Psephology

The polls are in for next month’s big event in the USA and Magnus Carlsen has emerged the clear favourite in his world title defence against Sergey Karjakin. Indeed, the Norwegian world champion leads by five wins to one in the classical format used in New York. The match is organised by Agon and the prize fund is ‘at least one million euros’. See worldchess.com/nyc2016 for details of new technology to follow the games online, as well as New York travel packages. This week, extracts of play from previous bouts between the pair.
 
Karjakin-Carlsen; Norway Chess, Stavanger 2013
(see diagram 1)
 
White had stood well but Carlsen coordinated his forces impressively and now tears into Karjakin’s kingside. 33 … Nxf4 34 Rxd6 If 34 gxf4 Bxf4+ 35 Kh1 Rxe4 gives a murderous attack. 34 … Nxg6 35 Rxe6 Rxe6 36 Bd4 f5 37 e5 Nxe5 This wins a pawn as White is too hamstrung by the threats on the h1-a8 diagonal to organise his forces.