Anand - Carlsen Game 4

1. e4 e5 {Bye-bye Caro Kann Defense for now. Although Carlsen used it very successfully in the second game of the match he did not find a point in repeating the same opening. This reveals a certain strategy on the part of Carlsen. With white so far, he is sticking to his guns while with black he wants to keep Anand guessing.} 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 {The Ruy Lopez has been Anand's pet for a very long time. He has won some big games in this.} 3... Nf6 {The Berlin defense was made popular by Vladimir Kramnik of Russia who used it successfully in his match against compatriot Garry Kasparov in 2000 Braingames World Championship match at London.} 4. O-O {Anand goes for the most principled system. The 'Berlin wall' as it is called, typically reaches a queen-less middle game in the early phase. White gets better pawn structure against double Bishops.} 4... Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 {All this is standard theory and has been played at elite levels many times.} 9... Bd7 10. Rd1 Be7 {The big surprise by Carlsen. This move has been played four times previously and three times out of those by Carlsen's friend and second Jon Ludvig Hammer. In fact, Anand's second in the last three world championship campaign - Surya Shekhar Ganguly defeated Hammer in the war of the seconds in 2011 in this variation.} 11. Nc3 Kc8 12. Bg5 {Principled as white wants to trade this Bishop. Black does not have a pair of Bishops anymore so technically he should be worse. However, black has no weaknesses and this is what prompts Carlsen to allow this exchange.} 12... h6 13. Bxe7 Nxe7 14. Rd2 c5 15. Rad1 Be6 {Both the players are playing with a certain plan in mind. Black's next aim would be to connect the rooks.} 16. Ne1 Ng6 17. Nd3 b6 18. Ne2 {An inaccuracy according to the chess engines but Anand was probably looking to seize the initiative.} 18... Bxa2 {This move shows Carlsen's confidence, precise calculation and remarkable intuition. Not many would have given this a second thought while others would just say it will make the position passive.} 19. b3 c4 20. Ndc1 cxb3 21. cxb3 Bb1 22. f4 Kb7 23. Nc3 Bf5 24. g4 Bc8 {After a big our on many squares, the Bishop is back from where it started. Carlsen must have expected this position while taking the pawn.} 25. Nd3 h5 26. f5 Ne7 27. Nb5 {Anand realises that the position is now slipping out of hands and makes his bid for a counter play} 27... hxg4 28. hxg4 Rh4 {Precise like a machine, the Norwegian continues to pose more problems for Anand.} 29. Nf2 Nc6 30. Rc2 a5 {Now its time to take measures to activate the other rook.} 31. Rc4 g6 {Another correct move that keeps the balance in black's favour.} 32. Rdc1 Bd7 33. e6 {This is the only move. White is much worse but Anand keeps finding the right moves to create problems in Carlsen's quest for a win.} 33... fxe6 34. fxe6 Be8 35. Ne4 {A nice manoeuvre found in time pressure. Anand see no point in playing passively and goes for some activity.} 35... Rxg4+ 36. Kf2 Rf4+ {Probably not so precise as Nc5 was not a great threat yet. Black could have played Rd8 instead.} 37. Ke3 Rf8 {The only move that works.} 38. Nd4 Nxd4 39. Rxc7+ Ka6 40. Kxd4 {Anand recovers one of the lost pawns, now has a rook on seventh and a pawn on the sixth. Carlsen was not at all pleased with himself at this point.} 40... Rd8+ 41. Kc3 {Perhaps not the most precise as Ke3 would have kept the balance anyway. However, Anand seeks a theoretically drawn endgame from this point.} 41... Rf3+ 42. Kb2 Re3 43. Rc8 {The move Anand had planned.} 43... Rdd3 {Carlsen continues to come with moves to keep the game alive. This is one ability that has made the world number one what he is today.} 44. Ra8+ Kb7 45. Rxe8 Rxe4 {The players now reach a rook and pawns endgame that should be drawn.} 46. e7 Rg3 47. Rc3 Re2+ 48. Rc2 Ree3 {Again, Carlsen wants to play on.} 49. Ka2 g5 50. Rd2 Re5 51. Rd7+ Kc6 52. Red8 {Precision by Anand. He simply doesn't let go. One correct move after another.} 52... Rge3 53. Rd6+ Kb7 54. R8d7+ Ka6 55. Rd5 {Now the outcome is no longer in doubt. The longest game of the match so far also finally sees the same result as the first three.} 55... 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 {Black's extra pawn is inconsequential. Draw.}

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 {Here I very often played 4.Bxc6 and d3} 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. dxe5 {But that drops a piece.} 6... Nxb5 7. a4 {And that wins it back.} 7... d6 8. e6 Bxe6 9. axb5 Ne7 10. Re1 Nf5 11. Ng5 Qf6 12. Qd5 Be7 {Black is quite willing to give up the qnp for some peace.} 13. Rxe6 fxe6 14. Nxe6 {Now 14...Qe5 15 QxQ and Nxc7+ White wins back the exchange and has good position but not Black resignable.The 2600+ player whose preceding play indicates he was not too happy about being taking out of the book by move 6 falls for a tactic.} 14... Rc8 15. Qxf5 {Black resigned. "He picked up the book on the Berlin Wall and threw it on the fire."} 15... Qxf5 16. Nxg7+

[FEN "8/3k4/7R/rp6/8/1K6/8/8 w - - 0 76"]
76. Rh5 {Kb4 would have drawn right away as the White King forks both Rook and Pawn. The Black Rook is on the worst possible square for defending a pawn.} 76... Kc6 77. Rh6+ Kc5 78. Rh5+ Kb6 79. Rh6+ Kc5 80. Rh5+ {And this continuous checking would drawn either by three fold or boredom.} 80... Kb6 81. Kb4 Ra4+ 82. Kb3 Rg4 83. Rh3 Ka5 84. Rh5 {White does not know he can draw this and sets off to lose it.} 84... Rg3+ 85. Kb2 Ka4 86. Rh8 Rg2+ 87. Kc3 b4+ 88. Kc4 Rc2+ 89. Kd3 {The White King is cut off from the pawn and now it is a pretty simple win. It's technique. That means the method can learned and used against anyone in the world.}