This was the Carlsen – Karjakin game at Corus which took place yesterday. It is White to move. What is the best continuation for White?
Diagram by Chess Today.
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Find the best continuation
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All nice and well, Susan, but I think most of us are keeping a close eye on the Wijk aan Zee tournament anyway.
Qxg6
well, 1.Qxg6 is followed by 1…. Rxh4+, and then what?
So how about 1.R-h3?
1.Qxg6! wins on the spot.
1…Rxh4+
2.Kg2 Nd6
[2…Ng5 3.Bxg5 hxg5 4.Rh1 Rxh1 5.Kxh1 Qg7 6.Rh3+ Kg8 7.Qe6+ Qf7 8.Rh8+! with an overwhelming attack]
3.d5 Nf5
4.Bc5! and wins
Pharaoh
Carlsen managed to miss 1. Qxg6+- and went on to allow a draw from a totally winning position. Even the gods nod from time to time.
Find the best continuation
Actually this is a draw. Magnus didn’t miss this obvious move. Here’s what happened when I played it against my computer using Arena:
[White “Anonymous”]
[Black “Alex v1.87”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[WhiteElo “2400”]
[SetUp “1”]
[FEN “r4q1k/1p3n2/p1p3pp/7r/3P2QP/4B1R1/PP3P2/6RK w – – 0 1”]
1. Qxg6 Rxh4+ 2. Kg2 Nd6 3. d5 Nf5 4. Rf3 Qg8 5. Kf1 Qxg6 6. Rxg6 Nxe3+ 7. fxe3 cxd5 8. Rf7 Rg8 9. Rxg8+ Kxg8 10. Rxb7 h5 11. Rd7 Rh1+ 12. Kf2 Rh2+ 13. Kg3 Rxb2 14. Rxd5 Rxa2 15. Rxh5 a5 16. Kf4 a4 17. Ra5 Kg7 18. Ke4 Kf6 19. Kf4 Ke6
20. e4 a3 21. e5 Ra1 22. Ra6+ Kd7 23. Kf5 Kc7 24. Ra4 Kc6 25. Ke6 Ra2 26. Kf7 Kb5 27. Ra8 Rf2+ 28. Ke7 a2 29. Rb8+ Kc4 30. Ra8 Kb3 31. e6 Kb2 32. Kd7 a1=Q 33. Rxa1 Rd2+ 34. Ke7 Kxa1 35. Kf7 Rf2+ 36. Ke7 Kb2 37. Kd8 Rd2+ 38. Ke8 Kc3
39. e7 Kd4 40. Kf8 Rf2+ 41. Ke8 Rf5 42. Kd7 Rf7 43. Kd8 Rxe7 44. Kxe7 1/2-1/2
What does this game above prove, of course Magnus missed a clear win, twice actually!
There was enough reason for him leave the playing hall mad the way he did.
After his Bh6!-surprize in round 6 he only plays draws.