Carlsen,Magnus (2863) – Anand,Viswanathan (2792) [B40]
World Championship, Sochi (4), 12.11.2014
1.e4 c5 Anand should take his chances in the Sicilian Defence rather than in the Ruy Lopez which probably suits his style better than to allow Carlsen his favourite positions. 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 The Sicilian Defence is a really good opening if White avoids the main lines but Carlsen’s concern is to get a position to his liking rather than Anand’s. This is the real benefit having the White pieces. 3…Nc6 4.Bg2 d5 5.exd5 exd5 6.0-0 Nf6 7.d4 Be7 8.Be3 cxd4 8…0-0!? with the idea 9.dxc5 Ng4 10.Bd4 Nxd4 11.Qxd4 Be6 with some compensation for the pawn is a sharper continuation. 9.Nxd4 Bg4! 9…0-0 10.h3 and the Black bishop on c8 has some problems with activation. 10.Qd3 Qd7 11.Nd2 0-0 12.N2f3 Rfe8 13.Rfe1 Bd6 14.c3 h6 15.Qf1 Bh5 Maybe a subtle way to offer a draw with 16.Bh3 Bg4 17.Bg2 Bh5 and so forth. After all, Carlsen lost yesterday and it’s sensible to settle for a draw after a loss. 16.h3 16.Nh4 looks more critical followed by h2-h3 and g3-g4. 16…Bg6 From now on Anand can be happy with his opening. 17.Rad1 Rad8
18.Nxc6 Carlsen is changing the structure from an isolani to a position with an isolated pawn couple. 18…bxc6 19.c4 Be4 More harmony and flexibility would have been achieved with 19…Qb7 20.Bd4 Black doesn’t have the natural …Ne4 so the knight on f6 has some problems. 20…Nh7 This looks passive but Anand prepares to manoeuvre the knight via f8 to e6. 20…Re6 looks fine too just defending the knight and keeping some options open. 21.cxd5 Bxd5!? A surprising move allowing exchanges which normally benefit White with the better pawn structure and therefore better endings. 21…cxd5 is the normal move. 22.Rxe8+ Rxe8 23.Qd3 Nf8 24.Nh4 After 24.Bc3 Ng6 Carlsen thought it was difficult to achieve anything.
24…Be5! This was overlooked by Carlsen. The natural 24…Ne6 25.Bc3 would have led to a comfortable and slight edge for White. 25.Bxd5 Qxd5 26.Bxe5 Qxe5! Black’s position is probably more difficult to defend after 26…Qxd3 27.Rxd3 Rxe5 28.Nf3 even though a draw is the most likely result. 27.b3 Ne6 28.Nf3 Qf6 29.Kg2 Rd8 30.Qe2 Carlsen said that this was a lazy move. More precise was 30.Qc2 If now 30…Rd5? (30…c5 should be played ) 31.Rxd5 cxd5 32.Qc8+ Qd8 (32…Kh7? 33.Qd7 and White wins a pawn.) 33.Qxd8+ Nxd8 34.Nd4 and White has some chances with the pawn majority on the queenside in the knight ending. 30…Rd5! Strong centralization. 31.Rxd5 cxd5 32.Ne5 or 32.Qe5 Qd8 33.Nd4 Nxd4 34.Qxd4 a6 with an easy draw. 32…Qf5 33.Nd3 Carlsen had planned 33.Nc6 but overlooked 33…Nf4+ 34.gxf4 Qg6+ 33…Nd4 34.g4 Qd7 35.Qe5 Ne6 36.Kg3 Qb5 After 36…d4 37.Qe4 Anand thought Carlsen was too well centralized. 37.Nf4 Nxf4 38.Kxf4 Qb4+ 39.Kf3 d4 40.Qe8+ Kh7 41.Qxf7
41…Qd2! First Anand thought 41…Qc3+ 42.Ke4 d3 was a draw but then he saw the strong 43.Qf3! losing a pawn. 42.Qf5+ Anand showed at the press conference that 42.Ke4 d3 43.Qf5+ Kh8 44.Kd4 doesn’t win a pawn because of 44…Qxa2 and White loses the b3-pawn or the f2-pawn. 42…Kh8 43.h4! Qxa2 44.Qe6! Carlsen is playing for a mate with g4-g5-g6. 44…Qd2 The most precise but actually the other suggestion by Anand also holds the draw after 44…Qa1 45.g5 Qh1+ 46.Kg4 Qg2+ 47.Kh5 Qf3+ 48.Kg6 Qd3+ (or 48…Qa8 ) 49.Kf7 Qf3+ 50.Kg6 Qd3+ with perpetual check. 45.Qe8+ Kh7 46.Qe4+ Kh8 47.Qe8+ Kh7 1/2-1/2
Standings: Carlsen-Anand 2-2
Tomorrow, Thursday, the players have a rest day.
More information at www.Sochi2014.fide.com
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