Magnus Carlsen and Sergey Karjakin have drawn the second game in their World Chess Championship match, currently underway in New York City.
After Karjakin’s solid resistance of Carlsen’s Trompowsky in game 1, the chess world waited in anticipation to see what he could bring to the board with the white pieces. To be quite fair, he will have to do much better than he did in this game if he wants to threaten the Champion.
The game was a Ruy Lopez, which both players know very well, playing it frequently with both colours. As I said in my opening report a few days ago, this can work both ways, with interesting debate and dull draws possible. In round 2, we saw the latter, unfortunately. It was a very uneventful affair, with White obtaining the slightest edge but not really looking to do much with it. Karjakin’s decision to exchange with 18.dxe5 saw the writing on the wall already. It led to simplification after which the potential left the position.
In the press conference after the game, Karjakin confessed that he felt that he was slightly better during the game, but this was incorrect and that Carlsen was doing fine. He seemed visibly disappointed at this. Carlsen agreed, and felt that after his 17…Bf8, Karjakin was right to simplify.
Sergey voiced some regret that so far the match was at a gentle simmer, but felt sure that it would start to boil and more exciting games would follow. Carlsen also agreed with this and asked for understanding in the meantime. Such starts are normal in World Championship matches, it has to be said, things will no doubt kick off. The problem for Karjakin is that he can’t afford to hang about too long, he has to try to score and put the Champion under pressure — he wont do it with games like today.
The match score is one point each, with a rest day on Sunday. Magnus Carlsen voiced some regret at this and said that he would prefer to play. He also said that it would be good for the fans, being a Sunday, when people are free from work, noble words. By contrast, Karjakin seemed quite happy with the day off, perhaps events in this round got to him slightly and he needs to re-group.
Play resumes on Monday 14th November for game 3, when Magnus Carlsen will have the White pieces. Another Trompowsky on the cards? I very much doubt it … !
[Site “New York City”]
[Date “2016.11.12”]
[Round “2”]
[White “Karjakin, Sergey”]
[Black “Carlsen, Magnus”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “C77”]
[Annotator “Shaw,John Lee”]
[PlyCount “65”]{ Annotations by John Lee Shaw for www.hotoffthechess.com. }
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 {The Ruy Lopez. This is an opening that both
players know well and play frequently as both White and Black.} a6 4. Ba4 Nf6
5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 {Very logical, straight forward development.} 8.
a3 O-O 9. Nc3 Na5 {This is an often seen move by Black in order to hit the
bishop on b3. Black has to be careful not to leave the knight on this square
for too long.} 10. Ba2 Be6 11. d4 Bxa2 12. Rxa2 Re8 {The players blitzed out
the moves up to here. This move by Carlsen shows up only once in my database
and prompted a 25-minute think by Karjakin. Trouble at the mill? Well, not
necessarily, Sergey could just be delving in the depths of his archives in
order to find the correct continuation.} 13. Ra1 {The new move. Qd3 had been
played before and had resulted in a draw. This move got Magnus thinking and
actually he looked rather irritated at times. There was quite a few frowns and
grimaces and pulls of the face, not to mention a few shakes of the head.} Nc4 {
Reactivating his knight, which will likely go to b6 eventually. It seems that
both players are out of book now, Karjakin went into a think, here, so it
seems that Ra1 was an over-the-board find — …Nc4 being quite a logical move
to look at.} 14. Re1 {A very standard move, supporting the e4-pawn, but also
placing the rook on a nice central file.} Rc8 {Carlsen prepares for an
eventual thrust to c5.} 15. h3 {As well as covering the g4-square, this is
more a kind of waiting move to see what the opponent has. As Susan Polgar put
it very well on Twitter, it’s like saying “I’ll see you” in poker. 15.b3 and
15.dxe5 were the main alternatives.} (15. b3 Nb6 16. Bb2 Nbd7 17. h3 h6 18. Qe2
c6 {Maintains the tension, with the slightest of pulls for White.}) (15. dxe5
dxe5 16. b3 Qxd1 17. Rxd1 Nd6 {and Black seems fine here.}) 15… h6 {Carlsen
isn’t for being drawn on his plans and wants Karjakin to show his hand.} 16. b3
Nb6 17. Bb2 Bf8 {Here we reach the crux of this game, with things about equal,
White has to decide what he wants to do. Does he try to do something and
maintain the tension or does he simplify and settle for a likely draw?} 18.
dxe5 {Karjakin decides to simplify, much to the dissent of spectators. However,
both players felt that this was the correct decision. The problem is that
Black is doing fine, here and trying to play on is quite risky. Sergey can’t
avoid taking risks if he wants to win this match, but he has to pick his
moments wisely.} ({One possible way to continue, was} 18. Qd3 c5 19. dxe5 dxe5
{And here there is the possibility for White to go wrong. He has to be very
careful about his Queenside.} 20. Qxd8 {This seems to be the wisest choice} ({
if} 20. Qe3 Qc7 {anticipating Rad1 and holding things very nicely.} 21. Rad1
Rb8 {and Black will be quite satisfied.}) 20… Rcxd8 21. a4 b4 22. Nd1 Nbd7 {
When a4-a5 or Nd2 gives the tiniest of pulls to White.}) 18… dxe5 19. a4 {
The danger area for White is the Queenside, so Karjakin wants that resolved.
He’s decided on the draw here, live to fight another day.} (19. Qe2 {was
unlikely to produce very much, Black has the situation under control} c6 20.
Rad1 Qc7 {=}) 19… c6 20. Qxd8 (20. axb5 axb5 21. Qxd8 Rcxd8 22. Ra6 Nfd7 {
is about equal}) 20… Rcxd8 21. axb5 axb5 22. Ne2 Bb4 {This was one way to go.
…Nxe4 doesn’t appear to lead to anything exciting.} (22… Nxe4 23. Bxe5 Nd7
24. Bb2 {…Bb4/…c5 =}) 23. Bc3 Bxc3 24. Nxc3 Nbd7 25. Ra6 Rc8 {Clearly,
this is the final throws of the game, now, neither side can make progress in
this position and one would not expect the game to last much further beyond
the 30-moves that are stipulated before a draw can be agreed.} 26. b4 Re6 27.
Rb1 c5 28. Rxe6 fxe6 29. Nxb5 cxb4 30. Rxb4 Rxc2 31. Nd6 Rc1+ 32. Kh2 Rc2 33.
Kg1 {With the intention to repeat and accompanied with the draw offer. And
this was agreed. An uneventful game, let’s hope for fireworks in Game 3!}
1/2-1/2
[/pgn]
