he World Chess Championship 2013 is a match between the current world champion Viswanathan Anand (winner of the 2012 World Championship) and Magnus Carlsen (ranked No. 1 in the world), to determine the 2013 World Chess Champion. It is being held from 9 to 28 November 2013 in Chennai, India, under the auspices of FIDE (the World Chess Federation).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Chess_Championship_2013#Game_1.2C_Carlsen.E2.80.93Anand.2C_.C2.BD.E2.80.93.C2.BD

Since the first two games are short, I will try to do a move by move analysis of the the first two games

Game 1,

Carlsen-Anand ½–½

Neo-Grünfeld Defence (ECO D78)

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 c6 5. 0-0 Nf6 6. b3 0-0 7. Bb2 Bf5 8. c4 Nbd7 9. Nc3 dxc4 10. bxc4 Nb6 11. c5 Nc4 12. Bc1 Nd5 13. Qb3 Na5 14. Qa3 Nc4 15. Qb3 Na5 16. Qa3 Nc4 ½–½


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Analysis
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1. Nf3


White develops a piece and attacks the squares d4, e5, and g5. The knight is a slow moving piece and should be developed on time otherwise it may not be able to join the party when it starts.


1... d5


black responds by staking a claim in the center. This pawn covers the squares e4 and c4 thereby impeding whites freedom on these squares. Any white piece heading to these squares must be ready for an attack by the pawn on d5


2. g3


white prepares to fianchetto his Kings bishop. Although the bishop will be behind the knight, the bishop eyes the long diagonal like a sniper and the knight can easily hop away. With a few exchanges in the center, the bishop becomes extremely powerful when the diagonal is cleared for him because he is a long range piece (unlike the knight)


2... g6

Black does the same

3. Bg2


The bishop goes on the long diagonal h1-a8 and eyes the d5 pawn suspiciously.


3... Bg7


the black dark squared bishop covers the h8-a1 diagonal and is hitting the b2 pawn directly.


4. d4


white stakes a claim in the center. Now white controls some squares in blacks territory, namely c5 and e5. The d4 pawn reinforces the hold on e5 that the knight on f3 was trying to establish. Another consequence of the move d4 is that it opens up lines and squares for the c1 bishop, the queen and both knights


4... c6


supports the pawn on d5 and also gives the black queen access on the d8-a5 diagonal


5. O-O


White secures his king by castling and develops his kings rook at the same time


5... Nf6


Black brings his knight out. This move accomplishes a number of things. It evacuates the kingside allowing black to castle next move, it adds a defender to the kingside and it also consolidates the hold on e4 that was established on blacks first move.


6. b3


white prepares to go for the double fianchetto which is when both bishops criss cross the long diagonals. With this move, white may put his dark squared bishop on b2. If need be, for tactical or strategic reasons, he can also put the bishop on a3. The draw back of this move is that there is a temporary "hole" on c3 caused by the advance b2-b3. In chess however, a weakness is not a weakness if it cannot be taken advantage of. For now, there is no immediate way to take advantage of the hole.


6... O-O


Black spurts his king to safety (if you missed the whole "hole" innuendo) and develops his rook.


7. Bb2


the bishop "mounts" the diagonal (ok, I have to stop this) and counters the pressure being exerted by blacks g7 fianchettoed bishop.


7... Bf5


The bishop arrives on the f5 square and hits the c2 pawn. This can easily be taken care of though


8. c4


with this move, white challenges black in the center. White invites black to relinquish the center. If black captures whites pawn, black would have given up control/influence over the c4 and e4 squares. Often in chess, strategy comes down to a fight for squares, the center squares being the most important. Also if black captures the white pawn, white can recapture with the b3 pawn, and that leaves white in control of the b5, c5,d5, and e5 squares. Of course whites pawns can also be undermined. As Bobby Fischer once said, to get squares, ya gotta give squares


8... Nbd7

Black does not take and maintains the tension in the center

9. Nc3


the knight adds even more pressure on d5 while maintaining the tension.

9... dxc4


Black reduces the tension by exchanging

10. bxc4


white recaptures with the pawn. Note how many center squares are under whites influence


10... Nb6

The knight attacks the pawn forcing white to address this threat.

11. c5


the pawn moves and attacks its hunter. This move creates a hole on d5 that the black knights or some other of the black pieces may be able to use as a base or outpost later on. On the other hand, the same pawn grabs space in blacks queenside. If anything were to cause the removal of the b7 and e7 pawns, then a white piece, preferably a knight, might be able to use the d6 square as an outpost


11... Nc4


The knight attacks whites undefended bishop on b2. It sits on the hole in c4. In chess you have a hole if there is a square in your camp that your pawns cannot reach.


12. Bc1


the bishop retreats. White can defend it but is naturally reluctant to have it exchanged when its counter part is still breathing fire down the diagonal. Please take note of the position here. The knight on c3 is undefended and the rook on a1 is also undefended. Also note how the queen on d8 is watching the pawn on d4. This is how trouble starts.


