Chess: Carlsen-Anand rematch begins November 8

[Jack Rabbit]

[font size="1"]Photo of Magnus Carlsen by Franz Peeters from flikr
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Photo of Vishy Anand by Ygrek (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Ygrek) in Wikipedia
Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike]
[/font]
The world chess championship match betweeen reigning champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway and former champion Vishy Anand of India begins in just 12 hours (Saturday at 4 am PST) in Sochi, Russia.

The match is a rematch of last year's match which saw Magnus win the crown from Anand, who had held the title for seven years. The match was scheduled for twelve rounds and say Magnus win it in just ten games with three wins, no losses and seven draws.

This year's match is also ascheuled for twelve rounds.

In a drawing held in the opening ceremonies today, Anand drew the right to play White in the first game.

Anand won the right to a rematch by winning the candidates' tournament in London in March in a 14-fame affair in which he took first place ahead of seven other of the world's leading players.

Official website.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Carlsen - Anand, World Championship Match, Chennai, 15 November 2013

[center][/center]
[center]Magnus Carlsen[/center]
[font size="1"]Photo by Franz Peeters from flikr
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Magnus Carlsen - Vishy Anand
World Championship Match, Round 5
Chennai, 15 November 2013

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Marshall Gambit

1.c4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 c6 4.e4

[center]BLACK[/center]
[center][/center]
[center]WHITE[/center]
[center]Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Marshall Gambit[/center]
[center]Position after 4.e2e4[/center]

• This is the Semi-Slav Marshall Gambit.
• [font color="red"]4.e3[/font] initiates more conventional attacks against the Semi-Slav. After [font color="red"]4...Nf6 5.Nf3 Nd7[/font] then [font color="red"]6.Bd3 dxc4[/font] is the Meran Defense, which White can avoid with the Stoltz Variation, [font color="darkred"]6.Qc2.[/font]

4...dxe4 5.Nxe4 Bb4+ 6.Nc3

• Preparing to leave the trail altogether, Magnus embarks on the less traveled road.

[font color="red"]
[center]BLACK[/center]
[center][/center]
[center]WHITE[/center]
[center]Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Marshall Gambit[/center]
[center]Position after 6.Bc1d2[/center]
[/font]

