Zenón Fra co

nan
move by move
About this publication

Viswanathan Anand is undoubtedly one of the World's greatest ever chess players. He
first shot to fame in his youth, when he enthralled the chess public with his results and
his amazing speed of play. He became lndia's first ever grandmaster, at the age of
eighteen. He has won five World Championships, and was the undisputed World
Champion from 2007 to 2013. He's been the World number one ranked player and one
of the very few to break the 2800 rating barrier. His renowned versatility has help him
to become successful in all forms of the game: tournament play, match play, knockout
and rapidplay.

In this book, Grandmaster Zenón Franco examines in detail Anand's chess career to
date. He selects and studies his favourite Anand games, and demonstrates clearly how
we can all improve our chess by learning from Anand's play.

Move by Move provides an ideal platform to study chess. By continually challenging

the reader to answer probing questions throughout the book, the Move by Move
format greatly encourages the learning and practising of vital skills just as much as the
traditional assimilation of knowledge. Carefully selected questions and answers are
designed to keep you actively involved and allow you to monitor your progress as you
learn. This is an excellent way to improve your chess skills and knowledge.

• Learn from the games of a chess legend

• lmportant ideas absorbed by continued practice

• Utilizes an ideal approach to chess study

Zenón Franco is a Grandmaster from Paraguay, now living in Spain. He represented

Paraguay, on top board, in seven Chess Olympiads, and won individual gold medals at
Lucerne 1982 and Novi Sad 1990. He's an experienced trainer and has written
numerous books on chess.

2
Publisher lnformation

Anand: Move By Move

by Zenón Franco

First published in 2014 by Gloucester Publishers Limited, Northburgh House, 10

Northburgh Street, London ECl V OAT.

Copyright © 2014 Zenón Franco

Translated by Phil Adams

The right of Zenón Franco to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted
in accordance with the Copyrights, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic
tape, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

All other sales enquiries should be directed to Everyman Chess, Northburgh House, 10
Northburgh Street, London ECl V OAT
email: info@everymanchess.com
website: www.everymanchess.com

Everyman is the registered trade mark of Random House lnc. and is used in this work
under licence from Random House lnc.

For Yudania

EVERVMAN CHESS SERIES

Chief Advisor: Byron Jacobs
Commissioning Editor: John Emms
Assistant Editor: Richard Palliser

3
Series Foreword

The Move by Move format is designed to be interactive, and is based on questions

asked by both teachers and students. lt aims - as much as possible - to replicate chess
lessons. All the way through, readers will be challenged to answer searching questions
and to complete exercises, to test their skills in key aspects of the game. lt's our firm
belief that practising your skills like this is an excellent way to study chess.

Many thanks go to all those who have been kind enough to offer inspiration, advice
and assistance in the creation of Move by Move. We're really excited by this series and
hope that readers will share our enthusiasm.

John Emms,
Everyman Chess

4
Anand: Move By Move
by Zenón Franco

Contents

1 ntroduction ............................................................................................ 7

Viswanathan Anand's Style ..................................................................... 9

Game l. First encounter with Karpov .................................................... 25

Game 2. First great triumph in a historie tournament ......•..................•.. 30

Game 3. First important match .............................................................. 36

Game 4. The start of the schism ............................................................ 42

Game 5. Anand's first match for the world title .............•....................•.. 47

Game 6. Once more battling with Kasparov and Karpov •....................•.. 52

Game 7. "An effort of which 1 am very proud" ...............•....................•.. 58

Game 8. Second world title match, in unequal conditions ..................•.. 62

Game 9. World Champion for the first time .•.................•....................•.. 67

Game 10. "The Hammer of Thor" .......................................................... 72

Game 11. Second triumph in the FIDE World Cup •.........••..................••.. 76

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Game 12. First outright victory in Wijk aan Zee ..................................... 81

Game 13. World Championship in San Luis ............................................ 86

Game 14. More great preparation on display at Wijk aan Zee ............... 91

Game 15. In the land of the World Champion ........................................ 95

Game 16. The start of the Anand vs. Carlsen rivalry ............................ 100

Game 17. World Champion for the second time .................................. 106

Game 18. The rival who most influenced Anand's victory .................... 112

Game 19. World Champion for the third time ..................................... 119

Game 20. Thinking again about the title match ................................... 126

Game 21. Triumph in the Bundesliga ................................................... 131

Game 22. World Champion for the fourth time ................................... 134

Game 23. Lasker's Defence strikes again ............................................. 141

Game 24. Homework pays off ............................................................. 147

Game 25. World Champion for the fifth time ...................................... 151

Game 26. "One for the ages" ............................................................... 155

Game 27. An encouraging triumph in preparation for the match ......... 160

Game 28. 110ne of those dream Najdorfs11 ........................................... 165

Game 29. Last tournament in preparation for the match ..................... 171

Game 30. Once again the taste of victory ............................................ 178

Game 31. The most difficult opponent ................................................ 184

Game 32. A game where "each move had its point11 ............................ 190

6
lntroduction

lt was with great pleasure that 1 took on the task of writing about Viswanathan ('Vishy')
Anand, the most successful World Chess Champion of this century. Anand is the first
and only world champion who has gained the title by competing in three different
types of competition: the 2000 event used a system of knock-out matches, 2007 was a
double-round all-play-all, and in 2008, 2010 and 2012 he gained (or retained) the title
by winning a traditional head-to-head match.

Anand was born on the 11th of December 1969 in Chennai, India and learned chess at
the age of six. He quickly made a name for himself, gaining the IM title in 1984,
winning the lndian Championship in Mumbai in 1986, at age 16, and the World Junior
Championship in Baguio City in 1987, becoming lndia's first GM the following year. In
2000 he was proclaimed, for the first time, the outright World Champion, winning a
tournament made up of a series of knock-out matches; in the final, played in Tehran,
he defeated Alexei Shirov.

Anand gained his title at a time when there were still two world championship systems
running in parallel: an unofficial title held by Garry Kasparov, and the official FIDE one,
which Anand won. Kasparov retired from serious competition at the end of the 2005
Linares tournament, at which time the unofficial world title was held by Vladimir
Kramnik, who had defeated Kasparov in 2000. Nevertheless, Kasparov is reputed to
have turned to Anand and said something like: "l'm handing the batan over to you
now."

Anand was unable to live up to this on the occasion of his next championship event, in
San Luis 2005, which was won by Veselin Topalov. However, 2007 saw Anand make a
big step forward and, in the Elo ratings list published on April lst of that year, Anand
occupied the top spot for the first time; he was 38 years old, and had been one of the
top three players in the world for the previous fifteen years.

The "batan" handed on by Kasparov was finally grasped later that year, when Anand
was proclaimed World Champion for the second time, after winning the all-play-all
tournament in Mexico City, which had been set up to decide the holder of the now
reunified world title.

Anand successfully defended his title three times in matches, beating Kramnik in Bonn
in 2008, Topalov in Sofia in 2010, and Gelfand in Moscow in 2012.

At the end of 2013 Anand lost his title to Magnus Carlsen in a match held in Chennai.
However, in November 2014 he will have the opportunity to become world champion
for the sixth time. Anand has qualified as Carlsen's official challenger by convincingly
winning the Candidates Tournament held in Khanty-Mansiysk (Russia) in March 2014.

7
The structure of this book

This book is a little different from the majority of its predecessors in the Move by
Move series. First, we shall make a brief appraisal of Viswanathan Anand's style,
followed by a section in which we highlight sorne facets of Anand's play, with positions
that can be used for training purposes. As 1 mentioned in my previous book for
Everyman, it's a proven fact that sorne form of active learning is much more effective
than merely receiving information passively.

The bulk of the book, the most important part, comes next. lt contains 32 of Anand's
best games, presented in chronological arder, along with reminders of the most
important moments in his chess career. The selected games start in 1991 and
culminate with 2014 Candidates Tournament.

As usual in the Move by Move series, the games are sprinkled with questions and
exercises.

Wherever possible 1 have also used Anand's own annotations (and those from other
leading masters) since there can be no better guide, but 1 have generally expanded
these, since very often what is obvious to a World Champion often requires further
clarification to the student.

