GOTM; April, 2012.  

Note that the diagrams are fairly large, if you save them to your computer, you will be able to see and study the positions better.  

April - 2012 ... "Game of The Month" 

In the 2012 Russian Team Championships, team "Tomsk-400" cruised to the finish line with Sergey Karjakin on board one. [The CB story.] GM Karjakin played extremely good chess - I don't think that he dropped a single game. He also posted a nearly unbelievable 2896 performance rating! (According to the FIDE website, Karjakin is currently #6 in the world, with a 2780 rating.  - A.J.G. Oct, 2012)  

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The following was one of Karjakin's better games, apparently, Sergey is one of the few "Top 50" GM's who will still consistently use 1. e2-e4.   

     1.e4 c5;  2.Nf3 e6;  3.d4 cxd4;  4.Nxd4 Nc6;  

This is one of the modern ways to play the Sicilian ...   
  if Black plays the normal move order for the Scheveningen Sicilian, then White can play the Keres Attack. [games]  
  (Or some other sharp attacking system, there are many against a 'normal' Sicilian!)  

   r1bqkbnr/pp1p1ppp/2n1p3/8/3NP3/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R w KQkq - 0 5   

My objection to this move order is that White can play the variations with an early Nb5. 
(Play becomes very sharp, Black has never proven a clear path to reach full equality; of course ... 
  this is just my own, personal opinion here; and not the way that theory views this line.)  

                         [ RR  4...Nf6;  5.Nc3 d6;  6.g4,  "+/="  The Keres Attack.   

                           [ See MCO-15, page # 297; columns # 13-18, and all applicable notes. ] ]     

     5.Nc3 Qc7;  6.Be3 a6;    

One of the main hallmarks of this particular system is that Black delays playing his KN to the f6-square ... as long as possible.   

     7.Qd2,  (Q-side development?)   

White chooses the Queen move, perhaps Karjakin still hopes to play the White side of the (dreaded?) English Attack?  [more]  

                         [ One of the main alternatives would be for White to play:    
                            RR  7.Bd3 Nf6;  8.0-0 Ne5;  9.h3 Bc5;  10.Kh1 d6;  11.Qe1 0-0;  "="  (plan?) 
                            with approximate equality.   

                            Mamedov won a brilliant game (in 2002) on the White side of this position.   
                            (See the game - and the link - just below.)  

                            Nidjat Mamedov (2463) - Jacobo Borja Paredes-Cordo (2243);    
                            [B48] / EU-ch U18 / Peniscola, ESP / (R#1) / 29,09,2002.     
                             {White won, an incredible game ... ... ... 1-0 in 36 total moves.} ]    

     7...Nf6;  8.0-0-0 Bb4!?;    

Black essays the pin line, the alternative was to play 8...d6; and allow a transposition to the one of White's more potent options. Black, 
possibly fearing that White may employ the deadly English Attack ... or some other equally dreaded attacking system ... Black decided   
to avoid the standard variations that feature the Pawn structure with Pawns on e6 and d6, and use the pinning move of 8...Bb4; instead.   

The main drawback to this idea is that often times Black winds up in succeeding in doubling White's Pawns, however, the loss   
 of his dark-square Bishop is something that the second player is unable to cope with.    

                         [ Or Black could play:  RR  8...d6;  9.f3,  "+/="    
                            which transpose to the modern variant, the English Attack.    

                           [ See MCO-15; page # 300; columns # 19-24 ...   
                              and all applicable notes.] ]    

     9.f3 Na5;  10.Kb1 Bxc3;    

As expected, Black doubles White's QBP's here ...    

The next few moves all look to be best and/or forced ... for both sides.    

     11.Qxc3 Qxc3;  12.bxc3 d5;  13.e5 Nd7;  14.f4 b5;  '~'  (Unclear.)   

Tregubov has given Karjakin an ugly set of doubled, isolated Pawns on the open c-file.   
  (And the Queens are now off the board, as well.)   

   r1b1k2r/3n1ppp/p3p3/np1pP3/3N1P2/2P1B3/P1P3PP/1K1R1B1R w kq b6 0 15   

One would normally expect White to be in deep trouble here, yet Karjakin plays as though nothing bad ever even happened. 
(Black does lack the ability to seriously affect the dark squares, and this is the main problem that Black is facing here.)   

