Ominous signs for Anand as Carlsen wins Sochi World Championship game 2

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World Chess Championship 2014 (2)

Ominous signs for Anand as Carlsen wins Sochi World Championship game 2

Mark Crowther - Sunday 9th November 2014

Magnus Carlsen won game 2 of the World Chess Championship match in Sochi. Photo ©

Magnus Carlsen won game 2 of the World Chess Championship match in Sochi. Photo © | http://sochi2014.fide.com

Magnus Carlsen won the second game of his World Chess Championship title defence in Sochi against former champion Viswanathan Anand. Carlsen now leads their 12 game match 1.5 to 0.5.

Carlsen faced the Berlin Defence to the Ruy Lopez and quickly took the game away from the beaten track with 6.Re1. In doing so Carlsen allowed black a lot of freedom to develop and couldn't really claim any advantage.

"It wasn't too bad. We get an equal but playable position, that's OK by me." Carlsen

12.Nxb6 didn't "thrill" Carlsen and he suggested that whilst 12...cxb6 was very sound 12...Nxb6 was also very playable. 13...Qc7 was a natural continuation although Peter Svidler suggested 13...c5 as an alternative after the game. 14.Ra3 was a slightly risky continuation from Carlsen but also well judged as it created some problems for Anand to solve.

The ominous signs I spoke of in the headline came on move 18 when Anand showed indecision and didn't find the correct continuation. Much as in the first game he found playing against Carlsen difficult and got himself into trouble by being imprecise. Anand said afterwards:

"I kept hesitating between 18...Qf7 and 18...Be6. Even there it's not catastrophic." Anand

and indeed it was a big sign that things had gone wrong when 20...Bxf5 was played as 18...Bxf5 was also clearly a better moment for this exchange. 18...Qf7 was more precise as both players agreed afterwards.

"Before that it's an absolutely normal position." "here after 19.Rg3 I was getting a bit more optimistic." "If black has to play 19...Ng6 and go for this position then it's clear that something has gone pretty seriously wrong." Magnus Carlsen

After 20.h4 Anand was clearly under pressure and 20...Bxf5 was clearly not part of his earlier plans. 20...Kh8 is a computer defence that might actually be good. After 24.Re6 black is already in very serious trouble and as Anand said:

"In the end 24...Rab8 was just a blunder. I had to play 24...h6 and 25...Rd4 for what it's worth." Anand

After 27.Rce4 Carlsen thought

"Here I thought I should be much better to winning."

and this seems to be the case. Carlsen seemed to be disturbed by 28...b5 rejecting his initially planned 29.Re7 because of 29...Qd6 threatening the cheapo f3+ but not realising 30.f3 preventing it is indeed winning. 32.Qf3 (32.f3) was also perhaps not the best but Carlsen still thought "the position is still very difficult for black" on move 33. Anand was under severe pressure and blundered with 34...h5? allowing 35.Qb7 forcing instant resignation. 34....Qd2 is the way to fight on but Anand's chances of a successful defence were probably slim.

Score: Carlsen 1.5 - Anand 0.5 in the best of 12 match.

Game 3 Tuesday 11th November 3pm local time 12pm GMT: Anand-Carlsen. Anand will surely have show he is able to put Carlsen under pressure when he has white otherwise this could be a very bad match for him.

Anand in game 2. Photo © http://www.sochi2014.fide.com/.

Carlsen,Magnus (2863) - Anand,Viswanathan (2792) [C65]
WCh 2014 Sochi RUS (2), 09.11.2014
[Crowther,Mark]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.0-0 d6 6.Re1

Viswanathan Anand

Magnus Carlsen

Position after 6.Re1

FEN:
r1bqk2r/ppp2ppp/2np1n2/1Bb1p3/4P3/3P1N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQR1K1 b kq - 0 6

Not a novelty but not played at a top level.

[Relevant: 6.Be3 Bb6 7.Bxc6+ bxc6 8.h3 0-0 9.Re1 h6 10.Nbd2 Be6 11.Nf1 Rb8 12.b3 c5 13.Ng3 Nd7 14.c3 d5 15.d4 cxd4 16.cxd4 Ba5 17.Bd2 Bxd2 18.Qxd2 dxe4 19.Rxe4 exd4 20.Rxd4 c5 21.Rd3 Qc7 22.Nh5 Bf5 23.Qc3 f6 24.Re3 Bg6 25.Ng3 Nb6 26.Rae1 Nd5 27.Qc4 Bf7 28.Re4 Rb4 29.Qc1 Bg6 30.Rc4 Rc8 31.Nh4 Bd3 32.Ngf5 g6 33.Nxh6+ Kg7 34.Ng4 g5 35.Qd2 Nf4 Adams,M (2743)-Ponomariov,R (2723) Dortmund 2014 Â½-Â½]

6...0-0 7.Bxc6 bxc6 8.h3 Re8 9.Nbd2N

[9.Be3 1-0 Moritz,A (1237)-Kyas,P (1506) Willingen 2006]

9...Nd7 10.Nc4 Bb6 11.a4 a5

[11...a6]

12.Nxb6

Viswanathan Anand

Magnus Carlsen

Position after 12.Nxb6

FEN:
r1bqr1k1/2pn1ppp/1Npp4/p3p3/P3P3/3P1N1P/1PP2PP1/R1BQR1K1 b - - 0 12

"I wasn't particularly thrilled about taking on b6 but I didn't see too many useful moves." Carlsen.