On a final note 1 should like to say that it's been a real pleasure to write a book about
one of the best chess players of all time, someone who is furthermore a sociable and
intelligent man with a great sense of humour, as can be seen from any of his
interviews, and as 1 had the good fortune to be able to appreciate during the many
tournaments Anand has contested in Spain.

1 hope this book will help you understand a little better and admire even more the
wonderful chess legacy of the five-time World Chess Champion, a legacy which is still
incomplete.

GM Zenón Franco Ocampos

September 2014

8
Viswanathan Anand's Style

When he achieved the title of World Champion for the second time, in Mexico in 2007,
Anand didn't know how best to describe his playing style, although he highlighted the
ability to be flexible as one of his strengths; that is, being able to adapt to changing
situations.

As examples, he cited the way he had played in the tournament: good positional play
in his victories over Svidler and Grischuk; a good opening idea in his win against
Aronian; and sound defence in an inferior rook ending against Grischuk in the
penultimate round, when he was clase to defeat.

Lubomir Kavalek believes that Anand is the most versatile world champion ever, which
agrees with Anand's own sentiments. In a book of Anand's best games, John Nunn
commented that he had always admired Anand's play for its apparently simple logic,
which often causes difficulties for even very strong opponents right from the opening.
Nunn points out that Anand shuns unnecessary tactical complications on principie, but
if he believes it is the right thing to do, he does not avoid them.

lf Anand's style resembles that of anyone from the past, it undoubtedly reminds us of
Fischer, in that he's the complete player, his grasp of tactics is extraordinary, and with
brilliant positional play he is at home in any type of position; all this complemented by
exquisite endgame technique.

In 2006, Anand played in a tournament in Reykjavik, the venue for the legendary
encounter in 1972 between Fischer and Spassky, which did so much to spread the
popularity of chess. Fischer was also living in Reykjavik at that time, since he had been
granted lcelandic citizenship. Anand expressed an interest in visiting Fischer and, after
much preparation, the meeting took place. One of the first questions Fischer put to
Anand was the startling "Why has someone as intelligent as you devoted himself to
chess?", almost as a reproach. Anand was very surprised and confessed later, half
jokingly, that he hadn't dared answer with the truth, especially there in lceland, in the
most appropriate place possible: "Because of you !"

Prizes

Anand has received many national and international awards. He has won the Chess
Osear on six occasions: 1997, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2008.

In 1991-92 he received the inaugural Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, lndia's highest
sporting honour, and in 1998 the Millennium Sportstar Award, from lndia's most
important sports magazine, for being the sportsman of the millennium. This last is an
achievement of great importance in a country with 1.2 billion inhabitants, where the
most popular sports are cricket and hockey.

9
In 2007 he was awarded the second highest civil honour in India, the Padma
Vibhushan, becoming the first sportsman to receive this prize in his country's history.
In 2011 he received the Global Strategist Award from the National Association of
Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) for winning world championships in all
formats of chess competition. In 2012 he was named Best lndian Sportsman of the
Year, and lndian of the Year.

lntroduction to Anand's games

Befare going on to analyse complete games by Anand, as an introduction let's look at

sorne examples of his skill in specific stages of the chess struggle. You can, if you wish,
use them as training, asking yourself what you would play, after reading the first
paragraph and covering the text that follows (that is, of course, if you are reading a
paper version of this book).

Anand on the Attack

The five-time world champion has produced many beautiful and instructive games
featuring an attack on the opponent's king. Here are three examples:

Anand,V - Ye Jiangchuan [B81]

Asian Team Championship, Kuala Lumpur, 1989

White to play

We're in a typical Sicilian Defence position; the black king must seek refuge on the
queenside, since it's not safe in the centre or on the kingside. lf White plays a routine
move such as 15 Kbl, Black won't play 15... Nxh5? because, after 16 Bxh5 Rxh5 17 Bxe7
Nxe7 18 Rxg7, the opening of the game endangers his king. lnstead, he would play
15... 0-0-0.

Is there any way to ínter/ere with Black's plans?

15.hG!

10
This is the start of an energetic sequence of moves, after which the black king will be
unable to find a safe haven. lt's astonishing how quickly the game now sharpens and
combinations start to appear, sorne typical of the Sicilian and sorne not.

15 ...gxhG
[15...g6 is no better: Anand pointed out that, after 16.Qf4 In the event of 16...Nxd4,
White can choose between (16...e5, the sacrifice 17.Bxf6! exf4 18.Bxh8 is very strong,
and 18...0-0-0 is answered by 19.Bg7}) 17.Bxf6 (and the same combination as above:
17.Rxd4 e5 18.Bxf6, which looks even stronger) 17...Nxe2+ 18.Nxe2.]

16.BxfG!
This is the second key move; it's worth noting that one of the ideas behind 15 h6! was
to weaken d6.

16...BxfG 17.NfS!!
This typical Sicilian sacrifice is the culmination of White's idea.

17...Be7?!
[Now 17...exf5 is answered by 18.Nd5 Qd8 and, finally, the artistic blow 19.Qxh6!;
lnstead, 17...0-0-0 loses material after 18.Nxd6+ Kb8 19.Nxf7 Bxc3 20.bxc3! (but not
20.Qxc3? on account of 20...Qf4+ and...Qxf7}; or if 17...Be5 then 18.f4 exf5 19.fxe5,
followed by 20 Nd5, will be very strong.; The most tenacious defence was 17...Kf8.
Then after 18.Nxd6, the position of the black king gives White the advantage, but Black
can still fight.]

18.Nxe7 Kxe7
[On 18...Nxe7 Anand said that White would be better, after either the violent 19.Rg7!
(preventing Black from castling queenside) (or the quiet 19.BhS} 19...Qc5 (hoping to
expel the g7-rook with...Qe5) and now there is a beautiful line analysed by Anand:
20.f4 (as well as 20.Qf4 Rf8 21.Rxd6 with an edge for White) 20...Ng6 21.e5 Kf8
22.Rxg6 fxg6 23.Ne4 Qd5 24.Qe3 Qxa2 25.Rxd6 Qal+ 26.Kd2 Qa5+ 27.c3 Qc7 28.Qd4!
Rd8 29.Nc5 Ke7 30.f5!! exf5 31.Rxg6 Be8 32.Re6+ Kf8 33.Rd6!. lt's admirable that
twenty-five years after this analysis by Anand, today's analysis engines fail to find fault
with it.]How can White keep up the pressure?

19.Rg3!
Heading for d3 with a clear target in view: the d6-pawn.

19... bs 20.Qf4
[Here 20.Rd3 was still effective, but Anand is after more than just the capture of the
d6-pawn; he's trying to attack the black king from another direction.]

20...RadS
[lf now 20...b4, then 21.e5! dxe5 22.Qh4+ Ke8 23.Qf6 (23.BhS wins as well) 23...Rf8
24.Bh5 (threatening 25 Bxf7+) 24...Bc8 25.Ne4 Nd4 26.Bxf7+! wins (Anand).]

11
21.Qh4+ Ke8
And now?

22.BxbS!
Another typical Sicilian attacking idea! There were other effective continuations, but
this is the prettiest.

22... NeS
The bishop is immune from capture on account of Nxb5 and Nxd6+, but now Black will
face the onslaught of all White's forces, without even the consolation of a material
advantage. The rest is an execution.

23.Be2 QcS 24.BhS Rf8 25.f4 Nc6 26.eS

[26.Nd5 with the same idea (26...exd5 27.Bxf7+! ) was also good.]

26...dS 27.Bxf7+! Rxf7 28.Rg8+ Qf8 [lf 28 ... Rf8 then 29.Qh5+ mates quickly.] 29.Rxf8+
Rxf8 30.QhS+ Ke7 31.Qxh6 1-0

Anand,V - Polgar,J [B06]

Monte Cario (rapid), 1996

White to play

Anand decided to comment in depth on this rapidplay game in the book of his best
games. After a complicated struggle of attacks and counter-attacks, a critica! position
has been reached.

This is not the moment for passive play; if White retreats with 25 Be2, Black continues
with the simple 25...Nd7 and the vital e5-pawn falls. lt would also be inaccurate to
accept the offered pawn with 25 bxc4 dxc4 26 Bxc4, as after 26...Qd4 27 Bd3 Nd5,
Black's pieces become extremely active.

