Carlsen takes lead in 2010 Corus

Magnus Carlsen has taken over the lead in the 2010 Corus last night. The then leader, Kramnik was defeated by World Champion Anand. Kramnik repeated the Petroff from the previous round which he nearly lost to Shirov.

The World Champ deviated first with his seventeenth move, instead of 17. Nd2 as in Shirov-Kramnik, Corus 2010. White had come prepared, his Qc1, Qe3 and c4 is very strong. Things were going fine for Kramnik until he overlooked a the strenght of an exchange sacrifice from the World Champion.

Carlsen plays Caruana in the final round. I hope he can win the game to take outright first place.


Anand - Kramnik [C42]
Corus Chess 2010 Wijk aan Zee (12), 30.01.2010

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. cxd5 Qxd5
15. Bf4 Rac8 16. h3 Be4 17. Qc1 Na5 18. Qe3 Bf8 19. c4 Qd8

19...Nxc4 20. Bxc4 Qxc4 21. Nd2 forks the queen and bishop

20. Ne5 Bf5 21.Qc3 b6 22. Rad1

Maybe not the strongest move. 22. Bf3 intending 23.Bd5 is harder to meet.

Qf6 ?!

I think it is necessary to eject the knight with ...f6


23. Qg3

The plan Bf3-d5 is still good

Nc6 24. Ng4 Qg6 25. d5 Na5 26. Bxc7 Bc2 27. Rc1 Nb3 ?



After this I think white is winning. 27...h5 and exchanging queens with a pawn down was the best chance. Now Anand plays flawlessly.

28. Rxc2 Qxc2 29. Nh6+ Kh8 30. Nxf7+ Kg8 31. Nh6+ Kh8 32. Nf7+ Kg8 33. Nh6+ Kh8
34. Be5 Qg6 35. Bg4 Rxc4 36. Qxb3 Rxe5 37. Rxe5 Rc1+ 38. Kh2 Bd6 39. f4 Bxe5
40. fxe5 gxh6 41. Qe3 Qb1 42. d6 Rh1+ 43. Kg3 Re1 44. Qf4 Rf1 45. Bf3 1-0