The next set of moves looks to be all pretty decent ... for both sides, here.   

     15.Nb3 Nc4;  16.Bd4 Bb7;  17.Bd3 Rc8;  18.g4,   ('!?')   

White is obviously looking to play the Pawn advance of f4-f5 ... this is one of White's best (only?) sources of counterplay in this particular position.    

                        [ The iron monster prefers:  RR 18.Rhf1, '='  - Fritz 13. ]    

     18...Ncb6!?;  (Retreating?)   

I see no real reason why Black should back up here, better was 18...h7-h5! 
(To challenge White's Pawn structure and perhaps try to inhibit the first player from playing g2-g4 and thus slow down the f4-f5 pawn avalanche.)   

     19.Kc1 0-0;  (King-safety?)    

This looks almost like a case of "castling into it" ... ... ... 
in my way of thinking, there was no reason for Black evacuate his King from the center of the chess board. 
(Bear in mind that I have had months to analyze this particular game. I also have the use of hindsight, and strong chess engines, as well.)    

                         [ Both Houdini and Fritz prefer that Black play the N to a4 here. (>/= 19...Na4!) ]    

     20.Rhe1 Na4;  21.Re3 Rc7;   

Black naturally doubles on the c-file here ... it is amazing (to me) that Black can't just flat-out win one of White's QBP's.   

                         [ Of course not:  </= 21...Nxc3??;  22.Bxc3 Rxc3;  23.Bxh7+ Kxh7;  24.Rxc3, '+-'  and White wins material. ]     

Now I would play Kd2, and that is one of the top choices of the strong engine, Fritz 13, as well.    

     22.Rf1 Rfc8;  23.f5!? Nxc3;  24.Bxc3 Rxc3;  25.fxe6 fxe6;  

Now Black has won a Pawn ...   

   2r3k1/1b1n2pp/p3p3/1p1pP3/6P1/1NrBR3/P1P4P/2K2R2 w - - 0 26   

However, because of the resultant open lines, White now has very good play.   

     26.Nd4 g6;  (blockade)   

Apparently, Black cannot reasonably protect his KP ... not from the current set-up that we have on the chessboard.    

                          [ Of course not:  </= 26...Re8??;  because of:  27.Bxh7+, etc. "+/-"  (White wins a Rook on c3.) ]   

     27.Kd2 b4;  28.Rf4!?,  (hmmm)    

Here - Fritz's warning light comes on, but I am not sure if the computer really grasps the full magnitude (or the depth) of GM Sergey Karjakin's idea here.    

    2r3k1/1b1n3p/p3p1p1/3pP3/1p1N1RP1/2rBR3/P1PK3P/8 b - - 0 28   

White plans on a possible doubling of the Rooks on the 7th rank, when Black's King will be in real jeopardy.    

                          [ The computer seems to "think" that the following continuation was a little better than the game:   
                             (>/=) RR 28.h4 Ra3;  29.Nxe6, '~'  (unclear)  with good play for both players.   

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                             RR 28.Nxe6 Re8;  29.Nd4 Rxe5;  "=/+" ]    

     28...Nc5;  29.Ref3 Ra3!?;    

Black goes for the gold ...    

   2r3k1/1b5p/p3p1p1/2npP3/1p1N1RP1/r2B1R2/P1PK3P/8 w - - 0 30   

This move is not bad, but the engines, in this position, seem to prefer other tries for Black. 
(I.e., >/= 29...Re8; or maybe even >/= 29...Ba8.)   

     30.Rf7 Rxa2;  31.Re7,  (pig/7th)   

A critical position has now been reached.    

   2r3k1/1b2R2p/p3p1p1/2npP3/1p1N2P1/3B1R2/r1PK3P/8 b - - 0 31   

Black must find a method to adequately deal with White's concept of doubling both of his Rooks on the seventh rank.    

                    [ But not: </= 31.h4? Nxd3; "+/" and Black is now on top. ]   

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Now there comes a complete meltdown by Black. After playing so many good moves, one has to believe that the string of bad plays (that follows) was caused by some external factor ... like (perhaps) the chess clock. 

