Awesome Tactics of Anand & Carlsen 30 awesome tactical shots!
By Asim Pereira
Special thanks to Swayams Mishra (IM, ELO 2434).
♚ About me
Some of you know me as the developer of Android Chess apps, while others know me as the author of the Kindle ebook, 'Tactics in the Endgame'. But at heart, I am nothing but a big Chess fan, who happens to be a Android developer, Freelancer and a budding Chess entrepreneur! I also had the privilege of developing the Official App of the FIDE World Championship Match 2013 between Anand and Carlsen. My other chess apps on Android are: Analyze This - Analyze your game with multiple chess engines, simultaneously! Chess Book Study - A unique fusion of ebook and a chess board that makes it easy to study chess literature in pdf or djvu file format iChess - Sharpen your skills with this puzzles app. Try the 1000 odd default puzzles or load your own PGN. Or you could even buy one of the recent puzzles pack or one that suits your opening repertoire. Your Move - Play correspondence chess and earn official ICCF rating My Chess apps are available at http://goo.gl/AuppA. Asim Pereira
♚ Preface We are on the cusp of a historic Chess match between Viswanathan Anand of India and Magnus Carlsen of Norway. The excitement and buzz is audible from all quarters. Not a single Chess fan can afford to miss this match. Whilst the players are busy sharpening their claws and laying out strategies, what better way for us, mortal Chess fans to prepare ourselves for this match by checking out some awesome tactical shots of these players from their earlier games!? My app, iChess on Android and iOS offers 300 puzzles from Anand and Carlsen. The best 30 out of those 300 can be found in this small ebook. These 30 carefully selected puzzles (15 each for either player) will keep you engaged and in awe of the amazing skills and talents that these two players posess. Let me not hold you anymore. Get in the groove before the match! Asim Pereira October 2013
Table of Contents ♚ About me ♚ Preface ♚ Introduction ♚ Tactics of Anand ♚ Tactics of Carlsen ♚ Thanks
♚ Introduction "Some things are really hard to do, almost impossible to do, like playing perfectly in extremely complicated positions - Magnus Carlsen" In less than a month's time, the Chess world will have decided a new King. Will "Vishy" Anand manage to hold the "mozart of Chess" Magnus Carlsen at bay or will Carlsen's superlative form continue? Whatever be the result, all fans are gearing up for what promises to be a match of a lifetime! Anand has been at the top of his game for nearly two decades. His fast play and quick thinking has won him no less than 5 World Championship titles and numerous tournaments. Carlsen has "recently" started his dominion over the chess world, but certainly that has been no fluke. Breaking an "unbreakable" rating barrier and squeezing his opponents till they crack has been a hallmark of this "Prince". As the "King" and the "Prince" fight for a spot in history, we take a look at some of the amazing positions that these two have played over these years. The book has 15 tactical shots of Anand followed by 15 more of Carlsen. This book may be small, but some of these tactical puzzles are long. The puzzles are arranged in chronological order. They have a small "trivia question" under the board to bring you upto speed and provide a helpful clue of what is happening in the game. The solutions are conveniently placed on the very next page with its own diagram. Don't worry if you don't get the solution at the first attempt, after all it has been played by Super GMs and this is not a regular puzzles book meant to test you! Just take it easy and soak in the beauty of the game. However note that, the puzzle may showcase a different variation which may not have occurred in the actual game, to emphasize the idea behind the
tactical shot (in most cases the opponent is also a strong GM and would have played a more defensive move). So, sit back, and enjoy the puzzles!
♚ Tactics of Anand "I always considered him to be a colossal talent, one of the greatest in the whole history of chess" - Vladimir Kramnik on Anand There are very few Indian sportsmen who can boast of what Anand has achieved. 5 time world champion who has won the championships in all formats known to chess kind. Sharp as a tiger and fast as a cheetah, this "Tiger of Madras" has been a top level chess player for nearly two decades. In 2007, he was awarded with the second highest civilian award by the Indian government. In 2012, he bagged not only the "Indian sportsperson of the year" award, but also the "Indian of the year" award!! Check out some of Anand's brilliancies including one which according to him is his "best game ever"!
