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Middlegame Secrets Vol. 5 - The Inner Strength of Kings
King march 4: Carlsen vs Karjakin, Wch New York 2016
Carlsen had pressed strongly in Games 3 and 4 so now, with the white pieces in front of him, would this be the game for the champion's breakthrough in the match?32...Kf8An interesting plan. If White does eventually push on the kingside, it could be that Black's king will be a tactical weakness. Karjakin therefore decides to transfer his king to the queenside, where his numerical superiority of pawns offers good shelter. Additionally, the king can defend the b7-pawn, relieving his other pieces of a rather menial job.33.Qc3Carlsen cannot see any way to make progress, and for the moment just moves around without achieving very much.Ke834.Rb4g5!An interesting and highly committal decision. Black could have set up a light-square blockade with ...g6, aiming to hold on to the f5-square at all costs, but he decides instead to take pre-emptive action to prevent White's pawns even getting as far as f4 and g4. The danger is that in any ending the kingside pawns on dark squares will be vulnerable to attack by White's bishop, especially if his king is far away on the queenside. In my view, Karjakin made the right decision and, by taking action himself rather than simply waiting, he has forced Carlsen to come up with a counterplan.35.Rb2Kd836.Rf2Kc837.Qd4Qg6Black is now even ready to play ...h5 followed by ...g4, which would completely kill any winning prospects for White, so Carlsen decides to block Black's advance.38.g4h539.Qd2Rg7I don't see how White can make progress here since any pawn advance of the kingside would expose the white king too much. If White could swap off the major pieces the g5-pawn would fall, but there is no way to achieve this.40.Kg3Rg841.Kg2?This move, which blocks the path of White's major pieces to the h-file is a serious error after which White is even worse. Any normal move, such as41.Rh2would have maintained the balance.41...hxg442.hxg442.fxg4?Qe4+43.Kg1Rh8loses at least a pawn,.42...d4!Karjakin strikes with a pawn sacrifice allowing him to activate his bishop.This is even stronger than42...Qh643.Qd4White must block the d-pawn since43.Kf1d444.Bxd4Qh1+45.Ke2Rd8gives Black a very dangerous attack43...Rh844.Kf1Qh1+45.Ke2Qb146.Bxg5when White can at least run with his king to f4.43.Qxd443.Bxd4Qh744.Kg1Qh345.Qe2Rf846.Rh2Qg3+47.Rg2Qxf348.Qxf3Rxf3is an unpleasant ending for White, since all his pawns are weak, but this might actually have been the lesser evil.49.Rh2Bxg450.Rg2Rf451.Be3Re452.Bxg5Bf353.Rg3Rxe554.Bd2Be255.Be343...Bd5? Karjakin fails to make the most of his chances. After43...Rh844.Qe4Qh645.Kf1Qh1+46.Ke2Rd846...Bd5would have been deeply unpleasant for White. His king is floating around in the middle of the board, while Black's piece press from all sides. After47.Qd3Qa148.Bxg5Qxe5+49.Be3Qa1 it is unlikely that White will survive in the long run. As is so often the case in opposite-coloured bishop positions with major pieces, it's the initiative and attacking chances which count, and not the odd pawn or two.47.Rf1Qh444.e6In an echo of Karjakin's ...d4, Carlsen returns the pawn in order to gain space for his pieces. However, it would have been even simpler to play44.Kg3allowing the rook to switch to h2, after which I can see nothing for Black.44...Qxe6Or44...Qh745.e7Qxe746.Bd2Qh747.Qf6Rh848.Qf5+Qxf549.gxf5g450.Kg3gxf3and with his king active White should have no trouble holding the ending.45.Kg3The crisis is essentially over and the game is once more on course for a draw.Qe746.Rh2Qf747.f4Further activating White's pieces and fully equalising.gxf4+48.Qxf448.Bxf4Qf549.g5was also safe for White.48...Qe749.Rh5Rf850.Rh7Rxf451.Rxe7Re4Forcing the draw.After51...Re452.Rxe4Bxe453.Kf4Bd354.Ke5Kd755.Kf6Ke856.Bh6Bc257.g5Bd358.g6Bc259.g7Bb3 Black is not in any danger.½–½