Finally, if White simplifies with 25 exf6 Bxf6 26 Rxe7 Bxe7, he is torced to continue 27
Bg5, but then Black seizes the initiative with 27...Bxg5 28 Qxg5 cxd3 29 Nh5 Re2 and
the black bishop is ready to take up an active role after ...d5-d4.

12
How should White continue instead?

25.Nf5!
A knock-out blow; the capture of the knight, opening the g-file, is forced.

25...gxf5
[lf Black tries 25...cxd3 instead, then White has 26.Nxg7!.]

26.Bxf5 d4
[The retreat 26...Nd7 is not possible, since after 27.Qh7+ Kf8 28.Rgl, the opening of
the g-file proves decisive.]

27.Re2
This rook heads for g2, while the other one guards f3. [Nevertheless, it would also have
been very strong to play 27.exf6 Qxf6 (or 27...Bxf3+ 28.Kgl, winning a piece) 28.Rxe7
Rxe7 29.Bh7+! Kf8 30.BgS and White wins.]

27...d3
[27...NdS loses once again to 28.Qh7+ Kf8 29.Rgl (or29.Rg2) and if 29...f6 then
30.Bh6.]

28.Rg2 Rxe5 29.Rxg7+! Kf8

[29...Kxg7 loses the queen for insufficient material after 30.Bh6+! Kh8 31.Be3+ Kg8
32.QgS+ Kf8 33.Bxb6.]

30.QhG Re2
How should White continue now? There are several tempting continuations, but the
discovered check is obviously the first one to consider.

31.bxc4!!
"I am very proud of this move which was the main reason why 1 selected this game,"
wrote Anand. [How did he come to choose this winning line? Let's hand over to Anand
himself: "Basically, 1 quickly rejected 31.Rg6+ followed by 31...Ke7 32.Rxf6 because of
32...Bxf3+. Judit had gone much further in this line, but 1 couldn't be bothered, 1
wanted something cleaner... 1 noticed Rg2+ followed by Rxe2 and 1 also saw bxc4 in
connection with the move c5 disturbing the black queen. Suddenly 1 realized that the
d3-pawn could not move! Bingo!" (Forced to calculate, he would surely have seen that
32...Rg8! is stronger; i.e. 33.Rxb6? Bxf3+! and mates.)]

31...d2?
Now the rook is lost and it's easy for White. [31...Ke7 was more tenacious, but after
32.Bxd3! Rf2, Anand pointed out the winning shot 33.Rxf7+! (33.Bd6+! Qxd6 34.Rxf2
also wins) 33...Kxf7 34.Qg6+ Ke7 (if 34...Ke6 then 35.BfS+ Ke7 36.Qgl+ Kd8 37.Rdl+,
followed by mate) 35.Rel+! Kd8 36.Rxe8+ Nxe8 37.BgS+ and the black king is

13
defenceless against the attack by three white pieces; e.g. 37... Kc7 38.Qf7+ Kb8
39.Qxe8+ Bc8 40.Bf4+ Kb7 41.Qf7+ Ka6 42.c5+.]

32.Rg2+ 1-0

Anand,V - Bologan,V [B17]

Dortmund, 2003

White to play

This game featured a strong new idea in the opening by Anand. Now the exposed
position of Black's king encourages the search for an immediate combinative solution,
but there is nothing clear. lf White rushes in with 21 Rxe6, Black has 21...Ne5! 22 Nxe5
Bxe6 23 Qf3 Bxe5! 24 Qxa8+ Kg7 25 Qe4 f5 26 Qf3 Kg6, followed by ...Qh7, with good
compensation for the pawn, according to Anand.

Neither is 21 Be7+ Kg8 22 Re4 effective: even though it threatens 23 Qxg7+! Kxg7 24
Rg4+ Kh6 25 Bg5+ Kg7 26 Bd8+, Black can beat off the attack with 22...f5! 23 Qg6 Rh6
24 Qe8+ Nf8 25 Rxd4 Bb7 and the pressure has evaporated.

So how shou/d White continue?

21.Radl!!
"This is an especially clear example of the principie of moving all your pieces into
attacking positions before cutting loose with sacrifices," explained Anand.

21... Bb7
Black wants to counter-attack against the white king, but the weakening of the e6-
square means that the tactics now work for White. However, at this point Anand
thought that Black no longer had a good defence in any case. [For instance, if 21...Nc5
then 22.Bf4 Qd8 (or 22... eS 23.Qxgl+} 23.Qg3 is very strong, with an unstoppable
initiative.; Waiting moves such as 21...a6 (or 21...a5) also fail to inspire confidence,
since White simply has too many pieces in play.

22.Rxe6!
14
Now White has enough pieces in play to guarantee the success of his attack. The
bishop has left c8, so it can't later capture on e6 (as in the note with 21 Rxe6 above).

22...fxe6
[Black has only a single check after 22...Bxf3 23.Qxf3 Qh2+ 24.Kfl and Black's position
collapses.]

23.Be7+! Kxe7 24.Qxg7+ Kd6 25.Nxd4!

White's pieces cooperate beautifully, and the rook on dl now comes into its own, as
Anand pointed out.

25...QcS 26.BfS
This wins; [although there was a quicker finish with 26.NbS+ Kc6 27.Be2! Rad8 28.b4!
and Black has to play 28...QxbS, losing easily after 29.BxbS+ KxbS 30.Rxd7.; Even in a
winning position one must stay alert. Here 26.BbS?? runs into 26...Rhl+! (this was the
hidden idea behind 25 ...QcS) 27.Kxhl QhS+ 28.Kgl Qxdl+ and Black wins.]

26...QeS 27.Nf3+ QdS 28.Qg3+ Ke7 29.RxdS BxdS

Black is now behind on material, with two rooks for a queen and two pawns; in
addition his king is exposed, so he is unable to mount any serious resistance.

30.QgS+ Kd6 31.Qf4+ Ke7 32.Be4 RhS 33.Nh4 Rg8 34.Ng6+ Kd8 35.Qf7 Re8 36.Bd3 1-0
[36.Bd3 threatened BbS; while if 36...Bc6, then Anand gives 37.Nf8 Res 38.Nxd7 Rel+
39.Kh2 Bxd7 40.Qf6+ Re7 41.g4 and Black's position is hopeless.]

Anand in the Middlegame

Now let's look at Anand's masterly handling of the middlegame, with three examples,
all very different, of his skill in attack, defence and counter-attack.

Speelman,J - Anand,V [E18]

Novi Sad Olympiad, 1990

Black to play

15
The position isn't looking good for Black: White is a pawn up and has active pieces on
the kingside, whereas the queen is the only active black piece at the moment. On the
other hand, the knight on c3 is hanging, and capturing it is clearly the first option to be
considered.

How should Block continue?

26 ... Ng4!
Black wants to show that, although the white pieces are hovering menacingly around
his king, they've also left their own monarch rather short of defenders. [26...Qxc3? was
bad, since after 27.Rxf7! Rxf7 (no better is 27... Nhl 28.RxfB+ NxfB 29.aS Qb4 30.QaB,
followed by a5-a6 etc) 28.Qxe6, White has three pawns for the piece as well as a
strong passed pawn on a4 which will complicate the coordination of Black's defence;
e.g. 28...Qd2 29.Qxf7+ Kh8 30.Ne6 Qd7 31.Qxg7+ Qxg7 32.Nxg7 Kxg7 33.aS, when this
pawn will tie down the black knight, and White will continue with e2-e4 and f2-f4,
soon creating two decisive passed pawns on the kingside with Kf3 and g3-g4.]

27.Qa7
[With the black queen still on d2, 27.Rxf7 Rxf7 28.Qxe6 is no longer advantageous for
White, because of 28...Qd7! and Black can resist after 29.Qxf7+ Qxf7 30.Nxf7 Bxc3!.; lt
would be even worse for White to persist with the idea of Rxf7 by playing 27.Nce4
Qxe2 28.Rxf7?, since after 28...Rxf7 29.Qxe6, Black can turn the tables with the simple
29...NeS! (and 29... Ne3+ 30.Kh2 Qxc4 holds as well.)]

