Carlsen -- Anand, Game 7

A Record of Sorts

Half-way through the World Championship in Sochi, Russia, Magnus Carlsen leads Viswanathan Anand 3.5-2.5. Carlsen has his second consecutive White today. Anand opted for the Berlin Defense against Carlsen's Spanish (Ruy Lopez).

Carlsen,Magnus (2863) -- Anand,Viswanathan (2792) [C67]
WCC Sochi (7), 17.11.2014

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

This move seems to be growing in popularity among top players. 9.Nc3 is the main line.

After Carlsen's 9.h3

9...Ke8 10.Nc3 h5 11.Bf4 Be7 12.Rad1 Be6 13.Ng5 Rh6 14.g3 Bxg5 15.Bxg5

We have bishops of opposite color.

After Carlsen's 15.Bxg5

15...Rg6 16.h4 f6 17.exf6 gxf6 18.Bf4 Nxh4

Anand wins a pawn

19.f3 Rd8 20.Kf2

Reference Game:

Anand,Viswanathan (2817) -- Nakamura,Hikaru (2753) [C67]
Grand Slam Final 4th Sao Paulo/Bilbao (7), 07.10.2011

20.Rxd8+ Kxd8 21.Kf2 Nf5 22.Rh1 Ng7 23.Bd2 Bf5 24.Nd1 Bxc2 25.Ne3 Bd3 26.Ng2 Ne6 27.Rxh5 Rg7 28.Bc3 Ke7 29.Rh6 Rf7 30.g4 Bb1 31.a3 f5 32.g5 Nxg5 33.Nf4 Ke8 34.Rg6 Nh7 35.Rg8+ Rf8 36.Rg7 Rf7 ½–½

20...Rxd1 21.Nxd1 Nf5 22.Rh1

Carlsen gets to use the h-file

22...Bxa2 23.Rxh5 Be6 24.g4 Nd6 25.Rh7

After Carlsen's 25.Rh7

25...Nf7N

Reference Game:

Giri,A (2768) -- Radjabov,T (2726) [C67]
Tashkent 2014

25...f5 26.g5 Nf7 27.Rh5 Rg8 28.Kg3 Rh8 29.Rxh8+ Nxh8 30.Bxc7 Ng6 31.Nc3 Kd7 32.Bb8 a5 33.Na4 Kc8 34.Bf4 b5 35.Nc5 Ba2 36.c3 a4 37.Bd6 Bd5 38.f4 Kd8 39.Kf2 Nh4 40.Ke3 Ke8 41.Nd3 Be4 42.Nf2 Bd5 43.Ba3 Kf7 44.Kd4 Ke6 45.Nd3 Ng6 46.Nc5+ Kf7 47.Na6 Nxf4 48.Ke5 Nd3+ 49.Kxf5 c5 50.g6+ Kg8 51.Nxc5 Nxc5 52.Bxc5 ½–½


26.Ne3 Kd8 27.Nf5 c5 28.Ng3

After Carlsen's 28.Ng3

28...Ne5

Anand spend thirty minutes on this move.

I was considering  28...Ng5 29.Rh8+ (29.Rxc7 was my line Nh3+ 30.Ke3 Nxf4 31.Rxb7) 29...Rg8 30.Rh6 (30.Rxg8+ Bxg8)

29.Rh8+ Rg8 30.Bxe5 fxe5

30...Rxh8?? 31.Bxf6++-

31.Rh5 Bxg4

I guessed this move, reasoning that liquidating White's kingside pawns was Anand's only chance to fight for a draw.

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

After Carlsen's 41.Kb2

41...Rh6 42.Nd1 Rh6 43.Ne3 Rh6 44.Re7 Rh2 45.Re6+ Kb7

After Anand's 45...Kb7

I had mentioned during earlier games that I was observing without reference to computer evaluations, as were the commentators. However, I noticed after that claim that the left side of the game board on the official website contains a vertical bar indicating the computer's evaluation.

