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23/11/2013 0 Comments

GM Magnus Carlsen is the NEW World champion!

from ChessBase.com
 (1) Carlsen,Magnus (2870) - Anand,Viswanathan (2775) [B51]

FWCM 2013 Chennai (10), 22.11.2013
[Ramirez Alvarez, Alejandro]


1.e4 c5 Anand had mentioned in a previous press
conference that if White wanted to keep it dry in the Sicilian it was also
possible to do it. However he gives it a try in hopes of creating counterplay.
2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Magnus refuses to go for the sharp main lines of what
probably would have been a Najdorf. The Bb5+ lines are less prone to becoming
double edged. 3...Nd7 If you must play for a win, this is the move of
choice. Bd7 is a little more solid. 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 a6 6.Bxd7+ Bxd7 7.c4 Nf6
8.Bg5 e6 9.Nc3 Be7 10.0–0
[10.Rd1 Bc6 11.0–0 0–0 12.Qd3 Qc7 13.a4 Rfd8
14.Rfe1 Rac8 15.Nd4 Be8 16.b3 Qc5 17.Be3 Qa5 18.Bd2 Qc5 19.h3 Was the game
between Fressinet-Ponomariov from September earlier this year. Fressinet is
(strongly) rumored to be one of Carlsen's seconds.] 10...Bc6 11.Qd3 0–0
12.Nd4 Rc8 13.b3 Qc7 14.Nxc6 Qxc6
Black doesn't have many serious
difficulties, but it isn't clear what exactly he can achieve. On the other hand
White is still quite solid. 15.Rac1 h6 16.Be3 Nd7 This regrouping is
quite normal. Black has an advantage on the dark-squares and he needs to exploit
this and combine it wit ha break, either d5 or b5, to create counterplay.
17.Bd4 Rfd8 18.h3 Qc7 19.Rfd1 Qa5 20.Qd2 Kf8 21.Qb2 Kg8 These last two
moves may not make too much sense, but it's hard to suggest something active for
Black. He is just waiting for the correct time to counterattack. The question
would be what happens if White doesn't do anything. 22.a4 Qh5 23.Ne2 Bf6
24.Rc3 Bxd4 25.Rxd4 Qe5 26.Qd2 Nf6 27.Re3 Rd7 28.a5
White's even manged to
put a little squeeze on Black and holds a slight edge. 28...Qg5? A
difficult to explain blunder. 29.e5 Ne8 30.exd6? And a difficult to
explain blunder back. Basically any move that kept the tension won: [30.Nc3 with
the dual idea of Na4 forking everything and Ne4 forking the queen and the pawn
on d6. 30...Qf5 31.Na4 Rc6 32.Nb6 Rd8 33.Re1 And Black is so tied down it is
hard to believe he will survive.; 30.b4 preparing an eventual c5 after taking on
d6. 30...Qd8 (30...Rc6 31.c5 d5 32.Rg4 Qe7 33.Reg3 is going to get Black
mated.) 31.Nc3 and again the intrusion to b6 is lethal.; 30.Ng3 makes
very little sense to me compared to Nc3 but is also winning. 30...Rc6 31.b4!
also looks hopeless.] 30...Rc6 Now Black will regain the pawn on d6
without issues and he will be close to equality, though White's pawn majority on
the queenside still gives him a pull. 31.f4 Qd8 32.Red3 Rcxd6 33.Rxd6 Rxd6
34.Rxd6 Qxd6 35.Qxd6 Nxd6 36.Kf2
Only White can win this endgame. Maybe with
perfect play it is a draw though. 36...Kf8 37.Ke3 Ke7?! [37...Nf5+! I
believe this move was superior. 38.Ke4 Ke7 39.g4 Nd6+ 40.Kd4 f5 The point is
that Black is considerably closer to creating counterplay in this line.]
38.Kd4 Kd7 39.Kc5 Kc7 The king is just in time to keep White out of b6,
but now he is kind of zugzwanged. [39...Ne4+ 40.Kb6 Kc8 41.c5! is not pleasant.]
40.Nc3 Nf5 41.Ne4 Ne3 42.g3 f5 Forced basically. [42...Nf1 does not make
for a happy knight, but it was pretty much the only alternative to the text.]
43.Nd6 [43.Nd2! Albert Silver has pointed to this move as being winning.
Black's chances lie entirely on counterplay with the knight, but I cannot find a
refutation. 43...Nd1! (43...g5 44.fxg5 hxg5 45.Kd4 Nc2+ 46.Ke5 should be
winning for White as he will have a passed h-pawn very soon.) 44.Kd4 Nf2
45.h4 Ng4 (45...Nh1! 46.Nf1 Nf2 47.b4 Ne4 48.g4! This is key. 48...Nd6! Black
must force g5. (48...Kd6 49.gxf5 (49.c5+ Kd7 50.Ne3 might be easier and
stronger though.) 49...exf5 50.Ne3 Ke6 51.h5 Nf6 52.b5 and it looks like
White should win this position since h5 is poisoned.) 49.g5 Ne4 50.gxh6 gxh6
51.Nh2 Nd2 52.Kd3 Nb3 53.Nf3 Nc1+ 54.Kd4 Kd6 55.Ne5 Nb3+ 56.Kc3 Nc1 57.Kd2 Nb3+
58.Kc2! Nd4+ 59.Kd3 Nb3 60.h5 Nc1+ 61.Ke3 Kc7 62.Nf7 Kd7 63.Nxh6 Ke7 64.Kd4+-)
46.b4 Kd6 47.b5+- White has too many threats in the queenside and Black's knight
is completely out of play.] 43...g5 44.Ne8+ Kd7 45.Nf6+ Ke7 46.Ng8+ Kf8
47.Nxh6 gxf4 48.gxf4 Kg7
White's knight is trapped, but he has enough
counterplay on the other side of the board to guarantee a draw. 49.Nxf5+ exf5
50.Kb6 Ng2 51.Kxb7 Nxf4
The rest is straightforward. 52.Kxa6 Ne6 53.Kb6
f4 54.a6 f3 55.a7 f2 56.a8Q f1Q
The queen can draw against the queen and
knight duo as long as the stronger side doesn't have any pawns left. The draw
here is trivial for both sides. 57.Qd5 Qe1 58.Qd6 Qe3+ 59.Ka6 Nc5+ 60.Kb5
Nxb3 61.Qc7+ Kh6 62.Qb6+ Qxb6+ 63.Kxb6 Kh5 64.h4 Kxh4 65.c5 Nxc5
And Carlsen
is the new World Chess Champion ½–½
Picture
0 Comments