1. Ivanchuk, Vassily (2625) - Anand, V. (2555) Reggio Emilia 1988
(Note: The square box next to the board indicates the side to move. Black in this case.) White moved his King away from the pin on the previous move and is threatening to capture the Black Bishop. However he lacks development and has very few pieces on the King-side to defend his King. How to finish off the game in style?
1. Ivanchuk, Vassily (2625) - Anand, V. (2555) SOLUTION
17... Nf2+! Disconnects the White Queen from the important g2 square. 18. Rxf2 Bxg2+! Black sacrifices another piece to stop White's defence [18... Re1+? fails to 19. Rf1!+-] 19. Rxg2 [19. Kg1 Re1+-+ And there are numerous ways to find mate.] 19... Re1+ And White cannot defend his back rank. 0-1
2. Anand, V. (2515) - Sokolov, Ivan (2580) Hoogovens 1989
Anand managed to keep the Black King in the center, and has a lot of plans here. Which one is the best?
2. Anand, V. (2515) - Sokolov, Ivan (2580) SOLUTION
36. Na6!! How often does a Knight go to the corner? But here, it proves to be lethal. Black has too many threats to defend at the same time. 36... Qxh4 [36... g5 37. Bxg5! pursuing the same threats again. 37... Qg7 (37... Qxg5 38. Qf8+ Kd7 39. Nc5#) 38. Nxc7+! Kd7 (38... Qxc7 39. Rf8+ Kd7 40. Qe7#) 39. Nxe6+- White wins a lot of material and it isn't hard to find number of ways which lead to mate.] [36... Kd7 37. Qe7+ Kc8 38. Qxc7#] [36... Rxa6 37. Qe7#] 37. Qf8+ Kd7 38. Nc5# And the Knight comes back to finish things off! 1-0
3. Micalizzi, Giovanni (2240) - Anand, V. (2555) Rome op 1990
In a typical Sicilian position, how does Anand exploit the absence of White's dark squared Bishop?
3. Micalizzi, Giovanni (2240) - Anand, V. (2555) SOLUTION
12... Bh6! [12... Qb6?! 13. Rfd1 Bh6 If you think this move order also leads to the same position as in the game then you are wrong! 14. Nd5! Attacks the Queen and also defends Black's trick. 14... Qa7 15. Qd3∓ Though Black is still better but it isn't so clear.] 13. Qd3 Qb6 14. Rad1 [14. Nd5 Here, this is no good. 14... Qxd4+ 15. Qxd4 Nxd4-+] 14... Qxd4+ [ 14... Nxd4 This also wins] 15. Qxd4 Nxd4 16. Rxd4 Be3+ Double attack! 17. Kh1 Bxd4 0-1
4. Anand, V. (2670) - Seirawan, Yasser (2600) Amsterdam 1992
What does Anand play to force an immediate resignation?
4. Anand, V. (2670) - Seirawan, Yasser (2600) SOLUTION
40. Rd1!! Exploiting the pin to win material. 40... Qxf3 41. Rxd8+ this gives White time to capture the Black Queen. 41... Kb7 42. gxf3 And White stands a Rook ahead. 1-0
5. Anand, V. (2765) - Lautier, Joel (2660) Credit Suisse 1997
Black is ahead by two pawns, but White's pieces are ideally placed for an assult. How did Anand take advantage of Black's unfortunate King and Queen?
5. Anand, V. (2765) - Lautier, Joel (2660) SOLUTION
21. Bg6!! Qxd1 [21... Nxe3 22. Bxf7+ Kf8 23. Qxd4 Rxd4 24. Bxe3+- And the dual threats of Bh6# and Bxd4 seals Black's fate] [21... Ne7 This is how Lautier responded in the game 22. Qxd4 Rxd4 23. Rd3 Rd8 24. Rxd8+ Kxd8 25. Bd3! Bh1 26. Bb2 Re8 27. Bf6!+- Seeing that he will run out of moves soon and lose heavy material, Lautier resigned.] 22. Rxe6+! Kf8 23. Bxh6+ The last piece joins the action 23... Kg8 24. Bxf7# 1-0
6. Anand, V. (2784) - Topalov, Veselin (2700) Hoogovens 1999.01.31
Topalov is a pawn ahead and slowly has been building a web around White's King. How does Anand manage to win the game?
