Grandmasters Pal Benko and Viktor Korchnoi have worn dark glasses to counter perceived hypnotic influence during games. In the recent Sinquefield tournament in St Louis, Hikaru Nakamura resorted to the same measure against Magnus Carlsen. In the past Naka has fared badly against Carlsen, but this time he held the draw. Maybe there is something in it… St Louis, by the way, is Carlsen’s last public preparation before his world title challenge to Anand next month.
Carlsen-Nakamura: Sinquefield Cup, St Louis 2013
Although Black has a slight material advantage, chances are balanced and neither side can make progress. 34 Qe7 Rxb7 35 cxb7 Rb8 36 Qd7 c5 37 Qc6 Kf6 38 Kh2 Ke7 39 Kg2 f5 40 Qc8 Qd6 41 e3 Kf6 42 Kh2 h5 Draw agreed
Carlsen-Aronian: Sinquefield Cup, St Louis 2013 (see diagram 2)
Here Black offered a draw and Carlsen astounded all the pundits by declining. 44 Nf2 Rd8 45 Ned3 Kb7 46 Ke2 Kb6 47 Ke3 Kb7 48 Nd1 Kc8 49 N1b2 Rd6 50 Ra1 Kd8 This is where Aronian goes wrong. 50 … Rd4 would have prevented White’s next. 51 Nc4 Nxc4+ 52 bxc4 Rb8 53 c5 Rd7 54 Rxa6 b3 This is somewhat desperate but 54 … Nd4 is met by the very strong 55 Ra8. 55 Rxc6 bxc2 56 Ne1 Ke7 57 Nxc2 Rb3+ 58 Ke2 Rb2 59 Rc1 Ra2 60 Ke3 Kf7 61 f4 Kf6 62 fxe5+ Kxe5 63 Ne1 Ra3+ 64 Kf2 Rd2+ 65 Kf1 Rd7 66 Nf3+ Kf4 67 Rxe6 g5 68 hxg5 Kg3 69 Rf6 Ra2 70 Ne5 Black resigns and Carlsen won the event.
Carlsen-Kamsky; Sinquefield Cup, St Louis 2013
The following exchange enables Carlsen to invade Black’s position with his major pieces. 34 Bxf6 Kxf6 35 Rc8 Qd6 36 Qh4+ Kf7 37 Qh5+ Rg6 38 f4 Qa3 39 Qh8 Rg7 40 Qh5+ Rg6 41 Qh8 Rg7 42 Qf8+ Kg6 43 Kxg2 Rgf7 44 Qd8 Rh7 45 Rg1 Qa2+ 46 Kf3+ Kf6 47 Qg8 Rh3+ 48 Rg3 Rxg3+ 49 Qxg3 Black resigns
This week’s puzzle is taken from a World Championship where the loser, Bogolyubov, feared that he was being hypnotised.
Comments
Join the debate for just £1 a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just £1 a monthAlready a subscriber? Log in