Anand vs Carlsen Game 10: All the moves explained

[caption id=“attachment_1244693” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Anand vs Carlsen. PTI[/caption] Following are the moves in the tenth round of the World Chess Championship match between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen in Chennai today with analysis and quotes. 1. e4 (A King pawn opening by Carlsen. He employed this in game eight as well when Anand drew comfortably). c5 (Anand plays what his fans had been craving for. The Sicilian defense is among the most combative opening against the King pawn). 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ (Another dry position. Carlsen does not go for regular stuff as he is not interested in highly complex varitions. This move guarantees white a minimal edge. It is interesting to note here that Anand had said in one of the earlier press conferences that white could go for slow positions in the Sicilian as well. Probably this is what the Indian had in mind then). Nd7 4. d4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 a6 6. Bxd7+ (A typical manoeuvre. White gives up the Bishop but in turn is assured of a long term positional advantage with space control). Bxd7 7. c4 Nf6 8. Bg5 (Carlsen siply pushes his pieces further in black’s position. An important developing move). e6 9. Nc3 Be7 (The players have reached a Maroczy Bind structure. These have been famous for many decades. White gets a chance to push for an advantage). 11. Qd3 (Prophylaxis. Carlsen now plans to bring the Knight to the center as the queen has done its job). O-O 12. Nd4 Rc8 13. b3 Qc7 (Anand just wants to equalise as white is doing quite well) 14. Nxc6 Qxc6 15. Rac1 h6 16. Be3 (The position is about level but the hard work has to be done by black with a weakness on d6). Nd7 17. Bd4 Rfd8 (Anand readies himself for the defense ahead.) 18. h3 Qc7 19. Rfd1 Qa5 (Black is looking better than two moves back having made all the good moves). 20. Qd2 Kf8 21. Qb2 Kg8 (An unconditional draw offer. Anand probably thought there are no chances anyway). 22. a4 (Carlsen does not repeat moves and instead goes about executing his plans). Qh5 23. Ne2 Bf6 (Anand decides to part with one more minor piece to ease out the pressure). 24. Rc3 Bxd4 25. Rxd4 Qe5 (It’s only white who has chances to play for a win in this position. Carlsen knew a draw was enough and shows exemplary courage to continue the game). 26. Qd2 Nf6 27. Re3 Rd7 28. a5 Qg5 29. e5 (A good move that forces a knight and pawns endgame by force. White continues to retain chances while black is pushed to the wall). Ne8 30. exd6 Rc6 31. f4 Qd8 32. Red3 Rcxd6 (Anand is forced to recover the pawn and goes for a liquidation. This leaves black with an unpleasant endgame). 33. Rxd6 Rxd6 34. Rxd6 Qxd6 35. Qxd6 Nxd6 (Now Carlsen’s King races to the queenside). 36. Kf2 Kf8 37. Ke3 Ke7 38. Kd4 Kd7 39. Kc5 (White has the advantage with the king firmly placed on the fifth rank. Anand however continues to defend the position well). Kc7 40. Nc3 Nf5 41. Ne4 (White seizes further control with this knight move). Ne3 42. g3 f5. 43. Nd6 g5 (The best response in the given situation). 44. Ne8+ Kd7 45. Nf6+ Ke7 46. Ng8+ (Played after a long think. Carlsen is not afraid to sacrifice his knight. In return he will pick up all black pawns). Kf8 47. Nxh6 gxf4 48. gxf4 Kg7 49. Nxf5+ (And here it comes the Knight sacrifice. White is safe and solid while black still has to be a bit worried). exf5 50. Kb6 Ng2 51. Kxb7 Nxf4 52. Kxa6 Ne6 53. Kb6 f4 54. a6 f3 55. a7 f2. 56. a8=Q f1=Q (Two new Queens on the board. Black has an extra knight but its probably not so important with no pawns on board). 57. Qd5 Qe1 (Perfect defense by Anand. The Indian ensures that white King will have enough checks to deal with). 58. Qd6 Qe3+ 59. Ka6 Nc5+ 60. Kb5 Nxb3 61. Qc7+ Kh6 62. Qb6+ Qxb6+ 63. Kxb6 Kh5 64. h4 Kxh4 65. c5 Nxc5 (Draw agreed. Magnus Carlsen is new World Champion). _**As it happened: Carlsen draws Game 10, wins world title**_ I was simply unable to execute my strategy: Anand End of an era: Carlsen wrests world title from Anand   PTI