White to Play
Pete Tamburro
on
Published in Chess Puzzles
Solution:
Anand blundered with 28. Nf1?? Carlsen replied with 28…Qe1! and Anand resigned as Black could give up the second queen for a Rh4. However, he could have saved himself with: 28.Bf1 Qd1! 29.Rh4 Qh5 30.Nxh5 gxh5 31.Rxh5 Bf5 32.g6! (32.Bh3 Bg6 33.e6 Nxf6 34.gxf6 Qxf6 with a slight edge to Black) 32...Bxg6 33.Rg5 Qa5 34.Rg3 Qa3 35.h4 Kh8 would lead to a draw: 36.h5 Bc2 37.Bh3 Qa1+ 38.Kh2 Rg8 39.Rxg8+ Kxg8 40.Qg5+ Kh8 41.Bd7 Be4 42.Bxe8 Qh1+ 43.Kg3 Qg2+ 44.Kh4 Qh2+ (Not: 44...Qxg5+ 45.Kxg5 and White wins!) with a perpetual check. This may very well cost Anand his championship.
Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.