White (Carlsen) has just played 6.Bb5-f1.
The Bishop does not move again during the game and is infact offered up
as a sacrifice so Magnus can nick a b7 pawn (the dreaded QNP!) and win
with his passed pawns.
FEN
8/1p3p1k/4b1p1/1PP4p/4Q2P/2q5/5PP1/5BK1 w - - 0 42
[FEN "8/1p3p1k/4b1p1/1PP4p/4Q2P/2q5/5PP1/5BK1 w - - 0 42"]
42. Qxb7 {Black now pins and wins the f1 Bishop.} 42... Qe1 43. b6 Bc4 44. Qf3 {Clears the path for the pawns. Holds the f2-pawn and hits the f7 pawn so Black cannot play any fancy tricks with Bxf1 and discovered checks.} 44... Qxf1+ 45. Kh2 Qb1 46. b7 Qb5 47. c6 Bd5 48. Qg3 {Gelfand resigned. Nerveless calcualtion by Carlsen. Never enough examples of how two Queens can easily mate a King. Let's muck about to show the not so good lads how to wrap up a game with two Queens.} 48... Qxc6 49. b8=Q Bxg2 50. Qg5 Qf3 {Threatening mate with Qh3+ and Qh1.} 51. Qh6+ Kxh6 52. Qh8 {I bet neither of them saw that one. }
[FEN "8/1p3p1k/4b1p1/1PP4p/4Q2P/2q5/5PP1/5BK1 w - - 0 42"]
42. Qxb7 Qe1 43. b6 { This is a mistake which leads to a probable draw. Qe7 was winning and maybe the only move to win} Bc4 44. Qf3 Qxf1+ { Now Black makes a mistake in return. Bxf1 was required with a likely draw} 45. Kh2 Qb1 46. b7 Qb5 47. c6 Bd5 48. Qg3 {Gelfand resigned}
hits the f7 pawn so Black cannot play any fancy tricks with Bxf1
The withdrawing of a Bishop to f1 was often played by Capablanca.
He claimed that at f1 the Bishop was defended by the King, did not impede any other of his pieces and prevented any surprises on the first rank.
If this move was good enough for Capablanca and Carlsen, then who are we to argue against it?
Elloc
It looked good to me. Does Bxf1 really draw.
I did look a it but liked what I was seeing. White takes the f-pawn with a check
and checks again on a black square. (perhaps a bit of jiggling to get the Queen
to a critical sqaure.)
If it is drawn then it was beyond Gelfand. Wonder if MC spotted what ever the
drawing line is but went for it.
I missed the Qe7 idea though just skipped that bit to get to Bishop sac idea.
Good game, reminds me of one I've seen before but cannot quite nail it.
It looked good to me. Does Bxf1 really draw.
I did look a it but liked what I was seeing. White takes the f-pawn with a check
and checks again on a black square. (perhaps a bit of jiggling to get the Queen
to a critical sqaure.)
If it is drawn then it was beyond Gelfand. Wonder if MC spotted what ever the
drawing line is but went for it. ...[text shortened]... to Bishop sac idea.
Good game, reminds me of one I've seen before but cannot quite nail it.
What round was that game played? Who is carlsen playing I think in the last round remaining?
[FEN "8/1p3p1k/4b1p1/1PP4p/4Q2P/2q5/5PP1/5BK1 w - - 0 1"] 1. Qxb7 Qe1 2. b6 Bc4 3. Qf3 Bxf1 4. Qxf7+ Kh8 5. Qf6+ Kh7 {Now I looked at...well played it out in my head.} 6. b7 Ba6+ 7. Kh2 Bxb7 8. Qf7+ Kh6 9. Qxb7 Qxf2 {Now I see Qe5+} 10. Qe7 {And stopped thinking the passed pawn can get squeezed home....Now it's, 'perhaps he squeezes home the pawn.}
Yes, so no win there either. So it looks like White had to play Qe7 to objectively win instead of b6 - practical chances may differ. Very tricky endgame even for top GMs.
Carlsen - Gelfland
29 Mar '13 16:052 edits
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