     31...Ne4+?;  (Maybe - '??')   

This is the wrong idea here, after the simple capture on d3, White is forced to cede Black the draw. (See just below.)   

                         [ Black had two other lines here ... they were not winning, but appear as if they 
                            would have gained the at least a draw for Black.   

                            For example: >/=  31...Nxd3;  32.Rff7 Rcxc2+;  33.Nxc2 Nxe5;  34.Rxh7 Bc6;    
                            35.Reg7+ Kf8;  36.Ra7 Kg8;  37.Rag7+ Kf8;  38.Ra7,  "="    
                            when White can force a draw by repeating the position. - Fritz 13.   

                                  *** *** *** *** *** ***       *** *** *** *** *** ***       *** *** *** *** *** ***    

                             Or Black could have played:  >/=  31...Bc6;  32.Rff7 Be8;  33.Rg7+ Kf8;    
                             34.Ke3 b3;  35.cxb3 Rxh2;  36.Rxh7 Rxh7;  37.Rxh7 Kg8;  38.Ra7, '~'  (unclear)    
                             when the position is unclear, (even); but Black should not lose with correct play.    
                              - Houdini 1.5 ]   

     32.Ke3 Ra1?!;  (dubious/inferior)   

This is inferior, all the engines agree that Black had to play his Knight to the g5-square in this position. 
(Although White remains clearly better ... in all lines.)  

{It is possible that Tregubov saw ...Ng5; but simply rejected it ... nothing here really works out well for Black.}   

                         [ Black should have played:  >/= 32...Ng5[];  33.Rf1!, '±'  ("+/")    
                            (& White is clearly better.).   

                           However, White is probably going to win, (no matter what); even with best play. ]   

     33.Rxb7,  (Grab some!)       

White takes the Bishop, however, (according to the chess engines); this was not the best move here.   

   2r3k1/1R5p/p3p1p1/3pP3/1p1Nn1P1/3BKR2/2P4P/r7 b - - 0 33   

Rff7! was better, see the analysis given, just below. [Of course, both moves win pretty easily for White.]    

                         [ A superior continuation was:     
                           >/=  33.Rff7! Re1+;  34.Kf4 Rf8;  35.Rxf8+ Kxf8;  36.Rxb7 g5+;  37.Kf3, '+-'  (+1 piece)   
                           when White has an extra minor piece, Black's King is nailed down, and all of Black's Pawns    
                           are simply targets for White's active pieces. ]   

      33...Re1+;  34.Ne2 a5?;  (Really bad.)    

Now White's edge - according to all of the quality computer programs - more than doubles. (>/= 34...Nc5[];)  

     35.Rff7, '+-'   Black Resigns.   

Tregubov has had enough, and decides it is time to turn down the King.   

   2r3k1/1R3R1p/4p1p1/p2pP3/1p2n1P1/3BK3/2P1N2P/4r3 b - - 0 35   

A nice game by Karjakin, who consistently shows that he is one of the best players in the whole world. His play - in the Russian Team Championships - was magnificent, he consistently outplayed strong GM's. 

                          [ In case you do not believe that White is winning, or you are from Missouri ...    
                             here is a variation where White is winning - hands down: 
                             35.Rff7 h6;   (Might as well.)   
                             Otherwise, White's Rooks scoop up all of Black's Pawns here.    
                             36.Rg7+ Kh8[];  No choice.   

                                            ( Even worse was:  </= 36...Kf8?;  37.Rbf7+ Ke8;  
                                              38.Bb5+ Rc6[];  39.Bxc6+ Kd8;  40.Rg8#. )    

                            37.Rh7+ Kg8;  38.Rbg7+ Kf8;  39.Rxg6 Rd8;  40.Rhg7! Ng5;     
                            41.Rg8+ Ke7;  42.R6g7+ Nf7;  43.Rxd8 Kxd8;  44.Rxf7,  "+/-"    
                            when it should be obvious that White should win from this particular position.    
                            [ White is up two minor pieces ... for only just one Pawn. (Analysis, assisted     
                              by - Fritz 13; checked also by the strong program, Houdini.) ] ]