6. Anand, V. (2784) - Topalov, Veselin (2700) SOLUTION
39. Ng4! Rc2 Black threatens mate on b2 and attacks the Queen on d2 at the same time. 40. Nf6! A brilliant reply which prepares a mating net around the Black King. 40... Rxd2 41. Re8# because checkmate ends the game for Black even after having a extra Queen at the end! 1-0
7. Djuric, S. (2472) - Anand, V. (2762) Corsica Masters 2000.11.05
White seems to have everything defended around his King and has attacked Black's Rook and the f7 pawn at the same time. What should Black do?
7. Djuric, S. (2472) - Anand, V. (2762) SOLUTION
23... Rb4!! In chess, Attack is the best form of defence! 24. Qxb4 [24. Bxc8 Rxa4-+ Black has a winning position (24... Qc4!? with the threat of Qf1 mate and attacking the White Queen one more time.)] 24... Qxc2# 01
8. Anand, V. (2781) - Charbonneau, P. (2490) 36th Olympiad 2004.10.26
Black has offered the exchange of Queens in a position which looks drawish. But Anand finds a forced line to win material. Can you play like the champ?
8. Anand, V. (2781) - Charbonneau, P. (2490) SOLUTION
34. Rxf7+! Nxf7 35. Ne6+! Rxe6 36. Qxd4+ Anand demonstrates a perfect example of taking advantage of an overloaded piece. 1-0
9. Anand, V. (2781) - Nisipeanu, LD. (2687) Bundesliga 2004-5 2004.12.12
Despite being a piece down Anand has managed to demolish Black's Kingside. How does he finish off the game?
9. Anand, V. (2781) - Nisipeanu, LD. (2687) SOLUTION
27. Qe7! With no squares available for the Black King, White threatens to promote the pawn on f7 with a check! 27... Ne6!? Black is trying to avoid further damage. [27... Rg7 28. f8=Q Rxe7 29. Qxe7+ Kg8 30. Qg7#] [27... Rc7 28. f8=Q+ Rxe7 29. Qxe7+ Kg8 30. f6+- With one pawn promoted,another pawn is on its way!] 28. f8=N+! Double Check! Underpromotion to Knight leads to a forced checkmate! [28. f8=Q+ Bxe7 29. Qxe7+ Also gives White a clear advantage.] 28... Kg8 29. Qh7+ Kxf8 30. fxe6+ A discovered check brings another White piece to the party! 30... Ke8 31. Qf7+ Kd8 32. Bf6+ And mate follows on the very next move. 1-0
10. Anand, V. (2801) - Morozevich, A. (2755) World Blitz 2007.11.22
White has fewer pawns than Black and also his King looks unsafe. But it is White to play and Black doesn't get a chance to prove his advantage. How did Anand manage to force the matter?
10. Anand, V. (2801) - Morozevich, A. (2755) SOLUTION
33. Rd8+ Kg7 [33... Kh7 34. Rxf7+ (34. Rh5+ also wins) 34... Rg7 (34... Kh6 35. Rh8+ and mate follows) 35. Qxg4+-] 34. Qxe5+ Raf6 35. Rh5! A non-forcing move but aids in a brilliant mating plan. [35. Rxf6!? Rxf6 36. Rd6 Qf3 37. Qxf6+ Qxf6 38. Nh5+ Kg6 39. Nxf6 was another way to win.] 35... Qf3 Black believes in the saying -'Do or die'! 36. Rg8+!! The whole point of Rh5 revolves around this move. 36... Kxg8 37. Qe8+ And the Queen is transfered to the 8th rank without losing any time! 37... Kg7 38. Qh8# It doesn't get any prettier than this! 1-0
11. Kramnik, V. (2799) - Anand, V. (2799) Amber Rapid 2008.03.15
Black has lesser material but has been trying to attack White's King. How will you continue the attack to convert it to a win?
