Anand-Carlsen Part 2

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Anand-Carlsen part 2

It was only a year ago Carlsen defeated Anand for the World Chess Championship. Now it is time for Carlsen to defend his title already. In previous decades, world champions often got a 2 to 4 year break.

This is not a boxing style rematch. Anand had to earn the right to compete against Carlsen, by competing in an 8 person tournament of the top contenders for the championship. Anand won that Candidates Tournament earlier this year.

Match play starts in just 3 days in Sochi, Russia and goes until November 28, 2014.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Che ... nship_2014" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.sochi2014.fide.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[lorem]

¸¸.•*¨*•*´¨)
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(¸.•´ (¸.•` ¤ Now that is awesome. If I saw that on the freeway would put a huge smile on my face!!!!

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Game 1, Anand playing white = Draw
Game 2, Carlsen playing white = Carlsen wins!

Game 2

Commentary by IM Tihomir Yanev

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 This is the common way to keep more pieces on the board and it perfectly suits Carlsen's style.
4... Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. Re1 Not surprisingly, Carlsen chooses a rare move. Usually game goes on like this (6. c3 O-O 7. Nbd2 a6 8. Ba4 which may transpose to well-known lines.)
6... O-O 7. Bxc6 bxc6 White made a responsible decision by giving away the bishop pair. While the center stays the way it is, there will be plenty of time for maneuvering. If the position opens at any moment, it will be black who would have the edge mainly because of the light squares.
8. h3 You will often see this restricting move, which not only prevents enemy pieces from coming to g4 but gives h2-square for a knight.
8... Re8 9. Nbd2 Nd7 There is plenty of time to play a move like this as long as white are unable to start an active play. Have you noticed that both players delayed developing c1 and c8 bishops? Simply because it's not clear where to develop them yet.
10. Nc4 Bb6 11. a4 a5 12. Nxb6 cxb6 Not sure why Carlsen decided to simplify the position and give chance to black to improve their pawn structure. To me it doesn't combine well with his play so far. Instead probably it would have made more sense to just slowly improve position by Qe2, Bd2 and so on.
13. d4 Qc7 The point of this is to be able to open d-file at any point. Take a note that black's queenside formation has made a run and will constantly require protection.
14. Ra3 Nf8 I like the way Carlsen is smoothly combining his ideas. Rook is ready to join the battle via 3rd rank and some day may end up on g3 against the black king. Did anyone thought of this when white played a2-a4 few moves ago?
15. dxe5 If white had any advantage until this point, I believe they don't after this move. 15. d5!? was an interesting try, although black is perfectly fine after cxd5 Rxc3 Qb7 Qxd5
15... dxe5 16. Nh4 Rd8 Anand quickly realised that his main counterplay will be on d-file. He has plenty of defensive resources to white's potential attack like Ra7, f6, Ng6. I believe he'll easily liquidate the danger.
17. Qh5 f6 Good move! Now Qf7 is coming and there's no active square for Qh5. White must create threats immediately.
18. Nf5 Give your opponent choices and he will make a mistake at some point. Taking on f5 will probably be the simplest (not the best) solution, but black will still have some issues around g7 and Nf8 still will be out of play for some time.
18... Be6 19. Rg3 I am surprised that Anand hasn't played for a while now. It was obvious that white must continue by introducing his rook to g-file. Bxf5 makes less sense compared to the previous move, Ng6 runs into nasty tactical possibilities after Bh6 where no human player would feel comfortable, so the question is "Is there anything wrong with Rd7?"
19... Ng6 20. h4 Instead of going crazy with Bh6, Carlsen remains calm and tries to improve slowly because black can't actually do anything on the open file. This is the first time in the game I see Anand some real pressure. So far he defended superbly.
20... Bxf5 I am sure Anand saw Kh8, but he refused to play such an unnatural move. Rd7, followed by Rad8, is slow and useless, so for the last 10 minutes he changed his mind and admitted he has worse position.
21. exf5 Nf4 22. Bxf4 exf4 White has gained a great amount of small "positional pluses". Firstly, 7th rank is a bit exposed, so is the black king. There is a fantastic outpost on e6 and too many targets. You can see how vulnerable the queenside pawn formation is. Eventually black will be forced to defend it by playing something as ugly as c6-c5. Then b6-pawn will be weak till the end of the game.
23. Rc3 c5 24. Re6 Tough spot for Anand. He can either suffer few more hours or decide to sacrifice a pawn (probably the one on f4) at some point to gain some time to regroup. Sooner or later he must deal with 8th rank problems because Re8+ is an annoying threat. That's why engines like h7-h6 here.
24... Rab8 25. Rc4 The rook c3 has done its job - provoking pawn advance and now it's ready to switch to e-file with the deadly threat of rook coming to 7th rank. Black has an open file and some simplification ideas in mind (mainly Qd7-Qd1+) but white has all the time in the world to improve step by step and after Kh2 there's not much black can think of.
25... Qd7 26. Kh2 Rf8 Does black need to be that passive? I hope he won't just sit and wait for the end. Exchanging a pair of rooks to reduce the pressure would make more sense to me.
27. Rce4 Rb7 28. Qe2 b5 Looks like the only decent chance to save the game. Staying solid with 29.b3 may cause even further complications after 29...c4! Carlsen has enough time to do a few calculation and play the active (most likely winning) move Re7. I believe this game can be over by the time control.
29. b3 Instead of going for some deep calculations, Carlsen tries to keep a solid position and eliminate potential counterplay.
29... bxa4 30. bxa4 Rb4 Now after Re7 Qxf5?? can you spot the winning idea? It's all forced: Rxb4, axb4 Qc4+ Kh8 Qf7 Rg8 Re8 and mate will follow.
31. Re7 Qd6 32. Qf3 Rxe4 33. Qxe4 f3+ 34. g3 h5 Probably exhausted after a long defence for the last 15-20 moves and under time pressure Anand gives up suddenly. Should have done better, for instance Qd2 or Qd4.
35. Qb7 Carlsen will be pleased to finish the game off before the time control, a game where he expectedly deviated from the main lines and found interesting attacking possibilities (a4, Ra1-a3-g3). With two pair of pieces already out of the board, I think the Challenger underestimated the attack in the beginning but after a long consideration he decided to simplify and played worse position with plenty of weaknesses without any counterplay. Calrsen avoided complications whenever possible and finished the game once the first opportunity arose.