• If [font color="red"]6.Bd2 Qxd4 7.Bxb4 Qxe4+ 8.Be2[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]8...Na6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9.Ba5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9...b6 10.Qd6 Bd7[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]11.Bc3 f6 12.Nf3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]12...Ne7 13.0-0-0 Qxe2 14.Qxd7+ Kf7[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]15.Rhe1 Qxc4 16.Re3 Rhe8 17.b3 Qg4 18.h3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]18...Qf4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]19.Rd4 Qh6 20.Qxe6+ Kf8 21.Rh4 Nc5 22.Qc4[/font] remains equal (Vitiugov-Romanov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2009).
• [font color="burgundy"]19.Qxe6+ Kf8 20.Rd4 Qf5 21.Qd6[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="#ECA11A"]18...Qg6? 19.Qxe6+! Kf8 20.Ne5[/font] Black resigns (Harika-Zhu Chen, ITW, Hangzhou, 2011).
• If [font color="darkred"]15.Qd4 Rhd8 16.Qg4 Kf8 17.Rde1 Qd3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]18.Rxe6 h5 19.Qxh5 Qxc4 20.Rhe1 Nb4 21.Rxe7 Nxa2+[/font] is equal; neither side has a safe King (Kaganskiy-J Geller, Moscow Op, 2006).
• [font color="magenta"]18.Nd4?! Rxd4! 19.Qxd4 Nb4 20.Qxd3 Nxd3+ 21.Kc2 Nxe1+ 22.Rxe1 e5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn as the endgame begins; White has partial compensation with a Bishop against a Knight, which is an endgame plus with pawns on both wings (S Volkov-Frolyanov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2008, ½-½/48 moves).
• If [font color="darkred"]12...Nh6 13.Rd1[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]13...Rd8 14.Qa3 Bc8 15.Rxd8+ Kxd8 16.Qd6+ Bd7 17.Qd1[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]17...Kc7 18.0-0 c5 19.Bd3 Qg4 20.h3 Qh5 21.Be4 Rd8[/font] is equal and soon agreed drawn (R Pert-J Hawkins, British Ch, Aberystwyth, 2014).
• [font color="darkorange"]17...c5 18.0-0 Qf4 19.g3 Qc7 20.Qd2 Nf5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and White more freedom (Sakaev-Bukavshin, Russian Ch HL, Taganrog, 2011).
• [font color="magenta"]13...0-0-0 14.Qa3 Kb7 15.Qe7 Nc5 16.Qxg7 Ng4 17.Bd4[/font] gives White the initiative with a threat to win a minor piece (Girya-Sukhareva, ,Russian ChW HL Tyumen, 2012).
• If [font color="darkred"]11.0-0-0!? 0-0-0! 12.Bc3 f6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]13.Bf3?! Qxc4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]14.Be2? Qxa2! 15.Nf3 Nc5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]16.Ne5 Ne4 17.Bc4 Qa1+ 18.Kc2 Qa4+[/font] White resigns (Van Wely-Gustafsson, IT, Dortmund, 2008).
• [font color="purple"]16.Bd3 e5 17.Rhe1 Qa1+ 18.Kc2 Qa4+ 19.Kb1 Ne7[/font] leaves Black with three extra pawns.
• [font color="darkorange"]14.Qa3 Nc7 15.Qxa7 Qa6 16.Qxa6+ Nxa6[/font] gives Black an extra pawn.
• [font color="magenta"]13.Qg3 Qg6 14.Bd3 Qf7 15.Ne2 Ne7 16.b3 c5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and the Bishop pair; White has activity, but no entry points.
• If [font color="darkred"]9...f6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]10.Qd8+ Kf7 11.0-0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11...e5 12.Bd3 Qf4+ 13.Kb1 b6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]14.Bc3 Nc5 15.Ne2 Qg4 16.f3 Qe6 17.Bc2 Bb7[/font] is equal (Lputian-Pavasovic, Ol, Mallorca, 2004).
• [font color="burgundy"]14.Ne2 Qxf2 15.Ng3 Rb8 16.Rhf1 Bg4 17.Bg6+ hxg6[/font] is equal (Nepomniachtchi-Potkin, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 2012).
• If [font color="magenta"]11...b6 12.Bc3 e5[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]13.Bh5+? g6 14.Bf3[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]14...Qf4+?! 15.Rd2 Qxc4 16.Ne2[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]16...Qxa2? 17.Rd6! Rb8 18.Rhd1 Be6?[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]19.Rd7+! Bxd7 20.Rxd7+ Ke6 21.Bg4+ f5 22.Rd6+[/font] when Black cannot escape mate (Van Wely-Kransenkow, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• If [font color="darkorange"]18...Kg7!? 19.Rxc6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]19...Bf5 20.Qd6 Qf7 21.Bd5 Qf8 22.Ng3 Qxd6 23.Nxf5+[/font] is equal.
• [font color="purple"]19...Be6 20.Qd6 Re8 21.Bxe5 fxe5 22.Qxe5+[/font] is equal.
• [font color="burgundy"]16...Nc5 17.Rd6 Ne6 18.Rxc6 Qxc6 19.Bxc6 Nxd8 20.Bxa8 Ne7[/font] continues to gives Black an extra pawn; White is more active and has the Bishop pair.
• Black wins after [font color="#ECA11A"]14...Qxc4 15.Rd6 Rb8 16.Rxf6+ Nxf6 17.Qd6 Re8.[/font]
• If [font color="darkorange"]13.Bd3?! Qxg2! 14.Ne2[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]14...c5 15.Qd6 Bb7 16.Bf5 Qg5+ 17.f4 Qxf5[/font] should win for Black (Zilberstein-Esserman, USCL, Cyberspace, 2010).
• If [font color="purple"]14...Rb8 15.c5 Be6 16.Qd6[/font] then:
• [font color="purple"]16...Nxc5 17.Rhg1 Qxf2 18.Qxb8 Nxd3+ 19.Rxd3 Qxe2[/font] gives Black four pawns for the exchange.
• [font color="#C58917"]16...b5 17.f4 Qh3 18.Qxc6 Qe3+ 19.Kb1 Nxc5 20.Bd4 Qxd3+ 21.Rxd3 Nxd3[/font] is equal.
• If [font color="magenta"]10.Nf3 b6[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]11.Nd2 Qf4 12.Bh5+ g6 13.Bf3[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]13...Qe5+ 14.Kf1[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]14...Qc7 15.Bc3 e5 16.Ne4[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]16...Kf7 17.b4 Ne7 18.Qe2 Nf5 19.h4 h5 20.Re1[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and White more space (Matelin-J Geller, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2011).
• [font color="burgundy"]16...Nc5 17.Qd6 Qxd6 18.Nxd6+ Ke7 19.Bxc6 Rb8 20.Nxc8+ Rxc8[/font] gives White two Bishops for two Knights, but Black has more freedom ]i](Lysyj-Galkin, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2005).
• [font color="#ECA11A"]14...Bd7 15.Bc3 Qc7 16.Ne4 Kf7 17.Qd2 e5[/font] gives Black the gambit pawn and White more activity (Kotanyan-Ravi, Op, Dubai, 2008).
• If [font color="darkorange"]13...Ne7 14.Bc3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]14...Nc5 15.g3 Qf5 16.0-0 e5 17.b4 Nb7[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]18.b5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]18...c5 19.Be4 Qe6 20.f4 Rb8 21.Qa4[/font] gives White more active pieces in compensation for his pawn minus (S Volkov-Kempinski, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• If [font color="purple"]18...cxb5 19.cxb5[/font] then:
• [font color="purple"]19...Kf7 20.Bb4 Rd8 21.Rc1 Rb8 22.Bxe7 Kxe7 23.Rc7+[/font] gives Black more activity against Black's extra pawn.
• If [font color="#C58917"]19...0-0 20.Bb4[/font] then:
• If [font color="#C58917"]20...Qd7 21.Qb3+[/font] then:
• [font color="#C58917"]21...Rf7 22.Bxe7 Qxe7 23.Bd5 Nc5 24.Bxf7+ Qxf7 25.Qxf7+ Kxf7 26.Rfd1[/font] gives White the exchange for a pawn.
• [font color="darkorchid"]21...Kg7 22.Rfd1 a5 23.Ne4 axb4 24.Rxd7 Bxd7 25.Nxf6 Rxf6 26.Bxb7[/font] gives White an extra pawn.
• [font color="#F62217"]20...Re8 21.Rc1 Rb8 22.Qa4 Be6 23.Qxa7 Nd5 24.Bxd5 Bxd5 25.Qxb6[/font] gives White an extra pawn.
• [font color="#ECA11A"]18.Bg2 Qd3 19.Ne4 Qxd1 20.Rfxd1 0-0 21.Nd6 Rd8[/font] is equal; White is compelled to move the Knight from d6.