12... Nd5


The blackknight springs to d5 to attack the pawn on c3. Note how the jump suddenly uncovers the bishop on g7. Of course black can play Nc3xd5 but then the recapture with the c6 pawn leaves the black knight on c4 with extra protection (I think I did it again).


13. Qb3

The queen rushes to defend the knight on c3

13... Na5


Queen is attacked. It was a three fold repetiton from here and a draw was agreed


14. Qa3 Nc4 15. Qb3 Na5 16. Qa3 Nc4 *

Game 2
Anand-Carlsen ½–½
Caro–Kann Defence (ECO B19)

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 e6 8. Ne5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Nd7 11. f4 Bb4+ 12. c3 Be7 13. Bd2 Ngf6 14. 0-0-0 0-0 15. Ne4 Nxe4 16. Qxe4 Nxe5 17. fxe5 Qd5 18. Qxd5 cxd5 19. h5 b5 20. Rh3 a5 21. Rf1 Rac8 22. Rg3 Kh7 23. Rgf3 Kg8 24. Rg3 Kh7 25. Rgf3 Kg8 ½–½

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Analysis
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1. e4

white stakes a claim in the center and attacks the d5 and f5 squares

1... c6


this move initiates the caro kann defence. Black does not immediately challenge white in the centre but is prepared to do so on the next move.


2. d4


White broadens his central influence. Note how these two pawn moves have opened lines for both whites bishops and queen


2... d5


black strikes back at whites center particularly at the pawn on e4. White can capture the pawn but the recapture by the c6 pawn will leave the situation in the center equal. White doesnt want that.


3. Nc3


develops his knight to c3 and protects the pawn on e4 while simultaneously increasing pressure on d5. Now if black captures the pawn on e4 the knight can recapture and jump to the center


3... dxe4


captures the pawn. This move concedes part of the central control to white

4.
Nxe4


the knight is very happy to occupy a central square where it observes enemy territory


4... Bf5

the white bishop develops and attacks the unprotected knight.

5. Ng3


the knight hops out of danger and relinquishes its cherished square but even from this new square, it continues to eye the square e4. Normally this knight would have been said to have lost a move by retreating from attack but in retreating, it forces the bishop to move since it now attacks the undefended bishop.


5... Bg6

The bishop retreats

6. h4


grabbing space on the kingside and threatening to trap the bishop with h5 next move. Of course the threat can easily be dealt with


6... h6


makes an escape hole for the bishop in case of h5. Also prevents a piece from landing on the g5 square. A move that does multiple things is usually a good move


7. Nf3


Brings his knight into play, therey supporting the pawn on d4 and also influencing other central squares


7... e6


opens a line for the black bishop to come out. The pawn also observes the d5 square


8. Ne5


Hops to the e5 square and attacks the bishop.. If black allows the bishop to be captured by the knight, the recapture by the pawn on f7 will leave black with doubled pawns on the g-file and an isolated pawn on the e-file. This will be a weakness that black may not be able to recover from


8... Bh7

the bishop retreats again to prevent weaknesses from arising

9. Bd3


the bishop must die! This is interesting and instructive. Note that whites light squared bishop has only made its first move yet its about to be exchanged for a bishop that has made three moves. This exchange is very favourable to white because of the time advantage. Those several moves by blacks bishop have cost him some time which could have been used to develop his position.


9... Bxd3


this exchange is almost forced because white would have exchanged anyway and the alternatives are a bit awkward.


10. Qxd3


Developing the queen with a recapture. Notice how almost all whites pieces have left their original squares and are invading blacks territory. White is just one move away from castling on either side of the board. On the other hand all of whites pieces are still sleeping at home. In fact the only one that managed to come out was moving all over the place until itt was exhanged


10... Nd7

Trying to develop at last. The knight attacks the white knight on e5

11.
f4

white protects his centralized knight with the pawn on f4

11... Bb4+


develops the bishop with check

12. c3


blocks the bishop with the pawn which in turn reinforces whites pawn on d4, leading to even greater central control


12... Be7

the dark squared bishop retreats

13. Bd2


white develops his dark square bishop and is ready to castle either way by the next move


13... Ngf6

black develops his knight

14. O-O-O


white castles long and connects his rooks

14... O-O


black castles short. This situation is known as opposite side castling and can lead to really violent games complete with pawn storms and sacrifices.


15. Ne4

White is mobilizing his forces towards the Black kings territory.

15...
Nxe4[i]

Black exchanges the knight[/i]

16. Qxe4


White recaptures with the queen centralizing her

16... Nxe5


the knight captures the intruder on e5

17. fxe5


this recapture opens the f-file. The rooks can operate on the f-file as it is now semi open for whites use


17... Qd5

black offers a queen exchange to blunt the coming attack

18. Qxd5


white obliges

18... cxd5


this recapture now gives black a semi open c file for his rooks

19. h5


this does several things. It grabs even more space in whites territory, it places the pawn on a light square where blacks dark squared bishop cannot get at it and it also discourages any further pawn moves on the black kingside


19... b5

not to be outdone, black starts rolling pawns towards the white king.

