Schacksnack

Carlsen,Magnus (2863) – Anand,Viswanathan (2792) [B41]
World Championship, Sochi (6), 15.11.2014

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 The Kan variation is one of the most solid variations in the Sicilian defence. 5.c4 The variation 5.Bd3 Bc5 6.Nb3 Be7 leads normally to a hedgehog position. 5…Nf6 6.Nc3 Bb4 6…Qc7 would probably be answered by 7.a3 stopping Black from pinning the knight on c3. 7.Qd3!? The main variation is 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.Nde2 but Carlsen has prepared this interesting queen move. 7…Nc6 8.Nxc6 dxc6 Maybe Anand will play the sharper 8…bxc6 in the next game because this should suit Carlsen fine with his excellent technique in such positions where Black is without serious counterplay. 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.e5 Nd7 11.Bf4 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Kc7 13.h4! Grabbing space on the kingside when the pawns on f7 and g7 are not defended by the king is the right strategy. 13…b6 14.h5! h6 Understandably Black doesn’t want to allow the pawn to reach h6. Later on Black will have such a huge pawn on a3, but to no avail. 15.0-0-0 Preparing a rook lift with Rd3-g3 targeting the weak pawn at g7. 15…Bb7 16.Rd3 c5 17.Rg3 Rag8 18.Bd3 Nf8 19.Be3 g6 20.hxg6 Nxg6 21.Rh5 Now there is a new weakness on h6. 21…Bc6 22.Bc2 Kb7

How should White improve his position?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23.Rg4! An excellent move by Carlsen. 23…a5 White’s idea with 23.Rg4! can be seen in the variation 23…Ne7 24.Rf4! Be8 25.Rf6! and White’s position is more active. 24.Bd1 Rd8 25.Bc2 Rdg8

How should White improve his position of the king?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

26.Kd2?? 26.Kd1 is the right move if White wants to place his king more actively and at the same time be out of range of the Black knight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

26…a4?? It’s extraordinary that both Carlsen and Anand missed the relatively simple 26…Nxe5! 27.Rxg8 Nxc4+ 28.Kd3 Nb2+ 29.Ke2 Rxg8 with good winning chances for Black. After 30.g3 Black can continue 30…Rd8 31.Rxh6 Na4 32.Bd2 Bb5+ 33.Ke1 Nb2 with active play and a healthy extra pawn. 27.Ke2 a3 28.f3 Rd8 29.Ke1 Rd7 30.Bc1 Ra8 31.Ke2 Ba4 32.Be4+ Bc6? 32…Ka7 was worth a try as a last shot in a difficult position. 33.Bxa8 Kxa8 34.Bxa3 Rd1 35.Rxh6 Ra1 36.Ke3 Nxe5 37.Rg7 Nxc4+ 38.Kf4 Nd6 39.Ke5 Nc4+ 40.Kf6 Nd6 with some practical drawing chances. 33.Bxg6 Now it’s all over. 33…fxg6 34.Rxg6 Ba4 35.Rxe6 Rd1 36.Bxa3 Ra1 37.Ke3 Bc2 or 37…Rxa2 38.Bc1 38.Re7+ 1-0 Luckily Carlsen managed to win this game but he could just as well have lost it. Tough for Anand but there are six games left and both players actually seem to be a little bit out of shape. It’s still rather unclear who will win the match.

Standings: Carlsen-Anand 3,5-2,5

Game number seven will be played on Monday.

More information at www.Sochi2014.fide.com

The challenger Viswanathan Anand, India, missed a big opportunity to make the world champion Magnus Carlsen, Norway, shaky. (Foto: Marco Bonavoglia Turin 2006 - Wikimedia)