21/11/2013 0 Comments

Carlsen is half a point from World title!


 (1) Anand,Viswanathan (2775) - Carlsen,Magnus (2870) [E25]

FWCM 2013 Chennai (9), 21.11.2013
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5
7.cxd5 exd5 8.e3 c4 9.Ne2 Nc6 10.g4 0–0 11.Bg2 Na5 12.0–0 Nb3 13.Ra2 b5 14.Ng3
a5 15.g5 Ne8 16.e4 Nxc1 17.Qxc1 Ra6 18.e5 Nc7 19.f4 b4 20.axb4 axb4 21.Rxa6 Nxa6
22.f5 b3 23.Qf4 Nc7 24.f6 g6 25.Qh4 Ne8 26.Qh6 b2 27.Rf4 b1Q+ 28.Nf1??
[28.Bf1! was the correct and only move. The point is that after 28...Qd1
29.Rh4 Qh5 Giving back the queen is the only way to prevent mate, but remember
it is Black's second queen. 30.Nxh5 gxh5 31.Rxh5 Bf5 32.g6! (The idea
32.Bh3 Bg6 33.e6 fails to 33...Nxf6 34.gxf6 Qxf6 35.e7 Qxe7 36.Re5 Qa3
and Black is fine.) 32...Bxg6 33.Rg5 Nxf6 34.exf6 Qxf6 35.Rxd5 Re8
and White's exposed king should give Black enough to hold the draw.] 28...Qe1
[Anand realized right after playing Nf1 that his knight was no longer
protecting h5. Now 28...Qe1 29.Rh4 is refuted by 29...Qxh4 30.Qxh4 and Black is
simply up a rook.] 0–1





 

0 Comments

18/11/2013 0 Comments

Carlsen holds easily, still up by two points


 (1) Anand,Viswanathan (2775) - Carlsen,Magnus (2870)  [C65]