20.
Rh3


this manoeuvre is called a rook lift. The rook now has even greater options for attack or defence if need be


20... a5


rolling more pawns towards the white king. These pawns are expendable and can be used to destroy the cover of the white king


21. Rf1


Aiming the rook at the square f7. This move will make black think twice about moving his f8 rook and abandoning the defence of the f7 pawn for the king alone


21... Rac8


pinning the pawn on c3 to the king. If white ignores this black should soon be able to win a pawn


22. Rg3


creating his own threat.. Now the bishop on d2 threatens to take the pawn on h6 after which the pawn on g7 can not recapture because it is pinned


22... Kh7

the king moves out of the pin

23. Rgf3


white then attacks f7 which is defended only by a rook

23... Kg8


and the sequence continued into a threefold repetition and a draw was announced

24.
Rg3 Kh7 25. Rgf3 Kg8 ½–½

Game 3


Carlsen–Anand

Réti Opening (ECO A07)

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. c4 dxc4 4. Qa4+ Nc6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. Nc3 e5 7. Qxc4 Nge7 8. 0-0 0-0 9. d3 h6 10. Bd2 Nd4 11. Nxd4 exd4 12. Ne4 c6 13. Bb4 Be6 14. Qc1 Bd5 15. a4 b6 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. a5 Rab8 18. Re1 Rfc8 19. axb6 axb6 20. Qf4 Rd8 21. h4 Kh7 22. Nd2 Be5 23. Qg4 h5 24. Qh3 Be6 25. Qh1 c5 26. Ne4 Kg7 27. Ng5 b5 28. e3 dxe3 29. Rxe3 Bd4 30. Re2 c4 31. Nxe6+ fxe6 32. Be4 cxd3 33. Rd2 Qb4 34. Rad1 Bxb2 35. Qf3 Bf6 36. Rxd3 Rxd3 37. Rxd3 Rd8 38. Rxd8 Bxd8 39. Bd3 Qd4 40. Bxb5 Qf6 41. Qb7+ Be7 42. Kg2 g5 43. hxg5 Qxg5 44. Bc4 h4 45. Qc7 hxg3 46. Qxg3 e5 47. Kf3 Qxg3+ 48. fxg3 Bc5 49. Ke4 Bd4 50. Kf5 Bf2 51. Kxe5 Bxg3+ ½–½



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Analysis
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1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. c4

white challenges black in the center

3... dxc4


black swaps center pawns, giving up his hold on the center.

4. Qa4+


white develops his queen in preparation for retrieving the pawn

4... Nc6 5. Bg2


white is not exactly in a hurry to retrieve his pawn and it makes no sense for black to try to hold on to it yet. Any attempt to do that will result in a poor position for black. There might come a time when black is sufficiently developed to hold on to the extra pawn but that time is not now.


5... Bg7 6. Nc3 e5

development continues

7. Qxc4

finally, white collects his pawn


7... Nge7

the knight stays out of the way of blacks dark squared bishop

8. O-O O-O


both kings are now safe and development is almost complete for both sides

9. d3


opens a line for the bishop and discourages black from using the e4 square

9...
h6


this restricts whites dark square bishop. The bishop might want to go to g5 pinning the knight against the queen. Now after blacks move, the place it would have loved to go to is no longer available for it.


10. Bd2

he has to make do with this square. Whites rooks are now connected

10...
Nd4


the black knight enters whites territory. Getting rid of it will not be such a pleasant matter. If white plays e3, then he blocks in the bishop on d2 and also weakens the d3 pawn. With that in mind, white plays


11. Nxd4


exchanging knights and uncovering his light square bishop on the long diagonal


11... exd4


this recapture poses its own difficulty for white. The black pawn on d4 is a thorn in whites position. It sticks like a bone in the throat. Its protected by the dark squared bishop and the queen. If need be, another defender can be added by placing blacks knight on c6.


12. Ne4

the knight steps out of harms way

12... c6


adds support to d5 which the knight may be able to use as an outpost

13. Bb4


pins the knight to the rook to prevent the knight from moving to the outpost


13... Be6

gains time to by attacking th queen with a developing move

14. Qc1 Bd5
15. a4[i]

a space grabbing move.[/i]

15... b6 16. Bxe7


the bishop takes the knight out. The bishop didnt have too many good squares available to it. An important part of chess strategy is exchanging/trading your bad pieces for your opponents good ones.


16... Qxe7


captures and improves his queens position in terms of mobility. The black queen now has more squares that she can access than before. Mobility of the pieces is another strategic consideration in chess.


17. a5


if black captures this pawn, his queenside pawns will be broken up making them easy targets for whites rooks


17... Rab8


black does not want to exchange rooks if there is going to be an exchange of pawns on the b-file


18. Re1


white centralizes his kings rooks. Rooks belong on open files , central files or files that are likely to be opened


18... Rfc8 19. axb6 axb6 20. Qf4

the queen comes to the center to join the party


20... Rd8 21. h4


space grab and also discourages black from harrassing the white queen with g5


21... Kh7 22. Nd2


white invites black to swap bishops. The resultant capture by the white king will result in the white rooks having unrestrained freedom on the first rank


22... Be5


black chooses to harrass the whte queen which is a bit exposed in the center. Minor pieces (the knights and bishops) are usually good at harassing the major pieces (the rooks and queen)


23. Qg4 h5 24. Qh3 Be6 25. Qh1


surely the queen cant be happy here even though she is exerting great pressure on the h1-a8 diagonal with the help of the light squared bishop.