Once I observed it, it became harder to ignore. At least it offers no numerical evaluation and no lines. While Carlsen was contemplating this position, Svidler made the point that a computer evaluation of +1.85 in such an endgame position means only that White is ahead materially.

If the evaluation suddenly jumps higher, then there is a concrete win.

There is no question that White has an advantage in this position, but finding a concrete win is not so easy. It may be that it is not possible.

46.Kc3 Rh4

Black's rook restrains White's king from the side. There is a passive quality to Black's defense, but it is White that has the complex problem to solve.

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

After Anand's 56...Rh4

57.c4 Rh3 58.Kc2 Rh7 59.Nb2 Rh5 60.Re2 Rg5 61.Nd1 b5

Swapping all the pawns should certainly be a draw.

After Anand's 61...b5

Carlsen has a lot more time remaining than Anand. At move 60, they reached the last time control. The players now get thirty seconds per move.

62.Nc3 c6 63.Ne4 Rh5 64.Nf6 Rg5

After Anand's 64...Rg5

Anish Giri tweeted that it should be a draw now, and probably always was. He referred to Anand as "king of the fortresses".

Peter Svidler pointed out one of several stalemate possibilities in the position: 65.Kb2 Kb6 66.Nd7+ Ka5 67.Ka3 b4+ 68.Kb2 Rg2

65.Re7+ Kb6

Carlsen spent a lot of time on his move. Anand moved instantly.

Jan Gustaffson  tweeted that he doesn't see why everyone thinks it is an easy draw, as he would lose it. The moves in his tweet were the next ones played on the board.

66.Nd7+ Ka5 67.Re4

Here, Svidler suggested that Black needs to start checking.

67...b4? does not work to provoke stalemate because of 68.Ne5.

Svidler now prefers 67...Rh5, but 67...Rg2+ seems to hold.

Anand is thinking.

67...Rg2+

The checks begin. In one of the lines that might result from this decision, Anand will give up some pawns but can draw. It's one thing to work out such lines on a board without the pressure, it's quite another to do so from Anand's chair.

Anand's rook is proving quite active. Even his king and pawns have found something to do. If White wants to lose, he could find a way.

68.Kc1 Rg1+ 69.Kd2

After Carlsen's 69.Kd2

69...Rg2+ 70.Ke1

Where does Black's rook belong? With correct play, the game should be a draw. Defense is not trivial. Anand must find the correct approach.

70...bxc4 71.Rxc4 Rg3 72.Nxc5 Kb5 73.Rc2

After Carlsen's 73.Rc2

73...a5 74.Kf2 Rh3 75.Rc1 Kb4 76.Ke2 Rc3 77.Nd3+ Kxb3 78.Ra1

After Carlsen's 78.Ra1

Carlsen should have no expectations of winning this position, but there may be some benefit from torturing Anand a bit longer.

78...Kc4 79.Nf2

Svidler and Sopiko Guramishvili are feeling trapped as commentators. They are certain that the game is a draw, but Carlsen is keeping everyone at work as long as possible.

79...Kb5 80.Rb1+ Kc4 81.Ne4 Ra3 82.Nd2+ Kd5 83.Rh1 a4 84.Rh5+ Kd4

84...Kd6?? 85.Nc4+

85.Rh4+ Kc5 86.Kd1 Kb5

86...Rg3 87.Ne4+

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 

After Carlsen's 104.Kxc6

104...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 1/2-1/2

They did not get the record of the longest World Championship game ever played, which remains the 124 move draw Korchnoi -- Karpov 1978.

"This now makes no sense to me whatsoever." Peter Svidler

To play so long and not go for the record. Why? It might be pointed out that Viktor Korchnoi and Anatoly Karpov played their marathon with adjournments, so today's game was the longest WCC game played at a single sitting.

Carlsen leads 4-3. Anand has three more Whites in the remaining five games.

Carlsen -- Anand, Game 6

Viswanathan Anand is defending a difficult position in the Sicilian Kan against Magnus Carlsen. It is game six of the World Championship match. The match is tied at 2.5-2.5.