27... Ne3+! 1/2-1/2

The only move to force a draw. [In contrast, 27... Bxc3? loses to 28.Rxf7! Ne3+ 29.Kh3!.;
Here a draw was agreed in view of 27...Ne3+ 28.fxe3 Bxc3 29.Rxf7 (not 29.Kf3? Qdl
and the white king is defenceless) 29...Qxe2+ 30.Kh3 Qg4+ with perpetua! check.]

Kasimdzhanov,R - Anand,V [C88]

German League, 2006

Block to play

16
At first sight there's not much to choose between the two sides. White's structure is
worse, but Black has a badly placed knight. lf he could improve the position of his
knight, that would change things.

How should Block continue?

17 ...QdG!
A strange-looking move, taking even the d6-square away from the knight. "Of course
not...d6. Black now benefits from the d6-square" was Anand's comment. [lf 17...Nb7,
White could play 18.a4, threatening 18...-- 19.axb5 axb5 20.Rxa8 and Nxe5, and it
wouldn't be easy for Black to coordinate his forces. Whereas now, White has to defend
his d5-pawn.]

18.c4 bxc4 19.Qd2 Nb7

Perhaps White overlooked this manoeuvre. This was why Black didn't want to play
17...d6; the knight will have a fine post on d6, where its job will be to exert strong
pressure on c4.

20.dxc4 e4
Such an opportunity to dislodge an enemy piece is not to be missed.

21.Nh2 Qg6
The first step in the regrouping planned when he played 17...Qd6.

22.Qf4 Nd6
Mission accomplished; now the pressure on the weak c4-pawn is very unpleasant for
White.

23.Nfl fS!
The e4-pawn, which cuts the white position in two, is of vital importance. [Black
shouldn't rush to play 23...Nxc4 in view of 24.Ng3 Nd6 25.Rabl! (the threat of Rb6
comes just in time to prevent Black from playing 25...f5, consolidating his position with
an extra pawn) 25...Rab8 (or 25...NbS 26.Nxe4} 26.Rxb8 Rxb8 27.Nf5! Qxf5 28.Qxd6
and in both cases the position is unclear.]

24.Rabl
[lf now 24.Ng3, Black can play 24... Qf6 (alternatively, 24 RfB! seems even more
...

precise, when the c4-pawn falls immediately) 25.Rabl g5 (neutralizing the threat of
Rb6 by forcing the white queen away from f4) 26.Qe3 and then 26...Qe5!, winning the
c4-pawn in favourable conditions.]

24...Nxc4 25.Ng3?
[Anand related that his opponent touched this knight, intending to play 25.Ne3?, only
to notice that this would allow 25...Nd2, winning the exchange by simultaneously
attacking bl and threatening a check on f3.; White thus had to move the knight and

17
worsen his position, instead of playing something more active such as 25.Rb7,
although Black's position would be preferable in any case.]

25 ...ReS!
The black rook defends the fS-pawn from a wonderful square. This is unusual, and it
only works because the knight defending it is itself safe from attack at the moment. [Of
course not 25...Nd6??, which loses to 26.Rb6.]

26.Rb7 Qf7
This effectively ends the fight; another pawn falls and White lacks any compensation.

27.h4 QxdS 28.Rebl Rf8!

The most practica! move. "The computer wants to start taking pawns, but 1 preferred
to be methodical" was Anand's comment here. [The less 'human' move 28 ...Nxa3 is
good, too, but would require greater alertness on Black's part.]

29.Rc7 e3!
This opens the game to Black's benefit, since his pieces are more active. [Once again
29 ...Nxa3 would be less methodical, albeit still good for Black.]

30.Rbb7
[After 30.fxe3 Nxe3 31.Qf3 Qd4, Black wins easily.]

30...Re7 31.f3 e2 0-1

[White resigned; since if 31...e2 32.Nxe2, then 32...Qdl+ 33.Kh2 Qxe2 wins a piece.]

Anand,V - Svidler,P [C89]

World Championship, Mexico City, 2007

White to play

White is a pawn up, but it's not clear whether he is better or not, at first glance. The
knight looks peculiar on g2 and White's whole army seems a little uncoordinated. In
contrast, Black's pieces are active in the centre and on the kingside; furthermore, there
is a threat of 32... Ba7, winning the exchange.

18
How should White continue?

32.Bcl!
White could have retreated the rook but believes that, rather than exposed, it is in fact
well placed on a8. [With the surprising and paradoxical bishop retreat, 32.Bcl, White
puts pressure on the e4-knight and prevents 32...Ba7? in view of 33.Rxc8!, which
would win material. Another benefit is that the e3-square is now available to recycle
the knight from g2.]

32...Nf6
This backward step is a minar triumph for White, but Black appears to have nothing
better. White can now simplify the position, reducing the pressure on the kingside.

33.Rxe7 Rxe7 34.Qa3!

[There were several attractive alternatives, such as 34.h4 ; or even 34.Ne3 ;; but once
again White prefers to defend against the threat of...Ba7 with a counter-attack. After
34.Qa3, now 34...Ba7? would be answered by 35.Rxc8+! Qxc8 36.Qxe7.; On the other
hand, it would have been imprecise to gain material with 34.Bxc6? Qxc6 35.Rxb8, since
after 35...Kg7, Black has dangerous counterplay with the threat of 36...Bh3 or even
36...Bb7. Anand thought that White's best option was 36.dS, although after (For
example: 36.Be3?! Bh3! and if 37.Nel? then 37...Qc4! (threatening mate; or first
37. . . Qcl, forcing the rook to a more exposed square) 38.Ng2 Bxg2 39.Kxg2 Rxe3!
40.fxe3 Qe2+, followed by...Ng4, when the white king falls under a mating attack.)
36...QxdS 37.BxgS hxgS 38.Rxc8 Ng4, threatening...Re2 or...Qf3, Black gains a
menacing initiative.]

34...Rd7 35.RaS
This is the most practica! option, moving the rook out of danger. [Anand pointed out
later that it was even stronger to go on the offensive with 35.h4!, since after 35...Ba7
36.Rxc8+ Qxc8 37.hxgS hxgS 38.BxgS Nh7 39.Bh4, the black king is virtually defenceless
against the imminent invasion by all White's forces; furthermore, White would already
have two pawns for the exchange and an immediate threat of 40 Bg4.]

35...Ba7 36.Ne3
There is no good defence against 37 NfS.

36...Qc7
[36...Re7 allows 37.Bxc6; while if 36...Rc7 then invading with 37.Qd6 wins.]

37.NfS es
[37...Kh7 loses to 38.Qf8.]

38.Nxh6+ Kh7 39.BxgS 1-0

19
Anand in the Endgame

lf there is anything that almost all the great champions have had in common it is their
superb handling of the endgame, and Anand has himself produced sorne great
examples. Let's now see three very different positions.

Anand,V - Dreev,A [C13]

Candidates match, Chennai (2), 1991

White to play

The position is a strange one; White has a material advantage, with a passed pawn on
a4, but his queen is attacked and if it moves away then the h-pawn falls.

How shou/d White continue?

43.aS!
The most practica! option. White has no real winning chances, so he heads for the
draw in the most direct way. [lf White tries to save his queen with 43.Qbl+ then
43...Kg7 44.a5 (no better is 44.Qbl+ Kg6 45.Qe4+ Kgl 46.a5 Rxh2+ 47.Kgl Rg2+ 48.Kfl
Ra2, when White must force a draw since 49.a6? loses to 49...h2 50.Qbl+ Kh6 51.al
Rxal} 44... Rxh2+ 45.Kgl Rg2+ 46.Khl (46.Kfl? loses to 46... Rb2 and 47...h2) 46... Rh2+
leads to a draw; (while 46... Rxg4 47.a6? h2 48.al Rgl+ 49.Qxgl+ hxglQ+ 50.Kxgl
Bd4+ "is one unpleasant variation" according to Anand.) ; The sacrifice 43.Qxg2? just
loses outright, since White can't eliminate Black's last pawn: 43 ...hxg2+ 44.Kxg2 Kg5
45.h3 Kf4 46.a5 Bb8 47.a6 Ba7 48.Kfl Kg3 49.Ke2 Kxh3 50.Kf3 Bb8! (preventing Kf4-f5)
51.a7 Bxa7 52.Kf4 and now 52... Be3+! is the neatest win.(52... Bb6 53.Kf5 (or 53.g5
Be3+!} 53... Bd8 also works)]

43... Rxgl+ 44.Kxgl Kg7 45.a6

White's idea is to stalemate himself with his king on hl and the black bishop on a7,
after shedding the g4-pawn.