11. Kramnik, V. (2799) - Anand, V. (2799) SOLUTION
42... Qf3!! Anand offers his strongest piece for White's best defender in order to deliver mate. 43. cxb7+ [ 43. Bxf3 gxf3 followed by Rh1 and there is no way for White to stop the mate] 43... Kf5 Here Kramnik resigned as there was no way to avoid mate. 44. Bxf3 [ 44. b8=Q This move doesn't help either 44... Rh1+ 45. Bxh1 Rxh1#] 44... gxf3 45. b8=Q Rh1# In this game Anand teaches the power of doubled Rooks on an open file. 0-1
12. Kramnik, V. (2772) - Anand, V. (2783) WCh 2008.10.20
In an important World Championship game, Anand is a pawn down but has active piece play. How does Anand continue and go on to win the game?
12. Kramnik, V. (2772) - Anand, V. (2783) SOLUTION
33... Rc1+! Forces the White Bishop to get back to the defence of his Majesty. 34. Bf1 Ne3!! A bolt from the blue which exploits White's back rank and lack of piece co-ordination. 35. fxe3 fxe3 Here Kramnik resigned due to the fact that 36. g4 loses to 36... e2 And mate follows 0-1
13. Anand, V. (2817) - Shirov, A. (2709) 24th Leon Masters 2011.06.03
How did Anand justiify his earlier piece sacrifice?
13. Anand, V. (2817) - Shirov, A. (2709) SOLUTION
32. Rxe5+! As it is known that a Knight around the King is the best defender. Anand sacrifices his Rook to remove the defender. 32... Qxe5 33. Bg4+! Without the Knight on e5, this check is now possible! 33... Rxg4 [33... Ke7 loses the Queen. 34. Qxe5++-] 34. Qe8# No need to capture the Rook and play some extra moves when checkmate is possible in 1 move! 1-0
14. Aronian, L. (2802) - Anand, V. (2772) 75th Tata Steel GpA 2013.01.15
"This is easily one of my best games" - Anand. Black is a pawn short and many of his pieces are enprise. How does he react to this?
14. Aronian, L. (2802) - Anand, V. (2772) SOLUTION
16... Nde5!! Anand doesn't care about his pieces. He puts his 3rd piece under threat. 17. Bxg4 Seeing the deadly mating ideas, Aronian decided to remove some Black pieces from attack to save him himself. [17. dxc5 Qd4+ 18. Kh1 Nf2+ 19. Rxf2 Qxf2-+ And no stopping the mating threats on g2 and the back rank.] [17. fxe5 Qxd4+ 18. Kh1 Qg1+!! 19. Rxg1 Nf2# A smothered mate!] 17... Bxd4+ 18. Kh1 Nxg4 19. Nxf8 f5!! A wonderful move which blocks the White Queen and makes way for the Black Queen to enter the h-file [19... Qh4 20. Qh7+ and White survives to fight another day.] 20. Ng6 Qf6 21. h3 Qxg6 22. Qe2 Qh5 23. Qd3 Be3!! The final nail in the coffin. Now White has no defence against Qxh3. 0-1
15. Radjabov, T. (2745) - Anand, V. (2783) Supreme Masters 2013 2013.05.15
Black has two passed pawns, how does he use this to his advantage?