• If [font color="purple"]14...0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="purple"]15.0-0!? Qc7 16.Ne4 e5 17.Re1 Qd7 18.Qe2[/font] (Kashlinskaya-Ubiennykh, World ChW Rpd, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2014).
• [font color="#C58917"]15.Ne4 Nc5 16.g3 Qf5 17.Qe2 Nxe4 18.Bxe4[/font] is equal.
• If [font color="darkorange"]11.Bc3 Ne7 12.0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]12...0-0 13.Re1[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]13...e5 14.b4 Bf5 15.Qa4 Nc7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]16.Rad1 Ne6 17.Rd6 Rfd8 18.Nd2 Qh4 19.Rxd8+ Nxd8[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and White more activity (Dreev-Sakaev, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2005).
• [font color="#F62217"]16.Bf1 Qf4 17.Bd2 Qg4 18.h3 Qg6 19.Nh4 Qe8[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and White more activity for his pieces (S Volkov-Smirnov, Euro Ch Rpd, Panormo, 2002).
• [font color="#C58917"]13...Qf4 14.b4 Qc7 15.Bd3 Rf7 16.Qc2 h6 17.a3[/font] remains equal (Cvitan-Khalov, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• [font color="purple"]12...e5 13.Nxe5 fxe5 14.Bh5+ g6 15.Re1 Qh4 16.Rxe5[/font] remains equal (Najer-J Geller, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2005).
• a) If [font color="darkred"]9.Bc3 Ne7 10.Bxg7 Rg8[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Bc3 Qxg2 12.Qd2!![/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]12...Qxh1 13.0-0-0 Nd5 14.Nf3 Qxd1+ 15.Bxd1 Nxc3 16.Qxc3 Ke7[/font] gives White much gereater activity in compensation for having only a Queen for two Rooks and a pawn (Bronstein-Kotov, CT, Budapest, 1950).
• [font color="burgundy"]12...Qg5 13.Qxg5 Rxg5 14.Nf3 Rg8 15.0-0-0 Nc5 16.Ne5[/font]is equal (Pafnutieff-H Steiner, IT, Hollywood, 1952)
• If [font color="magenta"]11.Bf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]11...Rg6 12.Bxe7 Kxe7 13.Qd2 e5 14.Rd1[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]14...Be6! 15.f3 Qf4[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]16.g4!? Qxd2+! 17.Rxd2 h5 18.gxh5 Rf6 19.h4 Rh8[/font] gives Black more freedom and activity in compensation for a weak, weak pawn (Alda-Granda Zuñiga, Op, Zaragoza, 1995).
*
• [font color="burgundy"]16.Qxf4 exf4 17.Kf2 Nc5 18.b3 h5 19.h4 Bf5 20.Nh3[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="#ECA11A"]14...Bf5!? 15.Nf3! Rxg2 16.Qd6+ Ke8 17.Qf6[/font] remains equal W Schmidt-Matlak, Polish Ch ploff, Gdansk, 1994).
• If [font color="darkorange"]11...Qf4 12.Bc3!? Rxg2 13.Nf3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]13...f6 14.Qd2 Qxd2+ 15.Nxd2 e5 16.Ne4 Kf7 17.Rd1[/font] give White a slight advantage with an open file and the treat of 18.Ng3followed by 19.Bf3.(Lautier-M Gurevich, Biel IZT, 1993).
• [font color="purple"]13...Nf5 14.Be5 Qh6 15.Qd2 Qxd2+ 16.Nxd2 Rg6 17.Ne4[/font] gives White an impressive advantage in space and freedom in compensation for the gambit pawn (Onischuk-Novikov, Op, Lindsborg, Kansas, 2002).
• b) If [font color="darkred"]9.Bd6?[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]9...Qxg2! 10.Qd2 Nf6 11.Bf3 Qg6 12.Ne2 e5? 13.Bxe5! Be6 14.0-0-0 Qf5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]15.Bf4 Bxc4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]16.Ng3 Qc5 17.Be3 Qb4 18.Nf5 Qxd2+ 19.Rxd2[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]19...Bd5!? 20.Nxg7+ Kd7 21.Bg5 Kc7 22.Re1 Bxf3 23.Re7+[/font] is equal (Gupta-Plenca, World Jr Ch, Gaziantep, 2008).
• If [font color="magenta"]19...Kf8 20.Rhd1 Bd5[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]21.Bf4 h5 22.Bd6+ Kg8 23.Ne7+ Kh7 24.Nxd5 cxd5[/font] gives White the Bishop pair aganst two Knights for two pawns.
• If [font color="darkorange"]21.Be2 h5 22.Bd4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]22...Re8 23.Rg1 Rh7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]24.Nd6 Ne4 25.Rxg7 Rxg7 26.Bxg7+ Kxg7 27.Nxe8+ Kf8[/font] gives White a material advantage, but Black has the initiative and strong pieces in the center.
• [font color="#C58917"]24.Bxa6 bxa6 25.b3 h4 26.Kb2 Re6 27.Bxa7 Ne4[/font] gives Black an extra pawn, the initiative and pieces in the center.
• [font color="purple"]22...Rh7 23.Bxa6 bxa6 24.Bxf6 gxf6 25.Rd4 Rd8 26.Ra4[/font] is equal; Black is two pawns up, but White's activity will make up for it quick.
• [font color="burgundy"]16.Rhg1 Bxa2 17.Qe3+ Qe6 18.Qc3 Qc4 19.Rxg7 Rg8[/font] gives Black two extra pawns (Saleh Salem-Kotanjan, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2009).
• [font color="#ECA11A"]15.Qc3 Nb4 16.Qxb4 Qxe5 17.Rhe1 Qc7 18.Ng3 Qe7[/font] gives Black an extra pawn against White's active Rooks (Damia-K Szabo, Chigorin Mem Op, St Petersburg, 2010).
[/ull]
• If [font color="magenta"]9...e5? 10.Nf3! Bg4 11.0-0 0-0-0 12.b4 Nf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]13.Re1 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Qxc4 15.Rxe5 Nxb4 16.Re7[/font] gives White the Bishop pair against two Knights in compensation for two pawns (Mamedyarov-Tregubov, Op, Reykyavik, 2006).
• If [font color="darkorange"]13.c5 Ne8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]14.Bd3 Qf4 15.Bxe5 Qxb4 16.Rb1 Qa5 17.Qc2 Nxc5[/font] is equal (Vitiugov-Frolyanov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2006).
• If [font color="purple"]14.Rc1!?[/font] then:
• [font color="purple"]14...Nxd6!? 15.cxd6 Kb8 16.Rc4 Qf5 17.Qc1 Bxf3 18.Bxf3 Qe6[/font] gives Black an extra pawn (Korneev-Galkin, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2008).
• If [font color="#C58917"]14...Nac7 15.Rc4 Qf5 16.Nxe5 Bxe2 17.Qxe2[/font] then:
• [font color="#C58917"]17...Nxd6 18.cxd6 Rxd6 19.Qg4 Qxg4 20.Rxg4 Rd5 21.Nxf7[/font] is equal.
• If [font color="#F62217"]17...h5 18.Qb2[/font] then:
• [font color="#F62217"]18...f6 19.Be7 Qxe5 20.Qxe5 fxe5 21.Bxd8 Kxd8 22.Re4[/font] is equal.
• [font color="darkorchid"]18...Qe6 19.Bxc7 Nxc7 20.Rcc1 h4 21.h3 Qf6 22.Rfe1[/font] is equal.
• If [font color="darkred"]8...Nd7[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]9.Nf3 c5 10.Bc3 Ngf6 11.Qd6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11...Qc6 12.Qg3 0-0 13.Rd1[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]13...Nh5 14.Qh4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]14...g6?! 15.Rxd7!![/font] (the exchange sacrifice opens the game to White's advantage) [font color="darkred"]15...Qxd7 16.g4 Qd8 17.gxh5 Qxh4 18.Nxh4[/font] gives White two minor pieces for a Rook and pawn and an active Bishop pair (Marshall-Schlechter, IT, Monte Carlo, 1902, 1-0/28 moves).
• [font color="burgundy"]14...Nhf6 15.Bd3 e5 16.Bc2 Re8 17.0-0 b6 18.Rfe1[/font] gives White more activity for his pieces and pressure in the e-file in compensation for a pawn.
• [font color="#ECA11A"]13...Ne8 14.0-0 f6 15.Bd3 Rf7 16.Rfe1 Nf8 17.b4[/font] gives White compensation for the pawn with more space and freedom (Christiansen-Raicevic, Op, Lone Pine, 1980).
• [font color="#F64A8A"]11...Qg6 12.Nd2 a5 13.Bf3 Ra6 14.Qc7 0-0 15.0-0[/font] gives White more freedom in compensation for a pawn (Stohl-Seitaj, Ol, Moscow, 1994).
• If [font color="magenta"]9.Qd6?![/font] (the mating "threat" is idle) [font color="magenta"]9...a5! 10.Bc3[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]10...Nh6?! 11.Nf3 Nf5 12.Qd2 0-0 13.0-0-0 Nc5[/font] is equal (Shtyrenkov-Nosov, Autumn IT, 2008).
• [font color="darkorange"]10...Qxg2 11.Bf3 Qg5 12.h4 Qe7 13.Qxe7+ Nxe7[/font] leaves Black with two extra pawns.

