Picture courtesy of ChessBase
IM Zhao (2491) – GM Carlsen (2714) [E12]
24.11.2007
World Cup 2007
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 b6 4.Nc3 Bb7 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 0–0 8.Bd3 c5 9.0–0 cxd4 10.exd4 d5 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.cxd5 exd5 13.Re1 Nc6 14.Bc2 Qd6 15.Qd3 g6 16.Bb3 Na5 17.Ne5 Bg7 18.Re2 Nxb3 19.axb3 a6 20.Rae1 Rad8 21.h3 b5 22.Qd2 Bc8 23.Na2 Rde8 24.Qb4 Re6 25.Qxd6 Rxd6 26.Nb4 g5 27.Nbd3 Bf5 28.Nc5 b4 29.g4 Bc8 30.Ncd3 a5 31.Nc5 Kh7 32.f3 f6 33.Ned3 f5 34.Re7 fxg4 35.fxg4 h5 36.Ne5 hxg4 37.hxg4 Rf4 38.Ra1 Rxd4 39.Rxa5 Rd8 40.Raa7 Rg8 41.Kf2 Kh6 42.Ncd7 Bxd7 43.Ra6+ Kh7 44.Nxd7 Kh8 45.Ne5 Rf8+ 46.Rf7 Rf4+ 47.Rxf4 Rxf4+ 48.Nf3 Rxg4 49.Rg6 Bd4+ 50.Nxd4 Kh7 51.Rd6 Rxd4 52.Ke3 Re4+ 53.Kd3 Rf4 54.Rxd5 Kg6 55.Rb5 Rf3+ 56.Kc2 Rf4 57.Kd3 Kh5 58.Ke2 Kg4 59.Rc5 Kh4 60.Ke3 Rg4 61.Kf2 Kh3 62.Rc4 Rg2+ 63.Kf1 Rxb2 64.Rxb4 g4 65.Rb8 Rb1+ 66.Ke2 g3 67.b4 Rb3 68.Rh8+ Kg2 69.Rb8 Kh2 70.Rh8+ Kg1 71.Rh4 g2 72.Ke1 Rb2 Black wins 0–1
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Absolut genius!
With minute mastery in Endgame play, I humbly suggest that White had blundered at move 71. Instead of 71.Rh4, could not he have played, simply, 71.Rg8 and save the game?
As I said, my endgame understanding is far less than Magnus or his respectable opponent, but can anyone enlighten me? I would like to learn an endgame lesson
OK
I saw it.
No need to show me my blindness.
If 71. Rg8 than Black just pushes 71..g2 and 72..Kh2 and 73..Rh3. The Rook on the 3rd rank blocks the check.
Blessings.
Bless Carlsen.
Best wishes
Abie
To egaion:
I believe that your suggested move 71.Rg8 also loses.
71.Rg8 g2
72.Rh8
(if: 72.Rg7 Kh2 73.Rg8 (73…Rh8+ Rh3 and black wins) Rb2+ 74. Kf3 Rb3+(not 73….g1(Q) 74. Rh8#) 75.Kf2 g1(Q)+ 76.RxQ Rb2+ and white loses its rook))
72….Rb2+
And now white has two options 73.Ke3 or 73.Ke1
73.Ke3 Rf2
and now black controls the f-file, white’s king is cut off, so black just play his rook, lets say, Rf7, followed kf1 and promoting.
73. Ke1 Rb1+
74.Ke2 Rf1
and the same idea occurs.
Anyway, Egaion, I hope I was of any help.
His opponent missed the draw several times.
Last time he could have drawn was on move 67. After Kf3 (very natural, since it also threatens to mate black in one) and Kd3 it was a clear draw. 67. b4 was a big blunder in time trouble.
I didn’t believe you at first, Awfulhangover, but it seems that you are right that Zhao actually had a draw after 67.Kf3! One relevant variant might be : 67.-,Rf1+ 68.Ke2 g2 69.Rh8+ Kg3 70.Rg8+ Kh2 71.Rh8+ Kg1 72.Rh4 Rf5 73.b4 Re5+ 74.Kd3 Kf2 75.Rh2 Kg3 76.Rxg2+ Kxg2 77.Kc4! and we have a theoretical drawn position!