In the 12 game match, Carlsen now leads 1.5 - 0.5

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Game 3:
Anand wins!! It is the first win by Anand in a World Championship match with Carlsen. He didn't win any games last year and now finally won one this time, in game #3.

Match score: 1.5 - 1.5

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 c6 8. Bd3 b6 9. b4 a5 10. a3 Ba6 11. Bxa6 Rxa6 12. b5 cxb5 13. c6 Qc8 14. c7 b4 15. Nb5 a4 16. Rc1 Ne4 17. Ng5 Ndf6 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. f3 Ra5 20. fxe4 Rxb5 21. Qxa4 Ra5 22. Qc6 bxa3 23. exd5 Rxd5 24. Qxb6 Qd7 25. O-O Rc8 26. Rc6 g5 27. Bg3 Bb4 28. Ra1 Ba5 29. Qa6 Bxc7 30. Qc4 e5 31. Bxe5 Rxe5 32. dxe5 Qe7 33. e6 Kf8 34. Rc1 1-0

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Game 4: Draw
Game 5: Draw

Score so far: 2.5 - 2.5

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Game 6: Carlsen wins!

Match score now: 3.5 - 2.5
(best of 12 games; first to 6.5 wins the match)

Game 6, Carlsen–Anand, 1–0

Carlsen played the aggressive Maróczy Bind setup against the Kan Variation of the Sicilian Defence, and accepted a set of isolated doubled pawns in return for active play. At move 26 there was a double blunder as Carlsen was trying to win. Carlsen's 26.Kd2?? should have been answered with 26...Nxe5! (with a discovered attack on the g4-rook) 27.Rxg8 Nxc4+ (zwischenzug) 28.Kd3 Nb2+ 29.Ke2, and Black will wind up with an extra pawn and excellent winning chances. However, Anand did not realize this and played 26...a4?? handing the advantage back to Carlsen that he converted to a win.

Sicilian Defence, Kan Variation
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Qd3 Nc6 8. Nxc6 dxc6 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. e5 Nd7 11. Bf4 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Kc7 13. h4 b6 14. h5 h6 15. O-O-O Bb7 16. Rd3 c5 17. Rg3 Rag8 18. Bd3 Nf8 19. Be3 g6 20. hxg6 Nxg6 21. Rh5 Bc6 22. Bc2 Kb7 23. Rg4 a5 24. Bd1 Rd8 25. Bc2 Rdg8 26. Kd2 (diagram) a4 27. Ke2 a3 28. f3 Rd8 29. Ke1 Rd7 30. Bc1 Ra8 31. Ke2 Ba4 32. Be4+ Bc6 33. Bxg6 fxg6 34. Rxg6 Ba4 35. Rxe6 Rd1 36. Bxa3 Ra1 37. Ke3 Bc2 38. Re7+ 1-0

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Game 7: Draw

6 hours, 23 minutes!!
122 moves!!

The commentators were extremely disappointed that they just missed breaking the record for longest game in a world championship match. The longest game in a World Championship match is still Korchnoi-Karpov, Baguio 1978. It was drawn (stalemate) in 124 moves.