[12.Bd2 Nf8 "it doesn't look too impressive to me." Carlsen.]

12...cxb6

"Obviously cxb6 is very sound. Black should be OK." Carlsen.

[12...Nxb6 "Actually I thought even Nxb6 wasn't too bad here. Threatening f5." Carlsen. 13.d4 exd4 14.Nxd4 Bd7 "it's nothing special." Carlsen.]

13.d4 Qc7

[13...c5 was Svidler's proposal after the game. "I think this was a decent move. I think this was a fairly good option." "It seemed like black was always playing catchup from that moment on."]

14.Ra3!

Viswanathan Anand

Magnus Carlsen

Position after 14.Ra3

FEN:
r1b1r1k1/2qn1ppp/1ppp4/p3p3/P2PP3/R4N1P/1PP2PP1/2BQR1K1 b - - 0 14

This keeps life in a position that could easily have become dull.

14...Nf8 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.Nh4 Rd8 17.Qh5 f6 18.Nf5

Viswanathan Anand

Magnus Carlsen

Position after 18.Nf5

FEN:
r1br1nk1/2q3pp/1pp2p2/p3pN1Q/P3P3/R6P/1PP2PP1/2B1R1K1 b - - 0 18

18...Be6?

This seems to just bring difficulties for black. This was identified by both players as a key moment. "Before that it's an absolutely normal position." Carlsen.

[18...Qf7 "We discussed briefly that Qf7 is more precise" Carlsen. "I miscalculated something at the end." was Anand's reason for rejecting lines starting with this. 19.Qe2 Ne6 20.Rg3 Kh8 "and black should be quite alright." Carlsen.; 18...Kh8 19.Rg3 Bxf5 20.exf5 Rd4 was another defensive idea.; 18...Bxf5 Just brutally removing the active knight certainly came into consideration. As the game goes on Anand had to reverse his decision and take under far less favourable circumstances. 19.exf5 Rd5 20.Rg3 Rad8 21.Bh6 R8d7]

19.Rg3

"There wasn't too much going on to be honest but I felt I might have a slight initiative and then here after 19 moves Rg3 I was getting a bit more optimistic." Carlsen.

19...Ng6

"If black has to play 19...Ng6 and go for this position then it's clear that something has gone pretty seriously wrong. Carlsen. "To be honest there aren't any really easy choices. The position is a little unpleasant." Anand.

[19...Rd7 was a clear alternative. 20.Bh6 and black is clearly under pressure but there's nothing clear.]

20.h4!

Viswanathan Anand

Magnus Carlsen

Position after 20.h4

FEN:
r2r2k1/2q3pp/1pp1bpn1/p3pN1Q/P3P2P/6R1/1PP2PP1/2B1R1K1 b - - 0 20

A natural continuation of the attack. "I thought 20.h4 was very good so I didn't look too much for other things." Carlsen.

[20.Bh6 This tactical move came into consideration but it doesn't seem to lead to more than a draw. The computers liked it but Carlsen's move is both more natural and gives him better chances to win. It seems Carlsen also saw this but he thought it likely to lead to perpetual check. 20...gxh6 21.Rxg6+ hxg6 22.Qxg6+ Kf8 23.Qxf6+ (23.Qxh6+ not this. 23...Ke8 24.Qxf6 Bxf5 25.exf5 Qd6 26.Qg7 Rd7 27.Qg8+ Qf8 28.Rxe5+ Re7 29.Rxe7+ Kxe7 30.Qe6+ Kd8 31.Qxc6 Rb8 32.g4) 23...Qf7 24.Qxh6+ Ke8 25.Qh8+ Kd7 26.Rd1+ Kc7 27.Qxe5+ Kb7 28.Nd6+ Rxd6 29.Rxd6 is a computer line but white doesn't really want to be doing this.]

20...Bxf5

[20...Kh8!? is a computer line that may be objectively best here. 21.Rxg6 Qf7 22.Nxg7 Qxg6 23.Qxg6 hxg6 24.Nxe6 Rd6= is the tactical justification.; 20...Qf7? 21.Bh6! Bxf5 (21...Ra7 22.Nxg7) 22.exf5]

21.exf5 Nf4

Already a sign that things have gone badly wrong for Anand.

22.Bxf4 exf4 23.Rc3! c5 24.Re6

Viswanathan Anand

Magnus Carlsen

Position after 24.Re6

FEN:
r2r2k1/2q3pp/1p2Rp2/p1p2P1Q/P4p1P/2R5/1PP2PP1/6K1 b - - 0 24

Already white has a very threatening position.

