Jul-07-12
 | | Eyal: This game was played in the final round of the second day and was critical for establishing the leader of the tournament, since when it started Carlsen had 7.5 points and Karjakin 7. Here's yet another demonstration of Carlsen's superb endgame skills, winning a seemingly drawish position (look at the board after move 33). Interestingly, Robert Fontaine and the person who was commenting live with him on the games were convinced almost until the very end end that if Carlsen has any winning chances they involve advancing the f-pawn, whereas he actually won by advancing his h-pawn and winning Black's, after masterfully restricting the scope of all the black pieces. Note that Black can't win the pawn by 49...Rxh5+ because 50.Ke6 wins the bishop (50...Bh4 51.Ra8+ Bd8 52.Bf6, or 50...Bd8 51.Rf7). The last moment in which Karjakin could still save the game was apparently on move 53 with Bf6! 54.Bxf6 (54.Rxh7 Kg6 55.Rh8 Bxg7) 54...Rxf6 55.Rxh7+ Kg6 56.Rh8 a5 and if White trades his h-pawn for Black's a-pawn it's a theoretical draw. Perhaps, when Karjakin played 53...Rc4+? he missed that after 54.Kf5 Rc5+ White can interpose with 55.Be5 and keep the king on f5 (55.Kg4 Kg6, defending the h7 pawn, and Black seems to be ok). |
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Jul-07-12
| | Eyal: Btw, there was an earlier opportunity for White to win by force, but it was very tricky and difficult to calculate, especially in a rapid game: 28.Qxf5! Rxe3 (now that the queen has left d5 and the rook on a8 isn't hanging):
click for larger view29.Ne4!! (the knight both attacks the black queen, which supports the rook on e3, and heads to g5 for an attack on the black king) 29...Qxe1 (29...Rxe4 30.Qxe4 with an exchange down seems hopeless) 30.Ng5! Qh4 31.Nf7+ Kg8 32.Qd5! Kf8 33.Ng5 Qxf4 34.Nxh7+ Ke8 35.Qxa8+ Kf7 36.Qd5+ Ke8 37.Rxg7; Black can get the piece back with 37...Re1+ 38.Rg1 Rxg1+ 39.Kxg1 Qc1+ 40.Kf2 Qc2+ 41.Ke3 Qxh7, but after 42.Qe4+! Qxe4+ 43.Kxe4 White liquidates into a won pawn endgame. |
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Jul-07-12
 | | Jadson Paulino: Carlsen shows that, like Fischer, he is following Capablanca steps! Great endgame! |
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Jul-07-12
 | | Peligroso Patzer: <Eyal: *** Here's yet another demonstration of Carlsen's superb endgame skills, winning a seemingly drawish position (look at the board after move 33).***> Considering the position after <33. … Rxd3>: 
click for larger view … perhaps the key is that Carlsen had a way to activate his rook immediately and effectively with <34. Rf7>. Starting with his 34th move, Karjakin by playing a couple of Rook checks was able with tempo to capture a pawn with <36. … Rxa2>, but by now the White King was at f3, much superior to its Black counterpart. Several moves later (after <41. Kf5>), the superiority of the position of the White King (and the White pieces generally) was even more pronounced: 
click for larger view |
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Jul-07-12
 | | SetNoEscapeOn: Capablanca/Fischer hybrid freak. |
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| Jul-09-12 | | Augalv: Master endgame technique by Carlsen.
Btw, thanks for the annotations. |
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Jul-09-12
 | | Pedro Fernandez: < Eyal > Well, I'm not that sure about your claiming as I played this endgame (no machines, just me)and I got the black king may take h-pawn and still he can stop the a-pawn. Anyway, it should be interesting if you publish a winner end game for white. |
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Jul-09-12
| | Pedro Fernandez: About your suggestion ...53.Bf6! is totally correct! |
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Jul-09-12
| | Eyal: <Pedro Fernandez: < Eyal > Well, I'm not that sure about your claiming as I played this endgame (no machines, just me) and I got the black king may take h-pawn and still he can stop the a-pawn.> White is winning this endgame, but he should be timing the advance of the h-pawn accurately, so as not to allow the black king to do what you mention. We're talking about the endgame resulting at the end of the line that I gave, starting with 28.Qxf5!, after 42.Qe4+ Qxe4+ 43.Kxe4 (42...Qe7 43.Qxe7+ Kxe7 doesn't make a real difference): 
click for larger viewHere's a sample line: 43...Ke7 44.h4 a5 45.a4! c6 46.Kd3! Ke6 47.h5 Ke5 48.h6 Kf6 49.Kc4! (not 49.h7? Kg7 50.Kc4 Kxh7 51.Kxc5 Kg6 52.Kxc6 Kf6 53.Kb5 Ke6 54.Kxa5 Kd7!) 49...Kg6 50.Kxc5 Kxh6 51.Kxc6 Kg6 52.Kb5 Kf6 53.Kxa5 Ke6 54.Kb6 Kd7 55.Kb7! and White wins. |
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