6...c5 7.a3 Ba5

• If [font color="red"]7...Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Nf6 9.Nf3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9...Qa5 10.Bd2 Ne4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]11.Bd3 Nxd2 12.Qxd2 0-0 13.Ke2 Nd7 14.Rhd1 Rd8[/font] reamins equal; Black is still two moves from completing development while White has poor pawn structure and the King on an open file in the center (Hertneck-Portisch, Op Sommer, Berlin, 1997).
• [font color="burgundy"]11.Qc2 Nxd2 12.Qxd2 0-0 13.Bd3 Rd8 14.Rd1 cxd4 15.cxd4 Qxa3[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and White hanging paws; Black lags in development (Zsinka-Erben, Op, Split, 2012).
• If [font color="darkred"]9...Nc6 10.Be2 Qa5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]11.0-0 0-0 12.d5 Rd8 13.Bg5 Ne7 14.Bxf6 gxf6[/font] remains equal (P Littlewood-Redmond, 4NCL, Sunningdale, 2012).
• [font color="magenta"]11.Bd2 Ne4 12.Qc2 Nxd2 13.Qxd2 0-0 14.Ra2 b6[/font] remains equal (Hybl-Pospisil, Corres, 2001).

8.Nf3

• If [font color="red"]8.Be3 Ne7 9.Rc1[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9...cxd4 10.Qxd4 Qxd4 11.Bxd4 Nf5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]12.Nf3 Nxd4 13.Nxd4 a6 14.b4 Bd8 15.Bd3 Bd7[/font] remains equal (O Matveeva-Savina, Russian ChW HL, Vladivostok, 2014).
• [font color="magenta"]12.Bc5 Nd7 13.Bb4 Bxb4 14.axb4 Ne5 15.Be2 Nd4[/font] remains equal (Chernikov-Galliamova, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2002).
• [font color="darkred"]9...Nf5 10.dxc5 Bxc3+ 11.Rxc3 Qxd1+ 12.Kxd1 a5 13.Nf3[/font] remains equal.

8...Nf6 9.Be3 Nc6

• If [font color="red"]9...Ne4[/font] (taking advantage of the pin at c3) [font color="red"]10.Qc2[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]10...Nxc3 11.bxc3 cxd4 12.Bxd4 0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]13.Bd3 h6 14.0-0[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]14...Nd7 15.Rfd1 Qe7 16.Qe2 Bc7 17.Re1 Nf6 18.Bc2[/font] is equal (Showalter-J F Barry, Match, Boston, 1896).
• [font color="burgundy"]14...Nc6 15.Rab1 Bc7 16.Be4 Qe7 17.Rfe1 Bd6 18.Qa4[/font] is equal (Yermolisky-Shulman, Op, Philadelphia, 2008).
• [font color="#ECA11A"]13.Bc5 Qf6! 14.Bb4 Nc6 15.Rd1[/font] (forced) [font color="#ECA11A"]15...Rd8 16.Rxd8+ Bxd8[/font] remains equal.
• If [font color="darkred"]10...Bxc3+!? 11.bxc3![/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]11...cxd4 12.cxd4 Qa5+ 13.Nd2 Nxd2 14.Bxd2 Qc7 15.Bd3[/font] gives White a lead in development.
• [font color="magenta"]11...Qa5 12.Bd3 Qxc3+ 13.Qxc3 Nxc3 14.dxc5 Bd7 15.Ne5[/font] gives White better development and more activity.

10.Qd3 (N)

• As is his style, Magnus like to to play an anti-theoretical move early and throw a player, even one of Anand's prowess, on his own resources.
• If [font color="red"]10.Be2 Ne4 11.Rc1[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]11...Nxc3 12.bxc3 cxd4 13.Nxd4 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 0-0 15.0-0[/font] remains equal (Nicoara-Lambert, French ChT, Mulhouse, 2011and Skembris-Muñoz, IT, Antalya, 2001).


• If [font color="darkred"]11...cxd4 12.Nxd4 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Nxd4[/font] transposes.

[center]BLACK: Vishy Anand[/center]
[center][/center]
[center]WHITE: Magnus Carlsen[/center]
[center]Position after 10.Qd1d3[/center]

10...cxd4

• The game is equal.

11.Nxd4 Ng4

• [font color="red"]11...Ne5 12.Qd2 Ne4 13.Qc2 Bxc3+ 14.bxc3 Nc5 15.Be2[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and stronger pawns; White has a lead in development.

12.0-0-0 Nxe3

• If [font color="red"]12...Nxd4 13.Bxd4 e5 14.Bc5 Qxd3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]15.Rxd3 b6 16.Be3 Bxc3 17.Rxc3 Nf6 18.Be2 0-0[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="darkred"]15.Bxd3!? Bxc3 16.bxc3 b6 17.Be4 bxc5 18.Bxa8 Nxf2[/font] remains equal.

13.fxe3 Bc7

• [font color="red"]13...Nxd4 14.exd4 0-0 15.g3 e5 16.Bg2 Bg4 17.Rd2[/font] remains equal.

14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Qxd8+ Bxd8 16.Be2 Ke7!?

• Black needs to activate his pieces. White this move connects the Rooks, Black can simultaneously put his pieces on more active squares with the initiative.
• [font color="red"]16...Bb6 17.Rd3 Ba6 18.b3 Ke7 19.Rhd1[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Vishy Anand[/center]
[center][/center]
[center]WHITE: Magnus Carlsen[/center]
[center]Position after 16...Ke8e7[/center]

17.Bf3!

• White has a small advantage with more active pieces and a pin on c6.

17...Bd7 18.Ne4 Bb6 19.c5 f5 20.cxb6

• If [font color="red"]20.Nd6?! Bxc5! 21.Nc4 Rhd8 22.e4 f4 23.b4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]23...Bb6 24.e5 Rac8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]25.Rhe1 Be8 26.Re4 Rxd1+ 27.Kxd1 Rd8+ 28.Nd6 g5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn; White has more freedom.
• [font color="magenta"]25.Kb2 c5 26.Nxb6 axb6 27.Rd6 cxb4 28.axb4 b5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and more space.
• [font color="darkred"]23...Be3+ 24.Nxe3 fxe3 25.Rhe1 Rac8 26.Kb2 c5 27.Rxe3[/font] is equal.

20...fxe4 21.b7 Rab8 22.Bxe4 Rxb7 23.Rhf1!?