15. Radjabov, T. (2745) - Anand, V. (2783) SOLUTION
34... d2! Gives up one of the passed pawn but disrupts the co-ordination in White's camp. 35. Qxd2 [Capture with the other piece doesn't help either 35. Bxd2 Nd3 36. Rxc4 Nxe1+ Check! 37. Bxe1 Rxc4-+] [35. Rxc4 dxe1=N+! Promotion to Knight with a check helps Black to gain a crucial tempo and the game.] 35... Qxc1! 36. Qxc1 Rxc1 37. Bxc1 Nd3! White cannot stop Black from Queening the b-pawn. 0-1
♚ Tactics of Carlsen "... through the combined force of his skill and no less important his reputation, he drives his opponents into errors." - Jon Speelman on Carlsen Once in a while, out of the pool of regular GMs and Super-GMs rises a player who defies all odds. A pure genius and talent of sort. One with a never-let-go attitude, a non-human fighting spirit! A Magnus Carlsen! This "mozart of Chess" is currently the higest ranked Chess player in the world and one of the few professional Chess players who has modelled (thanks to his good looks!). Such has been his dominance over the past few years, that he has won the prestigious Chess Oscars continuously from 2009 to 2012, besides other honors in his home country! Get ready to be awed!
16. Carlsen, M. (2315) - Daly, C. (2353) Classics GM 2003.04.03
Carlsen has a very comfortable position but how does he manage to finish things quickly from here?
16. Carlsen, M. (2315) - Daly, C. (2353) SOLUTION
25. Bxe5! Giving up the Bishop for something significant. 25... Bxe5 26. Qxg4+ Kh8 27. Rdg1 Bringing another piece into the attack and preparing for the final blow. 27... Qe7 [27... Rg8 28. Qg7+!! Rxg7 29. hxg7+ Kg8 30. Rh8#] 28. Qg7+!! The winning idea! 28... Bxg7 The Bishop can indeed capture the Queen but cannot stop the mate. 29. hxg7+ Kg8 30. Rh8# 1-0
17. Carlsen, M. (2385) - Gretarsson, H. (2513) ECC 2003.10.04
Black is an exchange up, but his King is unsafe. Find a way to make things difficult for Black.
17. Carlsen, M. (2385) - Gretarsson, H. (2513) SOLUTION
30. Qh5+ Kf8 The Rook on e1 indirectly stops the Black King from escaping. The King has only f7 & f8 squares at his disposal. 31. Qc5+ Kf7 Can White find something better besides perpetual check? 32. Bg6+!! The sacrifice is not in vain. This clears the way for the Rook to enter into the game 32... Kxg6 [32... Rxg6 33. Qe7# And the Rook on g6 block's the way of its King!] 33. Qh5# No more going back to f8! 1-0
18. Hammer, J. (2074) - Carlsen, M. (2450) WYb14 2003.10.23
Playing Black, 13 year old Magnus finds his Knight in danger and it would take a long battle to convert his material advantage. Do you agree?
18. Hammer, J. (2074) - Carlsen, M. (2450) SOLUTION
17... Qh5+!! Boom!! It seems Magnus wants to finish the game immediately. 18. gxh5 Rh4# And it just requires two Black pieces to mate! 0-1
19. Schlecht, D. (2363) - Carlsen, M. (2567) Politiken Cup 2004.07.30
White's a-pawn is dangerous due to the fact that it is far away from the Black King, so he has offered the exchange of Queens. How did Carlsen react to this?
19. Schlecht, D. (2363) - Carlsen, M. (2567) SOLUTION
52... Qg1+! Driving White's King a bit away from the b3 pawn. 53. Ke2 b2! 54. Qc2+ Qg6! Having driven Black's King away from the b-pawn Black can afford the exchange of Queens. 55. Qxb2 [55. Kd2 b1=Q-+] 55... Qg2+! Generally we see these type of positions with the Rooks instead of Queens but the result doesn't change. 56. Kd3 Qxb2 0-1
20. Smeets, J. (2550) - Carlsen, M. (2625) Corus B 2006.01.15
Black has been preparing an attack on the Kingside, especially the f-file. How does he execute his plans?
20. Smeets, J. (2550) - Carlsen, M. (2625) SOLUTION
35... Rxg3+!! Black doesn't waste any time. The entry of the Queen into the enemy camp has deadly effects. 36. fxg3 [36. Kxg3 Qf3+ 37. Kh2 Kg7!-+ with the same idea as in the game.] 36... Qf1+ 37. Kh2 Kg7! MaKing space for the Rook to deliver the final blow along the h-file. 38. Re4 Rh8+ 39. Rh4 Bxh4 And mate follows. [39... Bxh4 40. gxh4 Rxh4+ 41. Kg3 Rh3+ 42. Kg4 Qf3+ 43. Kg5 Rh5#] 0-1
21. Hansen, TR. (2319) - Carlsen, M. (2646) TCh-NOR Open 2006.06.10
Black is a piece down, but has perpetual checks. Can he achieve more than that?