45... BbS 46.Khl Kg8 47.Kgl

20
[Another route to the draw was 47.gS fS 48.g6 f4 49.g7 f3 50.a7 Bxa7 stalemate.]

47...KfS 48.Khl Ke8 49.gS fS 50.gG f4 51.g7 Kf7 52.gSQ+ Kxg8 53.a7 Bxa7 1/2-1/2

Anand,V - Vallejo Pons,F [A30]

Linares, 2005

White to play

White's position looks desperate: Black has an extra passed pawn and the bishop is
better than the knight.

Is there any satisfactory defence?

49.NdS!?
No, there isn't. All White can do is to try to resist and create practica! difficulties. With
this knight move White is sacrificing another pawn temporarily, relying on winning the
h-pawn to gain counterplay. Black must now decide whether to take the simplest
course or to calculate and try for more.

49... BxdS
Black opts to play safe, which is a correct decision. White can console himself that at
least he has got rid of Black's strong bishop. Now his task is to demonstrate the truth
of the saying "all rook endings are drawn".

50.exdS+ KxdS 51.Rf7 hS 52.Rh7 eS 53.RxhS Kd4

The two passed pawns and the active king give Black very good winning chances, but
White must keep offering resistance.

54.Rh8
White's pawn must be advanced as quickly as possible.

54...Ra2+ 55.Kdl Rh2 56.hS b4 57.hG Kd3 58.Kcl!?

[This offers greater resistance than hounding Black's king with 58.Rd8+ Kc3 59.Rc8+
Kb2, since the black pawn will reach b2 and the king will soon easily escape from its
21
incarceration; e.g. 60.Rc6 b3 61.Rb6 Ka2 62.Ra6+ Kbl 63.Rb6 b2 64.Re6 (or 64.Ra6 e4}
64...Ka2 65.Ra6+ Kb3 66.Rb6+ Kc3 67.Rc6+ Kd3 68.Rd6+ Ke3 69.Rb6 Rxh6!, and now if
70.Rxb2, the rooks come off after 70...Rhl+ and 71...Rh2+, leaving Black with a winning
pawn ending.]

58 ...Kc3 59.RcS+ Kb3 60.RhS!?

With the text move, Anand guarantees that his pawn will reach h7, with the idea
simply of offering maximum resistance. [On 60.Rc6, Black can just play 60...e4, and
although White's rook is more active than on h8, it would still be unable to prevent the
advance of Black's pawns, while White's pawn would be stuck on h6.]

60...Kc3 61.RcS+ Kb3 62.RhS e4 63.Kdl Kb2 64.Kel b3 65.h7

[After 65.Rh7 Kc2 66.Rc7+ Kd3 67.h7 b2 68.Rb7, Black is again able to win with
68...Rxh7! 69.Rxb2 Rhl+ etc.]

65...e3 66.Kdl
Black has played well; in spite of all White's efforts, his position remains lost. Vallejo
has only to take the final step... How does Black win now?

66...Kbl??
Finally Black errs. Now the saying "all rook endings are drawn" will come true. [lnstead,
the winning method was 66...Rd2+! 67.Kel Rd7, and the white king is prevented from
joining in the defence against the b-pawn. Then a possible continuation would be
68.Ke2 Re7 69.Kdl (after 69.Kel e2, White is in zugzwang) 69...Rc7, preventing a check
on c8 so as to be able to play...Kc2, and there is no defence.]

67.RbS! Rxh7 1/2-1/2

Carlsen,M -Anand,V [043)

Morelia/Linares, 2008

Black to play

With the white king on h3 the position would be a draw, but with the king cut off on
the back rank it should be a win for Black, who can bring his king to e3 along the dark

22
squares. This evaluation is correct, but it's not enough to win on its own. Even in the
endgame, with reduced material, tactics are vitally important.

How exactly should Black proceed?

34... Re2!!
This is the key move, preventing White from freeing his king by playing 35 gxh4 gxh4
followed by f3-f4 and e4-e5. [For instance, 34...Kd6 would be premature in view of
35.gxh4 gxh4 36.f4 Rd2 37.Bh3 Kc5 38.e5 Rd4 39.exf6 Rxf4 40.Kg2, "and once the king
escapes from the first rank, it's a draw" (Anand); after 40...Rxf6 White plays 41.Bc8 and
there's no way to win, as confirmed by the online 'endgame tablebase' at
shredderchess.com.]

35.gxh4 gxh4 36.h3

"Now a fortress is no longer possible, so Black wins." (Anand)

36...Kd6 37.Kfl
This is necessary in arder to be able to play f3-f4, but it has the snag that the f-pawn
will later fall with check.

37... Rb2 38.f4 KcS 39.eS

This is the only way to allow the white king to break out befare the black monarch
reaches e3. By forcing White to play 36 h3, Black has prevented him from using that
square for his king, making the win "fairly trivial" in the words (and the hands) of
Anand.

39... Rb4 40.exf6 Rxf4+ 41.Ke2 Kd4 42.Bf3 Rxf6 43.Bb7 Rb6
The first step towards winning this position is to push the white king back, to enable
Black's monarch to infiltrate.

44.Bc8
This gives up control of e4; [but 44.Bg2 is no better. For example, Black can play
44...Rb3, cutting off the white king, followed by...Ke5-f4; (while the engines prefer the
line 44... Rb2+ 45.Kfl Rb3 and calculate that it is mate in 32 moves (!).)]

44...Ke4 45.Bg4 Rb2+ 46.Kel Ke3 47.Kfl Kf4 48.Kel Kg3 49.Kfl Rf2+ 50.Kel
[lf 50.Kgl then 50...Rf7! and White is in zugzwang; e.g. 51.Be6 (or similarly 51.BcB Rcl}
51...Re7 is decisive.]

50... Rf4
Threatening 51...Rxg4 52 hxg4 h3 etc.

51.Bc8 Rf8 52.Bg4 Kg2

Black controls fl prior to checking on the e-file, in arder to force the white king further
away from the kingside.

23
53.Ke2 Re8+ 54.Kd3 Kf2
Now Black needs to force the white king still further away, so that he can then sacrifice
the exchange on h3 without allowing White's king to reach f2 or fl, which would be a
draw.

55.Bf5
[55.Kd4 would also be met by 55... Re3 (Anand) and the bishop has to move, allowing
56...Kf3; for example, 56.Bc8 Kf3. Then 57.Bg4+ (from whichever square) transposes to
the game; (while after 57.KdS, with the white king so far away from f2, Black plays
57...Kg2 and 58... Rxh3, executing his basic winning plan.)]

55... Re3+ 56.Kd4 Kf3 57.Bg4+ Kf4

With the kings in opposition Black is ready to check on the d-file, which would drive
the white king far enough away for Black to carry out his plan.

58.Kd5
[For instance, after 58.Bc8, Black could play 58... Re8, followed by 59 ... Rd8+, decisively
forcing the white king away.]

58... Re5+ 59.Kd4 Rg5 0-1

[Carlsen resigned, since the rook soon reaches the d-file; e.g. 59 ... RgS 60.Be6 Rg6
61.Bc8 Rd6+ 62.KcS Rd2 63.Bg4 Kg3 64.BfS Rh2 65.Kd4 Rxh3 66.Bxh3 Kxh3 67.Ke3 Kg2
and the pawn promotes.]

24
 Game One

First Encounter with Karpov

Anand's mother taught him to play chess when he was six years old and he quickly
showed a great talent far the game. From a young age he drew attention far the speed
of his play. After doing well in various national and junior events, his first majar
international success was his victory, at the faurth attempt, in the 1987 World Junior
Championship. Shortly afterwards he gained the Grandmaster title, at which time he
was the youngest GM in the world.