25... c5 26. Ne4


the knight jumps back to e4 where it has more of a say in the game

26... Kg7 27.
Ng5


goes even further into blacks position. The aim seems to be to get rid of the light squared bishop. Notice that over half of blacks pieces are not standing on black squares, away from the reach of the whites light square bishop


27... b5


possibly preparing for an exchange of pawns on the queenside which will result in a passed pawn for black. A passed pawn is a pawn that cannot be opposed by a pawn on the other side.


28. e3


white intervenes at the expense of obtaining an isolated pawn in the center

28...
dxe3 29. Rxe3 Bd4

attacks the rook and sets up camp on d4

30. Re2 c4 31. Nxe6+


finally snaps off the bishop and forces an isolated pawn on black as the black queen cannot recapture. Now black is a little vulnerable on the light squares


31... fxe6 32. Be4 cxd3 33. Rd2 Qb4 34. Rad1 Bxb2 35. Qf3 Bf6 36. Rxd3 Rxd3 37.
Rxd3 Rd8 38. Rxd8 Bxd8


now although black has an extra pawn, it will be difficult to translate that into a win as two of his pawns are weak and white can harrass them incessantly. It is also known that endings with opposite coloured bishops tend to draw. The rest of the game is given without comment.


39. Bd3 Qd4 40. Bxb5 Qf6 41. Qb7+ Be7 42. Kg2 g5 43. hxg5 Qxg5 44. Bc4 h4 45. Qc7 hxg3 46. Qxg3 e5 47. Kf3 Qxg3+ 48. fxg3 Bc5 49. Ke4 Bd4 50. Kf5 Bf2 51. Kxe5
Bxg3+ ½–½

Game 4

Anand–Carlsen

Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence (ECO C67)

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. 0-0 Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 Bd7 10. Rd1 Be7 11. Nc3 Kc8 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bxe7 Nxe7 14. Rd2 c5 15. Rad1 Be6 16. Ne1 Ng6 17. Nd3 b6 18. Ne2 Bxa2 19. b3 c4 20. Ndc1 cxb3 21. cxb3 Bb1 22. f4 Kb7 23. Nc3 Bf5 24. g4 Bc8 25. Nd3 h5 26. f5 Ne7 27. Nb5 hxg4 28. hxg4 Rh4 29. Nf2 Nc6 30. Rc2 a5 31. Rc4 g6 32. Rdc1 Bd7 33. e6 fxe6 34. fxe6 Be8 35. Ne4 Rxg4+ 36. Kf2 Rf4+ 37. Ke3 Rf8 38. Nd4 Nxd4 39. Rxc7+ Ka6 40. Kxd4 Rd8+ 41. Kc3 Rf3+ 42. Kb2 Re3 43. Rc8 Rdd3 44. Ra8+ Kb7 45. Rxe8 Rxe4 46. e7 Rg3 47. Rc3 Re2+ 48. Rc2 Ree3 49. Ka2 g5 50. Rd2 Re5 51. Rd7+ Kc6 52. Red8 Rge3 53. Rd6+ Kb7 54. R8d7+ Ka6 55. Rd5 Re2+ 56. Ka3 Re6 57. Rd8 g4 58. Rg5 Rxe7 59. Ra8+ Kb7 60. Rag8 a4 61. Rxg4 axb3 62. R8g7 Ka6 63. Rxe7 Rxe7 64. Kxb3 ½–½


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Analysis
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1. e4 e5


for the first time we see a symmetrical kings pawn opening. Both sides fight for the center with opposing pawns


2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5


this introduces the Ruy Lopez or the Spanish. White threatens the defender of the e5 pawn.


3... Nf6

black introduces a threat of his own

4. O-O Nxe4


this pawn can be recovered quite easily by white

5. d4


white tries to open the position while the black king is unable to castle. If yourr opponents king is stuck in the center, try and open lines for your pieces to attack it. In some games, a player might choose to sacrifice a piece to keep the king in the center or to draw it out to the middle of the board.


5... Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8


the queens go off and black has lost the right to castle. This may not be so bad since the queens are off the board but white has a time and development advantage. These are dynamic advantages which may peter out if not taken advantage of. On the other hand, there are static advantages. A good example of a static advantage is weakness in pawn structures. Static advantages are usually long lasting.


9. h3 Bd7 10. Rd1

pins the bishop to the king.

10... Be7 11. Nc3 Kc8


the king moves out of the pin. Looking at both positions, notice how much easier and naturally the white rooks will be able to get into play


12. Bg5 h6 13. Bxe7 Nxe7 14. Rd2


prepares to double the rooks down the d-file in a show of force.

