Carlsen - Karjakin. (Game 8) We Have a Winner

1. d4 {Back to 1.d4 as in Game One.} 1... Nf6 2. Nf3 {No Trumposky (sic) today.} 2... d5 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 {It's a Colle. Not considered a killer at the top level but at club level it does very well.} 4... c5 {5.c3 is the pure Colle system.} 5. b3 {It's now into a Zuckertort/Colle.} 5... Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Bb2 b6 {White exchanges before Nc6 when he really has to. If not Black may, White takes back on d4 with a pawn and the b2 Bishop is moaning.} 8. dxc5 Bxc5 {8...bxc5 was also playable. Karjakin elects to keep his Queenside pawn intact.} 9. Nbd2 Bb7 10. Qe2 Nbd7 11. c4 {White takes out Black's d-pawn.} 11... dxc4 {Karjakin is not averse to swapping pawns. He has a very solid set up.} 12. Nxc4 Qe7 13. a3 {Hoping to get the Bishop with b4.} 13... a5 {That is that stopped.} 14. Nd4 {That Knight is on it's way to b5 on a fishing expedition.} 14... Rfd8 15. Rfd1 Rac8 16. Rac1 {Signalling there will be lots of wood getting chopped on the c and d-files.} 16... Nf8 {Covering the tender square d6 with the Rook, the Knight will re-emerge on g6.} 17. Qe1 {I had no idea when I first saw this. Is it to make room for the d4 Knight. Is it aimed at a trick should the f8 Knight go from g6 to h4.} 17... Ng6 18. Bf1 {Well if that was idea of the previous move then I'm slightly baffled. It does appear Magnus wants some exchanges on the c and d files it just a strange square to put the Colle Bishop.} 18... Ng4 {What is this. Karjakin stepping into Carlsen half of the board. Yes. go for it, Carlsen is messing about.} 19. Nb5 {Now 19...Qg5 and if Carlsen's plan was to tempt Karjakin into the attacking him then it worked. Qg5 has ideas like Nf4 exf4 Qh4 hitting f2 and h2. It looks very good.} 19... Bc6 {But Karjakin believes Carlsen. Is there nothing Carlsen can do to get Karjakin to go for him.} 20. a4 Bd5 21. Bd4 {Now come the predicted exchanges.} 21... Bxc4 22. Rxc4 Bxd4 23. Rdxd4 Rxc4 24. bxc4 {A strange way to take back but Carlsen wants imbalance in the position. Now Rxd4 exd4 and the pawns on c4 and d4 hold out the Black Knights,} 24... Nf6 25. Qd2 {Trying to provoke Rxd4.} 25... Rb8 {Karjakin will not be provoked.} 26. g3 {The Colle Bishop ends up being fianchettoed. Colle fans will be gnashing their teeth,} 26... Ne5 {The Knight is going from here to d7 to c5.} 27. Bg2 h6 {Karjakin dodges a Carlsen trap. 27....Ned7 28.Na7 with the threat of Nd6. Black is then in an awkward state. Black passes with luft.} 28. f4 {White pushes the Knight to d7 still thinking he can get something from Na7.} 28... Ned7 29. Na7 Qa3 {That's a good move from Karjakin which he had to see coming. If White swaps the Rook for two pieces with Rxd7 it ends with Karjakin playing Qxe3+ and Black is in no danger at all} 30. Nc6 Rf8 {Time was becoming a factor around about here. They had about 7 minutes each for 10 moves.} 31. h3 {A brave choice by Carlsen. He is going to give up a pawn just to get his King away from annoying checks and see if he can create attacking chances.} 31... Nc5 32. Kh2 Nxa4 33. Rd8 g6 34. Qd4 Kg7 {Now 35.Ne5 and Carlsen has the making of an attack that Karjakin may have found awkward to defend in time trouble.} 35. c5 {But that is a blunder, giving up a pawn and the d5 square, Black is better and there will be no attack.} 35... Rxd8 36. Nxd8 Nxc5 37. Qd6 {Carlsen is now threatening Qe7 and Qxf7+ This why he sacced the c-pawn so the Black Queen could not cover e7.} 37... Qd3 {Karjakin blunders (mutual time trouble) 37....Qa4 38.Qe7 Qd7 and no attack on f7. After 39.Qxb6 Black has the passed pawn.} 38. Nxe6+ {This shot was missed by Karjakin.} 38... fxe6 39. Qe7+ Kg8 40. Qxf6 a4 {Both players just made the 40 move time control. Everyone was getting ready to go home.} 41. e4 Qd7 42. Qxg6+ Qg7 43. Qe8+ Qf8 {Qg6+ draw. played 8 drawn 8 but...} 44. Qc6 {Maybe try for a win in time trouble but Black is not going to make a rash mistake here.} 44... Qd8 45. f5 a3 46. fxe6 Kg7 47. e7 Qxe7 48. Qxb6 Nd3 {The Knight is undefended but White has no checks.} 49. Qa5 Qc5 50. Qa6 Ne5 {Suddenly Black has some serious winning chances. If Black gets the Queen to b2. White will have to try very hard for a perpetual check that may not even be there.} 51. Qe6 {Admit it is drawn and start it off with 51..Qb7+. The move Carlsen played meets a lovely reply from Karjakin. A real find.} 51... h5 {If Qa6 to start the checks the King will go to h6 and the Knight will go to g6. The Black Queen will see home the a-pawn. (see next game.)} 52. h4 a2 {Carlsen resigned. 53.Qxa2 Ng4+ 54. Kh3 Qg1. 55. Qb2+ Kg6 There are no more White checks. 57.Bf3 Nf2+.}

[FEN "8/6k1/Q6p/2q1n3/4P3/p5PP/6BK/8 w - - 0 51"]
51. Qe6 h5 {That is the move that made the win very clear. Without it Carlsen could have drummed up clear perpetual chances.} 52. Qa6 {White had no checks. He has to get some checks in.} 52... Qc3 {Protects everything and Qb2 is coming.} 53. Qa7+ Kh6 54. Qa6+ Ng6 {Now what? White has no checks.} 55. g4 {Try to open up the King.} 55... Qb2 56. g5+ {Kg7/h7 would probably lead to a perpetual.} 56... Kxg5 57. Qa7 {Looks better than anything else.} 57... a2 58. Qe3+ Kf6 {There are no more checks. Well there is one.} 59. e5+ Qxe5+ {Queens off 0-1.} 0-1