Welcome to Carlsen – Anand Sochi World Championship game 3 (LIVE commentary by me).

Thanks for joining me. What can we expect from Anand today? After just two games, Anand is already behind with a tough loss with black in game two. He also had a shaky first game with white. If he does not turn things around now, it may be too much of an uphill climb to try to regain his title.

I expect a more aggressive Anand today. He realized that he cannot keep up with Carlsen in dry positions. Changes in strategy and changes in attitude are needed. As I said after game two, he must play the position and not Carlsen. Just loosen the collar, take a deep breath, have fun, give his all and qué será será!

I am also doing interactive commentary on www.twitter.com/susanpolgar and www.facebook.com/polgarchess.

Anand – Carlsen (game 3)

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 d5 Magnus opted for something safer

4 Nc3 Be7 5 Bf4 0-0 Typical position for Queen’s Gambit Declined

6 e3 Nbd7 7 c5 c6 8 Bd3 b6 9 b4 a5 10 a3 Ba6 11 Bxa6 Rxa6 12 b5 The players are cranking out these book moves in lightning speed. Anand is going for a sharp line instead of something more positional.

12…cxb5 13 c6 Qc8 14 c7 b4 15 Nb5 We are still in theory.

15…a4 It is interesting that both teams feel that this position is good for them. We will see which team did a better job preparing for this game. 16 Rc1 is the move here. But Anand is taking time for this move and he is biting his nails. Did he forget his analysis?

16 Rc1 Ne4 Anand has 2 choices, 17 Ng5 (more aggressive and less well known) and 17 Nd2 (more popular).

17 Ng5 It seems that Magnus is surprised by 17 Ng5. Perhaps he was expecting Nd2. Magnus has a few decent responses. 17…Nxg5 17…Ndf6 or 17…Bxg5. He’s taking time to decide how to proceed. Magnus has both hands over his face. He is in deep thought. Difficult decision to make on how to to continue this game.

If 17…Nxg5 18 Bd6 Ra5 19 Bxe7 Rxb5 20 Qxa4 Ra5 21 Qxb4 Ra7 22 Bxg5 Rxc7 23 Rxc7 Qxc7 is a possibility

Magnus after Anand played 17…Ng5

17…Ndf6 After about 30 minutes, Magnus chose the safer Ndf6. Wise choice if he can’t remember all the analysis. Anand can take the knight of e4 then Bd6 or even Qc2. White is slightly better but Anand also needs to decide how to continue.

18 Nxe4 Nxe4 Interesting choice for Anand here is 19 f3. Anand could not have asked for a better chance. This is super sharp. One mistake by either side and it’s over.

19. f3 has been played! Let’s see who remembers more home analysis 🙂 This is the 14th game between Carlsen-Anand in the past 2 WC matches. This is the best Anand got out of the opening so far in my opinion. The reason I said this is the best Anand got is because Magnus usually stays away from sharp theorical battles which clearly favor Anand.

19…Ra5 This is a possibility 20 fxe4 Rxb5 21 Qxa4 Ra5 22 Qc6 bxa3 23 exd5 exd5 24 O-O f5 25 Qxb6 Ra6 26 Qb3 Qe6 and White is better.

20 fxe4 Rxb5 21 Qxa4 Ra5 22 Qc6 Anand is up by more than 30 minutes on the clock. It’s not that Magnus doesn’t know this. But it’s clear that he has to recall what he knows, which is costing him a lot of time.

22…bxa3 Let’s be clear. Both sides know this line. But it seems that Anand remembers it better & Magnus has to recall what he knows.


23 exd5 We are still in theory. Magnus is thinking between 23…Rxd5 (a better choice) and 23…Bb4+.

23…Rxe5 And the best option for white here is 24 Qxb6. White has a lot to play for. Black’s position is cramped.

24 Qxb6 Anand took time for this move, which is the only move top maintain initiatives. Now the plan for Magnus is to put his f8 R on c8. Therefore Qd7 makes sense.

24…Qd7 Now 25 Qa6 to put pressure on the c8 square.

25 0-0
Anand got cold feet and went with a safer option. Magnus only option is to put his Rook on the c file to block the passed pawn.

25…Rc8 Anand has to try to work the c pawn. So the idea is to play Rc6 to stop the mobility of the black queen, then either double up the rooks and Qa6 or move the other Rook to the b file.

26 Rc6 Time will be a serious factor soon. Magnus has about 25 minutes for 15 moves or so without increments. Not an easy task in this position. The problem for Magnus is there is really no “good” plan. And he cannot just sit because Anand can improve his position.

26…g5 27 Bg3 Another option is Be5 to provoke f6 then back to g3.

27…Bb4 A very interesting idea from Magnus. White cannot take the bishop because his rook of c6 is hanging. The idea is Ba5 to attack c7 pawn. Magnus is very clever. He is making Anand calculate this out. He is making it complicated for his opponent 🙂 White is clearly better but has many options to continue: Ra1, Rc2, Qa6 or even Qb8. What to do, what to do? 🙂 Not a good sign. Anand shook his head a few times. I think he’s shocked by Bb4 from Magnus.

28. Ra1 This is the best option at this moment and Anand found it. 7 minutes for 12 moves for Magnus without increments. This is getting serious! 

28…Ba5 This is a bad move as 29 Qa6 and white is close to winning.

29 Qa6 Bxc7 Another bad move. Now 30 Qc4 and white wins easily.

30 Qc4
I expect resignation to come soon. Impossible to hold this position.

30…e5 31 Bxe5 No chance to save this.

31…Rxe5 32 dxe5 Qe7 Now Rc5 or Rc1 and white will soon be up a rook.

33 e6 This also wins easily.

33…Kf8 34 Rc1 1-0 Magnus resigned. The scored is tied up at 1.5 – 1.5.

Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Tags: , , , ,