FWCM 2013 Chennai (7), 18.11.2013
 
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Nbd2 Bg4
7.h3 Bh5 8.Nf1 Nd7 9.Ng3 Bxf3 10.Qxf3 g6 11.Be3 Qe7 12.0–0–0 0–0–0 13.Ne2 Rhe8
14.Kb1 b6 15.h4 Kb7 16.h5 Bxe3 17.Qxe3 Nc5 18.hxg6 hxg6 19.g3 a5 20.Rh7 Rh8
21.Rdh1 Rxh7 22.Rxh7 Qf6 23.f4 Rh8 24.Rxh8 Qxh8 25.fxe5 Qxe5 26.Qf3 f5 27.exf5
gxf5 28.c3 Ne6 29.Kc2 Ng5 30.Qf2 Ne6 31.Qf3 Ng5 32.Qf2 Ne6 ½–½





 

0 Comments

17/11/2013 0 Comments

Carlsen takes a two point lead!

from ChessBase.com

 (1) Anand,Viswanathan (2775) - Carlsen,Magnus (2870)  [C65]

FWCM 2013 Chennai (6), 16.11.2013
[Josh Friedel]


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Vishy decides to
avoid main line Berlin this time. 4...Bc5 5.c3 0–0 6.0–0 Re8 This move
has been popular lately, the main purpose being to discourage Bxc6 options.
[6...d6 has been the main line for awhile, and now for instance if 7.h3 a6 White
has the option of 8.Bxc6 which leads to positions where Black relies on dynamic
play with the bishops in order to compensate for his weak pawns. 8...bxc6 9.d4
Bb6 etc.] 7.Re1 [7.Nbd2 has been slightly more popular, with play
continuing 7...a6 8.Ba4 b5 9.Bb3 d6 with normal position for such lines. Nbd2 is
slightly more useful than Re1 I'd say, but now Bg5 options are cut off, one
which Vishy used in the game.] 7...a6 8.Ba4 [8.Bxc6 dxc6 reveals the
point of Black's 6... Re8 move order, and if White ever plays d4 then after ed
cd Bb6 (or a7) Black will have excellent play against the center.] 8...b5
9.Bb3 d6
[9...h6 It was possible to be clever with this move, but now White
can try 10.a4] 10.Bg5 This was clearly preparation by Anand, and Carlsen
was already thinking a bit. 10...Be6 Carlsen avoids the invitation to
sharpen the game. [10...h6 11.Bh4 g5 was more ambitious, but it is a riskier way
to play, especially when you consider that your opponent has prepared it and you
haven't.] 11.Nbd2 [11.Bxe6 was not unreasonable, and play would likely
follow 11...fxe6 (11...Rxe6 12.d4 exd4 13.cxd4 Bb4 14.Nc3 is simply
better for White.) 12.b4 Bb6 13.a4 and I like White's prospects here, as
b5 is weak and the pin on the knight is still annoying. Also note that the rook
would rather be back on f8 now.] 11...h6 12.Bh4 Bxb3 13.axb3 Taking back
with the pawn is usually best, as it activates the a1 rook and neither the queen
or knight really want to be on b3. 13...Nb8 Computers will likely frown
on such a move, but I like it a lot. Trading the light-squared bishops helps
Black in some ways, as d4 is less effective now and there is a bit more room for
Black's pieces. The drawback, however, is that the f5 square is more difficult
to control. This means that playing g5 is a positional no-no, and thus Magnus
finds another way to take care of this pin. 14.h3 [14.b4 Bb6 15.Ra3 was
an alternative, preparing to put pressure on the a-pawn, but Vishy had his
sights set elsewhere.] 14...Nbd7 15.Nh2 [15.b4 Bb6 16.Nf1 looks a bit
more pointed, and now if 16...Nf8 17.Ne3 Black probably has to take the e3
knight, as if 17...Ng6 (17...Bxe3 18.fxe3 may not be much, but I'd still
rather be White.) 18.Bxf6 (18.Nf5!? is also interesting.)
18...Qxf6 19.Nd5 Qd8 20.g3 and White has a small edge due to a6 and the fact
that Black's knight on g6 isn't so hot now.] 15...Qe7 16.Ndf1 Bb6 17.Ne3 Qe6
Carlsen has achieved the ideal setup, and now the position is level.
18.b4 a5 and he eliminates his last weakness. 19.bxa5 Bxa5 20.Nhg4 Bb6
21.Bxf6 Nxf6 22.Nxf6+ Qxf6