Anand had the first White, so now Carlsen gets White two games in a row. After this game ends, the match is half-way through the standard games. Carlsen starts the second half with White.

Carlsen,Magnus (2863) -- Anand,Viswanathan (2792) [B41]
WCC Sochi (6), 15.11.2014

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4

I have been looking at this position with some of my students who have been going through Paul Morphy's games from the First American Chess Congress 1857.

4...a6

The correct move, in my opinion. It accounts for nearly half of the games in the database after 4.Nxd4. Louis Paulsen played 4...Bc5 three times against Morphy. Although Paulsen managed to draw one of these, they were all difficult for Black. Howard Staunton also played 4...Bc5 in his first match games against Adolf Anderssen in London 1851. Anderssen won a nice game with a model attack on the king. I went over that game with two students yesterday.

4...Nc6 and 4...Nf6 are playable.

5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Bb4

6...Qc7 is more popular. Of course, the pin of the bishop is a standard plan in the Kan.

7.Qd3

After Carlsen's 7.Qd3

7.Bd3 is the most common move by far.

7...Nc6 8.Nxc6 dxc6 9.Qxd8+ 

9.e5 has been played as well.

9...Kxd8 10.e5 Nd7N 11.Bf4 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3

After Carlsen's 12.bxc3

12...Kc7 13.h4 b6 14.h5 h6 15.0–0–0 Bb7 16.Rd3 c5 17.Rg3 Rag8 18.Bd3 Nf8 19.Be3 g6

After Anand's 19...g6

20.hxg6 Nxg6 21.Rh5 Bc6

A nice waiting move. How can White improve his position?

22.Bc2 Kb7 23.Rg4

Peter Svidler and Sopiko Guramishvili were considering several possibilities, but had not examined this move by Carlsen. They quickly concluded, however, that it is a very strong move.

23...a5 24.Bd1 Rd8 25.Bc2 Rdg8

One repetition of the position.

26.Kd2

Carlsen proceeds with an interesting plan. In the press conference, he called this move a mistake.

After Carlsen's 26.Kd2

26...a4

26...Nxe5 exploits Carlsen's error. The commentators had been looking for scenarios in which Black can win the e-pawn. Here the opportunity presents itself.

The critical lines, it seems to me without engine checking, are:

a) 27.Rxg8 Nxc4+ 28.Kd3 Nb2+ 29.Kd2 Rxg8 and Black is ahead two pawns.
b) 27.Rxe5 sacrificing the exchange 27...Rxg4 28.g3 and maybe White can pick up the h-pawn.

27.Ke2 a3 28.f3 Rd8 29.Ke1 Rd7 30.Bc1 Ra8 31.Ke2

After Carlsen's 31.Ke2

31...Ba4

Perhaps 31...Ne7

32.Be4+ Bc6 33.Bxg6 fxg6 34.Rxg6

After Carlsen's 34.Rxg6

Vladimir Kramnik has joined Peter Svidler in the broadcast studio. They find the position very complicated. Maybe Black can hold.

34...Ba4

34...Rd8 may have been necessary, according to Svidler and Kramnik.

35.Rxe6 Rd1 36.Bxa3 Ra1 37.Ke3 Bc2 38.Re7+ 1-0

Carlsen takes the lead 3.5 - 2.5.

This post will be updated ...

Anand -- Carlsen, Game 5

In order to blog the World Championship match, I need to set the alarm to arise early. I was awake a few minutes after today's game began and looked at the game on my iPad from the comfort of bed. An hour later, I looked at the game again and concluded that Viswanathan Anand was not getting much with the White pieces.

When the alarm went off, I made coffee and fed the dogs. By the time I settled into my chair to check on the game, it was over and Magnus Carlsen and Anand were sitting at the board discussing the game. The press conference started a few minutes later.

Reporters are proving adept at asking questions the players will not answer.

