The sixth game of the match between Magnus Carlsen and Vishy Anand turned into a real thriller.
A game that I liked (ChessBase 12)
[Event "World Chess Championship 2014"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.15"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B41"]
[WhiteElo "2863"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 {Anand does not mind repeating the opening from game four.}
3. d4 {Carlsen does. He came fully equipped for the game, determined to get
something out of the white color.} cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 {Anand is determined to
play the Kan/Paulsen line. On account of this choice his former second S.
Ganguly rhetorically asked: "When was the last time that the Kan/Paulsen was
played on this level?" My bet would be the Petrosian-Spassky match in 1969...}
5. c4 {Another opening surprise! This match has plenty of psychological fight.
The last time Magnus played this was back in 2004. Vishy on his turn had never
faced it. At least with the black pieces.} (5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Ba7 7. Qe2 d6 {
was the course of the game Bobras,P (2518)-Anand,V (2775) Germany 2014}) 5...
Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 {Time for Magnus to experience something new! His two games ten
years back saw both:} ({the sharp} 6... Qc7 7. a3 Nxe4 8. Nxe4 Qe5 9. Bd3 Qxd4
10. O-O {Carlsen,M (2385)-Trygstad,K (2330) Fredrikstad 2003}) ({and the
positional} 6... d6 7. g3 Qc7 8. Be3 b6 9. Bg2 Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Rc1 {
Carlsen,M (2484)-Werle,J (2407) Wijk aan Zee 2004}) 7. Qd3 $5 {The second main
move in the position. There was a burst of popularity of this line in 2005.
Even Anand had tried it as White.} (7. Bd3 {remains the main move.}) 7... Nc6 {
Diagram [#] I personally do not like this move. I wonder why Anand deviated
from the principled central push} (7... d5 $5 8. exd5 exd5 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O
Nc6 11. Nxc6 bxc6 {especially if he remmebered that he got nothing against
Svidler as White after} 12. Bg5 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Be6 14. Rfd1 h6 15. Bh4 dxc4 16.
Qg3 Qb8 17. Bxf6 Qxg3 18. hxg3 gxf6 19. Rd4 Rfd8 20. Rf4 {1/2 (20) Anand,V
(2786)-Svidler,P (2735) Monte Carlo 2005}) 8. Nxc6 dxc6 9. Qxd8+ ({Also
interesting is} 9. e5 Qxd3 10. Bxd3 Nd7 11. f4 {as in Kovacevic,A (2576)
-Miezis,N (2533) Nova Gorica 2010}) 9... Kxd8 10. e5 $14 {The engame is
extremely pleasant for White.} Nd7 ({In case of} 10... Ne4 11. a3 $1 {is very
strong, for example} Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 {and if} Nxc3 13. a4 Ne4 14. Be3 {Black
will have problems with both his knight and the dark squares.}) 11. Bf4 Bxc3+ {
A sad necessity. Anand will now suffer on the dark squares.} ({Black can
hardly preserve the bishop} 11... Ke7 12. O-O-O Ba5 13. Ne4 $16 {as the knight
will be super strong on d6.}) ({Also in case of} 11... Kc7 12. O-O-O {White
threatens Nc3-e4-d6 which will force the trade of the bishop anyway.}) 12. bxc3
Kc7 {The king is safer on c7 rather than e7. There are no checks along the
h4-d8 diagonal and it can also support a future pawn on b6.} 13. h4 $1 {[%cal
Gh1h3,Gh3g3,Gh4h5,Gh5h6,Ra1d1,Rd1d3,Rd3f3,Rf3f7,Rh3h4,Rh4g4,Rg4g7] Diagram [#]
However, the problem is the kingside now. With this move the world champion
grabs space on this part of the board and creates possible targets on the f7
and g7 squares. Since White owes more space on the kingside, he can also lift
both his rooks for the attack and the plan seems pretty scary.} b6 ({Black
would be happy to block the h pawn, but this will weaken further the dark
squares, for example} 13... h5 14. Rh3 b6 15. Be2 Bb7 16. Rd1 Rad8 {with the
idea to trade the rooks along the open file} 17. Rg3 g6 18. Bg5 {[%csl Yd8,Ye7,
Yf6,Yg7,Yh6,Yh8]} Rde8 19. Rgd3 Nc5 20. Rd6 $16 {and Black is paralized.}) 14.
