The British Chess Magazine
This position arose earlier this year in a battle between Carlsen and Anand, in Norway.
Magnus has a slight edge with pressure against
the backward d6 pawn.
28…×c3!
Anand looks to take control of the c-file.
29 ×c3 c6 30 e1
30 b5 c1+ 31 e1 b8 would give Black
plenty of activity in return for the d-pawn.
White may still be a little better, but strong
players hate giving their opponents the initiative! 32 c3 (32 ×d6 e7 33 d2 b4 34 e2
a1 with compensation for the sacrificed pawn;
32 ×d6 c6) 32…c6 33 d1 c2 34 ×d6
d4 and Black has some compensation.
30…c5
Anand correctly identifies that he should defend his pawns with his knight on b7 to keep
the bishop and rook more actively placed.
31 b5 b7 32 h4
As in the other game, Carlsen looks to put his
pawn on h5 to try to restrict Black’s kingside.
32…e3 33 e2 c5 34 h5 b4 35 d2
We see Carlsen trying to pin down the black
king with a pawn on h5, and, once more,
Anand accepts an isolated h-pawn in order to
get his king active.
35…g6!? 36 a3 ×d2 37 h×g6+ ×g6
Anand does not fear having an isolated
h-pawn.
38 ×d2 h5 39 g3 f6 40 a7 c7 41 b5
41 b4!? a×b4 42 a×b4 g5 (42…f7 43 b5
c6 44 c3 e6 45 b5 favours White) 43 b5
f5 44 e×f5 ×f5 45 b6 may give Carlsen better practical chances.
41…c6 42 e2 f7
Anand has defended well again. His king
comes to the centre to support d6 and free his
other pieces.
43 b4 a×b4 44 a×b4 e6 45 d3 c4 46
b3
Suddenly the white rook looks a lot more passive and Anand correctly chooses to break
521
right away in the centre.
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+n+-+-+-0
9-+-zpkzp-+0
9+N+-zp-+p0
9-zPr+P+-+0
9+R+-+PzP-0
9-+-+K+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
46…d5!
It must have felt good to play this move after
struggling with a backward d-pawn for so long.
47 d3 c6 48 e×d5+ ×d5 49 c3
The rook exchange will very likely lead to a
draw. Although 49 c3+ e6 50 a3 keeps
the game going, it is hard to believe White has
significant chances to win.
49…f5
At this stage a draw looks inevitable. Anand has
managed to rid himself of his main weakness.
50 c7+ d6 51 e8+ d5 52 ×c6
×c6 53 g7 d6 54 ×h5 e4+ 55 f×e4
×e4 56 d4 b5 57 g4 f×g4 58 ×e4
g3 59 ×g3 ×b4
½–½
Once again, Anand defends excellently.
When looking at Carlsen and Anand individually, the Norwegian appears to be
the stronger endgame player. However, in
games between them, Viswanathan Anand
seems to be able to hold Magnus Carlsen
from slightly worse positions. Perhaps the