Game8 explained

1. e4 {Carlsen shifts from close openings.It was already time for him to come up with some change and he tests Anand in a King pawn.} e5 {Many expected Anand to go for a Sicilian but as the world champion explained in the post match conference, there are ways to keep the position dry in a Sicilian also. Probably Sicilian was what Magnus was hoping fortoo, given the match ituation.}2. Nf3 Nc63. Bb5 Nf6 {The Berlin. Anand gives Carlsen a taste of his own medicine. The Berlin has given Carlsen a victory with black pieces here in game six of the match. Anand goes about using it as black, a mild surprise for Carlsen. However, Anand has played this openingmany times in the last few years and also against Carlsen before. So not quite out of context.}4. O-O Nxe45. Re1 {Carlsen does not want to go for principled continuation and opts for something that has been analysed as well as is known to have some play for white.} Nd66. Nxe5 Be77. Bf1 Nxe5 {The exchange of the first minor piece signals further exchanges too. This is also the main line in this position.}8. Rxe5 O-O9. d4 Bf6 {Anand threatens the rook and gains time. White should move the rook back. It seems when Carlsen went for this variation, he did not mind a very dry position.}10. Re1 Re811. c3 Rxe112. Qxe1 Ne8 {Precise move by Anand. Black needs to get his light squared Bishop out to improve the position further. The Knight manoeuvre seems a bit passive but there are some fine printsattached to it.}13. Bf4 d514. Bd3 g6 {Black gets ready for further exchanges, Given the speed with which both were playing may be it was a part of the home work.}15. Nd2 Ng7 {Black is now ready to bringthe light square Bishop out to 'f5', its most preferred spot.}16. Qe2 c6 {It guards against a possible invasion by white on 'b5' by the queen}17. Re1 Bf518. Bxf5 Nxf519. Nf3 Ng720. Be5 Ne6 {Almost effortless moves byAnand. The Indian ace has managed to keep the position completely equal and not given anything away to Carlsen.}21. Bxf6 Qxf622. Ne5 Re8 {The prelude to final exchanges.}23. Ng4 Qd824. Qe5 Ng725. Qxe8+ {A little trick by Carlsen that forces a king and pawns endgame.} Nxe826. Rxe8+ Qxe827. Nf6+ Kf828. Nxe8 Kxe8 {Its just over now. Carlsenis happy to close in on the world title while Anand is happy that he was not exerted as black at all.}29. f4 f530. Kf2 b531. b4 Kf732. h3 h633. h4 h5 {The position is completely locked now. Draw. The ninth game will now be played on Thursday and one can expect Anand to play all out for a victory.}