1.d4 Although Peter was better with 1.e4 in all three games, in his last white game he switched to 1.d4.
1...d5 It took a minute
for Magnus to decide what to play.
2.c4 c6
3.Nf3 Nf6
4.e3
4...Bf5 5.Nc3
Peter has little practice in this line, because his only (rapid) game with
white in this position was against non other than Magnus a year ago. There followed
a6 and after a spectacular fight it was a draw.
5...e6 6.Nh4
Bg6 7.Nxg6
hxg6 On the other
hand Magnus had it recently with both colours.
8.Bd2 Nbd7
9.Qc2 Be7
10.Be2 dxc4
11.Bxc4 0-0
12.0-0 c5
13.dxc5 Nxc5
14.Rfd1 Rc8
In Carlsen-Anand, Dortmund 2007 they inserted a3, and black drew after a
little suffering.
15.Be1 Qc7
Quite a normal position, although it is a mystical question what on
earth a bishop could be doing on e1?!
16.Be2 Nce4
17.Qa4 Nxc3
18.Bxc3 The pair of
bishops would give White a slight edge, but he cannot keep it for long.
18...Nd5 19.Bd4
a6 20.Bf3
Rfd8 21.Qb3
Bf6 22.g3
[Peter was afraid that after 22.Bxf6
gxf6 23.Bxd5
Rxd5 24.Rxd5
exd5 25.g3
his adventage is not enough. In this case he is mistaken, but I can understand
his concerns, since Magnus is capable of holding rook endings with a pawn less,
and here he still hasn't lost that pawn.]
22...b6 Black has
nearly equalized.
23.Be2 Bxd4
[23...e5 24.Bc3
Nxc3 25.bxc3
was Peter's idea, but after 25...b5
I don't think he can do anything with the f7 weakness.]
24.Rxd4 a5
25.Ba6 Rb8
26.Be2 Rbc8
27.Rc4 Qb8
28.Rac1 Rxc4
29.Qxc4 Ne7
30.Qb5 Kf8
31.b4 Rd5
32.Qa4 axb4
Rd2 was a strong alternative, but Magnus was already very short on time.
Peter still had some minutes, but not for long.
33.Qxb4 Qd6
34.Qb3 Qd8
35.Rb1 Rd6
Magnus has defended all his weaknesses. It is not easy to break through,
but Bf3 with Rc1-c4-a4-a8 could have been a try.
36.h4?! A thematical
move, but now it merely weakens the g3 pawn, and takes away the h4 square from
the rook.
36...Kg8 37.Bf3
Nf5 38.Rc1
Ne7 39.Kg2
Rd2! Finally some
activity. Now White should agree the inevitable with Rc2 or Rd1.
40.Rc4?! Nf5!
Comes the second piece into activity!
41.Kg1?! [41.Rc2??
would be a terrible tactical mistake, because 41...Nxe3+!
is possible and Black wins.]
41...Qf6!