It is hard to get more level than this. The
bishop really doesn't have much on the knight here, though it does look somewhat
prettier. 23.Qg4 I'm not super crazy about allowing the doubled e-pawns,
but I doubt it is anything serious. [23.Qe2=] 23...Bxe3 24.fxe3 Qe7 25.Rf1 c5
The trouble with the doubled e-pawns is that in some situations e4 might be
weak. Of course this shouldn't be a huge issue, but as we saw from yesterday's
game, Carlsen doesn't need a lot of objective advantage to put the pressure on.
26.Kh2 c4 27.d4 Rxa1 [27...g6 I kind of like this move, just keeping the
tension on the a-file. Of course everything is pretty close to even.] 28.Rxa1
Qb7 29.Rd1
[29.d5 looks like a simpler draw, since Black can't try anything
on the queenside without letting White's queen in.] 29...Qc6 [29...exd4
30.Rxd4 Re6 31.Rd5 and the e-pawns aren't super meaningful since d6 and b5 both
require defense as well. Having the rook on d5 is key here.] 30.Qf5
[30.d5 is still drawish.] 30...exd4 31.Rxd4 Re5 Now White has to
start being careful, as we have the same position has mentioned in the move 29
note, but here Black gets the rook to the 5th rank first. 32.Qf3 Here
White's strategy will simply be to wait, and it is only a question of whether
Black can find a way to create problems. 32...Qc7 33.Kh1 Qe7 34.Qg4 White
is mostly sitting, but it doesn't hurt to make mini threats, in this case of
Qc8+ followed by Qc6. 34...Kh7 Ah well, another day. 35.Qf4 g6 36.Kh2
Kg7
Black makes small improvements. You want to make as many as possible
before you initiate concrete action when your opponent is moving back and forth.
Also, when your opponent is just waiting, it is usually a good psychological
strategy to make them wait as long as you can. In other words, pretend you are a
cable repairman. 37.Qf3 Re6 38.Qg3 An strange decision in my opinion.
Vishy provokes Magnus into taking the pawn on e4. [38.Kg1 would keep the status
quo, but perhaps Vishy thought sitting would be bad in the long term here. Ideas
like Rf6 always have to be considered, and sometimes even queen swings like
Qa7-a1. Nevertheless, it isn't obvious to me how Black will break through, and
White isn't going to lose any material.] 38...Rxe4 39.Qxd6 Rxe3
[39...Qxd6+ 40.Rxd6 Rxe3 41.Rd5 b4 42.cxb4 Rb3 43.b5 Rxb2 44.Rc5 and the b/c
pawns will be hacked off, leading to a drawn 3 vs. 2 rook ending. This is almost
certainly what Vishy hoped for.] 40.Qxe7 Rxe7 41.Rd5 Rb7 White is likely
drawing here with best play due to his active rook, but at least Black keeps the
queenside and can make him sweat. I can't imagine Vishy would opt for this over
the position with the doubled e-pawns, so it is possible he miscalculated
something. 42.Rd6 This is almost certainly the correct idea, preventing
Kf6-e6. Note how if the black rook moves from guarding the b-pawn you can always
play Rd5 or Rb6. 42...f6 Moving the f-pawn is always a committal decision
in these endings. His idea is to advance the king on the kingside rather than
try to bring it to the queenside. [42...Kf8 was the main alternative, but I
don't see how to make progress after 43.Kg3 Ke7 44.Rc6 and Black can't really
activate his king or rook, since if 44...Kd7 then 45.Rf6 Ke7 46.Rc6 and if
46...Rd7 then 47.Rc5 and the rook has to go back again.; 42...h5 is similar, but
Carlsen prefers to be more flexible with his g/h pawns.] 43.h4 White
prepares to respond to g5 with h5. 43...Kf7 [43...h5 kills the option
