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Carlsen and Kamsky have played four games at the classical time control, exchanging one win each and two games ended in draws. Kamsky also won two rapid games at the 2005 World Cup in the match that was deciding on the prize money only as both were already qualified for the Candidates. Carlsen in Khanty-Mansiysk is delighting us with ease in handling of both good and weaker positions, while Kamsky obviously had some serious work on the opening repertoire. This will be an exciting clash, enjoy the live commentary.
1.e4 After enjoying debates in Nimzo-Indian defence, Magnus is back to 1.e4 again.
1... e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 This time Magnus is playing Scotch opening, something that Arkadij Naiditsch tried against him in the 2nd round.
3... exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nxc6 Most popular in the recent years. Earlier, 5. Nb3 or 5. Be3 were obligatory. As usual, Kamsky will take his time in the opening, even if he is well prepared.
5... bxc6 ( Kamsky already stepping away from the main road, 5... Qf6 6.Qd2 dxc6 is more popular.)
6.Bd3 Qh4 This is rarely played in Grandmaster practice. White has a variety of good replies, Qe2, Qd2, 0-0...
7.Qe2 Nf6 8. Be3 was mostly employed in this position, but would Magnus would want to trade the bishops so early? Alternative is 8. h3.
8.Be3 Actually, he is willing to follow the theory.
8... Bxe3 9.Qxe3 O-O 10.Nd2 Re8 Black will be trying to take advantage on the Re8-Qe3 corellation and open b-bile. White, on the other hand, has better pawn structure and Black Queen is slightly misplaced.
11.O-O d6 Perhaps idea is 12...Ng4 12. Qf4 g5!? (as pawn c7 is not hanging). White would have to settle with Qg3 and Queens exchange. Probably both players are happy so far, Magnus is optimistic to play on the win in every given position, while Kamsky is enjoying to defend slightly worse structures.
12.Rae1 a5 ( Kamsky gave up on 12... Ng4 13.Qf4 g5 14.Qg3 Qxg3 15.hxg3 Maybe he wants to keep the tension and Queens on the board. 12...a5 is usual in similar structures (Steinitz Ruy Lopez), as the pawn is moving away from Qe3 attack, enabling Ra8 to go to b8.)
13.Qg3 After some thought, Magnus decided to trade the Queens. Maybe he wants to prepare e5 at some point, but Kamsky will be able to get a decent counterplay over the b-file pretty soon.
13... Qxg3 14.hxg3 Position is all equal now.
14... a4 15.f3 Be6 ( Better than 15... Rb8 16.b3 axb3 17.axb3 because a-file will be open in any case and it is better to have Rook there.)
16.b3 16...Reb8!? or 16...Nd7!? with idea axb3, Ra2 and Nc5
16... Nd7 17.Re3 axb3 18.axb3 Ne5 19. Be2!? Ra2 20. Rc3. Maybe 18...Ra2 first was more precise.
19.Be2 Ra2 20.Rc3 c5 Obviously Kamsky was going after this position. 21. f4 Nc6! 22. Bb5 Nd4, so maybe 21. b4!? Nd7
21.b4!? 21...bxc4 is better than 21...Nd7 and then 22. Rxc7 Rc8! (22...b3!? 23. f4!)
21... cxb4 22. Rxc7 Rc8 23. Rxc8 Bxc8 with microscopic advantage for Black. Update: Players have agreed on draw in this position! Certainly good result for Kamsky who will have White pieces tomorrow. Carlsen's experiment with Scotch didn't give any advantage, he will have to find sharper opening for tomorrow's return match. Thank you for following live commentary, we continue the coverage in Shirov-Karjakin.
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