The British Chess Magazine 519
23 �c7 looks threatening but after 23 … �f8 it is not clear what his follow up is e. g. 24 �fc1 �c6!
The toughest defence was 23 b3! making it difficult to capture the pawn directly. This was the sort of fiddly move which was not my opponent’ s forte. Black is still doing well after 23 … �b4( but not 23 � × b3? 24 �c7 ±).
23 … � × b2 24 �g3 �f8
XIIIIIIIIY 9- +- + rmk- + 0 9 + p +- + pzp-0 9p +- + p +-zp0 9 +- + lzP- + Q0 9- +- +- +- + 0 9 +- +- +-tR-0 9-wq- +-zPPzP0 9 +- +- + RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy
The kingside is easily protected.
25 f4
Defending the e-pawn, but exposing his own king to serious danger, which is swiftly exploited.
25 … �c8 26 �g4 �c1!
I knew that 26 … g6 was also good, but I had already calculated the win.
27 � × g7 + �e8 28 �gf3
The checks run out after either 28 �g8 + �e7 or 28 �h8 + �d7.
28 … �d4 +!
28 … � × f3 also wins, of course, but the text is even stronger.
29 �h1 29 �3f2 � × f1 + 30 � × f1 �d1 # 29 … �a1 30 �h8 + �d7
If 31 �g1 � × f3. 0 – 1
�
Endings for Experts
GM Nick Pert nickpert @ hotmail. com
This position arose in last year’ s Classic. Carlsen had been having a good tournament whilst Anand was performing averagely, at best. Here Carlsen had a small edge in the endgame as he was a pawn up, although the a- and c-pawns were weak, and he was surely hoping to convert this advantage into to a win.
G M Carlsen O V Anand 4th London Classic, 2012 [ Pert ]
XIIIIIIIIY 9- +- +- + k + 0 9 +- +- +-zp-0 9rzpr + nzp-zp0 9 +-snRzp- + P0 9- + P + P +- + 0 9zP- +-vLPzP-0 9- + R + K +- + 0 9 + N +- +- +-0 xiiiiiiiiy