All Photos are Courtesy of Brian C Glover. 

Game 2 of the World Chess Championship saw an exciting opening with a mainline Ruy Lopez but the pressure fizzled out and ended in a draw. The challenger, Sergey Karjakin, had the White pieces and the advantage of going first. The World Champion, Magnus Carlsen, defended skillfully avoiding his usual Berlin Wall Defense and any preparation that Karjakin cooked up in lab. Karjakin also chose a safe line that gave Black few chances for counter play. The players seemed to still be feeling each other out and neither player seemed to be in much trouble. Both games of the World Chess Championship 2016 have now ended in draws. 

Here is some analysis of the game: 

Karjakin,Sergey (2772) - Carlsen,Magnus (2853)

Carlsen-Karjakin World Chess Championship 2016

New York, New York - 12.11.2016

 

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 [A surprise! The world was expecting to see a Berlin with 3... Nf6. This has been the major battle ground over the past 15 years. Carlsen side steps it in order to get Karjakin out of the bulk of his preparation.]

 

4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Be7 6.d3 [The mainline is 6. Re1 which does not commit d-pawn immediately.]

 

6...b5 7.Bb3 d6 [Protecting the e-pawn and opening up for the light squared bishop to come into the game.]

 

8.a3 [The 3rd most played line for good reason. It does not quite put a significant challenge to Black. Carlsen can now easily develop and the game is very equal.]

 

8...0–0 9.Nc3 Na5 10.Ba2 [Part of the point a3]

 

10...Be6 11.d4 Bxa2 12.Rxa2 [I am not convinced that this variation makes much sense if White is fighting for an advantage. The Rook on a2 is misplaced. But, White does still have the center.]

 

12...Re8 13.Ra1 Nc4 14.Re1 Rc8 [A strange move by Carlsen as the Rook does no specific job on c8 other than over supporting a possible c5 push. But, perhaps Carlsen was playing a waiting move as it is not clear how White can proceed and fight for the advantage.]

 

15.h3 h6 16.b3 [After making Luft (German a word for air or space) for their kings Karjakin decides to develop the Bishop to the a1–h8 diagonal.]

 

16...Nb6 17.Bb2 Bf8 [GM Huschenbeth considers this the pivotal point where Karjakin could have kept pressing with a move like Qd3. By taking on e5, the tension and central control for White is gone and the game is essentially equal.]

 

18.dxe5 dxe5 19.a4 c6 20.Qxd8 Rcxd8 21.axb5 axb5 22.Ne2 [Karjakin tries to engage in some complication which Carlsen easily sidesteps.]

 

22...Bb4 [22...Nxe4 23.Bxe5 Bc5 24.Bd4=]

 

23.Bc3 Bxc3 24.Nxc3 Nbd7 25.Ra6 Rc8 26.b4 [stopping any b4 moves]

 

26...Re6 27.Rb1 c5 28.Rxe6 fxe6 29.Nxb5 cxb4 30.Rxb4 Rxc2 [It seems that Black's e-pawns are weak but they do not really hurt Black. With pawns only on 1 side, the position is entirely equal.]

 

31.Nd6 Rc1+ 32.Kh2 Rc2 33.Kg1 [Carlsen offers a draw and Karjakin accepts as there is really no other way to defend the f2 pawn.]

 

½–½