21. Hansen, TR. (2319) - Carlsen, M. (2646) SOLUTION
45... Qg1+! 46. Kh4 Kh6!! Black pins himself but avoids any check and supports his Knight. 47. Bd5 [White stops Qe1+ and saves mate but still doesn't save the position. 47. Qd2 Qh1+ 48. Kg3 Qxf3+ 49. Kh2 Qxf7+] 47... Qe1+! Black forces White to put his Queen on g3 which essentially blocks his own King's escape route. 48. Qg3 Qh1+ 49. Qh3 Qxh3# 0-1
22. Carlsen, M. (2710) - De Firmian, N. (2540) Arctic Chess Challenge 2007.08.05
Black seems to have defended everything, but yet Carlsen finds an amazing way to prove Black wrong. What is it?
22. Carlsen, M. (2710) - De Firmian, N. (2540) SOLUTION
38. Ng5!! Threatening mate on h7 and the Queen on e7 at the same time. 38... Qxe4 [38... fxg5 39. Qxe7+-] 39. Nf7# Pretty smothered mate. 10
23. Carlsen, M. (2770) - Topalov, V. (2812) 5th MTel Masters 2009.05.13
In an extremely complicated position Carlsen manages to play accurately and use his active pieces. Can you calculate as Carlsen did?
23. Carlsen, M. (2770) - Topalov, V. (2812) SOLUTION
33. Qd3! Gives Black the option to chose which piece he will capture, but secretly preparing for a deadly finish. 33... Qxc7 [33... Qxe7 This capture only helps Black to prolong the game only for a few more moves. 34. Rxd7 Qh4+ 35. Kf3 Qh5+ 36. Kg3+- With Black running out of checks he has no answer to White's mating threats with Nf6.] 34. Ng5+! Carlsen thinks he has a lot of pieces already, so why the need to keep them when he needs only two pieces to mate. 34... hxg5 [34... Kh8 makes things easier for White. 35. Nf7+ Kh7 36. Qxg6#] 35. Qxg6+ Kh8 36. Qh5+ Bh6 37. Qxh6# White's two pieces attacking Black's lone King were dangerous indeed! 1-0
24. Carlsen, M. (2772) - Wang Yue (2736) 2nd Pearl Spring 2009.10.06
Carlsen is a piece ahead but with no pawns left, the chances for winning the game look slim. However he manages to find a forced variation that wins material and the game. Can you do the same?
24. Carlsen, M. (2772) - Wang Yue (2736) SOLUTION
63. Kc2! The only move which gives White some chances of a win. 63... Rh3 64. Rb1+ Now, White forces the Black King to be on the a-file where there are more chances to checkmate him. 64... Ka7 [ 64... Ka8 This finishes the game quickly! 65. Nc7+ Ka7 66. Rb7#] 65. Rb7+ Ka6 66. Rb6+ Ka5 [66... Ka7 67. Nc8+ Ka8 68. Nc7#] 67. Rb5+ Ka4 [And again the Black King cannot go back! 67... Ka6 68. Nc7+ Ka7 69. Nc8# or (69. Rb7#)] 68. Nb6+! [68. Rb4+ This was definitely a try because 68... Ka3? leads to mate (but 68... Ka5 forces White to repeat the position again. 69. Rb5+ Ka4 70. Nb6+ and we get back to the game) 69. Nb5+ Ka2 70. Ra4+ Ra3 71. Rxa3#] 68... Ka3 69. Rxe5 The Chinese Super GM resigned. 1-0
25. Ivanchuk, V. (2739) - Carlsen, M. (2801) World Blitz 2009.11.16
Both sides are eager to checkmate each other. But it is Black's turn to play.