• Although this occupies a second open file, the move turns out to be something of a waste of a tempo.
• An alternate plan is to play the flexible 23.Rd4 with the idea to either double the Rooks on the d-file, putting pressure on Black's center, or advancing the h-pawn and bringing the Rook from d4 to the kingside, depend on what Black does.
• If [font color="red"] 23.Rd4 [/font] then:
• [font color="red"] 23...Rhb8 24.Rhd1 h6 25.R1d2 c5 26.R4d3 Bb5 27.Rc3 [/font] gives White a slight initiative.


• [font color="darkred"] 23...Rc7 24.Bf3 c5 25.Rg4 g6 26.h4 Rf8 27.h5[/font] gives White a slight advantage from his preponderance of force on the kingside.

[center]BLACK: Vishy Anand[/center]
[center][/center]
[center]WHITE: Magnus Carlsen[/center]
[center]Position after 23.Rh1f1[/center]

23...Rb5!

• The Rook lands on the very navigable fifth rank. The game is equal.

24.Rf4

• Both players are now playing somewhat cautiously, trying to avoid a bad mistake.

24...g5

• Attacking with the g-pawn keeps the rank move navigable to the Rook on b5.
• If [font color="red"]24...e5 25.Rf2 Be6 26.Rdd2[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]26...Bb3 27.Kb1[/font] (prophylactic against 27...Rc5)[font color="red"]27...Rc5 28.Rf3 h6 29.Bg6 a5 30.e4[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="darkred"]26...c5 27.Rc2 c4 28.b4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]28...Rb6 29.Kb2 Ra6 30.h4 Rd8 31.g3 h5 32.Rc1[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="magenta"]28...cxb3?! 29.Rc7+ Kd6 30.Rxa7 Bd5 31.Rd2 b2+ 32.Kb1[/font] gives White the initiative against the g7 pawn.

25.Rf3 h5 26.Rdf1 Be8

• If [font color="red"]26...Rc5+[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]27.Bc2 27...Be8 28.Rf6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]28...a5 29.b3 e5 30.Kb2 Rd5 31.Kc3 Rc5+ 32.Kb2[/font] gives White more activity and freedom; Black can invite a draw by repetition with 32...Rd5,but White would want to keep the game going.
• [font color="burgundy"]28...Rg8 29.Kd1 Rd5+ 30.Kc1 Rg7 31.Rh6 Rf7 32.Rf3[/font] gives White more freedom.
• If [font color="darkred"]27.Kd2[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]27...Rb8 28.Rf7+ Kd6 29.Rb1 Rcb5 30.b4 a5 31.Bd3[/font] gives White a slight initiative and the more active Bishop; Black's doubled Rooks pin the pawn at b4 to a loose Rook.
• [font color="magenta"]27...Be8 28.b3 Rb5 29.Kc3 h4 30.Bc2 Re5 31.e4[/font] leaves neither side much.

27.Bc2 Rc5 28.Rf6 h4

• If [font color="red"] 28...Rd5!? [/font] then:
• If [font color="red"] 29.h3 29...h4 30.R1f2 Re5 [/font] then:
• [font color="red"]31.R6f3 Bh5 32.g4 hxg3 33.Rxg3 c5 34.Rfg2 Kf6[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="burgundy"] 31.e4 a5 32.R6f3 Rg8 33.g4 Rc5 34.Rb3 Bg6 [/font] remains equal.
• If [font color="darkred"] 29.Bb3 [/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"] 29...Re5 30.Kd2 c5 31.R1f2 a5 32.Bc2 Bc6 33.Rf7+[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="magenta"] 29...Rc5+ 30.Kd2 Re5 31.Bc2 Rd5+ 32.Kc3 Rc5+[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Vishy Anand[/center]
[center][/center]
[center]WHITE: Magnus Carlsen[/center]
[center]Position after 28....h5h4[/center]

29.e4

• A typical feature of Magnus' games is a long middle game grind that appears headed nowhere for either player. Magnus is similar to Karpov in that his endgame skill is sublime and that he seldom loses an endgame once he enters it. For that reason, he feels he has every reason to keep battling in a position such as this.
• If [font color="red"] 29.Kb1 Rd5 30.Kc1 Rc5 31.b3 a5 [/font] then:
• [font color="red"] 32.Kb2 Rd5 33.Kc1 c5 34.R6f2 a4 35.bxa4 c4 [/font] remains equal.
• If [font color="darkred"]32.e4 g4 33.R6f4 [/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"] 33...Bh5 34.Kb2 Rd8 35.Rd1 e5 [/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"] 36.Rf5 Rxd1 37.Bxd1 Bg6 38.Rf2 Bxe4 39.Bxg4 Rd5 [/font] remains equal.
• [font color="darkorange"]36.Rff1 Rd4 37.g3 hxg3 38.hxg3 Bg6 39.Rxd4 exd4 [/font] remains equal.
• [font color="magenta"]33...Rg8 34.Kb2 Bh5 35.R1f2 g3 36.hxg3 hxg3 37.Rd2 [/font] remains equal.

29...a5 30.Kd2 Rb5 31.b3 Bh5 32.Kc3

• [font color="red"]32.Ke3 g4 33.R1f4 g3 34.h3 Rc5 35.Kd2 Rb5[/font] remains equal.

32...Rc5+ 33.Kb2

• [font color="red"]33.Kd2 Rb5 34.Ke3 Kd6 35.R1f5 Ke7 36.Rf1 g4[/font] remains equal.

33...Rd8 34.R1f2 Rd4

• If [font color="red"]34...g4 35.g3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]35...hxg3 36.hxg3 Rg5 37.Rh6 Bg6 38.Rh4 Bh5 39.Rfh2[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="darkred"]35...h3!? 36.Rh6! Rd7 37.b4 axb4 38.axb4 Rg5 39.Rh8[/font] gives White better coordination of the Rooks.

35.Rh6 Bd1 36.Bb1

[center]BLACK: Vishy Anand[/center]
[center][/center]
[center]WHITE: Magnus Carlsen[/center]
[center]Position after 36.Bc2b1[/center]

• If [font color="red"]36.Bxd1 Rxd1[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]37.Rg6 Kd6 38.Rg7 Rd3 39.Ka2 Rd4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]40.Re2 Re5 41.Kb2 Rdxe4 42.Rxe4 Rxe4 43.Rxg5 e5[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="burgundy"]40.a4!? Rxe4 41.Rd2+ Rd5 42.Rc2 Ree5 43.Rg8 Rc5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn.
• If [font color="darkred"]37.Re2 Rd3 38.Rh7+ Kd6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]39.a4 Rcc3 40.e5+ Kc5 41.Rb7 Kd5 42.Rd7+ Kc5[/font] remains equal.
• If [font color="magenta"]39.Rg7!? Rb5! 40.e5+[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]40...Kc5 41.Rc2+ Kb6 42.Rc3 Rxc3 43.Kxc3 Rxe5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn, but White's Rook is behind Black's pawns.
• [font color="darkorange"]40...Rxe5!? 41.Rxe5 Kxe5 42.Rxg5+ Kd6 43.Rg8 Re3 44.Rd8+[/font] is equal.