h5 h6 {Or else h5-h6 and domination on the dark squares as in the previous
line.} 15. O-O-O Bb7 16. Rd3 $1 {Simple and effective. White could have
started with} (16. Rh4 {as well. I suspect Magnus disliked} Nc5 17. Rg4 Rag8 {
the knight on c5 looks great and prevents the rook from shifting along the
third rank.}) 16... c5 17. Rg3 Rag8 (17... Rhg8 18. Bd3 {already loses a pawn
due to the threat Bd3-h7.}) 18. Bd3 {Completely controlling the right side of
the board. The threat Rh1-h4-g4xg7 is very hard to meet.} Nf8 ({The king can
also try to help, but the position arising after} 18... Kd8 19. Rh4 Ke7 20.
Rhg4 Kf8 {is frankly speaking, ugly. After} 21. Bc2 {Black is in a sort of a
zugzwang. The threat is Bc2-a4 and then the rook will penetrate along the d
file. If} Bc6 {allows} 22. Rd3 {and then Rd3-d6}) 19. Be3 $1 {[%csl Yf4][%cal
Yf8g6,Yg6f4] Diagram [#] The bishop pays respect to the tricky knight. It is
indeed wise to stay away of the tricky piece and not to get within its range.
The hasty} (19. Rh4 $2 {will blow the advantage away after} g5 $1 20. hxg6 Nxg6
{Where White will have nothing better than a draw with} 21. Bxg6 ({As} 21. Rhg4
$2 {simply loses} h5 22. Rg5 Nxf4 23. Rxg8 Rxg8 24. Rxg8 Nxd3+ $19) 21... Rxg6
22. Rxg6 fxg6 23. Rxh6 Rxh6 24. Bxh6 Bxg2) 19... g6 {The only chance. Vishy
naturally does not want to wait and see the rooks breaking his position.} 20.
hxg6 Nxg6 21. Rh5 {There is no rush. Magnus achieved what he wanted. The pawn
on h6 is doomed.} (21. Bxh6 $2 Nxe5 $17) (21. Rxh6 $6 {leads only to a draw as
the bishop on d3 is hanging in the line} Nxe5 22. Bf4 Rxg3 23. Bxe5+ Kd7 24.
Rxh8 Rxd3 $11) 21... Bc6 22. Bc2 {One more move of respect. Both to the knight
and the bishop.} Kb7 23. Rg4 {White is obviously better, but Magnus struggles
to find a plan from now on. The main problem is that if he ever pushes the f
pawn there are problem along the g file} (23. f4 $2 Ne7 24. Rxg8 Rxg8 25. Rxh6
Rxg2 $11) ({However, the immediate} 23. Kd2 {was a way to improve, for example}
a5 24. Ke2 Ne7 25. Rxg8 Rxg8 26. g3 Rg4 27. Bd3 {and White wins the pawn on h6.
}) 23... a5 24. Bd1 Rd8 25. Bc2 Rdg8 {Diagram [#] First Magnus repeated the
moves and then when determinetely} 26. Kd2 $4 {or the blunder of the match so
far! This loses at least a pawn and Magnus saw it at the moment he played it.}
({The problem with} 26. Kd1 Nf8 27. Rf4 Be8 {is that White has no time to
consolidate the advantage due to the lose position of his pieces} 28. Rh2 (28.
