Willing to wound

But yet afraid to strike, as Alexander Pope would doubtless have described the first seven games of the World Championship currently in progress in New York. It is not that there has been a dearth of opportunity, just a frustrating lack of realisation. Like Marshall Grouchy at the Battle of Waterloo, no sooner are the players presented with an opportunity for advantage than they march briskly away from the sound of the cannons.
Take game five, for example.
 
Carlsen-Karjakin: World Championship, New York (Game 5) 2016
(see diagram 1)
 
Here Black has an excellent chance to exploit the windy position of White’s king with 43 … Rh8, when the following variation is forced: 43 … Rh8 44 Qe4 Qh6 45 Kf1 Qh1+ 46 Ke2 Bd5 47 Qf5+ Kb8 48 Qd3 Qa1. Here Black has an excellent position with very good winning chances. 43 … Bd5 44 e6 Giving back the pawn disrupts Black’s attack and, importantly, controls h8.