14... c5


A multi purpose move. First, it restrains the knight on f3. Notice that the knight on f3 doesnt really have good squares to go to anymore. g5 is out of the question and d4 as well. The knight can only redeploy by going through a lengthy manoeuvre which may cost time and might be easy to frustrate. The pawn also vacates the square c6 for use by either the black bishop or the black knight.


15. Rad1 Be6 16. Ne1

and the manoeuver of the knight on f3 has started

16... Ng6


black takes advantage of the absence of the f3 knight to attack the e5 pawn it leaves undefended.


17. Nd3


the knight hops to d3 to resume its defence of the e5 pawn and also to attack the c5 pawn. White is not worried about 17 ...c4 18 Nc5 and the bishop can be harrassed and the pawn saved.


17... b6


this move defends the pawn on c5 but it also frees b7 for the king. Now the king can step to b7 and by that means, he can connect his rooks.


18. Ne2

another redeployment of the knight.

18... Bxa2


usually not a good idea in these type of positions because of

19. b3


this move will usually trap the bishop but

19... c4 20. Ndc1 cxb3 21. cxb3 Bb1 22. f4 Kb7 23. Nc3 Bf5


and the bishop escapes with a pawn. This is however at the expense of white activating his kingside majority.


24. g4 Bc8 25. Nd3 h5 26. f5 Ne7 27. Nb5 hxg4 28. hxg4 Rh4 29. Nf2 Nc6 30. Rc2
a5 31. Rc4


controls the 4th rank. The rook discourages the advance of the a5 pawn and also contributes to the defence of the g4 pawn. As it is, black is for the moment a rook down as the black rook on a8 is not participating in the game.


31... g6 32. Rdc1

meeting one threat with a bigger one

32... Bd7 33. e6


taking care of the threat but

33... fxe6 34. fxe6

a passed pawn is created

34...
Be8 35. Ne4

dont ask me. Im not a world champion

35... Rxg4+ 36. Kf2 Rf4+ 37. Ke3


the king nears the center and joins the party. Note that black has only one rook in play which greatly hampers him, and the bishop is confined to the back rank. Also note that the black king has been traveliing on the black squares where the bishop cannot reach him.


37... Rf8 38. Nd4 Nxd4 39. Rxc7+ Ka6 40. Kxd4


An exchange of pieces to make the conversion of the passed pawn easier. The black king is far away from the action but near enough to help his own pawns queen. Who will queen first.


40... Rd8+ 41. Kc3


the white king prefers to stay where he can monitor the enemy pawns

41... Rf3+
42. Kb2

still travelling on dark squares. The rest of the game is given without comment.

42... Re3 43. Rc8 Rdd3 44. Ra8+ Kb7 45. Rxe8 Rxe4 46. e7 Rg3 47. Rc3 Re2+ 48. Rc2 Ree3 49. Ka2 g5 50. Rd2 Re5 51. Rd7+ Kc6 52. Red8 Rge3 53. Rd6+ Kb7 54. R8d7+ Ka6 55. Rd5 Re2+ 56. Ka3 Re6 57. Rd8 g4 58. Rg5 Rxe7 59. Ra8+ Kb7 60. Rag8 a4 61. Rxg4 axb3 62. R8g7 Ka6 63. Rxe7 Rxe7 64. Kxb3 *

Game 5
Carlsen–Anand

Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Slav, Marshall Gambit (ECO D31)
1. c4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Nc3 c5 7. a3 Ba5 8. Nf3 Nf6 9. Be3 Nc6 10. Qd3 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Ng4 12. 0-0-0 Nxe3 13. fxe3 Bc7 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. Qxd8+ Bxd8 16. Be2 Ke7 17. Bf3 Bd7 18. Ne4 Bb6 19. c5 f5 20. cxb6 fxe4 21. b7 Rab8 22. Bxe4 Rxb7 23. Rhf1 Rb5 24. Rf4 g5 25. Rf3 h5 26. Rdf1 Be8 27. Bc2 Rc5 28. Rf6 h4 29. e4 a5 30. Kd2 Rb5 31. b3 Bh5 32. Kc3 Rc5+ 33. Kb2 Rd8 34. R1f2 Rd4 35. Rh6 Bd1 36. Bb1 Rb5 37. Kc3 c5 38. Rb2 e5 39. Rg6 a4 40. Rxg5 Rxb3+ 41. Rxb3 Bxb3 42. Rxe5+ Kd6 43. Rh5 Rd1 44. e5+ Kd5 45. Bh7 Rc1+ 46. Kb2 Rg1 47. Bg8+ Kc6 48. Rh6+ Kd7 49. Bxb3 axb3 50. Kxb3 Rxg2 51. Rxh4 Ke6 52. a4 Kxe5 53. a5 Kd6 54. Rh7 Kd5 55. a6 c4+ 56. Kc3 Ra2 57. a7 Kc5 58. h4 1–0

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ANALYSIS
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1. c4 e6 2. d4 d5


introducing the Queens Gambit Declined. It leads to strategic games characterized by lots of manoeuvering.