g3 $2 f5 $1) 28... Ng6 {and Black is holding.}) 26... a4 $4 {Returning the
favor! This was probably the crtical moment of the match. Vishy could have won
a pawn} (26... Nxe5 $1 27. Rxg8 Nxc4+ 28. Kd3 Nb2+ 29. Ke2 Rxg8 {with
excellent winning chances for Black.}) 27. Ke2 a3 {The pawn on a2 is fixed and
Anand is hoping that the a3 pawn will once become a queen. For instance after
Bc6-a4-b3!} 28. f3 Rd8 {Takes control of the open file and prepares the
following maneuver} 29. Ke1 {Magnus steps away from the possible check on d3.}
({Vishy would find counterplay after} 29. Bxg6 fxg6 30. Rxg6 Ba4 $1 31. Rxe6 (
31. Rh1 Bc2) 31... Bc2 {this is where the Rd8 is needed} 32. Re7+ Ka6 33. Rh1
Bd3+ 34. Kf2 Bxc4 {but after all this is an extra pawn, White can play further
for the win.}) 29... Rd7 30. Bc1 Ra8 {[%cal Gc6a4,Rd7d1] Diagram [#] with the
threat Ba4 to trade the good bishop and check on d1 is it retreats.} 31. Ke2
Ba4 ({Both the players said at the press conference that Black should be OK
after} 31... Ne7 {I am not so sure about it} 32. Rg7 Ba4 33. Bxa4 Rxa4 34. Rxf7
Rxc4 35. Bd2 {looks winning for White.}) 32. Be4+ Bc6 $2 {This loses.} ({It
seems as they both leveled Black's counter chances low after} 32... Ka7 33.
Bxa8 Kxa8 34. Bxa3 Rd1 35. Rxh6 Ra1 36. Ke3 Nxe5 (36... Rxa2 37. Bc1 Nxe5 38.
Rg7 Nxc4+ 39. Kf4) 37. Rg7 Nxc4+ 38. Kf4 Nd6 39. Ke5 Rd1 {the bishop is
paralized on a3, perhaps Black can survive this.}) 33. Bxg6 fxg6 34. Rxg6 Ba4
35. Rxe6 Rd1 (35... Bb3 36. axb3 a2 37. Bb2 $18) 36. Bxa3 Ra1 {It seems as the
bishop is trapped, but} 37. Ke3 {Diagram [#]} Bc2 (37... Rxa2 38. Bc1) 38. Re7+
{A heartbreaker!} 1-0
Carlsen leads 3.5-2.5 after the first half of the match.
[Event "World Chess Championship 2014"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.15"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B41"]
[WhiteElo "2863"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 {Anand does not mind repeating the opening from game four.}
3. d4 {Carlsen does. He came fully equipped for the game, determined to get
something out of the white color.} cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 {Anand is determined to
play the Kan/Paulsen line. On account of this choice his former second S.
Ganguly rhetorically asked: "When was the last time that the Kan/Paulsen was
played on this level?" My bet would be the Petrosian-Spassky match in 1969...}
5. c4 {Another opening surprise! This match has plenty of psychological fight.
The last time Magnus played this was back in 2004. Vishy on his turn had never
faced it. At least with the black pieces.} (5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Ba7 7. Qe2 d6 {
was the course of the game Bobras,P (2518)-Anand,V (2775) Germany 2014}) 5...
Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 {Time for Magnus to experience something new! His two games ten
years back saw both:} ({the sharp} 6... Qc7 7. a3 Nxe4 8. Nxe4 Qe5 9. Bd3 Qxd4
10. O-O {Carlsen,M (2385)-Trygstad,K (2330) Fredrikstad 2003}) ({and the
positional} 6... d6 7. g3 Qc7 8. Be3 b6 9. Bg2 Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Rc1 {
Carlsen,M (2484)-Werle,J (2407) Wijk aan Zee 2004}) 7. Qd3 $5 {The second main
move in the position. There was a burst of popularity of this line in 2005.
Even Anand had tried it as White.} (7. Bd3 {remains the main move.}) 7... Nc6 {
Diagram [#] I personally do not like this move. I wonder why Anand deviated
from the principled central push} (7... d5 $5 8. exd5 exd5 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O
Nc6 11. Nxc6 bxc6 {especially if he remmebered that he got nothing against
Svidler as White after} 12. Bg5 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Be6 14. Rfd1 h6 15. Bh4 dxc4 16.
