Just before the London Classic, Magnus Carlsen and Judith Polgar contested a four-game match under speed and blindfold conditions as part of the Gran Fiesta of chess at UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico) in Mexico City. Supported by the enterprising Mexican Chess Federation, the festival’s highlight was this clash between the top-ranked player and the highest-rated female player of all time. This week, a game and puzzle from the encounter.
Polgar-Carlsen: Second Gran Fiesta, Mexico City (blindfold game) 2012; Pirc Defence
1 e4 d6 2 d4 Nf6 3 Nc3 g6 4 f4 Bg7 5 Bd3 White chooses an unusual move order which Carlsen swiftly seeks to exploit. 5 … c5 6 d5 0-0 7 Nf3 Na6 8 0-0 Rb8 9 a4 Bg4 10 h3 Bxf3 11 Qxf3 Nb4 (see diagram 1) White has the bishop pair but Black’s queenside counterplay gives the world number one a promising position.
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