Match score: Carlsen leading 4 - 3

Game 7, Carlsen–Anand, ½–½

Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence
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 Ke8 10. Nc3 h5 11. Bf4 Be7 12. Rad1 Be6 13. Ng5 Rh6 14. g3 Bxg5 15. Bxg5 Rg6 16. h4 f6 17. exf6 gxf6 18. Bf4 Nxh4 19. f3 Rd8 20. Kf2 Rxd1 21. Nxd1 Nf5 22. Rh1 Bxa2 23. Rxh5 Be6 24. g4 Nd6 25. Rh7 Nf7 26. Ne3 Kd8 27. Nf5 c5 28. Ng3 Ne5 29. Rh8+ Rg8 30. Bxe5 fxe5 31. Rh5 Bxg4 32. fxg4 Rxg4 33. Rxe5 b6 34. Ne4 Rh4 35. Ke2 Rh6 36. b3 Kd7 37. Kd2 Kc6 38. Nc3 a6 39. Re4 Rh2+ 40. Kc1 Rh1+ 41. Kb2 Rh6 42. Nd1 Rg6 43. Ne3 Rh6 44. Re7 Rh2 45. Re6+ Kb7 46. Kc3 Rh4 47. Kb2 Rh2 48. Nd5 Rd2 49. Nf6 Rf2 50. Kc3 Rf4 51. Ne4 Rh4 52. Nf2 Rh2 53. Rf6 Rh7 54. Nd3 Rh3 55. Kd2 Rh2+ 56. Rf2 Rh4 57. c4 Rh3 58. Kc2 Rh7 59. Nb2 Rh5 60. Re2 Rg5 61. Nd1 b5 62. Nc3 c6 63. Ne4 Rh5 64. Nf6 Rg5 65. Re7+ Kb6 66. Nd7+ Ka5 67. Re4 Rg2+ 68. Kc1 Rg1+ 69. Kd2 Rg2+ 70. Ke1 bxc4 71. Rxc4 Rg3 72. Nxc5 Kb5 73. Rc2 a5 74. Kf2 Rh3 75. Rc1 Kb4 76. Ke2 Rc3 77. Nd3+ Kxb3 78. Ra1 Kc4 79. Nf2 Kb5 80. Rb1+ Kc4 81. Ne4 Ra3 82. Nd2+ Kd5 83. Rh1 a4 84. Rh5+ Kd4 85. Rh4+ Kc5 86. Kd1 Kb5 87. Kc2 Rg3 88. Ne4 Rg2+ 89. Kd3 a3 90. Nc3+ Kb6 91. Ra4 a2 92. Nxa2 Rg3+ 93. Kc2 Rg2+ 94. Kb3 Rg3+ 95. Nc3 Rh3 96. Rb4+ Kc7 97. Rg4 Rh7 98. Kc4 Rf7 99. Rg5 Kb6 100. Na4+ Kc7 101. Kc5 Kd7 102. Kb6 Rf1 103. Nc5+ Ke7 104. Kxc6 Rd1 105. Rg6 Kf7 106. Rh6 Rg1 107. Kd5 Rg5+ 108. Kd4 Rg6 109. Rh1 Rg2 110. Ne4 Ra2 111. Rf1+ Ke7 112. Nc3 Rh2 113. Nd5+ Kd6 114. Rf6+ Kd7 115. Nf4 Rh1 116. Rg6 Rd1+ 117. Nd3 Ke7 118. Ra6 Kd7 119. Ke4 Ke7 120. Rc6 Kd7 121. Rc1 Rxc1 122. Nxc1 ½–½

[practitioner]

Thanks for the updates David! I find chess fascinating and fun even though I am not a very good player.

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Game 8: Draw

Current match score: Carlsen leading 4.5 to 3.5

Only 4 games left.

Game 8, Anand–Carlsen, ½–½

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 0-0 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3 Nc6 9. Qc2 Re8 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Rd1 Qa5 12. Bd3 h6 13. Bh4 dxc4 14. Bxc4 a6 15. 0-0 b5 16. Ba2 Bb7 17. Bb1 Rad8 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Ne4 Be7 20. Nc5 Bxc5 21. Qxc5 b4 22. Rc1 bxa3 23. bxa3 Qxc5 24. Rxc5 Ne7 25. Rfc1 Rc8 26. Bd3 Red8 27. Rxc8 Rxc8 28. Rxc8+ Nxc8 29. Nd2 Nb6 30. Nb3 Nd7 31. Na5 Bc8 32. Kf1 Kf8 33. Ke1 Ke7 34. Kd2 Kd6 35. Kc3 Ne5 36. Be2 Kc5 37. f4 Nc6 38. Nxc6 Kxc6 39. Kd4 f6 40. e4 Kd6 41. e5+ ½–½

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Game 9 : Draw
Game 10: Draw

Match score so far: Carlsen leads 5.5 to 4.5

Only 2 games left. If they both end up as draws, Carlsen wins the match and retains the title of World Champion. So far, 7 out of the 10 games played have ended as draws which is fairly normal at this level of competition.

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Game 11: Carlsen wins!!!

And due to that, he wins the match with a score of 6.5 to 4.5 (no need to play game 12 since Carlsen already has 6.5 points out of the 12 game format).

Carlsen retains the World Championship. Carlsen has now won 2 World Championship matches. He has been at the top of the ratings chart for over 4 years. He is the "Mozart of Chess" and perhaps now, one of the greatest of all time. I am not sure I am ready to include him on my Top 10 greatest of all time list quite yet, but perhaps after holding the title a few more years.
http://www.dhammawiki.com/index.php?tit ... f_all_time" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

My list above has been getting a lot of hits during this championship and is now one of the most viewed pages on Dhamma Wiki (even though it has very little to do with Dharma).

[Mkoll]