Qg3 Qb8 17. Bxf6 Qxg3 18. hxg3 gxf6 19. Rd4 Rfd8 20. Rf4 {1/2 (20) Anand,V
(2786)-Svidler,P (2735) Monte Carlo 2005}) 8. Nxc6 dxc6 9. Qxd8+ ({Also
interesting is} 9. e5 Qxd3 10. Bxd3 Nd7 11. f4 {as in Kovacevic,A (2576)
-Miezis,N (2533) Nova Gorica 2010}) 9... Kxd8 10. e5 $14 {The engame is
extremely pleasant for White.} Nd7 ({In case of} 10... Ne4 11. a3 $1 {is very
strong, for example} Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 {and if} Nxc3 13. a4 Ne4 14. Be3 {Black
will have problems with both his knight and the dark squares.}) 11. Bf4 Bxc3+ {
A sad necessity. Anand will now suffer on the dark squares.} ({Black can
hardly preserve the bishop} 11... Ke7 12. O-O-O Ba5 13. Ne4 $16 {as the knight
will be super strong on d6.}) ({Also in case of} 11... Kc7 12. O-O-O {White
threatens Nc3-e4-d6 which will force the trade of the bishop anyway.}) 12. bxc3
Kc7 {The king is safer on c7 rather than e7. There are no checks along the
h4-d8 diagonal and it can also support a future pawn on b6.} 13. h4 $1 {[%cal
Gh1h3,Gh3g3,Gh4h5,Gh5h6,Ra1d1,Rd1d3,Rd3f3,Rf3f7,Rh3h4,Rh4g4,Rg4g7] Diagram [#]
However, the problem is the kingside now. With this move the world champion
grabs space on this part of the board and creates possible targets on the f7
and g7 squares. Since White owes more space on the kingside, he can also lift
both his rooks for the attack and the plan seems pretty scary.} b6 ({Black
would be happy to block the h pawn, but this will weaken further the dark
squares, for example} 13... h5 14. Rh3 b6 15. Be2 Bb7 16. Rd1 Rad8 {with the
idea to trade the rooks along the open file} 17. Rg3 g6 18. Bg5 {[%csl Yd8,Ye7,
Yf6,Yg7,Yh6,Yh8]} Rde8 19. Rgd3 Nc5 20. Rd6 $16 {and Black is paralized.}) 14.
h5 h6 {Or else h5-h6 and domination on the dark squares as in the previous
line.} 15. O-O-O Bb7 16. Rd3 $1 {Simple and effective. White could have
started with} (16. Rh4 {as well. I suspect Magnus disliked} Nc5 17. Rg4 Rag8 {
the knight on c5 looks great and prevents the rook from shifting along the
third rank.}) 16... c5 17. Rg3 Rag8 (17... Rhg8 18. Bd3 {already loses a pawn
due to the threat Bd3-h7.}) 18. Bd3 {Completely controlling the right side of
the board. The threat Rh1-h4-g4xg7 is very hard to meet.} Nf8 ({The king can
also try to help, but the position arising after} 18... Kd8 19. Rh4 Ke7 20.
Rhg4 Kf8 {is frankly speaking, ugly. After} 21. Bc2 {Black is in a sort of a
zugzwang. The threat is Bc2-a4 and then the rook will penetrate along the d
file. If} Bc6 {allows} 22. Rd3 {and then Rd3-d6}) 19. Be3 $1 {[%csl Yf4][%cal
Yf8g6,Yg6f4] Diagram [#] The bishop pays respect to the tricky knight. It is
indeed wise to stay away of the tricky piece and not to get within its range.
The hasty} (19. Rh4 $2 {will blow the advantage away after} g5 $1 20. hxg6 Nxg6
{Where White will have nothing better than a draw with} 21. Bxg6 ({As} 21. Rhg4
$2 {simply loses} h5 22. Rg5 Nxf4 23. Rxg8 Rxg8 24. Rxg8 Nxd3+ $19) 21... Rxg6
22. Rxg6 fxg6 23. Rxh6 Rxh6 24. Bxh6 Bxg2) 19... g6 {The only chance. Vishy
naturally does not want to wait and see the rooks breaking his position.} 20.
hxg6 Nxg6 21. Rh5 {There is no rush. Magnus achieved what he wanted. The pawn
on h6 is doomed.} (21. Bxh6 $2 Nxe5 $17) (21. Rxh6 $6 {leads only to a draw as
the bishop on d3 is hanging in the line} Nxe5 22. Bf4 Rxg3 23. Bxe5+ Kd7 24.