36...Rb5

• If [font color="red"]36...Kd6 37.Rh8 Kc7 38.h3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]38...Kb6 39.Rb8+ Kc7 40.Ra8 Kb6 41.Re8 Rd6 42.a4[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="darkred"]38...Rb5 39.Rf7+ Rd7 40.Rxd7+ Kxd7 41.Rh7+ Kd6[/font] remains equal.

37.Kc3 c5

• Black threatens 38...Rcc3#.
• [font color="red"]37...e5 38.Ba2 Rxe4 39.b4 Rf4 40.Rd2 axb4+ 41.axb4 Rd4 42.Rb2[/font] remains equal.

38.Rb2 e5 39.Rg6 a4!?

• White simply neglects White's pawn-winning reply.
• [font color="red"]39...g4 40.Bd3 Rxb3+ 41.Rxb3 Bxb3 42.Rxg4 c4 43.Be2[/font] remains equal.

40.Rxg5!

• White recovers the pawn.

40...Rxb3+!

• This is the only way to recover the pawn.
• [font color="red"]40...Kf6 41.Rf5+ Ke6 42.bxa4 Rxb2 43.Kxb2 Bxa4 44.Rh5[/font] gives White an extra pawn and the initiative.

41.Rxb3 Bxb3 42.Rxe5+

• If [font color="red"]42.Rh5 Kf6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]43.Rxh4 Rd1 44.Bd3 c4 45.Be2 Rc1+ 46.Kd2 Rc2+ 47.Ke3 Ra2[/font] gives Black the edge as he recovers the pawn.
• [font color="darkred"]43.Rf5+!? Ke6![/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]44.Rf1 c4 45.Re1 Rd7 46.Rf1 Rd8 47.g4 hxg3 48.hxg3[/font] levels the material balance and leaves White with a passed pawn.
• [font color="magenta"]44.Rh5 c4 45.Rh6+ Kf7 46.Bc2 Bxc2 47.Kxc2 Rxe4[/font]leaves Black a pawn to the good.

42...Kd6 43.Rh5

• If [font color="red"]43.Re8 Kd7 44.Rh8 Rd1 45.Bd3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]45...Rc1+ 46.Kd2 Ra1 47.Rh7+ Kd6 48.e5+ Kxe5 49.Rxh4[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="darkred"]45...Ra1 46.Rxh4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]46...Rxa3 47.Bc4 Bd1+ 48.Kd2 Bb3 49.Bxb3 Rxb3 50.Kc2[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="magenta"]46...Be6 47.Kb2 Ra2+ 48.Kb1 Rxa3 49.Bc2 Bb3 50.Bxb3 Rxb3+ 51.Ka2[/font] remains equal.

43...Rd1

[center]BLACK: Vishy Anand[/center]
[center][/center]
[center]WHITE: Magnus Carlsen[/center]
[center]Position after 43...Rd4d1[/center]

• The text keeps Black's game flexible.
• If [font color="red"]43...Rc4+!? 44.Kd2! Rd4+ 45.Ke3 Rc4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]46.e5+! Kd5 47.Bg6 Rc1 48.Bf7+ Kc6 49.Rh6+ Kb7[/font] give Black the advantage with the initiative; White cannot take the Bishop.
• If [font color="darkred"]46.Rxh4!? Rc1! 47.Rh6+ Ke7 48.Bd3 c4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]49.Bxc4 Rxc4 50.Ra6 Rc2 51.Ra7+ Ke6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]52.Ra6+ Kd7 53.h4 Rxg2 54.h5 Rh2 55.h6 Be6[/font] gives Black the obvious advantage with the extra piece.
• [font color="burgundy"]52.h4 Rxg2 53.Kf4 Rf2+ 54.Kg5 Rg2+ 55.Kf4 Bd1[/font] gives Black the obvious advantage with the extra piece.
• If [font color="magenta"]49.Be2? c3! 50.Rh7+ Kf8[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]51.Rh8+ Kg7 52.Rc8 c2 53.g4 Ra1[/font] the pawn will Queen.
• [font color="darkorange"]51.Bd3 c2![/font] forces White to give up the Bishop to stop the pawn.

44.e5+ Kd5 45.Bh7 Rc1+?!

• Larry Evans advised us to "avoid useless checks." More to the point would be to avoid checks that "force" the King to a better square.
• If [font color="red"]45...Ra1 46.Bg8+ Kc6 47.Bxb3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]47...Rxa3 48.Kc4 axb3 49.Rh6+ Kd7 50.Kc3 Ra2 51.Rg6[/font] remains equal
• If [font color="darkred"]47...axb3?! 48.Kxb3! Rb1+[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]49.Ka4 Rb2 50.Rxh4 Rxg2 51.Rh8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]51...Rg4+ 52.Ka5 Kd5 53.e6 Kxe6 54.Kb5 Rf4 55.Kxc5[/font] gives White two extra pawns and passers on both wings.
• [font color="darkorange"]51...Kd5 52.h4 Kxe5 53.Kb5 Kd5 54.Rd8+ Ke6 55.a4[/font] gives White an extra pawn and passers on both wings.
• Also good is [font color="magenta"]49.Kc2 Rg1 50.Rxh4 Rxg2+ 51.Kc3 Re2 52.Rh6+.[/font]

46.Kb2 Rg1 47.Bg8+ Kc6?

• Black misses White's powerful reply.
• [font color="red"]47...Kd4 48.Bxb3 axb3 49.Rxh4+ Kd3 50.Kxb3 Rb1+ 51.Ka2[/font] gives White three extra pawns.

[center]BLACK: Vishy Anand[/center]
[center][/center]
[center]WHITE: Magnus Carlsen[/center]
[center]Position after 47...Kd5c6[/center]

48.Rh6+!

• White forces Black's king further away from what is about to become White's remote connected passed pawns.

48...Kd7

• More precise, but still losing, is [font color="red"]48...Kb5 49.Bxb3 axb3 50.Kxb3[/font] when:
• If [font color="red"]50...c4+ 51.Kc3 Rc1+[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]52.Kd2 Ra1 53.Rxh4 Kc5 54.Re4 Rxa3 55.e6[/font] leaves White's passed e-pawn to run all the way home.


