Schacksnack

Carlsen,Magnus (2863) – Anand,Viswanathan (2792) [C65]
World Championship, Sochi (2), 09.11.2014

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.0-0 d6 6.Re1 0-0 7.Bxc6 bxc6 8.h3 Re8 9.Nbd2 Nd7 10.Nc4 White prepares d3-d4 or maybe Nc4-a5 putting pressure on the pawn on c6. 10…Bb6 11.a4 a5

Suggest a continuation for White!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12.Nxb6! A more critical move than 12.Bd2 Nf8 13.Bc3 c5 14.Qd2 c6 followed by …Bc7 or …Ne6. and Black has no problems. With the played move Black will be weak on the Black squares on the Kingside, particularly g7 as we will soon see. 12…cxb6 13.d4 Qc7 14.Ra3! The rook lift. 14…Nf8 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.Nh4 Rd8 17.Qh5 f6 18.Nf5

How should Black defend against White's aggressive postings?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18…Be6?! 18…Qf7 19.Qe2 Ne6 and Black is fine. 19.Rg3 Ng6 20.h4 A move in Carlsen’s style. 20.Bh6!? is a more complicated move. One possible continuation is 20…gxh6 21.Rxg6+ hxg6 22.Qxg6+ Kf8 23.Qxf6+ Qf7 24.Qxh6+ Ke8 25.Qh8+ Qf8 26.Qxe5 Kf7 27.Nd4 Rxd4 28.Qxd4 Qb4 and so forth. 20…Bxf5?! 20…Rd7 looks more logical to overprotect g7. 21.exf5 Nf4 22.Bxf4 exf4 23.Rc3 c5 24.Re6 Rab8

Suggest a strong continuation for White!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25.Rc4! A beautiful rook move preparing doubling on the e-file. 25…Qd7 26.Kh2 Rf8 26…Re8 doesn’t solve Black’s problem after 27.Rce4 Rxe6 28.fxe6 Qe7 29.Qf5 27.Rce4 Rb7 28.Qe2 b5 29.b3 29.Re7 Qd6 30.f3 also won. 29…bxa4

How should White continue?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30.bxa4 Logical, what can Black do with the b-file? Carlsen didn’t want to destroy the construction on the e-file with 30.Rxa4. The other continuation 30.Re7 Qc8 31.Qc4+ (31.Qg4 Rxe7 32.Rxe7 Rf7 is a harmless continuation.) 31…Kh8 32.bxa4 would have lead to a clear advantage as well. 30…Rb4 31.Re7 Qd6 31…Qxf5? 32.Rxb4 axb4 33.Qc4+ Kh8 34.Qf7! Rg8 35.Re8 and Black is mated. 32.Qf3 Rxe4 33.Qxe4 f3+ 34.g3

What is Black's best defence in a worse position?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

34…h5? 34…Qd2 35.Qxf3 Qxc2 was a more resistent continuation. If 36.Ra7 Black must however avoid 36…Qxa4?? 37.Qb7 Qg4 38.f3 with an immediate win. 35.Qb7 1-0 A well played game by Carlsen but Anand can play better than this.

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