3. Nc3

not worried about the c4 pawn being captured as white can regain it easily


3... c6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Nc3 c5

black challenges whites center.

7. a3


puts the question to the bishop

7... Ba5


if the bishop had captured, the recapture with the b pawn would have solved whites problem on d2


8. Nf3 Nf6 9. Be3 Nc6


the last few moves have been aimed at the struggle for the d4 square

10. Qd3 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Ng4 12. O-O-O Nxe3 13. fxe3


its still all about the d4 square. For now, white has an isolated pawn on e3. It ordinarlily ought to be weak but its not on an open file. It is also relatively easy for white to protect this pawn if need be. If black can fix the pawn on e3 with a black pawn on e4, white might feel choked.


13... Bc7 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. Qxd8+ Bxd8


black is left with an isolated pawn of his own.

16. Be2


I probably would have played c5 to fix the pawn on c6 with would give me a protected square on d6 and also restrict blacks light squared bishop. I would also follow up with ideas of placing e3 pawn on e5 and the knight on d6 via e4. Carlsen prefers to connect his rooks first. Note the development of the bishop to e2 where it does not block the scope of the rook on d1


16... Ke7


with the queens off the board, the king ventures out. There is no need to castle here as an endgame is close and the king will need to be activated.


17. Bf3 Bd7 18. Ne4


Carslen must have heard me because the knight is now on e4. See my notes to move 16


18... Bb6 19. c5 f5 20. cxb6 fxe4 21. b7 Rab8 22. Bxe4 Rxb7


material is equal but black is in a worse position because of his two isolated pawns on c6 and e6. By contrast, white has just one isolated pawn.


23. Rhf1

seizing the other open file

23... Rb5


activating the rook by increasing its scope.

24. Rf4

tries to do the same

24... g5 25. Rf3 h5 26. Rdf1


doubling up the rooks

26... Be8


to prevent the entry of the rooks on f7

27. Bc2 Rc5 28. Rf6 h4 29. e4 a5 30. Kd2


white brings his king to the party. With fewer pieces on the board, the king is relatively safe from harassment


30... Rb5 31. b3 Bh5 32. Kc3 Rc5+ 33. Kb2 Rd8 34. R1f2 Rd4 35. Rh6 Bd1 36. Bb1 Rb5 37. Kc3 c5 38. Rb2

white is tied up defensively. On the other hand though, blacks position is not to be envied. White still has a free
agent in his h6 rook, willing to mop up blacks hapless pawns


38... e5 39. Rg6


nothing can stop the rook from capturing this pawn. Once that happens, all blacks pawns will be isolated and this
will further condemn blacks position


39... a4


black does his best to distract white but whites queenside is adequately defended


40. Rxg5 Rxb3+ 41. Rxb3 Bxb3 42. Rxe5+ Kd6


after the smoke settles, black is a pawn down with three isolated pawns. DEFINITELY NOT GOOD. The rest of the game
is given without notes


43. Rh5 Rd1 44. e5+ Kd5 45. Bh7 Rc1+ 46. Kb2 Rg1 47. Bg8+ Kc6 48. Rh6+ Kd7 49. Bxb3 axb3 50. Kxb3 Rxg2 51. Rxh4 Ke6 52. a4 Kxe5 53. a5 Kd6 54. Rh7 Kd5 55. a6 c4+ 56. Kc3 Ra2 57. a7 Kc5 58. h4 1–0

Game 6

Anand–Carlsen

Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence (ECO C65)
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 0-0 6.0-0 Re8 7.Re1 a6 8.Ba4 b5 9.Bb3 d6 10.Bg5 Be6 11.Nbd2 h6 12.Bh4 Bxb3 13.axb3 Nb8 14.h3 Nbd7 15.Nh2 Qe7 16.Ndf1 Bb6 17.Ne3 Qe6 18.b4 a5 19.bxa5 Bxa5 20.Nhg4 Bb6 21.Bxf6 Nxf6 22.Nxf6+ Qxf6 23.Qg4 Bxe3 24.fxe3 Qe7 25.Rf1 c5 26.Kh2 c4 27.d4 Rxa1 28.Rxa1 Qb7 29.Rd1 Qc6 30.Qf5 exd4 31.Rxd4 Re5 32.Qf3 Qc7 33.Kh1 Qe7 34.Qg4 Kh7 35.Qf4 g6 36.Kh2 Kg7 37.Qf3 Re6 38.Qg3 Rxe4 39.Qxd6 Rxe3 40.Qxe7 Rxe7 41.Rd5 Rb7 42.Rd6 f6 43.h4 Kf7 44.h5 gxh5 45.Rd5 Kg6 46.Kg3 Rb6 47.Rc5 f5 48.Kh4 Re6 49.Rxb5 Re4+ 50.Kh3 Kg5 51.Rb8 h4 52.Rg8+ Kh5 53.Rf8 Rf4 54.Rc8 Rg4 55.Rf8 Rg3+ 56.Kh2 Kg5 57.Rg8+ Kf4 58.Rc8 Ke3 59.Rxc4 f4 60.Ra4 h3 61.gxh3 Rg6 62.c4 f3 63.Ra3+ Ke2 64.b4 f2 65.Ra2+ Kf3 66.Ra3+ Kf4 67.Ra8 Rg1 0–1

//----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANALYSIS
//----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Result "*"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5

the Ruy Lopez

3... Nf6 4. d3


if Im not mistaken, Carlsen is usually the one on the white side of this variation. Perhaps Anand is using a bit of psychology on Carlsen.


