Chennai 06: Disaster for India

[Event "FWCM 2013"] [Site "Chennai"] [Date "2013.11.16"] [Round "6"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C65"] [WhiteElo "2775"] [BlackElo "2870"] [Annotator "Josh Friedel"] [PlyCount "134"] [EventDate "2013.??.??"] [EventCountry "IND"] [TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 {Vishy decides to avoid main line Berlin this time.} Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O 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.} bxc6 9. d4 Bb6 {etc.}) 7. Re1 (7. Nbd2 {has been slightly more popular, with play continuing} 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.} 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} 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.} 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} Nf8 17. Ne3 {Black probably has to take the e3 knight, as if} Ng6 (17... Bxe3 18. fxe3 {may not be much, but I'd still rather be White.}) 18. Bxf6 (18. Nf5 $5 {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 $11) 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.} 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.} 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.} 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} Kd7 {then} 45. Rf6 Ke7 46. Rc6 {and if} 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.} 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.} 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} 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.} 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.} 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 $4 (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.} 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.} Re5 66. Rf6 f2 67. c4 {it is also drawn, since after} Ke1 68. Kg2 Re2 69. Kg3 f1=Q 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.} Kf2 73. c6 Rc3 74. b5 Rc5 75. h5 Rxb5 76. c7 Rc5 77. h6 Rxc7 78. Kf5 Kf3 79. Kg6 Kg4 80. h7 $11) 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 $1 {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