About the series
Miniatures to Memorize is a series of short games (30 moves or fewer) that I highly recommend beginner- and intermediate-level players to commit to memory. Some games show how to quickly punish your opponent’s natural-looking but inaccurate moves, while others demonstrate how easily you can go wrong and completely blunder your game. Even if you’re in the world top 20.
Follow along on a physical chess set. I cannot stress this enough. Only if you don’t have one right now, go to the lichess study.
Why should you memorize this game?
As White
This game is a model of positional suffocation: control squares, restrict counterplay, and push forward only when the opponent has no air left. It shows how pawn structure dictates the entire game, and how patience and timing can be more lethal than direct tactics. The pawn wedge on e6 restricted Black’s entire kingside and gave White permanent initiative.
As Black
This is a lesson in restraint. Black’s central thrust with …d5 seemed active but created long-term weaknesses. Overextending when the opponent is better placed to exploit structural flaws can fast become dangerous.
Not enough Oxygen?
By 2012, Magnus Carlsen was already the world’s number one and the inevitable challenger to Anand’s crown. Anand, reigning World Champion, was respected for his deep opening preparation and pragmatic style. This game was part of the Grand Slam Final, a double-round robin featuring the world’s elite.
The narrative was compelling: Carlsen, known for squeezing life from modest positions, takes on Anand, who preferred concrete calculation and solid counterpunches. Here, Carlsen demonstrated how to grind down even the most resilient defense, using space and pressure to suffocate Anand’s counterplay. It’s not a flashy sacrificial miniature, but rather a masterclass in steadily increasing tension until Black collapses.
Pull out your chess set
If you don’t have one, or it is super-inconvenient right now, follow along on Chessgames.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7
The Moscow Variation. White gives up the bishop pair early but inflicts structural imbalance.
5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 g6 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bg7
The center sharpens. Anand adopts a fianchetto setup, aiming for solidity.
9.f3 Qc7 10.b3 Qa5 11.Bb2 Nc6 12.O-O O-O
Both sides develop. Carlsen’s setup is slow-burning: control squares, avoid weaknesses.
13.Nce2 Rfd8 14.Bc3 Qb6 15.Kh1 d5
Anand seeks active play by striking in the center. This is principled — waiting would only let Carlsen squeeze.
16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Qe1 Rdc8 18.e5 Ne8 19.e6 fxe6
Carlsen shoves forward. The e6-pawn cramps Black’s kingside. Anand accepts structural damage, hoping activity compensates.
Side-line: If 19…fxe6 20.Nf4, as in the game, White keeps the initiative. If instead 19…d4, then 20.Ba5 Qa6 21.Nf4 leaves Black tied down to weaknesses.
20.Nf4 Bxc3 21.Qxc3 d4 22.Qd2 c5
Carlsen calmly regroups. His knight dominates on f4, while Black’s pieces are passive, chained to defense.
23.Rae1 Ng7 24.g4 Rc6 25.Nh3 Ne8
Carlsen swings his knight toward g5. Anand tries to untangle, but his knights are clumsy and defensive.
26.Qh6 Nf6 27.Ng5 d3
Anand lashes out with a pawn thrust, but it is desperate. Carlsen’s attack is already overwhelming.
28.Re5 Kh8 29.Rd1 Qa6 30.a4 1-0 Black Resigns.
Anand’s pieces are utterly paralyzed: the d3 pawn is blockaded, his king is unsafe, and Carlsen’s rook lift will soon crash through.
From my Chess Preparation Journal, dated 14-April-2023
Minakhi Misra 