In 1989 he played in what he described as his first "really big" event, at Wijk aan Zee,
sharing first place with Predrag Nikolic, Zoltan Ribli and Gyula Sax. He then competed
in the 'Youth vs. Veterans' match (Cannes 1989) where he beat two farmer world
champions, Mikhail Tal and Boris Spassky. In July 1990 Anand's Elo rating reached
2610, an important milestone at the time, and in the Manila lnterzonal later that year
he qualified far the Candidates matches scheduled far 1991. In the round of 16, Anand
was paired with Alexey Dreev, whom he subsequently beat 4Yi-1Yi with two games to
spare. Following the lnterzonal, Anand received his first invitation to compete in
Linares, the strongest event in the world at that time.

In the Candidates quarter-final matches, Anand was drawn against Karpov. His first
reaction was to feel unlucky, because Karpov was the strongest of the faur possible
opponents (the others were Short, Timman and Yusupov). Then he changed his mind:
"I took the view that you couldn't become World Champion by avoiding people"; i.e.
you have to play against whoever the luck of the draw dictates. Karpov was the clear
favourite in this match, but their first encounter, at Linares, provided Anand with sorne
grounds far optimism.

D Karpov,A to flout this principie and others, such

•Anand,V
English Opening {A35}
1: Linares, 1991
[Zenón Franco]
1.Nf3 cS 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nd4
QUESTION: 1 was taught that it was
bad to move the same piece twice in
the opening, and even worse to do so
in arder to exchange it, since this
makes you fall behind in development.
How come the future world champion
does this and gets away with it?
ANSWER: Usually it is indeed bad
25
as accepting doubled pawns, or going
pawn-hunting with the queen, etc but
chess is a complicated game and there
are no rules that fit every situation.
Anand confessed: "I can't really find a
general principie that justifies it, but it
does seem to work!" There will be a
further explanation in the next note.
4.e3 Nxf3+ S.Qxf3
One possible reason why Black's
manoeuvre is playable is that, after
recapturing on f3 with the queen,
White's control of the d4-square is
reduced, and a future advance with d2-
d4 is likely to come under pressure
from Black. Therefore Black needs to
develop his bishop to g7, and keep in
mind the possible manoeuvre ...Nh6-f5.
5 ...gG 6.b3
QUESTION: lf White is going to
have problems advancing d2-d4 later,
why not play it at once?
ANSWER: The natural 6.d4 could be
answered by 6...Bg7 7.dxcS and now, in
typical 'Nimzo-lndian' fashion,
7...Bxc3+!? (not 7...QaS 8.e4! QxcS due
to 9.NdS! (rather than 9.Bd3, which
would allow Black to get back on track
with 9...Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 d6 etc)) 8.bxc3
QaS 9.e4 QxcS 10.Bd3 d6, and in his
1998 book Anand judged White to be
slightly better. Although it is not usually
advisable for Black to exchange his
fianchettoed bishop in a King's lndian,
the doubled pawns at c3 and c4 make
the position more like a Nimzo-lndian
than a King's lndian, and the
weaknesses created by ...g7-g6 are not
at all easy for White to exploit.
6 ...Bg7 7.Bb2 dG 8.g3 Rb8 9.Bg2 NfG!
QUESTION: Didn't you tell me that
Black's plan was to play ...Nh6 and
...NfS?
ANSWER: lt's important not to be
too rigid in one's thinking. Black had
this option in mind, but if there's a
better one, you should go for it. The
knight stands better on f6 than h6,
since on f6 it is closer to the centre and
has more scope. [This move is an
improvement on the earlier game
M.Tal-V.Anand, Cannes 1989, and it's
worth examining how this progressed
in the early stages. After 9...Nh6?!,
White gained a slight advantage with
26
10.Qdl 0-0 11.0-0 Bd7 (preparing...b7-
b5) 12.a4 (necessary to restrain the
black b-pawn) (the immediate 12.d4?!
would justify Black's set-up after
12...cxd4 13.exd4 NfS! 14.dS (or 14.NdS
b5!) 14...bS!, when Black's pieces are
active and putting pressure on White's
position) 12...Bc6 13.d4 Bxg2 14.Kxg2
Rc8 (here 14...cxd4 15.exd4 Nf5 16.dS
a6 17.Rbl! would prevent the...b7-b5
break and leave Black with no obvious
counterplay; Anand realized that, after
the exchange on d4, once White plays
dS then e7 becomes weak) 15.Qd3?
(maintaining the tension, but this works
in Black's favour, since he able to
exchange under favourable conditions;
as Tal indicated, 15.dS! was better,
when it would difficult for Black to play
...b7-b5, while ...e7-e6 would weaken
his pawn structure) 15...cxd4! (now
Black is able to set up his favourable
scenario) 16.exd4 NfS 17.dS?! (Anand
suggested 17.NdS! e6 18.Ne3, seeking
to exchange knights and equalize the
game) 17...Qb6 (highlighting one of the
snags to 15 Qd3 the b3-pawn is en
prise and the threat of...Nd4 hangs
over the white position) 18.Ndl Bxb2
19.Nxb2 eS! (with the idea of...e5-e4-
e3, and the weaknesses in Black's camp
are less important than befare, since
Black's forces are much better
coordinated than White's) 20.dxe6 fxe6
21.Radl Rf6! (preparing to double
rooks on the f-file) 22.Rd2 eS! (creating
an outpost for the knight on d4) and
Black won in 37 moves.]
10.h3
QUESTION: With 9...Nh6 the long
diagonal would have remained open,
but now can't White exploit the pin
with 10 NdS?
 ANSWER: No. The tactical surprised Anand, who was expecting
justification is that if 10.NdS then the more natural 14 Nbl; whereas on
10...Bg4! equalizes. dl the knight risks being badly placed,
which was a rare event for Karpov in his
10...0-0 best years "but it isn't so bad",
Here 10...bS was worth according to Anand in 'New in Chess'
considering. Karpov intended 11.NxbS magazine.
(White's position is less harmonious
after 11.cxbS Bb7 12.Qxbl Rxb7 14...aS! 15.a4 eS 16.e4
13.Bxbl 0-0 14.0-0 d5) 11...Bb7 So both sides have good squares
12.Qxb7 Rxb7 13.Bxb7 and considered for their knights on dS and d4, but
White's position to be preferable, but there are several other factors.
the analysis engines, ever materialistic,
are not at all convinced by this. QUESTION: Why did White give up
the idea of playing d4?
11.0-0 a6 12.Qe2
ANSWER: The position of the
knight on dl made 16.d4 inadvisable, in
view of the response 16...e4!.

16...hS
With two ideas: a timely ...h5-h4
and activating the bishop on h6.

17.h4 Ne8
With the offer of a draw, rejected
by Karpov. The knight is heading for d4,
but Anand wasn't happy with his plan,
which he described as "careless".
12... bS! [There are sorne very reasonable
lf this break is playable, then it's alternatives; for instance, 17...Bh6
clear that Black has solved his 18.Ne3 and now a flexible move such
problems. as 18... Rb7, to prepare a timely ...f7-f5
(if White doesn't radically alter the
13.d3 position) and then redeploy the rook
along the second rank.
QUEST/ON: Why not take the
pawn? 18.Ne3 Nc7 19.Kh2 Ne6 20.Bh3 Bh6
21.Ng2!
ANSWER: After 13.cxbS axbS
14.NxbS Ba6 15.a4 Qd7, Black regains QUESTION: What's this? lsn't dS
the pawn with good play. the ideal square for the knight?