played in the game, and already Re7 is playable next. I almost certainly prefer
this to Carlsen's move. Play could continue 44.Kg3 Re7 45.Kf3 Re5 46.g3 Rf5+
47.Kg2 Kf7 and clearly Black is making some progress.] 44.h5 Once again,
Vishy tries to find a concrete solution to his problems. In this case, unlike
before, I really like his decision. 44...gxh5 Other moves fail to
impress. [44...g5 45.Kg3 Re7 46.Rb6 Re5 47.Kf3 and Black can't make any
progress.; 44...Re7 45.Rb6 and 45...Re5 is met by 46.Rb7+ with a draw.; 44...Ke7
45.Rc6 doesn't change anything.] 45.Rd5 This is the main point. White's
rook can't really be chased from the 5th rank now, as the f5 and h5 squares
cannot be defended. This means that Black's rook will remain passive or he'll
have to sacrifice b5. 45...Kg6 46.Kg3 Rb6 47.Rc5 f5 48.Kh4 Re6 This is
Carlsen's only idea. 49.Rxb5 Re4+ 50.Kh3 [50.Kg3 would have spared Anand
a lot of grief, as now the king will go to f2 rather than getting stuck in the
corner.] 50...Kg5 51.Rb8 h4 52.Rg8+ Kh5 53.Rf8 Rf4 54.Rc8 Rg4 55.Rf8 It
looks as if Black is stuck, but there are a few tricks left. 55...Rg3+ 56.Kh2
Kg5 57.Rg8+ Kf4
The world #1 puts his fighting spirit on display. He
sacrifices his c4 in order to improve his king. This had to be extremely well
calculated and he does it all for one more chance to win. 58.Rc8 Ke3 59.Rxc4
f4
This is the key moment. The position is a strange one, as the b+c pawns
actually hinder White by blocking his rook from giving checks. This means the
passed f-pawn Black will obtain after h3 will be particularly nasty. Also, if
there were ever an advertisement for the importance of king position in rook
endings, this is it. 60.Ra4?? [60.b4 is cold-blooded, but Black seems to
have no way to win now. Here are a few variations. The basic idea is that Black
will play h3 in order to free his f-pawn, and While will try to check Black's
king in front of it while creating a dangerous pawn as soon as possible. 60...h3
61.gxh3 Rg5 is a crafty idea, trying to prevent the b5 push, but White draws
here as well after (61...Rg6 62.Rc7 f3 63.Re7+ Kd2 (63...Kf2 64.b5 is the
same.) 64.Rd7+ Ke2 65.Re7+ Kf1 66.b5 f2 67.c4 and White draws comfortably
since there is no way to maneuver the rook around without letting White queen.)
62.Rc6 f3 63.Re6+ Kf2 64.Rxh6 Kf1 65.h4 simplest. 65...Re5 66.Rf6 f2 67.c4 it is
also drawn, since after 67...Ke1 68.Kg2 Re2 69.Kg3 f1Q 70.Rxf1+ Kxf1 71.c5 Re3+
72.Kf4 White just has too many pawns and Black isn't in time. I'll give a sample
line. 72...Kf2 73.c6 Rc3 74.b5 Rc5 75.h5 Rxb5 76.c7 Rc5 77.h6 Rxc7 78.Kf5 Kf3
79.Kg6 Kg4 80.h7=] 60...h3 61.gxh3 Rg6 Now we have a similar situation,
but White's pawns are farther back, and that makes all the difference. The rook
is also poorly placed on a4. 62.c4 f3 63.Ra3+ [63.Ra7 Rg2+ 64.Kh1 Re2! is
cleanest, and now after 65.Re7+ Kd2 66.Rf7 f2 67.Kg2 Ke1 Black wins
comfortably.] 63...Ke2 64.b4 f2 65.Ra2+ Kf3 66.Ra3+ Kf4 67.Ra8 [67.Ra1
Re6 followed by Ra1 also doesn't help.] 67...Rg1 and White resigned, as
his rook has to sacrifice for the f-pawn and the connected passers are too far
back. Once again, Magnus kept applying pressure with a small edge and it paid
off, and all it required was one late game blunder from Vishy. This will be a
brutal pill to swallow for the World Champ, but let's see if he'll find a way to
fight back in the second half of the match. 0–1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 