Magnus, are you still looking for a response to 1.d4?
Maybe.

Vishy, are you playing at your best?
During a match is not the time for such analysis.

Magnus, after 22.Qf3, did you feel as if you were playing against yourself?
No, but of course it is more pleasant to play White in such a position.

Anand,Viswanathan (2792) -- Carlsen,Magnus (2863) [E16]
WCC Sochi (5), 14.11.2014

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2

5.Nbd2 is also playable, but Anand's move is vastly more popular.

5...Be7 6.Nc3 Bb7 7.Bg2

Black to move

After Anand's 7.Bg3

I have had White in this position twice in online games. I misplayed both games, winning on time in a dead lost position and forcing a draw by repetition after squandering a material advantage in the other.

7...c6

Carlsen chooses an uncommon move

8.e4 d5 9.exd5

9.cxd5 has also been played.

9...cxd5 10.Ne5 0–0 11.0–0 Nc6 12.cxd5 Nxe5 13.d6!?N

13.dxe5 Nxd5 14.Nxd5 Bxd5 15.Bc3 Bxg2 16.Qxd8 Rfxd8 17.Kxg2 Rd5 18.Rfd1 Rad8 19.Rxd5 Rxd5 20.f4 f5 21.Rc1 Kf7 22.Be1 ½–½ Komljenovic,D (2465) -- Palac,M (2561) Sibenik 2010

Black to move

After Anand's 13.d6

13...Nc6 14.dxe7 Qxe7

Anand has created an imbalance of bishop versus knight.

15.Bg5 h6 16.d5 Na5 17.Bxf6 Qxf6

The minor piece imbalance has been eliminated. Anand is, however, maintaining the initiative.

18.dxe6 Qxe6 19.Re1 Qf6 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.Bxd5

Again, there is a minor piece imbalance.

21...Rad8 22.Qf3

Here the game becomes interesting. During the press conference, the players went through a couple of interesting variations that they considered during the game.

Black to move

After Anand's 22.Qf3

22...Qxb2 23.Rad1 Qf6 24.Qxf6 gxf6 25.Re7

Black to move

After Anand's 25.Re7

25...Kg7

25...Nc6 reveals potential dangers in this position 26.Rc7 Ne5 (26...Rd6 27.Rxc6; 26...Nb4 27.Bxf7+ Kg7 28.Be8+) 27.Rxa7.

26.Rxa7 Nc6 27.Rb7

27.Rc7 Ne5 28.f4 Rd7 29.Rb7.

27...Nb4 28.Bb3 Rxd1+ 29.Bxd1 Nxa2 30.Rxb6 Nc3 31.Bf3 f5 

White to move

After Carlsen's 31...f5

32.Kg2 Rd8 33.Rc6 Ne4 34.Bxe4 fxe4 35.Rc4 f5 36.g4 Rd2 37.gxf5 e3

White to move

After Carlsen's 37...e3

38.Re4 Rxf2+ 39.Kg3 Rxf5 ½–½

The match score is 2.5-2.5

Carlsen gets White in the next two games.

Lesson of the Week

Three by Greco

My students this week are seeing one or more of model games composed by Gioachino Greco (1600-1634).* Beginning students are seeing a short opening sequence with two critical errors. I discuss every move. Advanced students see this brief game with less commentary and then two others. A few students should be familiar with these games because they were part of the curriculum in my 2013 summer camp.

Gambett VII (Greco) [C54]
1656

1.e4

Best first move for a beginner and a popular choice for World Champions. It opens lines for the bishop and queen while staking a claim in the center.

1...e5

As good as any other response for the same reasons.

2.Nf3

Considered by many to be the best move. It immediate presents Black with a problem: the pawn on e4 is under attack.

2...Nc6

Defends the e-pawn in the most active way. White can capture the e-pawn, but at the cost of a knight.

3.Bc4

The most popular move in Greco' day and still a frequent choice at all levels of play. White puts pressure on Black's most vulnerable spot, the f7 square.