• [font color="magenta"]52.Kb2 Re1 53.Rxh4 Kc5 54.g4 Re4 55.Rh5[/font] gives White three extra pawns and passers on both wings.
• [font color="darkred"]50...Rb1+ 51.Kc2 Rg1 52.Rxh4 Rxg2+ 53.Kc3 Kc6 54.a4[/font] gives White two extra pawns and passers on both wings.

49.Bxb3 axb3 50.Kxb3 Rxg2 51.Rxh4 Ke6 52.a4 Kxe5

• If [font color="red"]52...Kd5[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]53.a5 Rf2 54.a6 Kxe5 55.a7 c4+ 56.Kb4.[/font]

53.a5 Kd6 54.Rh7 Kd5

• If [font color="red"]54...Kc6[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]55.a6 Kd5 56.a7 c4+ 57.Kb4 Ra2 58.h4.[/font]

55.a6 c4+ 56.Kc3 Ra2 57.a7 Kc5 58.h4 1-0

• If [font color="red"]58...Kb6 59.h5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]59...Ra3+ 60.Kb4 Ra5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]61.Rh6+ Kxa7 62.Kxa5 Kb7 63.Kb5 Kc8 64.Kc6 etc.[/font] leads to checkmate.
• [font color="magenta"]61.h6 c3 62.Kxc3 Rc5+ 63.Kd4 Ra5 64.Rg7 etc.[/font] leads to checkmate.
• [font color="darkred"]59...Rxa7[/font] is clearly a losing proposition: White wins after [font color="darkred"]60.Rxa7 Kxa7 61.h6.[/font]
• World Champion Anand resigns.

[madinmaryland]

2. Welcome Back!

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Match: Game 1 ends in draw

The first game of the rematch for the world chess championship between reigning champion Magnus Carlsen and former world champion Viswanathan Anand in Sochi ended today in a draw.

Anand, playing White, opened with his d-pawn and Magnus spun the game into a Grünfeld Defense.

Late in the game, Magnus appeared to have the upper hand with his Queen and Rook lined up on the seventh rank (rank 2) against Anand's King, but the former champion played the extremely fine move 44.Qh1! Magnus replied 44...Re7 (if 44...Rg2 then 45.Qf1 Re2 46.Qh1 Rg2 invites a draw by repetition while 46...Re7 47.Qd5 transposes into the text) 45.Qd5 Re1 (if 45...Kh6 then 46.Qd8 Qf5 47.Qxe7 Qd5+ 48.b3 Qd2+ etc. gives White a draw by perpetual check) 46.Qd7 Kh6 etc.47.Qh3+ gives Black the draw by perpetual check.

{Event "Carlsen-Anand World Championship"}
{Site "Sochi"}
{Date "2014.11.08"}
{EventDate "2014.11.08"}
{Round "1"}
{Result "1/2-1/2"}
{White "Viswanathan Anand"}
{Black "Magnus Carlsen"}
{ECO "D85"}
{PlyCount "95"}

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bd2 Bg7 6.e4 Nxc3 7.Bxc3 O-O 8.Qd2 Nc6
9.Nf3 Bg4 10.d5 Bxf3 11.Bxg7 Kxg7 12.gxf3 Ne5 13.O-O-O c6 14.Qc3 f6 15.Bh3 cxd5 16.exd5 Nf7
17.f4 Qd6 18.Qd4 Rad8 19.Be6 Qb6 20.Qd2 Rd6 21.Rhe1 Nd8 22.f5 Nxe6 23.Rxe6 Qc7+ 24.Kb1 Rc8
25.Rde1 Rxe6 26.Rxe6 Rd8 27.Qe3 Rd7 28.d6 exd6 29.Qd4 Rf7 30.fxg6 hxg6 31.Rxd6 a6 32.a3 Qa5
33.f4 Qh5 34.Qd2 Qc5 35.Rd5 Qc4 36.Rd7 Qc6 37.Rd6 Qe4+ 38.Ka2 Re7 39.Qc1 a5 40.Qf1 a4
41.Rd1 Qc2 42.Rd4 Re2 43.Rb4 b5 44.Qh1 Re7 45.Qd5 Re1 46.Qd7+ Kh6 47.Qh3+ Kg7 48.Qd7+ 1/2-1/2

(Change the braces into square brackets and load into a pgn file to see the game in a pgn viewer.)

Game two begins in Sochi tomorrow at 3 pm Sochi time (4 am PST).

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Update (Sunday): Magnus wins Game 2

World Champion Magnus Carlsen defeated challenger and former champion Vishy Anand in the second game of their title rematch today in Sochi.

Magnus, playing White, chose to open with his e-pawn, to which Vishy countered with is own e-pawn. Magnus chose to continue with a Spanish Game, against which Vishy chose the solid Berlin Defense.

The game remained approximately equal in spite of White's nascent kingside attack until Black's eighteenth move when Vishy chose a slower defense than he could have, giving Magnus a small advantage. This situation remained steady until Black's 26th move, when Anand again played inaccurately with 26...Rf8?! overprotecting a square on which White could not put more pressure for some time. Magnus capitalized on the poor move by doubling his Rooks on the e-file and following that with 27.Qe2, setting up an offensive formation called Alekhine's gun leaving his opponent no room for any further mistakes.

Magnus simply kept up the pressure until Black's 34th move. Anand played 34...h5?? overlooking the reply 35.Qb7! setting up a forced mate. Anand resigned rather than play on.

{Event "Carlsen-Anand World Championship"}
{Site "Sochi"}
{Date "2014.11.09"}
{EventDate "2014.11.07"}
{Round "2"}
{Result "1-0"}
{White "Magnus Carlsen"}
{Black "Viswanathan Anand"}
{ECO "C65"}
{PlyCount "69"}

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.O-O d6 6.Re1 O-O 7.Bxc6 bxc6 8.h3 Re8
9.Nbd2 Nd7 10.Nc4 Bb6 11.a4 a5 12.Nxb6 cxb6 13.d4 Qc7 14.Ra3 Nf8 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.Nh4 Rd8
17.Qh5 f6 18.Nf5 Be6 19.Rg3 Ng6 20.h4 Bxf5 21.exf5 Nf4 22.Bxf4 exf4 23.Rc3 c5 24.Re6 Rab8
25.Rc4 Qd7 26.Kh2 Rf8 27.Rce4 Rb7 28.Qe2 b5 29.b3 bxa4 30.bxa4 Rb4 31.Re7 Qd6 32.Qf3 Rxe4
33.Qxe4 f3+ 34.g3 h5 35.Qb7 1-0

Tomorrow is a day off. The match resumes Tuesday at 3 pm Sochi time (4 am PST).

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Update (Tuesday)

Anand evens score in Sochi



Former world champion Viswanathan Anand defeated reigning champion Magnus Carlsen today in the third round of their rematch in Sochi to even the score at 1½ points apiece.

