Through glasses darkly

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.