4... Bc5 5. c3

preparing to challenge in the center with a well timed d4

5... O-O 6. O-O Re8 7. Re1 a6 8. Ba4 b5 9. Bb3 d6


neither side is in much of a hurry being content to develop their forces to the best possible squares before beginning active operations


10. Bg5

pins the knight and discourages black from playing d5
10... Be6 11. Nbd2 h6 12. Bh4 Bxb3 13. axb3

the a1 rook now has an open file to work with.

13... Nb8 14. h3 Nbd7 15. Nh2 Qe7 16. Ndf1

the knight is being redeployed

16... Bb6 17. Ne3 Qe6

the queen moves out of the pin

18. b4


deprives the black the use of the c5 square

18... a5

black challenges

19. bxa5 Bxa5 20. Nhg4 Bb6 21. Bxf6 Nxf6 22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. Qg4 Bxe3 24. fxe3 Qe7 25. Rf1


the rook takes the f-file

25... c5 26. Kh2 c4 27. d4 Rxa1 28. Rxa1 Qb7


although most of the pieces are off the board, the position isnt that simple. Precise play is required from both sides. Black has pressure on the pawn on e4


29. Rd1


I think I might have blocked the position with d5. I dont like the idea of relinquishing the a file as black may find a way to use it as an invasion square.


29... Qc6 30. Qf5 exd4 31. Rxd4


there! I dont like this move. If white had played d5, this would have been avoided. Now, white has two doubled isolated pawns. Of course Anand, a world champion knows this. Lets see what his plans are.


31... Re5 32. Qf3 Qc7 33. Kh1 Qe7 34. Qg4 Kh7 35. Qf4 g6 36. Kh2 Kg7 37. Qf3 Re6


neither side is in a hurry. They are both probing the position. Black has a weakness with the isolated pawn on d6 but its not as bad as whites double isolated pawns


38. Qg3


white offers a pawn. Again, in my opinion, d5 at the appropriate time would have prevented that.


38... Rxe4 39. Qxd6 Rxe3 40. Qxe7 Rxe7


White finds himself a pawn down. Surely with correct play the best white can hope for is a draw.


41. Rd5 Rb7 42. Rd6 f6 43. h4 Kf7

the king is going to join the party

44. h5


trying to cause disharmony in the kingside pawns

44... gxh5

succeeding. If black had played g5, the white pawn on would impede the movement of the white king. This is not really a sacrifice as it will be easy to regain the pawn and possibly others since they are no longer united. The white king can come in and help the mopping up of the pawns.


45. Rd5 Kg6 46. Kg3 Rb6 47. Rc5 f5 48. Kh4 Re6


black abandons this pawn for a chance to go after whites pawns and king. Keeping your rooks active is important in the endgame. The rest of the game is given without notes


49. Rxb5 Re4+ 50. Kh3 Kg5 51. Rb8 h4 52. Rg8+ Kh5 53. Rf8 Rf4 54. Rc8 Rg4 55. Rf8 Rg3+ 56. Kh2 Kg5 57. Rg8+ Kf4 58. Rc8 Ke3 59. Rxc4 f4 60. Ra4 h3 61. gxh3 Rg6 62. c4 f3 63. Ra3+ Ke2 64. b4 f2 65. Ra2+ Kf3 66. Ra3+ Kf4 67. Ra8 Rg1

Game 7

Anand–Carlsen

Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence (ECO C65)
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 Bg4 7. h3 Bh5 8. Nf1 Nd7 9. Ng3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 g6 11. Be3 Qe7 12. 0-0-0 0-0-0 13. Ne2 Rhe8 14. Kb1 b6 15. h4 Kb7 16. h5 Bxe3 17. Qxe3 Nc5 18. hxg6 hxg6 19. g3 a5 20. Rh7 Rh8 21. Rdh1 Rxh7 22. Rxh7 Qf6 23. f4 Rh8 24. Rxh8 Qxh8 25. fxe5 Qxe5 26. Qf3 f5 27. exf5 gxf5 28. c3 Ne6 29. Kc2 (diagram) Ng5 30. Qf2 Ne6 31. Qf3 Ng5 32. Qf2 Ne6 ½–½


//------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANALYSIS
//------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5

the Ruy Lopez

3... Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2


the pawn on e5 cannot be touched yet. If white plays Nxe5, black responds with ..Qd4 and after Be3, then ..Qxe5


6... Bg4 7. h3 Bh5 8. Nf1 Nd7 9. Ng3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 g6


keeps the knight out of th ef5 square but weakens h6 and f6.