Vishy, playing White, opened the game by advancing his Queen's pawn two squares, which Magnus defended with an Orthodox Queen's Gambit. The game followed Aronian-Adams, Grand Slam Masters, Bilbao, 2013 until Anand Vishy varied on the 20th move by initiating a pawn exchange on e4. By this time, White already had the better game thanks to a passed pawn at c7 that was blockaded by Black's Queen; a minor piece is the best thing to blockade a passer, while a Queen is the worst blockader.

Magnus began losing the thread of the game with 26...g5?! Vishy replied with a good, but not the best move, otherwise Magnus would have been in serious trouble immediatly. Shorty thereafter, Magnus had few good moves and played the fatal 28...Ba5? and lost quickly after Vishy replied 29.Qa6! and soon Magnus was confronted with the choice of losing a piece or descending further into a hopeless endgame.

<Event "World Championship Rematch">
<Site "Sochi">
<Date "2014.11.11">
<EventDate "2014.11.07">
<Round "3">
<Result "1-0">
<White "Vishy Anand">
<Black "Magnus Carlsen">
<ECO "D37">
<PlyCount "67">

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
{10...Ba6!?-- This allows exchanges at a6 and ends up costing Black time and giving White a passed pawn.}
11.Bxa6 Rxa6 12.b5
{12.b5!-- The pawn sacrifice gives White the advantage with a passer at c6.}
12...cxb5 13.c6 Qc8
{13...Qc8 -- There is nothing to stop the pawn from advancing to c7; this is only move to both keep from losing a piece and blockading the passer.}
14.c7 b4 15.Nb5 a4
{15...a4 -- 15...Ne4!? 16. O-O bxa3 17.Qa4?! (17.Nd2 is much better) 17...g5 18.Bg3 g4 19.Ne1 Nd2! gives Black two extra pawns nothing keeps him from winning the exchang at f1 (Karpov-K Georgiev, GP, Dubai, 2002, 1-0/50 moves). Although White eventually won the game, he has bee outplayed up to here.}
16.Rc1 Ne4
{16...Ne4!? -- Black's critical problem is White's passer at c7, still ineffeciently blockaded by the Queen; a better move is 15...Ne8.}
17.Ng5 Ndf6 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.f3 Ra5 20.fxe4
{20.fxe4 (N) -- 20.Qe2 Qd7 21.fxe4 Rc8 22.exd5 exd5 23.axb4 Rxb5 24.0-0 Rxb4 25.Qa6= (Aronian-Adams, GS, Bilbao, 2013, ½-½/40 moves).}
20...Rxb5 21.Qxa4
{21.Na4 -- White finally recovers the sacrificed pawn. He continues to have a small advantage.}
21...Ra5 22.Qc6 bxa3 23.exd5 Rxd5
{23...Rxd5 -- 23...exd5?! 24.O-O h5 25.Qxb6! Ra6 26.Qb3 Qa8 27.Qc2 gives White a powerful advantage.}
24.Qxb6 Qd7 25.O-O Rc8 26.Rc6
{26.Rc6 -- Better is 26.Qa6 Rb5 27.Rb1 Rb2 28.Rxb2 axb2 29.Qb7.}
26...g5
{26...g5?! -- 26...h6 27.Rfc1 Bf6 28.Qa6 e5 29.dxe5 Rd1
(29...Be7 30.h3 Rd2 31.e4 Rd4 32.e6 fxe6 33.Rxe6 Bf8 34.Rcc6 gives White a powerful pawn and a powerful position.)
30.Rxd1 Qxd1+ 31.Kf2
(31...Kf2 -- 31.Qf1 Qxf1+ 32.Kxf1 a2 33.Ra6 leaves White a pawn to the good; Black has good drawing chances.)
31...Qd2+ 32.Qe2 Qxe2+ 33.Kxe2 Bg5 34.Ra6 allows the exchange of the passers, leaving White a pawn up and Black with fair drawing chances.}
27.Bg3
{27.Bg3!? -- Better is 27.Be5! when if 27...Bb4 then
(If 27...Ra5 then White is on the brink of winning after 28.e4 Ra4 29.d5 f6 30.Ba1 Rxe4 31.dxe6 leaves Black defending against two advanced passer while Black's a-pawn is prevented from reaching the queening square)
28.Ra1 g4 29.Kh1 Ba5 30.Qa6 a2 31.Qc4 when White has a strong game and Black threat in the d-file is easily refuted.}
27...Bb4 28.Ra1 Ba5
{28...Ba5? -- 28...h5 29.Be5 h4 30.h3 Kh7 31.Qb7 continues to give White a strong advantage.}
29.Qa6
{29.Qx6! -- White now wins quickly.}
29...Bxc7
{29...Bxc7 -- If 29...h5 then White wins after 30.Rxa3 h4 31.Rxa5 hxg3 32.Rxd5 exd5 33.Qb7 leaves Black nothing better to descend into a lost ending.}
30.Qc4 e5 31.Bxe5 Rxe5 32.dxe5 Qe7 33.e6 Kf8 34.Rc1
{34.Bc1 -- Black is already down by the exchange and now must lose a Bishop. Magnus resigns.}
1-0

Copy the above into a pgn file and change the angle brackets to square brackets in order to to see the game in a pgn viewer.

The fourth round, in which Magnus will play White, is scheduled for tomorrow at 3 pm Sochi time (4 am PST).

Grischuk wins Petrosian Memorial, surpasses 2800


[font size="1"]Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Alexander_Grischuk)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
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Former Russian national champion Alexander Grischuk won the Tigran Petrosian Memorial Tournament in Moscow today a full point ahead of his nearest rival, former world champion Vladimir Kramnik.

Grischuk began the tournament last week by winning his first three games. In a single round robin among eight players, that was good for an almost insurmountable position on the tournament table. His fourth-round draw against Chinese GM Ding Liren, who finished fifth by drawing all of his games, snapped Grischuk's personal winning streak, going back to the last three round of the Baku Grand Prix played last month, at six. At the end of five rounds, with only two remaining, Alexander Igorovich had 4½ points and was a point and a half ahead. He drew his last two games, including today's final round encounter with Kramnik, to nail down a clear first.

In addition to winning the tournament, Alexander Igorovich passed the 2800 mark on the live ratings list for the first time. He began the event rated 2795 and finished at 2810, putting at number three in the world, behind only world champion Magnus Carlsen and Italian national champion Fabiano Caruana.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Update: Match even after Game 4

Reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen and former world champion Viswanathan Anand drew the fourth game of their match today in Sochi.

The match remains even at two points apiece.

Tomorrow is a rest day. The match resumes Friday with Anand playing White.