 

0 Comments

15/11/2013 0 Comments

Carlsen scores the full point to take the lead

from ChessBase.com....
 (1) Carlsen,Magnus (2870) - Anand,Viswanathan (2775)  [D31]

FWCM 2013 Chennai (5), 15.11.2013 [Josh Friedel]


1.c4 Carlsen decides that he's had enough of 1. Nf3.
1...e6 2.d4 d5 Vishy opts for the Queen's Gambit Declined, with which he
won the decisive last game in his match against Topalov. 3.Nc3 c6 Psyche!
Now it is a triangle Semi Slav. 4.e4 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Bb4+ Is Magnus going to
take Vishy on in the main lines of the Marshall Gambit? 6.Nc3 Nope. This
is a quieter option for White, but it has plenty of sting. 6...c5 7.a3 Ba5
8.Nf3 Nf6 9.Be3 Nc6
[9...Ne4 is the main alternative, but now after 10.Qc2
Nxc3 11.bxc3 cxd4 12.Bxd4 I think White's piece activity and development more
than compensate for the doubled c pawns.] 10.Qd3 Carlsen shows his
homework. This move might look a bit funny but it has some logic to it. First
off, he prepares to take back on c3 with the queen. Second, Taking on c5 is more
favorable now, since Black will have to take on d3 before taking on c3,
developing White's f1 bishop and taking the queens off will surely favor
Carlsen. Finally, White has the options of Rd1 and 0–0–0. [10.dxc5 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3
Qa5 This is Black's usual idea for counterplay in such positions. 12.Qc2 Ng4
13.Qc1 0–0 14.Be2 Nxe3 15.Qxe3 Ne7 16.0–0 Nf5 17.Qe4 Qxc5 18.Rfd1 f6 19.Bd3 g6
20.h4 Ng7 21.Qd4 Qxd4 22.cxd4 Bd7 23.Be4 Rab8 24.Rab1 Rfc8 25.Bxb7 Rxc4 26.d5
Rc7 27.dxe6 Bxe6 28.Be4 Rxb1 29.Rxb1 Nf5 30.Rb8+ Kf7 31.a4 Nd6 32.Bd3 Rc8 33.Rb4
Rc3 34.Be2 Rb3 35.Rf4 Ke7 36.Nd4 Rb1+ 37.Kh2 Bd7 38.Nc2 a5 39.Bf3 Nf5 40.h5 g5
41.Rc4 Rc1 1/2–1/2 (41) Polgar,Z (2560)-Portisch,L (2580) Budapest 1993]
10...cxd4 11.Nxd4 Ng4 It is worth losing time to go after the bishop on
e3. [11...Ne5 is an interesting alternative.] 12.0–0–0 Nxe3 13.fxe3
[13.Qxe3 Bb6 is not to be recommended.] 13...Bc7 In my opinion, this
move is just a tad imprecise. [13...0–0 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Qxd8 Bxd8 looks similar,
but Black has gained a tempo to get his king out of the center, which I think is
a huge plus. Now if 16.Be2 as he played in the game, Black is in time. 16...Bb6
17.Rd3 e5! 18.Bf3 Bf5 and Black has sufficient counterplay.] 14.Nxc6 bxc6
15.Qxd8+ Bxd8
Black has the two bishops, but White's development is superior
and the c6 pawn will cause major problems. 16.Be2 Ke7 [16...Bb6 still
looks like a better move. 17.Rd3 (17.Bf3 Bxe3+ 18.Kb1 looks like a lot of
compensation, but at least Black has a pawn for his troubles.) 17...Ke7
18.Bf3 Ba6! followed by Rad8 with counterplay.] 17.Bf3 Bd7 18.Ne4 It is
clear something has gone wrong for Black. For the first time in the match, White
has the advantage! 18...Bb6 Vishy cashes in his two bishops for an
opportunity to activate his rook on the b-file. Doesn't make sense? You'll see
in a few moves. [18...Bc7 19.Nc5 Be8 looks depressing, but Black is still solid
and the bishops may create counterplay eventually.] 19.c5 f5 20.cxb6 fxe4
21.b7!
Of course White doesn't allow Black to fix his pawn structure.
21...Rab8 22.Bxe4 Rxb7 White's advantage may not look like much, but the
