Off-Topic: World Chess Championship 2013, Game 6

After Magnus Carlsen's first victory yesterday the pressure was on the reigning world champion Viswanathan (Vishy) Anand. Tactically speaking, all Magnus needed today was a draw. Vishy, on the other hand, needed a win to remain in the contest. The scene when they arrived showed nothing of this. Vishy arrived at the table looking calm and relaxed, impeccably dressed as always. Magnus arrived with his hair uncombed and his shirt hanging out, leading commentators to joke that he had been partying all night. But this admittedly bizarre scene didn't last. As the game progressed Magnus patted down his hair, and the stress began to show on Vishy. While Vishy sat staring intently at the board Magnus was leaning back, relaxed and self-confident.

Anand, Viswanathan – Carlsen, Magnus
FWCM 2013 Chennai (6) 16.11.2013

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 Nf6
4. d3 Bc5
5. c3 O-O
6. O-O Re8
7. Re1 a6
8. Ba4 b5
9. Bb3 d6
10. Bg5 Be6
11. Nbd2 h6
12. Bh4 Bxb3
13. axb3

For the first two hours of the game Magnus played very relaxed chess, making slow moves, not attacking, just sitting back and waiting for Vishy to make the first attack. We can see Magnus' strategy in this position. After exchanging the bishops on b3 the logical move would have been to play a5 to gain a more active position. Instead of this he played the shocking move Nb8, which totally confused the commentators, followed by Nbd7, Qe7 and Qe6. He didn't play a5 until move 18. These moves weren't necessarily bad, but he was playing defensively, leaving it up to Vishy to do something productively. Vishy spent these moves adjusting his knights on the kingside, but only because he had nothing else to do. In the following press conference Vishy called 13...Nb8 a very strong move. I'm not convinced it really was that strong, but it was certainly a powerful psychological blow.

13....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

The game continued to progress slowly. By move 24 all the minor pieces were gone. The a-rooks, which had been staring at one another since move 20, were finally exchanged in move 28. This left each side with a queen, a rook and seven pawns. As experienced chess players know, having 14 pawns on the board at this late stage in the game clutters the board and makes advances difficult. The commentators were predicting a draw, and even the exchange of two pawns in the centre did little to simplify the position. But as I said at the beginning, Vishy wasn't happy with a draw. He had to do something aggressive. In move 38 he played Qg3, sacrificing a pawn, but clearing up the board clutter in the following exchanges. Was this a good move? The opinions are divided. Vishy was a pawn down, but he had the possibility to attack black's b and c-pawns. It looked like a good strategy when it was played. Now I'm not so sure.

In move 44 Vishy sacrificed a second pawn, leading to gasps from the audience. It's a brave man who's willing to face Magnus The Chess Machine Carlsen in a rook endgame two pawns down. Vishy had the possibility to attack and retake the h-pawn a few moves later, but he was playing a risky game.

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 
 

In the following 13 moves Magnus Carlsen showed the world why he deserves to be the new world champion. In my opinion these were the most exciting moves of the championship so far. He was like a snake, which had spent the whole game coiled up, patiently watching his prey. Now he was ready to strike. Nobody saw it coming. Magnus played Re6, sacrificing his b-pawn. After some manoeuvring this also led to the sacrifice of the c-pawn in move 59. Then he went on to sacrifice his h-pawn in move 61. Magnus had gone from being two pawns up to one pawn down... but he was winning! The f-pawn was free to march on to become a queen. It's possible that Vishy could have drawn the game by playing 60.b4 instead of 60.Ra4, but it would have been a difficult game. Vishy resigned after move 67.
 
48....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

Now things are looking dark for the world champion. It's halfway through the match and he's 4-2 down. Vishy desperately needs to win the next two games to remain with a chance. But it's difficult enough to draw against Magnus, what are his chances of beating him?