Originally Posted by
Cookie Monster
Quick recaps of last 3 games:
Game 7, Anand e4, Carlsen goes for the Berlin again. Anand tries again the insipid 4. d3, and gets very little out of the opening. A few moves later, simplification ensued and the draw was agreed in 32 moves.
Game 8, Carlsen small surprise with e4. Anand choose e5 and a Berlin, a slightly puzzling choice. 2 games down, he was expected to play for a game with some winning chances with black, even at the risk of losing. Carlsen took the Rio variation (4. 0-0) a very safe choice, and they exchanged all pieces for a dull draw on 33 moves.
Game 9, Anand had to go for the kill, 2 points down with 2 whites left. After 4 unsuccessful e4 games (1 Caro Kann, 3 Berlins), he went for d4. Carlsen went for the Nimzoindian, and Anand countered with the f3 Saemisch variation. It is a sharp line, not good scoring for white, but leading to unbalanced positions. So, good choice by Anand. Anand went all in in a pawn storm attack on the kingside, while Carlsen got a passed pawn on the queenside. The complications were huge, even different programs did not agree on who was better. In such positions is impossible to play perfect chess. Anand made some practical choices that may not be the best, and valiantly went all in for checkmate, allowing Carlsen to promote a pawn with a check. And then, instead of the logical Bf1, leading to an equal position, Anand blundered with Nf1, allowing black to neutralize the attack. Anand immediately resigned, so the match is all but over now. 3-0 with 3 games left. Tomorrow we shall have a new champion.