shall see. Mamyedarov and Matlakov had played this idea before though.

11..d6 12. h5 h6 13. O-O-O O-O 14.Rdg1 b5 15. Bb3 Bg4 16. Nh4!?

True Novelty on move 16: 16.Nh4!  ( previously 16 Qf4 played)

Now the move 16 Nh4!? took Hikaru by surprise. 16 Qf4 would allow 16..Qd7

Why 16Nh4!? is such a strong move is best explained via multimedia format.

in the game Hikaru had no real chance to fight.

this position after move 19 is completely winning for White

One line not shown in the video (which focuses on the GM prep) would happen if Black takes the knight on f5

a great performance and opening prep by GM Fabiano Caruana. Hikaru wasn't as well versed in this particular line of the italian game, but he will re-work it with his second (Kris LittleJohn) and a $20,000 super-computer he owns. Most likely running Stockfish14.1

More opening battles ahead!