Game 4 of the World Championship Match has just concluded, and since the endgame was of interest to me I decided to created a thread dedicated to the analysis of it. Feel free to disagree, and to comments with your thoughts on the endgame.
World Championship Game 4 Endgame Analysis
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Wb G4 instead of 46.Kg6??
QMANQ3 wrote:
Wb G4 instead of 46.Kg6??
Well I assume you mean 42. g4 instead of 42. Kg6.
Firstly it breaks the rule that you need to keep your pawns on your opponent's bishops colour. Secondly the only workable plan for black after g4 is Bg5 (Bb6 needs to be played to support f4). After 42. g4 43. Bf4! (43. g3!? Bg5! and Kd1 is forced to protect c1, Bf4 doesn't impress at all (it's just lose) 43. Bg5 (the only real plan for black as mentioned earlier) 44. Ke3! (44. Bxg5 is too early, after Kxg5 white needs two new tempos) and now I believe white has a fortress. He plays g3, (or Nh1-g3), and if black doesn't move the bishop back (only plan remember?), 45. Bxg5! Kxg5 46. g3 and well, b2 is almost impossible to exploit.
Nov 16, 2016
0
#5
This is an interesting piece of analysis. I don't see where you disagreed with the engine jockeys on other sites though.
For example, even though the engines apparently didn't like it, I think 37.h4 was an inspired defense. Karjakin recognized a possible fortress and went straight for it. The real question was whether or not there was a hole in the fortress.
Peter Svidler and Eric Hansen pointed out that the engines don't understand the nature of Karjakin's defense, which was to build a fortress. There was one interesting line in the 45...fg 46.Ne3 Be6 variation where White may have had some trouble getting his N to the right squares (f2 in some lines) for his fortress, but you didn't mention that at all.
Even after 45...f4, there were still some winning chances, but the entire endgame may have been drawn with best play for both sides. If that's the case, perhaps giving Carlsen a "?" for 45...f4 is a bit harsh. 45...fg was probably the critical move, but if there isn't a way through in that line either...
Again, this was an interesting analysis!
f4?? was definitely an oversight, although in hindsight, its understandable considering the marathon game the day before.
Karjakin is not in very good form. To get such a position with White is surprising for a top 10 player. In game 3, Carlsen was the one with chances to win despite his rubbish Re2 move early on. If this keeps up, Carlsen will have no problem sealing his defence of the title by a small lead.
SmyslovFan wrote:
This is an interesting piece of analysis. I don't see where you disagreed with the engine jockeys on other sites though.
For example, even though the engines apparently didn't like it, I think 37.h4 was an inspired defense. Karjakin recognized a possible fortress and went straight for it. The real question was whether or not there was a hole in the fortress.
Peter Svidler and Eric Hansen pointed out that the engines don't understand the nature of Karjakin's defense, which was to build a fortress. There was one interesting line in the 45...fg 46.Ne3 Be6 variation where White may have had some trouble getting his N to the right squares (f2 in some lines) for his fortress, but you didn't mention that at all.
Even after 45...f4, there were still some winning chances, but the entire endgame may have been drawn with best play for both sides. If that's the case, perhaps giving Carlsen a "?" for 45...f4 is a bit harsh. 45...fg was probably the critical move, but if there isn't a way through in that line either...
Again, this was an interesting analysis!
I don't really care about the engine suggestions or evaluations. I watched the game, and flicked on the engine every 5 move or so, but only for an evaluation. After f4 I didn't both turning it on at all. I dislike h4 because it give Carlsen too much rope to work with. For starters, the weak g4 square. The weak h4 pawn is another. I don't think Karjakin has any fortresses yet. I think that the pawn was better on h3, and a fortress closer there.
Regarding f4, I don't see any realistic winning chances. I would argue that the weaknesses are two to one (b2, g4, and g5), and so Karjakin should always be able to defend due to ability to defend b2 with his king, defend g4 with his knight, and bolster d4/potentially attack g5 with his dsb. Also I am of the opinion that Carlsen had better options prior to move 45 (Bd5/Bb6/xg4 and king infiltration).