Magnus Carlsen has done it again, defeating Anand in Game 9 to take a near-insuperable 6:3 lead. If he can manage a single draw in the remaining three games, he’s the new champ.
You can look at the game (a Nimzo-Indian, with Carlsen playing Black) here.
6 Comments
Can you explain 27 Rf4? Why not Rb1?
I am sure that there is something which escapes a patzer like me, but damned if I can find it.
It was mortal combat at this point. 27. Rb1 was a timid defensive move that would have been mere capitulation.
No, Anand had a mating attack going on the h-file, and the rook-lift to f4 was to be followed by Rh4 and Qh7 mate.
28. Nf1, however, was a terrible mistake. Better, I think, would have been:
28. Bf1 Qd1
29. Rh4 Qh5
30. Nxh5 gxh5
31. Rxh5
And then 31 … Bf5 stops the attack. Anand is still screwed, but not dead yet.
No doubt there’s more to this story, but as a patzer myself, that’s the best I can do for you right now.
Timid and defensive moves don’t seem out of place when the other guy is about to queen a pawn.
But you’re right: to quote Bruce Psaty, any way you look at it Anand is hosed.
Well, perhaps he could have played 27. Ne2.
(There’s no need to play Rb1; the rook already covers the queening square.)
I just let Chessmaster XI play against itself from just before move 27. It did indeed play 27. Ne2, and last I looked, many moves later, the game appeared to be heading for a draw.
Not dispositive (what is?). But maybe Anand wasn’t so ‘hosed’ after all.
I’m sure there will be reams of analysis available shortly.
Where is Shelby Lyman now that we need him?