Computer is saying Black is only slightly worse, but this looks a nightmare to hold in a practical game.

I don't know; it all feels a bit narrow to me. Feels to me more like the onus is on White to come up with something challenging. Black can seemingly shuffle and consolidate, and White has to demonstrate something concrete.

I'm liking white's position after 21...Re7, but if the official website's clocks are accurate, Vishy is under 30 minutes.

If true, all 3 results possible.

Just realised there was a game today!

At first glance this looks very promising for White, could we have a bit of drama today?

Gruenfeld Russian System, Prins variation. Fascinating--an open challenge to Anand in a sharp, highly theoretical game. This will be seen in retrospect as a masterstroke of Kasparov-like confrontation if Carlsen wins (it seems plausible to me that Kasparov is acting informally as one of Carlsen's advisers), or as a very ill-advised, psyched-out venture into Anand's home territory, similar to Anand's 1.e4 last match, if Carlsen loses. Right now, for the record, before the vultures descend on the cadaver of the game, it seems like a caclulated risk, and maybe even a challenge to himself, an honorable gesture of "may the best man win!"  And so may it be.

It reminds me of Spassky's description of Carlsen: "Carlsen ist ein Schach-Räuber, ein Pirat, eben ein echter Wikinger." --"Carlsen is a chess robber, a pirate, even an authentic Viking."

Anand has frequently taken a glance at Carlsen in this match. The only time I've see Carlsen try to "read" Anand by looking right at him was before capturing on e4. Magnus may have sensed Anand and his team had a look at ...Rxe4 beforehand.

bragesjo wrote on 11/20/14 at 12:09:35:


Shades of Spassky choosing the positionally "incorrect" Tarrash Defense against Petrosian.

LostTactic wrote on 11/20/14 at 17:01:51:

I doubt it would: remember Carlsen himself used the Tromp to beat Kramnik at the Tal Memorial last year.
Given all the speculation about Carlsen not feeling well two days ago, I'm not surprised he decided to save his energy today. As long as Anand has to press for a win with White, Carlsen will also get winning chances as Black, so giving up one white isn't such a big problem.