3.Bb5 The Spanish Opening is more popular today.

3...Bc5

Answering attack with counterattack. Black puts pressure on f2.

4.c3

White prepares to play d2-d4. This move is the most popular one in the position.

Alternatives:
4.Nc3 is popular with beginners and does get played by masters.
4.d3 has been a choice of World Champions.
4.0–0 is worth considering, tucking the king away safely while bringing the rook to the center.
4.b4 was invented in the 1820s and is sometimes popular.

4...Nf6

Black attacks White's e-pawn

5.d4

Attempting to control the center; attacking Black's bishop and pawn.

5.d3 is a solid alternative.

5...Bb6?!

Retreating the bishop. The first error.

5...exd4 seems to be Black's only reasonable reply.

6.dxe5

Winning a pawn and threatening the knight.

6...Nxe4??

This move is a blunder that loses a piece.

6...Ng4 offers hope of defense 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 (7...Kf8 8.Bg5 Ne7 9.Bh5 Nxf2 10.Qb3) 8.Ng5+ Ke8 9.Qxg4 Nxe5 10.Qg3±.

7.Qd5

A killer fork, threatening the knight and checkmate. White has a winning advantage.

Gambett VI (Greco) [C54]
1656

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+

Already Black has improved dramatically over the previous game.

7.Nc3 Nxe4

Black has won a pawn.

8.0–0

Black to move

8...Nxc3

8...Bxc3 is better and was offered in at least one of Greco's model games. That game continues 9.d5 Ne5 10.bxc3 Nxc4 11.Qd4 Ncd6 (11...0–0 Is the improvement missing in Greco's model games) 12.Qxg7 Qf6 13.Qxf6 Nxf6 14.Re1+ Kd8 15.Bg5 Nde8 16.Rxe8+ Kxe8 17.Re1+ Kf8 18.Bh6+ Kg8 19.Re5 1–0

9.bxc3 Bxc3 10.Qb3 Bxa1

White to move 

 Black is materially ahead, but has a hopelessly lost position.

10...d5 was played for the first time in 1928.
10...Bxd4 is also offered by Greco with similar results to the present game.

11.Bxf7+ Kf8 12.Bg5 Ne7 13.Ne5 Bxd4 14.Bg6 d5 15.Qf3+ Bf5 16.Bxf5 Bxe5 17.Be6+ Bf6 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Qxf6+ Ke8 20.Qf7# 1–0

Gambett VIII (Greco) [C54]
1656

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nxe4 8.0–0 Nxc3 9.bxc3 Bxc3 10.Qb3 Bxa1 11.Bxf7+ Kf8 12.Bg5 Ne7 13.Ne5

Black to move 

13...d5

Black tries something different than the previous game.

14.Qf3 Bf5 15.Be6 g6

15...Bxd4 is more stubborn. 16.Bxf5 Nxf5 17.Qxf5+ Qf6 18.Bxf6 Bxe5 19.Bxe5+ Kg8 20.Qd7 Kf8 21.Qxg7+ Ke8 22.Bxc7 d4 23.Re1#.

16.Bh6+ Ke8 17.Bf7# 1–0



*Greco's games are usually presented in books and databases as Greco vs. Nomen Nescio (N.N., that is, name unknown). However, in his day no one was in the habit of writing down games as they took place. Rather, teachers composed illustrative studies that reflect scenarios that could occur in actual play. My source for the games this week is Francis Beale's 1656 edition of Greco's games, The Royall Game of Chesse-Play (London).

Carlsen -- Anand, Game 4

The World Championship match between challenger and former champion Viswanathan Anand and defender Magnus Carlsen is developing into in an exciting duel. Carlsen drew first blood by winning game 2. Anand struck back in game 3.

I am following the games live on the official website, which includes commentary by GM Peter Svidler and IM Sopiko Guramishvili. As the games start very early in the morning my time, they are well into the middle game when I am fully awake and cognizant of the position on the board.

