Chess (#1123)

In the World Title match, Magnus Carlsen maintains a minimum 5-4 lead at the time of writing. This is a lot closer than Chennai where he led by 3-0 by Game 10. While holding the lead obviously gives Carlsen the edge, the nervous tensions are the same for both.

It is as hard to draw on demand as it is to win on demand. Just as there is a tendency to over-press if a win is necessary, there is also a tendency to look for the safest move rather than the best move when a draw is required. This can lead to sub-optimal decisions.

Compared to Chennai, Carlsen's play has been more inconsistent, which even he has admitted. At Chennai, he was under pressure only once in Game 3 and he took all his chances. At Sochi, Carlsen played well to win Game Two. But he played poorly in Game Three where he lost. He also failed to convert several superior positions, starting with Game 1. Viswanathan Anand on his part, has played with more conviction than in Chennai.

The sixth game with its comedy of errors has been the difference between the two players so far. The blunder and counter-blunder sequence of Kd2? a4? has been discussed to death. Yes, it was a terrible error on Carlsen's part and it was also a terrible error on Anand's part to miss Nxe5.

However, w hite had a tremendous position with Carlsen having convincingly outplayed and out-prepared Anand in the choice of opening variation. If Carlsen had played more or less any other legal alternative to Kd2, he might have won without a hiccup. Both players knew that white was better and neither expected an upheaval in evaluations. They were not looking for blunders, which is why the errors happened. It was a very strange position, and later on, black could have sacrificed an exchange to create chances.

Sochi also hosted the Tal Memorial, a blitz played at 4 minutes plus 2 seconds a move increment. Shakhriyar Mamedaryov won the 22-round double RR with a score of 16/22. "Shakh" came in ahead of Alexander Grischuk (15). Far behind, Alexander Morozevich, Boris Gelfand and Sergey Karjakin shared 3rd-5th with 12.5 each.

In the Diagram, BLACK TO PLAY (Carlsen Vs Anand, Game 6, Sochi 2014) , Anand played 32. - Bc6 and lost after 33.Bxg6 fxg6 34.Rxg6 Ba4 35.Rxe6 Rd1 36.Bxa3 Ra1 37.Ke3 Bc2 38.Re7+ (1-0)

Instead, 32.- Ka7! 33. Bxa8 Kxa8 34.Bxa3 Rd1 35.Rxh6 Ra1 may strand the Ba3. Black has lines like 36. Ke3 Nxe5 37. Rg7 Nxc4+ or 36.Rg5 Rxa2+ 37. Ke1 Rxa3 38. Rh7 Rxc3 39. Rxf7 Bc2 40. Rf6 Rxc4 41. Rxe6 Kb7 with drawing chances.

Devangshu Datta is an internationally rated chess and correspondence chess player