Round 7 – November 18 – Draw
After a rook exchange, the game quickly became a draw. Of course, this suite Carlsen more than Anand, who was expected to have a more agressive approach.
[pgn_compat]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6
{[pgndiagram]Definitely third choice in
terms of frequency in this position. The trouble with this is that it starts a
simplification process that seems likely to play to Carlsen’s strengths.}
(5. c3)
(5. O-O)
5… dxc6 6. Nbd2 Bg4 7. h3 Bh5 $5
{[pgndiagram]Practically a novelty as it
has only been played by a couple of lower rated players before. One of
Carlsen’s real abilities is to be able to play such positions without knowing
theory as he’s confident of finding better continuations for himself.}
(7… Bxf3 {Is presumably what Anand was hoping for.} 8. Qxf3 Nd7 9. Qg3 Qf6 10. Nc4
O-O 11. O-O Rfe8 12. a4 Nf8 13. Bg5 Qe6 14. Bd2 Ng6 15. b4 Bf8 16. Qg4 b6 17.
g3 f6 18. Bc3 Bd6 19. Ne3 Kh8 20. Kg2 a6 21. Qf3 Ne7 22. h4 b5 23. Rfb1 Qd7 24.
h5 h6 25. Qg4 Qxg4 26. Nxg4 Nc8 27. Bd2 Nb6 28. a5 Nd7 29. c4 c5 30. cxb5 axb5
31. bxc5 Nxc5 32. Rxb5 Nxd3 33. Ra4 Ra6 34. Rc4 c5 35. Ne3 Rea8 36. Rc3 Nb4 37.
Nc4 Be7 38. Rb3 Nc6 39. Rb6 Nb4 40. Kf3 R6a7 41. Be3 Kg8 42. Rb2 Rc7 43. Kg4
Kf7 44. Rb1 Nc6 45. R1b5 Nd4 46. Rb1 Nc6 47. R6b5 Nd4 48. Rb7 Rxb7 49. Rxb7 Ke6
50. Bd2 Ra6 51. Bc3 Bf8 52. f4 exf4 53. gxf4 f5+ 54. exf5+ Kd5 55. Ne5 Ne2 56.
Be1 Bd6 57. Rxg7 Nxf4 58. Nf7 Nd3 59. Nxd6 Nxe1 60. Ne8 Rxa5 61. Rd7+ Kc6 62.
Rd6+ Kb5 63. f6 Ra7 64. Re6 Nd3 65. f7 Ra4+ 66. Kg3 {1-0 Adams,M (2733)
-Fressinet,L (2696)/Germany 2012/CBM 148})
8. Nf1 Nd7 9. Ng3 (9. g4) 9… Bxf3
10. Qxf3 g6 {Limiting the squares white’s knight can go to.} 11. Be3 Qe7 12.
O-O-O O-O-O 13. Ne2 Rhe8 14. Kb1 b6 15. h4 Kb7 16. h5 Bxe3 17. Qxe3
(17. fxe3 {
Is Houdini’s suggestion here but it’s not going to amount to much anyway.})
17… Nc5 18. hxg6 hxg6 19. g3 a5
{[pgndiagram]A waiting move. Carlsen doesn’t want to
allow f4.}
(19… Rh8 20. f4)
20. Rh7 Rh8 21. Rdh1 Rxh7 22. Rxh7 Qf6 23. f4 Rh8
24. Rxh8 Qxh8 25. fxe5 Qxe5 {Black has at least equality.} 26. Qf3 f5 27. exf5
gxf5 28. c3 Ne6 29. Kc2 Ng5 30. Qf2 Ne6 31. Qf3 Ng5 32. Qf2 Ne6 {[pgndiagram]Drawn by
repetition.} 1/2-1/2[/pgn_compat]