While I drink my first cup of coffee, I enter the moves into my database and transfer them to this blog. My comments are light and unaided by chess analysis engines. To the extent that I have time, I update my posts as the game develops.

Carlsen again opened with 1.e4, but today Anand answered with the Sicilian Defense. I saw the game up through move six when I awake at 4:00 am, but I returned to sleep. Sometime later while still in bed, I looked at the game on my iPad and saw that Anand was thinking for a long time on the position after Carlsen's 15.Qf1.


Carlsen,Magnus (2863) -- Anand,Viswanathan (2792) [B40]
WCC Sochi (4), 12.11.2014

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3

A few years ago, I remember discussing an expert's preparation against a FIDE Master for our city's championship. He selected lines involving g3 and Bg2 as a means of avoiding the FM's extensive experience and theoretical knowledge.

3...Nc6 4.Bg2 d5 5.exd5 exd5 6.0–0 Nf6 7.d4 Be7

After Anand's 7...Be7

A handful of games have reached this position prior to today. Neither Anand nor Carlsen have played it before, however.

8.Be3 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Bg4

ChessBase Online database contains 18 games after 9.Nxd4. 9...Bg4 was not played in any of them. 9...was played in all 18 games.

10.Qd3 Qd7 11.Nd2 0–0 12.N2f3 Rfe8 13.Rfe1 Bd6 14.c3 h6 15.Qf1

After Carlsen's 15.Qf1

It is clear that the bishop will not be able to remain on g4, nor is h3 an option any longer. Mulling over this move, I considered 15...Rad8 but thought that was more an automatic developing move than one based on the concrete needs of the position.

15...Bh5 16.h3 Bg6 17.Rad1 Rad8

Now both players have centralized their rooks.

18.Nxc6 bxc6 19.c4 Be4 20.Bd4 Nh7 21.cxd5 Bxd5

Svidler and Guramishvili were surprised that Anand played this move instantly.

After Anand's 21...Bxd5

22.Rxe8+ Rxe8 23.Qd3 Nf8 24.Nh4 Be5 25.Bxd5 Qxd5 26.Bxe5 Qxe5

After Anand's 26...Qxe5

White seems slightly better, but Anand should be able to hold. On the other hand, Carlsen often presses long in such seemingly even positions and often enough provokes a mistake.

27.b3 Ne6 28.Nf3 Qf6 29.Kg2 Rd8 30.Qe2 Rd5 31.Rxd5 cxd5

Black needs to keep pieces on the board. The pawn ending should favor White. He would prefer to trade knights, rather than queens if an exchange must be made.

32.Nd3 Nd4

After Anand's 32...Nd4

33.g4!

While Svidler and Guramishvili were discussing 33.Qf3 Qe4 34.Qxe4 dxe4 35.Nc5 f5, Carlsen attacked the queen and also got in a move that prevents f7-f5. Anand now has an important decision to make, Svidler notes.

33...Qd7

Anand did not spend much time. Both players are under ten minutes, Anand has a few minutes more than Carlsen left to get to move 40.

34.Qe5 Ne6

Carlsen is pressing and Anand must defend accurately.

35.Qe5 Ne6 36.Kg3

As Black, I start to fear zugzwang in such a position. The isolated pawn is weak.

36...Qb5 37.Nf4 Nxf4 38.Kxf4 Qb4+ 39.Kf3 40.Qe8+ Kh7

With apparently only a few seconds remaining, Carlsen made the first time control. Anand appeared to have one minute left when he, too, reached the control.

After Anand's 40...Kh7

Anand should be able to hold this position, but Carlsen most likely will find that he has a reason to play on.

41.Qxf7

41...d3 obviously drops the pawn, but what about 41...Qc3+ followed by d3?

41...Qd2

Anand is attacking the a-pawn.

The website seems to have failed with the live commentary. I have not heard the commentary since they were discussing Carlsen's 33.g4.

42.Qf5+ Kh8 43.h4

Carlsen continues to press.