24...Rab8?

"In the end Rab8 was just a blunder. I had to play h6 and Rd4 for what it's worth." Anand.

[24...h6 "Actually here I thought 24...h6 was the best move. Just not to allow the rook to get to c4 and e4." Carlsen. 25.Rc4 Rd4 now becomes playable for instance.]

25.Rc4

[25.Qe2]

25...Qd7 26.Kh2

Black would love to relieve his position with Qd1+

26...Rf8

Black is close to lost. Anand simply resolves to keep things tight and get Carlsen to prove it.

[26...Kh8 stepping out of future checks was an alternative.]

27.Rce4

Viswanathan Anand

Magnus Carlsen

Position after 27.Rce4

FEN:
1r3rk1/3q2pp/1p2Rp2/p1p2P1Q/P3Rp1P/8/1PP2PPK/8 b - - 0 27

"Here I thought I should be much better to winning." Carlsen.

27...Rb7 28.Qe2

Essentially the game is over. Carlsen isn't going to let this one go.

28...b5!?

One last bid to create some problems. "I sort of missed b5. I thought I could play Re7 here but that doesn't work due to Qd6." Carlsen.

29.b3

[29.Re7 Qd6 30.f3! Stopping the trick f3+ actually does work for white when black is forced to take a set of rooks off. 30...Rxe7 31.Rxe7 bxa4 32.Qe4 threatening the Qb7 that wins in the game. 32...Qb8 (32...Kh8 33.Re8 g6 34.Re7 Rb8 35.Ra7 wins.) ]

29...bxa4

Viswanathan Anand

Magnus Carlsen

Position after 29...bxa4

FEN:
5rk1/1r1q2pp/4Rp2/p1p2P2/p3Rp1P/1P6/2P1QPPK/8 w - - 0 30

30.bxa4

[30.Rxa4 was what John Fedorowicz and I expected in commentary. Black's queenside pawns look like they will all fall. "I just thought I have a very nice construction on the e-file and I should not break it up by moving the rook away. Maybe that was wrong but it felt more natural to take with the pawn. Maybe 30.Rxa4 works well." Carlsen who then said he was worried about Rb4 and f3 to follow if Rxa5. "I don't necessarily agree that bxa4 is more natural move, to me bxa4 is at least as natural." 30...Rb4 31.Re7! (31.Rxa5 f3 seems to have been the line that put Carlsen off.) 31...Qd8 (31...f3 32.Qe6+ Qxe6 33.Rxe6) 32.Qe6+ Kh8 33.Rxa5; 30.Re7 doesn't seem anything special. 30...Qd5 31.Rxb7 Qxb7 32.Rxa4]

30...Rb4 31.Re7

[31.c4 looks tempting to me also. 31...h6 32.Re7]

31...Qd6

The very last trick left in the position. Black threatens f3+ winning white's queen.

[31...Rxe4 32.Qxe4 Qd6 (32...Qc8 33.Ra7 Qe8 34.Qc4+ Kh8 35.Rxa5 and the pawns fall. 35...Qe1 36.Qxc5) 33.Qb7]]

32.Qf3

Carlsen was a little short of time here and he perhaps wasn't so accurate in finishing this winning position off.

[32.f3 looks the most precise.]

32...Rxe4 33.Qxe4

Viswanathan Anand

Magnus Carlsen

Position after 33.Qxe4

FEN:
5rk1/4R1pp/3q1p2/p1p2P2/P3Qp1P/8/2P2PPK/8 b - - 0 33

"Here the position is still very difficult for black" Carlsen.

33...f3+

[33...Kh8 34.Re8 was a strong continuation pointed out by Carlsen. 34...f3+ (34...h6 35.Qd3 and that's it - Carlsen.) 35.g3]

34.g3 h5??

Viswanathan Anand

Magnus Carlsen

Position after 34...h5

FEN:
5rk1/4R1p1/3q1p2/p1p2P1p/P3Q2P/5pP1/2P2P1K/8 w - - 0 35

"Obviously after h5 it was just over." Carlsen. "Obviously he could try something else but I think it's still very difficult. Maybe I missed something better earlier on but the position is still very bad for black."

[34...Qd2 Is black's best but his position is almost certainly lost but requires some work. 35.Qxf3 (35.Qe6+ Kh8 36.Qf7 Qxf2+ 37.Kh3 Qf1+ 38.Kg4 h5+!!= 39.Qxh5+ Kg8 40.Qg6 Qc4+ 41.Kxf3 Qf1+ with perpetual.) 35...Qxc2 36.Kg2 Kh8 37.Qc6 h6 (37...Rg8 38.Ra7) 38.Ra7 Qe2 39.Rxa5; 34...Qd4 35.Qxf3; 34...Kh8 trying to take the second rank Rxg7+ check off doesn't work either. 35.Re8 Kg8 36.Qc4+ Kh8 37.Qf7]

35.Qb7 1-0