PANFR wrote on 11/16/14 at 21:58:47:


I'm not joking; I could be wrong, but I'm not joking.  

In any case 29.Ke1 Rd7 30.Kf2!? is perhaps an improvement, but I think that White is just following the old rule "do not hurry" here.  30.Bc1 is very natural of course, and after 30...Rhd8 White has a lot better moves than taking a pawn that is doomed anyway.  31.Ke2 still looks good for White, as does 31.f4.  

The immediate 29.Bc1 was probably most accurate though, but I don't blame Carlsen for taking his time and maybe wanting to work some things out on Anand's clock.

It's always easy to criticize with an engine running; obviously neither player was perfect, but I maintain that Carlsen completely outplayed Anand in game 6. 

ErictheRed wrote on 11/16/14 at 21:29:16:



You got to be joking. 29.Ke1? is an extremely stupid move, which throws away the win. Anand just had to stay calm, and meet 30.Bc1 with 30...Rhd8, when he has very few problems, if any. Nor admitting the mistake at move 29 works, since after 29.Ke1? Rd7 30. Ke2 Rhd8 31.Bxh6 Rh8 black has very good counterplay, mainly because Carlsen has foolishly allowed this little thing to reach a3, and create long-term problems to white.
White just had to stop this stupid pawn at a4, carefully transfer the king to e2, and then after covering g2 he could at last pick the h6 pawn. Carlsen played the position poorly, actually I am amazed about his play- way below his usual level, I can only attribute it to anxiousness. But fortunately for him, Vishy blundered everything in this game.

I'm very much a tactical player and love watching/playing games that simply explode after a piece sac...but its fast becoming a guilty pleasure that i have to admit, i am in awe of Carlsen's play and am really enjoying his games.

Keano wrote on 11/16/14 at 17:33:38:


Hesitant? in what way? It looked like he handled it in a fairly straightforward way. Until he played Bd1, i think commentators were largely in agreement with his moves and complimenting on him picking the strongest moves available to achieve his aims.

Keano wrote on 11/16/14 at 11:32:08:


Strange assessment. Anand is addicted to his opening knowledge, if it works, he can complete with Carlsen, otherwise he has to suffer and is on the brink of a loss. Carlsen was relived after the game, Anand stunned and devasted, so I wouldn't be surprised, if Carlsen wins the next game, too.

Viking - as Kasparov said about game 6 - the game was effectively over after the opening. He had the position after Bf4 followed by h4 in his files, Kramnik was also well aware of the line.

For me it is clear Carlsen is not himself here, thats why I give Anand a great chance. The funny thing about that game is that, even though Carlsen won it, it may have affected his confidence a lot more than Anand's. Not sure any of the so-called expert commentators have picked up on this, no doubt someone has.

Seth_Xoma wrote on 11/16/14 at 05:22:00:


I agree completely. 

In game 2 Anand defended badly and deserved to lose, he pretty much said that himself during the press conference for that game. 

In game 6 he looked like a broken man during the press conference. I think those that brush aside psychology in sport, especially 1 vs 1 sports like chess really don't understand the mental strains the players are going through. The fact there's sports psychologists and some of the best sportsmen in the world use them regularly, is a glaring indicator of the importance of psychology. 

In chess Topalov is a great modern example; over the last several years he suffered a kind of breakdown after losing in the WCh match to Anand. He then began seeing a sports psychologist to get him back into the right frame of mind to compete, now he's back up there in the top 5 comfortably. 

Outside of chess there's no better example than the Snooker player Ronnie O'Sullivan, suffers from major psychological problems and also depression yet with the help of Steve Peters is still able to compete at the highest level.

Going back to this match Anand obviously has to hold game 7. If he loses that game the match is over. It's hard to predict what he might play, I wouldn't be surprised if we see a Caro-Kann tbh. If he manages to draw he must put everything he has left in the tank into game 8, I would assume they have something prepared in the 4.f3 Nimzo, if not there the Catalan. If he can strike back with his next White it could turn the match backk on his head again. Most important is he comes into game 7 with a clear and objective mind thinking only about the task at hand. I would hope his team and his wife spent the hours after game 6 consoling him and today they will get back to doing some serious preparation to make sure he holds game 7.