43...Qxa2

Anand gets the pawn. He no longer needs to be concerned about a queenside pawn majority.

44.Qe6 Qd2 45.Qe8+ Kh7 46.Qe4+ Kh8 47.Qe8+ Kh7 1/2-1/2

Neither player should be disatisfied with today's result. The match is tied 2-2 with one win each and two draws.

Tomorrow is a rest day.

Anand -- Carlsen, Game 3

Mid-afternoon in Sochi, Russia is very early in the morning in Spokane, Washington, USA. I opted to sleep until my normal 6:00 am wake-up time this morning. When I awoke, Viswanathan Anand was in the midst of a long think after Magnus Carlsen's 24...Qd7.

Carlsen leads his World Championship Defense 1.5 - 0.5 as a consequence of his strong performance on Sunday.

It is clear that Anand prepared something against Carlsen's Nimzo-Indian Defense. He appears to have a good chance to even the score. As the official commentators, Peter Svidler and Sopiko Guramishvili, put it, I am "flying solo". That is, I am commenting on the games without tuning on any chess engines.

Anand,Viswanathan (2792) -- Carlsen,Magnus (2863) [D37]
WCC Sochi (3), 11.11.2014

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 0–0 6.e3 Nbd7 7.c5

Anand played 7.a3 against Kramnik in Bonn 2008. Carlsen has lost the Black side of this position once, Nyback -- Carlsen, Dresden 2008.

7...c6 8.Bd3 b6 9.b4 a5 10.a3 Ba6

After Carlsen's 10...Ba6

11.Bxa6

Aronian and Karpov have both played this move.

11...Rxa6 12.b5 cxb5 13.c6 Qc8 14.c7 b4 15.Nb5 a4

Karpov -- Georgiev, Dubai 2002 continued 15...Ne4 and White went on to win in 50 moves.

16.Rc1 Ne4 17.Ng5 Ndf6 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.f3 Ra5

After Carlsen's 19...Ra5

20.fxe4

Aronian -- Adams, Bilbao 2013 continued 20.Qe2 and was drawn after 40 moves.

20...Rxb5 21.Qxa4 Ra5 22.Qc6 bxa3 23.exd5 Rxd5 24.Qxb6 Qd7

After Carlsen's 24...Qd7

25.0–0 Rc8 26.Rc6 g5 27.Bg3 Bb4!?

Anand is way ahead on the clock, but is taking his time to calculate matters. Svidler stated that 27...Bb4 was an interesting move that forces Anand to calculate. He went on to point out that Anand calculates extremely well.

After Carlsen's 27...Bb4

28.Ra1 Ba5 29.Qa6 Bxc7 30.Qc4 e5 31.Bxe5 Rxe5 32.dxe5 Qe7 33.e6 Kf8 34.Rc1 1-0

With a few seconds remaining, Carlsen resigned.

Anand started his comments during the press conference with reference to Aronian -- Adams.

Aronian,L (2795) - Adams,Mi (2753) [D37]
6th Final Masters Bilbao ESP (3.1), 09.10.2013

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 0–0 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.Qe2 Qd7 21.fxe4 Rc8 22.exd5 exd5 23.axb4 Rxb5 24.0–0 Rxb4 25.Qa6 h6 26.Rc6 Bg5 27.Bxg5 hxg5 28.Rfc1 Rc4 29.R1xc4 dxc4 30.Qxb6 a3 31.Rxc4 a2 32.Qa5 Qe6 33.Qxa2 Rxc7 34.Qa8+ Kh7 35.Rxc7 Qxe3+ 36.Kf1 Qf4+ 37.Qf3 Qxc7 38.Qh5+ Kg8 39.Qxg5 Qc4+ 40.Kf2 Qxd4+ ½–½

A questioner during the press conference noted another game which had reached a similar position, but with a White pawn on h3. This move could have been played instead of Bd3. Peter Svidler also mentioned the game in his brief postgame recap. Here in that game:

Tomashevsky,Evgeny (2646) -- Riazantsev,Alexander (2656) [D37]
RUS-ch superfinal 61st Moscow (10), 14.10.2008

1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Be7 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bf4 0–0 6.e3 Nbd7 7.c5 c6 8.h3 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.Nd2 Ndf6 18.f3 Ra5 19.Nxe4 Nxe4 20.fxe4 Rxb5 21.Qxa4 Ra5 22.Qc6 bxa3 23.exd5 Rxd5 24.Qxb6 Qd7 25.0–0 Rc8 26.Rc6 h6 27.Rfc1 Kh7 28.Qa6 Rf5 29.Bd6 Bh4 30.Qxa3 Bf2+ 31.Kh1 Rd5 32.Bf4 f5 33.Qc3 Bh4 34.Rb6 Bg5 35.Be5 Bd8 36.Rb8 1–0

Knockout Blow

Too much online chess at short time controls makes a player sloppy. I missed the strongest move here, although it was still there a move later when I found it.

White to move

Carlsen -- Anand, Game 2

After a hard-fought draw yesterday, the colors switch for today's World Championship game. Magnus Carlsen, the champion, has White. The challenger and former champion, Viswanathan Anand, has Black.

The official website's biography of the players offers that Carlsen's favorite move is 1.d4 and Anand's is 1.e4. Anand began with 1.d4 yesterday and today Carlsen opened with 1.e4. Of course, both players are versatile with plenty of experience in the full range of popular an even obscure openings.

The match, scheduled for twelve games, is taking place at the site of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Today's game is a Ruy Lopez, or Spanish Opening as it is also known. Already at move four, Carlsen opted for the second most popular move, which Anand had played against him earlier this year.

Carlsen,Magnus (2863) - Anand,Viswanathan (2792) [C65]
WCC Sochi (2), 09.11.2014

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.0–0

Anand played 5.Bxc6 in Zurich. That game was agreed drawn on move 40.

5...d6

In Moscow 2011, Anand played 5...Nd4 here and went on to beat Carlsen in a long game.

6.Re1

Although Re1 is a standard move in the Spanish, it is rare in this position.

6...0–0

With Anand's move, the game transposes into a somewhat larger reference set.

7.Bxc6

This move is essentially the novelty, although games in the ChessBase database include it due to presence of games among novices.

7...bxc6

After Anand's 7...bxc6

8.h3 Re8 9.Nbd2 Nd7 10.Nc4 Bb6

I would be inclined to maintain the bishop pair, perhaps playing a6 and tucking the bishop away on a7.

11.a4 a5 12.Nxb6 cxb6 13.d4 Qc7

Peter Svidler suggested much later in the game that Anand's suffering may have started here with Black underestimating White's potential.

14.Ra3 Nf8

This square offers secure protection of h7 when White has not exchanged the Spanish bishop for Black's horse.

After Anand's 14...Nf8

15.dxe5 dxe5 16.Nh4 Rd8 17.Qh5 f6 18.Nf5 Be6

18...Qf7 was idscussed in the press conference as an improvement.

19.Rg3 Ng6 20.h4

After Carlsen's 20.h4

20...Bxf5

Anand opts to exchange the remaining minor pieces.

21.exf5 Nf4 22.Bxf4 exf4 23.Rc3 c5 24.Re6

"Black will suffer for the rest of the game." Peter Svidler

24...Rab8 25.Rc4

After Carlsen's 25.Rc4

25...Qd7 26.Kh2 Rf8 27.Rce4 Rb7 28.Qe2 b5 29.b3 bxa4

The analysts, Svidler and Sopiko Guramishvili, considered some dangerous alternatives after 29...c4.

30.bxa4

After Carlsen's 30.bxa4

30...Rb4 31.Re7 Qd6 32.Qf3 Rxe4 33.Qxe4 f3+ 34.g3 h5 35.Qb7 1-0

Carlsen scored an important victory. It was, "a clean win," according to Svidler.