weak c-pawn isn't going to be fixed anytime soon, so Black at least will have to
suffer awhile here. This is exactly the type of position Carlsen wants. That
being said, it is well in the drawing zone, and some real errors will have to be
made for White to win. 23.Rhf1 Rb5 24.Rf4 [24.Rd4 I prefer this rook
lift, as now e5 can be met by Rc4.] 24...g5 [24...e5 25.Rf2 Be6 and Black
has untangled a bit. If 26.Bxc6?? Rc5+ 27.Rc2 Rxc2+ 28.Kxc2 Rc8 Black wins the
bishop.] 25.Rf3 h5 This expansion doesn't do a whole lot. 26.Rdf1 Be8
27.Bc2 Rc5 28.Rf6!
This move paralyzes the e8 bishop and h8 rook in one go.
28...h4 29.e4 a5 30.Kd2 Rb5 31.b3 Bh5 32.Kc3 Rc5+ 33.Kb2 Rd8 34.R1f2 Rd4
Vishy found activity like he often does, but there are still challenges to
be solved. Black has some potential weaknesses, and if his activity fizzles
he'll have real problems. 35.Rh6 [35.Bb1 is an attempt to be clever,
though after 35...Rd2+ 36.Rxd2 Kxf6 Black should have sufficient counterplay.]
35...Bd1 36.Bb1 It is important that White keep the bishops on the board,
as with just rooks the advantage would completely disappear. 36...Rb5 37.Kc3
c5 38.Rb2 e5 39.Rg6
With the rook on the 5th rank cut off, Magnus goes after
Vishy's weakened kingside. Even so, Black has a lot of counterplay. 39...a4
[39...g4 looks like the simpler path. 40.Bd3 (40.Rh6 a4! is far
better than the game.) 40...Rxb3+ 41.Rxb3 Bxb3 42.Rxg4 c4 43.Be2 Kd6
44.Rxh4 Kc5 with excellent counterplay for the pawn.] 40.Rxg5 [40.bxa4
Rxb2 41.Kxb2 Bxa4 42.Rxg5 and White has won a pawn, but his bishop on b1 is
really sad.] 40...Rxb3+ 41.Rxb3 Bxb3 42.Rxe5+ This is similar, but White
wins the very important e5 pawn. 42...Kd6 43.Rh5 Rd1 44.e5+ Kd5 45.Bh7
Extremely precise play is required of Black now, and Vishy loses the thread.
45...Rc1+? Anand goes after the g-pawn, which isn't the correct approach.
[45...Ra1 was necessary immediately, and now after 46.Bg8+ (46.Rxh4 Rxa3
is also drawn.) 46...Kc6 47.Bxb3 Rxa3 48.Rxh4 Rxb3+ 49.Kc2
(49.Kc4?? Rb4+ is not recommended.) 49...Ra3 and Black should draw
comfortably due to superior king and pawns. Note that the e-pawn is a major
weakness. A possible line would continue 50.Kb2 Rb3+ 51.Ka2 Re3 52.Rxa4 Re2+
53.Kb3 Rxg2 54.h4 Kd5=] 46.Kb2 Rg1 47.Bg8+ Kc6 [47...Kd4 looks like a
better attempt, but after 48.Rxh4+ Kd3 (48...Kxe5 49.Bxb3 axb3 50.g3 wins
for White.) 49.Rg4 (49.Rh3+ Kd4 50.Bxb3 axb3 51.Rh4+ Kd3 with
major counterplay.) 49...Bxg8 50.Rxg8 Re1 51.Rd8+ Kc4 52.Rd2 and White
ought to win with the outside pasers now that Black's 2nd rank counterplay has
stopped.] 48.Rh6+! Precise, as he doesn't want Black to have Kd5 after
the bishop trade. 48...Kd7 [48...Kb5 49.Bxb3 axb3 50.Kxb3 c4+ 51.Kc3 is
also lost.] 49.Bxb3 axb3 50.Kxb3 Rxg2 51.Rxh4 White's pawns are
scattered, but he is up two of them and unlike in previous lines he has a good
king! 51...Ke6 52.a4 The a-pawn will become a menace very quickly.
52...Kxe5 53.a5 Kd6 54.Rh7! One last accurate move, and now it is over.
54...Kd5 55.a6 c4+ 56.Kc3 Ra2 57.a7 Kc5 58.h4 and Black resigned since
there is no defense to h5-h6-Rg7 and queening the pawn. Carlsen's advantage was
microscopic for most of the game and Vishy was extremely close to a draw even
towards the end, but one slip of 45... Rc1+ was enough to allow the world #1 to
steal the point. 1–0