11. Be3

since the darksquares on the black kingside have been weakened, it makes sense to exchange the dark squared bishops


11... Qe7 12. O-O-O O-O-O 13. Ne2


g3 is not a profitable square for the knight and it decides to redeploy

13... Rhe8 14. Kb1 b6 15. h4 Kb7 16. h5

with the aim of crippling the black kingside pawns and thereby making targets out of them

16... Bxe3 17. Qxe3 Nc5 18. hxg6 hxg6 19. g3 a5 20. Rh7 Rh8 21. Rdh1 Rxh7 22. Rxh7 Qf6 23. f4 Rh8 24. Rxh8 Qxh8 25. fxe5 Qxe5 26. Qf3 f5 27. exf5 gxf5

the game has been simplified with the exchange of pieces

28. c3 Ne6 29. Kc2 Ng5 30. Qf2 Ne6 31. Qf3 Ng5 32. Qf2 Ne6

Game 8

Carlsen–Anand,

Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence (ECO C65)
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. 0-0 Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5 8. Rxe5 0-0 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 Re8 11. c3 Rxe1 12. Qxe1 Ne8 13. Bf4 d5 14. Bd3 g6 15. Nd2 Ng7 16. Qe2 c6 17. Re1 Bf5 18. Bxf5 Nxf5 19. Nf3 Ng7 20. Be5 Ne6 21. Bxf6 Qxf6 22. Ne5 Re8 23. Ng4 Qd8 24. Qe5 Ng7 25. Qxe8+ Nxe8 26. Rxe8+ Qxe8 27. Nf6+ Kf8 28. Nxe8 Kxe8 29. f4 f5 30. Kf2 b5 31. b4 Kf7 32. h3 h6 33. h4 h5 ½–½

//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANALYSIS
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4


this pawn is not free as any attempt to hold on to it at the expense of blacks development will have disastrous consquences for the black king.

5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7

if black had played ... Nxb5 then Nxc6+ would have captured blacks queen

7. Bf1 Nxe5 8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 Re8 11. c3 Rxe1 12. Qxe1 Ne8


the knight needs to move for the bishop on c8 to come out. I personally would have played ..Nf5


13. Bf4 d5 14. Bd3 g6 15. Nd2 Ng7


a fianchettoed knight. Lol. What black probably has in mind is an exchange of light squared bishops on f5


16. Qe2 c6 17. Re1 Bf5

See note 15

18. Bxf5 Nxf5 19. Nf3 Ng7 20. Be5 Ne6 21. Bxf6 Qxf6 22. Ne5 Re8 23. Ng4


the knight spots the holes in blacks position caused by moving the pawn on g7 and the subsequent exchange of the dark squared Bishops.

23... Qd8 24. Qe5 Ng7 25. Qxe8+ Nxe8 26. Rxe8+ Qxe8 27. Nf6+


a neat combination that resolves into an endgame.

27... Kf8 28. Nxe8 Kxe8 29. f4 f5 30. Kf2 b5 31. b4 Kf7 32. h3 h6 33. h4 h5


a dead draw. Neither side can make progress as the position is blockaded.

Reserved for Game 9

Reserved for Game 10

Reserved for Game 11

Reserved for Game 12

Nice thread. OP. They are on the third game now. Please continue.

Thanks bro.

Ill see if I can do the second game tonight.

Its not as easy as I thought it would be. My luck is that the first two games were short.

Its going to be more difficult if they start playing games of 60 or more moves

The intricacies involved in the 4th game is beyond my horizon..what makes it awesome is the way they played it with nerves of steel..now I realise why Anand is a worthy champion..the move 35.Ne4! Is just pure class.

sarutobie: The intricacies involved in the 4th game is beyond my horizon..what makes it awesome is the way they played it with nerves of steel..now I realise why Anand is a worthy champion..the move 35.Ne4! Is just pure class.

I'll take a look later.

jayriginal:

I'll take a look later.

"Don't ask me am not a world champion" indeed! Who can fault you? Even the IM and GM commentators on the game were out of their depth in this game..most of them were frantically consulting engine analysis lol..this is high calibre chess.

sarutobie:
"Don't ask me am not a world champion" indeed! Who can fault you? Even the IM and GM commentators on the game were out of their depth in this game..most of them were frantically consulting engine analysis lol..this is high calibre chess.

I really hope Anand wakes up soon. I am rooting for him but his form had been so poor recently.
Jayriginal do you play tournaments in Nigeria?

drollster: I really hope Anand wakes up soon. I am rooting for him but his form had been so poor recently.
Jayriginal do you play tournaments in Nigeria?

Lol my last tournament was back when I was in University. I played 3rd board for my faculty and later moved to 2nd board. As far as Nigerian Breweries or Friends of Chess is concerned, Ive never played in either. These days Im lucky if I see a decent player to spar with.

Theres one such guy but he is a medical doctor, usually busy!

Where do you live, jayriginal?

.

Oh. Okay. Thought you were in Lagos.