13... b4 14.Ndl ANSWER: No, for now the knight

goes to g2, where it defends the h4-
During the game this retreat pawn and can't be attacked, and the

27
break f2-f4 is difficult to prevent. The
knight can go to d5 later, or sorne other
square which is more active than g2.
21...Bg7
Black intends to answer f2-f4
with...e5xf4 and exchange the bishops,
to gain a strong outpost for the knight
on d4.
QUESTION: Why is this preparation
needed? Why not leave the bishop on
h6 and just play 21...Nd4?
ANSWER: The move...Nd4 is
inadvisable as long as White can
answer it with Bxd4, eliminating the
strong knight and leaving Black with a
passive bishop.
22.Rael Rb7 23.Bxe6!
QUEST/ON: Why is it good for
White to shed such an important
bishop? Won't White's kingside suffer
without its main defender?
ANSWER: In theory, yes; but in
reality White's castled position is
invulnerable, since the black pieces
have no access. This exchange is
necessary to be able to play f2-f4.
23...Bxe6
23...fxe6 is preferred by the
engines, but Anand dismisses it with
the remark that it "leaves Black's
bishops without any scope".
24.f4 Bg4 25.Qd2
Another queen move, such as
25.Qc2 or 25 Qf2, would be answered
by 2s...ts.
25...Re7!
On the other hand, the position of
28
the queen on d2 allows Black to insert
this move first.
26.Ne3
EXERCISE: Explain why the position
of the white queen is important in the
line 26.fS gxf5 27.exfS f6 28.Ne3.
ANSWER: Because Black can then
prevent Nd5 with 28... Bh6!.
26...fS 27.exfS gxfS 28.NdS Re6
A natural move, seeking to double
the rooks; [although, as we'll see, it was
safer to play 28...Ree8, because the
loase rook on e6 is a tactical weakness.
EXERCISE (positional, difficult):
How can White try to profit from the
tension on the e-file?
29.Qf2?
White attacks c5 to prevent Black
from answering f4xe5 with ...d6xe5, but
this move loses a large part of his
advantage. [Neither was there yet any
benefit in removing the central tension
with 29.fxeS dxe5 with the idea of
30.Nf4?!, owing to 30...exf4! 31.Rxe6
fxg3+ 32.Kgl (the only move)
a}32.Kxg3?? loses to 32...f4+; b)while
32.Kg2?? fails to 32...Qxh4 (b)or
32...f4}; 32...Rf7!, threatening 33...f4,
and leaving options of ...Qd4+ or
...Qxh4;(rather than 32...Bd4+?!
33.Bxd4 Qxd4+ 34.Khl! and White may
consolidate.J;
ANSWER: In his original
annotations (made in 1991) Anand
gave 29.d4! e4 (not 29... cxd4? 30.Bxd4
and Black's position is full of hales)
30.Qe3, planning to regroup with Rf2-
d2, Qf2, Ne3 and then d4xc5, and
considered that Black could do little to
prevent this. Over two decades later, lnstead of being able to apply
the engines don't perceive any unpleasant pressure on Black's centre,
immediate dangers far Black, but they White can now only boast a strong
want to make moves which are typical knight on d5, but a single well-placed
far when they've 'lost the plot', such as piece isn't enough if, as in this case,
...Qb8-a7, all of which tends to support almost all your other pieces are worse
Anand's original assessment. than the opponent's.

29 ...RfeS 30.Bcl?! 31.dxe4 Rxe4 32.Rxe4 Rxe4

Very optimistic; White's position
isn't so advantageous as to entitle him EXERCISE: How should White
to ignore his opponent's intentions. [lt defend now? In serious time pressure
was better to play 30.fxeS Bxe5 (as Karpov failed to find the best move.
previously mentioned, 30...dxeS? Can you do better?
allows 31.QxcS and after 31...f4 32.Qc7
(or 32.Qf2, Black has no compensation 33.Rel?
far the pawn)) 31.BxeS Rxe5 32.RxeS
Rxe5, but the white king is slightly
weak, which would be more noticeable
if the rooks come off, and the b3-pawn
also requires care. Nor does Black have
to fear 33.Qf4 (Black has good
defensive resources after 33.Nf4 Qe8
(or even 33...Qc7, intending to answer
34.d4 cxd4 35.Qxd4 with 35...QcS})
33...Re2+! (better than 33...Kg7 34.Rf2}
34.Rf2 (or 34.Kh1 Kg7} 34...Rxf2+
35.Qxf2 Kf7!, planning ...Qe8 or ...Qh8.]

EXERCISE: How can it be shown ANSWER: This is the decisive error;

that White's last move is inferior? [after 33.Be3, Black would have had no
way to strengthen his position. lt will
be explained further on why the text
move is so bad.]

33...Rxel!
Of course not 33 Qe8? because
...

White could then correct his error with

34.Be3.

34.Qxel Kf7! 35.Qd2

lf 35.Ne3, Black can play 35...Qe8
36.Qd2 Bd4, intending ...Qe4. As
mentioned earlier, the b3-pawn is the
ANSWER: 30...e4! main sufferer from the exchange of
The position changes completely. rooks.

29
 of the white king, the weakness of b3 is
EXERCISE: So, what was wrong with decisive) 41.Qxd4 cxd4 42.Nfl Bc2
33 Rel? (Hint: keep asking yourself 43.Nd2 Kf7 44.Kg2 Ke7 45.Kf3 Kd7
which enemy piece(s) you can restrict 46.Ke2 Kc6 47.Kf3 KcS (47... dS also
and/or which of your own pieces you works) 48.Ke2 dS 49.cxdS KxdS 50.Kf3
can improve.) d3 51.Ke3 KcS with zugzwang; e.g.
52.Nc4 Bxb3 53.NxaS BdS 54.Kxd3 b3
ANSWER: 35...Bf3! 55.Kc3 b2 56.Kxb2 Kb4 and the knight is
With this bishop's entry into play trapped.
White's difficulties start to multiply; he
has many weaknesses in need of 39...KxfG 40.Kgl Bbl 41.Nfl Bc2
protection. In contrast, while the 42.Nd2 Ke6 43.Kf2 dS! 44.cxdS+ KxdS
bishop was stuck on the kingside, Black 45.Ke3 Bdl
could threaten very little. Once again a zugzwang appears.

36.Ne3 46.Kd3 Bxb3!

lf 36.Bb2, even better than
exchanging on b2 and dS would be
36...Qh8! 37.Bxg7 (or 37.Bcl Qe8!)
37...Qxg7, and Black's queen will
inevitable infiltrate.

36...Be4 37.Bb2 Bxb2 38.Qxb2 QfG!

39.QxfG+
In the event of 39.Qe2 Kg6 40.Qd2,
Anand indicates a winning plan based
on activating his king and exploiting the
weakness of the b3-pawn: 40...Qd4!
(Houdini finds a quicker tactical
method: 40... dS! 41.cxdS Qal 42.Ndl 0-1
Qd4! and combined with the insecurity

The subsequent candidates match with Karpov was hard fought (the result was 4Yi-3Yi
in Karpov's favour, after he won the final game); but this match, and the one against
Dreev in the first round (which he won 4Yi-1Yi), were Anand's first experiences of
match play and he considers that, from them, he learned important lessons for the
many duels that awaited him in the future.

GameTwo

First Great Triumph in a Historie Tournament

At the end of 1991 Anand achieved his first important triumph when he won the
Reggio Emilia tournament ahead of Kasparov and Karpov, among others.

30
This was the first ever Category XVIII strength tournament. Anand remarked that he
was the only participant who didn't speak Russian; the other nine were all from the
Soviet Union - but after the fifth round, political changes at home meant that they
were all from the 'former' Soviet Union.

D Kasparov,G castling queenside and attacking on the

•Anand,V kingside.
French De/ence [C07]
2: Reggio Emilia, 199 1 7...0-0 8.Qe2
[Zenón Franco] The white position contains "sorne
venom" according to Anand. The black
1.e4 e6 2.d4 dS queen's position might prove
uncomfortable, and the destination of
QUESTION: The French Defence? White's king remains uncertain.
Anand hardly ever plays this, so why
did he employ it here, and against the
world champion, of all people?