Rxh8 Rxd3 $11) 21... Bc6 22. Bc2 {One more move of respect. Both to the knight
and the bishop.} Kb7 23. Rg4 {White is obviously better, but Magnus struggles
to find a plan from now on. The main problem is that if he ever pushes the f
pawn there are problem along the g file} (23. f4 $2 Ne7 24. Rxg8 Rxg8 25. Rxh6
Rxg2 $11) ({However, the immediate} 23. Kd2 {was a way to improve, for example}
a5 24. Ke2 Ne7 25. Rxg8 Rxg8 26. g3 Rg4 27. Bd3 {and White wins the pawn on h6.
}) 23... a5 24. Bd1 Rd8 25. Bc2 Rdg8 {Diagram [#] First Magnus repeated the
moves and then when determinetely} 26. Kd2 $4 {or the blunder of the match so
far! This loses at least a pawn and Magnus saw it at the moment he played it.}
({The problem with} 26. Kd1 Nf8 27. Rf4 Be8 {is that White has no time to
consolidate the advantage due to the lose position of his pieces} 28. Rh2 (28.
g3 $2 f5 $1) 28... Ng6 {and Black is holding.}) 26... a4 $4 {Returning the
favor! This was probably the crtical moment of the match. Vishy could have won
a pawn} (26... Nxe5 $1 27. Rxg8 Nxc4+ 28. Kd3 Nb2+ 29. Ke2 Rxg8 {with
excellent winning chances for Black.}) 27. Ke2 a3 {The pawn on a2 is fixed and
Anand is hoping that the a3 pawn will once become a queen. For instance after
Bc6-a4-b3!} 28. f3 Rd8 {Takes control of the open file and prepares the
following maneuver} 29. Ke1 {Magnus steps away from the possible check on d3.}
({Vishy would find counterplay after} 29. Bxg6 fxg6 30. Rxg6 Ba4 $1 31. Rxe6 (
31. Rh1 Bc2) 31... Bc2 {this is where the Rd8 is needed} 32. Re7+ Ka6 33. Rh1
Bd3+ 34. Kf2 Bxc4 {but after all this is an extra pawn, White can play further
for the win.}) 29... Rd7 30. Bc1 Ra8 {[%cal Gc6a4,Rd7d1] Diagram [#] with the
threat Ba4 to trade the good bishop and check on d1 is it retreats.} 31. Ke2
Ba4 ({Both the players said at the press conference that Black should be OK
after} 31... Ne7 {I am not so sure about it} 32. Rg7 Ba4 33. Bxa4 Rxa4 34. Rxf7
Rxc4 35. Bd2 {looks winning for White.}) 32. Be4+ Bc6 $2 {This loses.} ({It
seems as they both leveled Black's counter chances low after} 32... Ka7 33.
Bxa8 Kxa8 34. Bxa3 Rd1 35. Rxh6 Ra1 36. Ke3 Nxe5 (36... Rxa2 37. Bc1 Nxe5 38.
Rg7 Nxc4+ 39. Kf4) 37. Rg7 Nxc4+ 38. Kf4 Nd6 39. Ke5 Rd1 {the bishop is
paralized on a3, perhaps Black can survive this.}) 33. Bxg6 fxg6 34. Rxg6 Ba4
35. Rxe6 Rd1 (35... Bb3 36. axb3 a2 37. Bb2 $18) 36. Bxa3 Ra1 {It seems as the
bishop is trapped, but} 37. Ke3 {Diagram [#]} Bc2 (37... Rxa2 38. Bc1) 38. Re7+
{A heartbreaker!} 1-0
Carlsen leads 3.5-2.5 after the first half of the match.
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