 

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13/11/2013 0 Comments

WC: Anand holds on to draw game 4


 (1) Anand,Viswanathan (2775) - Carlsen,Magnus (2870)  [C67]

FWCM 2013 Chennai (4), 13.11.2013
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0–0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6
7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.h3 Bd7 10.Rd1 Be7 11.Nc3 Kc8 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bxe7 Nxe7
14.Rd2 c5 15.Rad1 Be6 16.Ne1 Ng6 17.Nd3 b6 18.Ne2 Bxa2 19.b3 c4 20.Ndc1 cxb3
21.cxb3 Bb1 22.f4 Kb7 23.Nc3 Bf5 24.g4 Bc8 25.Nd3 h5 26.f5 Ne7 27.Nb5 hxg4
28.hxg4 Rh4 29.Nf2 Nc6 30.Rc2 a5 31.Rc4 g6 32.Rdc1 Bd7 33.e6 fxe6 34.fxe6 Be8
35.Ne4 Rxg4+ 36.Kf2 Rf4+ 37.Ke3 Rf8 38.Nd4 Nxd4 39.Rxc7+ Ka6 40.Kxd4 Rd8+ 41.Kc3
Rf3+ 42.Kb2 Re3 43.Rc8 Rdd3 44.Ra8+ Kb7 45.Rxe8 Rxe4 46.e7 Rg3 47.Rc3 Re2+
48.Rc2 Ree3 49.Ka2 g5 50.Rd2 Re5 51.Rd7+ Kc6 52.Red8 Rge3 53.Rd6+ Kb7 54.R8d7+
Ka6 55.Rd5 Re2+ 56.Ka3 Re6 57.Rd8 g4 58.Rg5 Rxe7 59.Ra8+ Kb7 60.Rag8 a4 61.Rxg4
axb3 62.R8g7 Ka6 63.Rxe7 Rxe7 64.Kxb3 ½–½





 

0 Comments

12/11/2013 0 Comments

World Championship round 3 draw!


 (1) Carlsen,Magnus (2870) - Anand,Viswanathan (2775) [A07]

FWCM 2013 Chennai (3), 12.11.2013
1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 g6 3.c4 dxc4 4.Qa4+ Nc6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.Nc3 e5
7.Qxc4 Nge7 8.0–0 0–0 9.d3 h6 10.Bd2 Nd4 11.Nxd4 exd4 12.Ne4 c6 13.Bb4 Be6
14.Qc1 Bd5 15.a4 b6 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.a5 Rab8 18.Re1 Rfc8 19.axb6 axb6 20.Qf4 Rd8
21.h4 Kh7 22.Nd2 Be5 23.Qg4 h5 24.Qh3 Be6 25.Qh1 c5 26.Ne4 Kg7 27.Ng5 b5 28.e3
dxe3 29.Rxe3 Bd4 30.Re2 c4 31.Nxe6+ fxe6 32.Be4 cxd3 33.Rd2 Qb4 34.Rad1 Bxb2
35.Qf3 Bf6 36.Rxd3 Rxd3 37.Rxd3 Rd8 38.Rxd8 Bxd8 39.Bd3 Qd4 40.Bxb5 Qf6 41.Qb7+
Be7 42.Kg2 g5 43.hxg5 Qxg5 44.Bc4 h4 45.Qc7 hxg3 46.Qxg3 e5 47.Kf3 Qxg3+ 48.fxg3
Bc5 49.Ke4 Bd4 50.Kf5 Bf2 51.Kxe5 Bxg3+ ½–½





 

0 Comments

10/11/2013 0 Comments

GM Anand "My Career" vol. 1 and 2 DVDs available

Two DVDs on Anand's career available for $39 each or $75 for both;
please call or text Vas 604-562-3736
0 Comments

10/11/2013 0 Comments

World Chess Championship starts with 2 draws!

Picture









The World Chess Championship has started in India with two draws.

(1) Carlsen,Magnus (2870) - Anand,Viswanathan (2775)  [D78]
FWCM 2013 Chennai (1), 09.11.2013
1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.d4 c6 5.0–0 Nf6 6.b3 0–0 7.Bb2  Bf5 8.c4 Nbd7 9.Nc3 dxc4 10.bxc4 Nb6 11.c5 Nc4 12.Bc1 Nd5 13.Qb3 Na5 14.Qa3 Nc4
15.Qb3 Na5 16.Qa3 Nc4 ½–½

(1) Anand,Viswanathan (2775) - Carlsen,Magnus (2870)  [B19]
FWCM 2013 Chennai (2), 10.11.2013
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3
e6 8.Ne5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Nd7 11.f4 Bb4+ 12.c3 Be7 13.Bd2 Ngf6 14.0–0–0
0–0 15.Ne4 Nxe4 16.Qxe4 Nxe5 17.fxe5 Qd5 18.Qxd5 cxd5 19.h5 b5 20.Rh3 a5 21.Rf1
Rac8 22.Rg3 Kh7 23.Rgf3 Kg8 24.Rg3 Kh7 25.Rgf3 Kg8 ½–½





 




 


 


0 Comments

2/11/2013 0 Comments

World Championship starts November 7

World Champion GM Anand will soon take on challenger and top-ranked GM Carlsen.
Follow this link.
Picture
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