25. Ivanchuk, V. (2739) - Carlsen, M. (2801) SOLUTION
49... Rf5! A move which has mutliple ideas - Attack the White Queen, block White's check and deliver a check(mate) himself. 50. Rf4 White forces the exchange of pieces hoping to make a draw. 50... Rxe5! 51. Rxf2 Rh5# A very picturesque mate 0-1
26. Topalov, V. (2752) - Carlsen, M. (2837) World Blitz Final 2012.07.10
Black has space advantage and the White King seems to be trapped but the question is how to deliver the knockout punch?
26. Topalov, V. (2752) - Carlsen, M. (2837) SOLUTION
45... Qa7+! A long move by the Queen and also a check. 46. Kh1 [46. Bf2 Qg7+-+ Now the g2 square is unprotected!] 46... Qa1+ Another long manoeuvre and now White cannot avoid the loss of heavy material due to the back rank weakness and the cornered King. 0-1
27. Carlsen, M. (2861) - Harikrishna, P. (2698) 75th Tata Steel GpA 2013.01.15
In a commanding position, how does Carlsen force Black to lose material or resign immediately?
27. Carlsen, M. (2861) - Harikrishna, P. (2698) SOLUTION
50. Nxf6!! Black can capture all three White pieces but none of the captures can prevent White's threats. 50... Qxd4 [50... Rxc8 51. Qxd6+-] 51. Rxf8# Another pretty mate with the Rook and the Knight 1-0
28. Carlsen, M. (2861) - Nakamura, Hi (2769) 75th Tata Steel GpA 2013.01.26
White has trapped Black's King in the center, but how does he finish the game?
28. Carlsen, M. (2861) - Nakamura, Hi (2769) SOLUTION
28. Qh5! Nb6 29. Be6!! White only needs to find a way to give a check in order to deliver checkmate! 29... Rxg5 [29... Nc4 30. Ne7+- Now Black loses f7 and much more.] 30. Qxg5 fxe6 31. dxe6 Seeing his King is still trapped in the center, Nakamura resigned. [31. dxe6 Qxc6 32. f7#] 10
29. Hammer, J. (2608) - Carlsen, M. (2868) Norway Supreme Masters Blitz 2013 2013.05.07
In a blitz game, Carlsen finds an amazing way to win material. Can you?
29. Hammer, J. (2608) - Carlsen, M. (2868) SOLUTION
26... Qxf3!! A spectacular move forcing the capture of the Queen on the event of Qh1# [26... Bxf3!? also with the same idea but wins only a pawn and allows White some active play. 27. Nd4 Qg4 28. Nxf3 Rxf3 29. Bg2∓] 27. exf3 Nxf3+ 28. Kh1 Nxd2+ And the discovered check! Black is already two pawns up with no counterplay for White. 0-1
30. Caruana, F. (2774) - Carlsen, M. (2864) 8th Tal Mem Blitz 2013.06.12
White is on the verge of promoting the a-pawn. Can Black stop it?
30. Caruana, F. (2774) - Carlsen, M. (2864) SOLUTION
42... Bf2+!! Carlsen gives up his Bishop in order to deliver series of checks and finally checkmate the White King! 43. Kxf2 [43. Kh2 Qg3+ 44. Kh1 Rxf1#] 43... Rc2+! This check forces White to keep his King in the center but not for long. 44. Ke1 [44. Kg1 Qxg2#] 44... Qg3+ 45. Kd1 Qd3+ with mate to follow 0-1
♚ Thanks Hope you enjoyed this mini book. My Chess puzzles app, 'iChess' has 300 puzzles of Anand and Carlsen and it is available on both Android and iOS! Do check out the links below. iChess for Android (Play Store) iChess for Android (Amazon Store) iChess for iPad and iPhone And with a very similar layout, you can also enjoy my other puzzles ebook for Kindle, 'Tactics in the Endgame' which has 300 tactical shots from real endgame positions! I would love to hear back from you. Thank you! Asim Pereira
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