3 .N d2

ANSWER: Yes, this is one of the

rare occasions when Anand played the
French in an important game. The
reason is that at Tilburg 199 1, Kasparov
had played 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3, so the
choice of this defence was motivated
"partly in the hope that he would
repeat this insipid system", according EXERCISE: How to continue? lt
to Anand. With the sense of humour seems obvious that Black needs to
which at that time he kept less under develop the b8-knight, but where?
wraps, in 'New in Chess' magazine
Anand called this line "hyper­ ANSWER: 8...Nbd7!
aggressive". [This set-up is more accurate than
8...Nc6 9.Ne4 Be7 10.0-0 with
3 ...cs 4.exdS QxdS 5.dxcS advantage to White, whose pieces are
A big surprise and, for Anand, a more active.In contrast, with the knight
pleasant one: Kasparov ducks a on d7, both the f6-knight and the c5-
theoretical discussion, something he bishop are defended, so that an
did very rarely. [5.Ngf3 cxd4 6.Bc4 Qd6 eventual Nxc5 can be answered
7.0-0 Nf6 8.Nb3 is the main line.] by...Nxc5, attacking the strong d3-
bishop, a vital component of White's
S ... BxcS 6.Ngf3 Nf6 7.Bd3 aggressive intentions.]
Anand realized here that White's
idea is to play a type of position similar 9.Ne4
to the Rubinstein Variation (3...dxe4),

31
 EXERCISE: What now?
ANSWER: 9 ...b6!
This is the logical complement to
Black's previous move.
10.NxcS QxcS
[Here 10...Nxc5 was also sound and
consistent. At the time Anand was
concerned about 11.Bc4, given that an
exchange of queens would leave Black
slightly worse, but in fact Black is fine
after 11...Qf5 12.Be3 Bb7, because "all
Black's pieces are in play and the
advantage of the two bishops is purely
academic", as Anand commented ten
years later.]
11.Be3
White's idea is Ne5, followed by f2-
f4, for which he needs his bishop on the
long diagonal.
11...Qc7 12.Bd4 Bb7 13.0-0-0
EXERCISE: What would have Black
played after 13.0-0?
ANSWER: With the white king on
the kingside, 13...Nc5 is fully playable;
White cannot exploit the weakness of
the black kingside after (Not 13...Ng4?
14.Bxh7+ Kh8 {or 14... Kxhl 15.NgS+}
15.Be4.) 14.Bxf6 gxf6, since...Kh8
and... Rg8 gives Black good play.]
EXERCISE: What now?
ANSWER: 13...NcS!
Same again! The d3-bishop is
'public enemy number one'.
14.BeS
[lf now 14.Bxf6?!, Black has several
satisfactory continuations, the simplest
being 14...Qf4+ 15.Kbl Qxf6 with good
32
play.{Anand also mentions the more
unorthodox 15... gxf6, when the active
black queen prevents its white
counterpart from becoming dangerous
and the doubled f-pawns restrict the
f3-knight.)]
14...Nxd3+ 15.Rxd3
[After 15.Qxd3 Qc6, the position
would be equal, since neither 16.Ng5
(nor 16.Bxf6 gxf6} 16...h6 17.Bxf6 hxg5
18.Bxg5 Qa4! is to be feared.]
EXERCISE: White's 15 Rxd3 shows
that he still has hopes of an attack: at
an opportune moment he would like to
actívate the rook along the third rank.
How can Black oppose this idea?
ANSWER: 15... Qc4!
An excellent defensive manoeuvre;
by pinning the rook Black hinders its
possible transfer to the kingside and
neutralizes White's aggressive
intentions.
16.Nd4
[Alternatively: 16.Bxf6 would be
met by 16...Qf4+, as befare.; After
16.Nd2, Black has 16...Qg4!, and the
exchange of queens is satisfactory for
Black, while his monarch is safe after
(16...Qxa2? gives White an attack which
is very dangerous winning, according to
the engines after 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Qg4+
Kh8 19.Qh4 Rg8 20.Qxf6+ Rg7 and now
there are three very strong possibilities:
21.Rdl {21.Rdl; and 21.Rg3 Rag8
22.Rdl!, with the idea of Nb3 and
Rd8.}} 17.f3 Qg6, threatening both
18...Ba6 and 18...Rac8 with good play.;
16.Kbl can be answered by 16...Be4
17.Re3 Qxe2 18.Rxe2 Bxf3 19.gxf3 Nd5,
when Black has the superior structure
and a clear advantage.]
16 ...Be4!
[Anand thought for sorne time
about the risky 16...Qxa2!? and
couldn't see a concrete refutation, but
his sense of danger led him to play in a
safer manner. This was a good practica!
decision and objectively the correct
one, too, according to today's analysis
engines. Then 17.Bxf6 gxf6 is better,
although after (17...Qal+ 18.Kd2 Qa5+
is dubious in view of 19.b4 Qxb4+
20.c3! Qb2+ 21.Nc2 gxf6, when the
black king lacks defenders and White
has a strong attack after 22.Qg4+ Kh8
23.Qh4 Rg8 24.Qxf6+ Rg7.
EXERCISE (difficult): How can White
bring the hl-rook into play?
ANSWER: Houdini suggests the
surprising 25.Ral!, threatening Rxa7
(instead, 25.Rel was Anand's
suggestion, but the engines remain
unconvinced after 25... Bd5, planning
...Bb3 or ...Kg8, and White seems to
have no more than a draw), when
25...a6? (or 25...a5?) allows 26.Ra4!
and wins, since there are too many
threats, the main one being Rg3,
followed by Ra4-g4 (or viceversa; i.e.
26.Rg3 first.)) 18.Qg4+ {18.Nb3 gives
Black time for 18...RfdB 19.Qg4+ KfB
and the black king is better in the
33
centre than on h8, since both his rooks
can become active) 18...Kh8 19.Nb3!
{19.Qh4?! Qal+ 20.Kd2 Qa5+ and...Qg5
is worse) 19...Rg8 20.Qh4 Rg6 21.Rd7,
White's position is still very
threatening.ln 'New in Chess' Anand
wrote that one of his reasons for
choosing 16...Be4 was to maintain the
option of capturing on a2 or, in his own
words, "it gave me the opportunity to
do this maniaca! thing on the next
move."]
17.Re3
EXERCISE (tactical, difficult): What
now for Black?
ANSWER: 17... Qxa2!
Played after a long think, struggling
against the impulse to play safe once
again by exchanging queens; [on the
other hand, Anand felt that he might be
a bit worse in the ending after
17...Qxe2?! 18.Rxe2 (of course
18...Bxg2? loses to 19.Rgl).Another
reason for capturing on a2, sacrificing a
piece, is because he saw that he would
regain the piece by force.]
18.Bxf6
[18.Rxe4? loses to 18...Qal+
19.Kd2 Nxe4+ 20.Qxe4 Qxhl and White
has no compensation for his large
material disadvantage.]
18 ... BgG!
Anand felt a lot safer with his
bishop on g6 defending the kingside. [lt
was now too dangerous to play
18...Qal+? 19.Kd2 Qxhl 20.Rxe4 gxf6,
due to 21.Qg4+ Kh8 22.Qh4 Qxg2
{22...RgB 23.Qxf6+ Rg7 24.Rg4 Rag8
25.Nf3 is decisive) 23.Rg4 and Black
must give up his queen.]
19.Ra3 QdS 20.h4?!
An attacking idea Anand had not
considered, and which turned out not
to be the best continuation. [lnstead,
20.BeS can be answered by 20...f6! !,
but this was what White should have
played, with the possible continuation
21.Bg3 Qxd4 22.Qxe6+.; 20.QeS? fails
to 20...Qxg2! (20...gxf6 21.QxdS exd5
22.Rel gives White wonderful
compensation) 21.Rdl gxf6 22.Qxf6
Rac8 with a big advantage to Black.]
20...gxfG 21.hS Qxd4
[21...Be4 was considered by Anand
but, while he didn't see a clear
refutation, he "sensed" that this
couldn't be the most accurate move.]
22.hxg6 hxg6 23.Rah3 fS 24.Rh4 f4!
Played almost without thinking.
[Kasparov's main idea was directed
against 24...Qf6, which Anand didn't
even want to calculate, since 25.Qe3
gives White a strong attack. According
to the engines it's not winning, but
practica! play is an entirely different
matter; White has the initiative and
after 25...Rfd8 26.Qh3 Kf8 27.Rh8+ Ke7
28.Qa3+ Kd7 29.Rdl+ Kc7 (or 29...Kc6
30.Qa4+ Kc7} 30.Rdxd8 Rxd8 31.Qxa7+
Kc6 32.Rh3 Rd5, he has a dangerous
attack for the pawn and can force a
draw whenever he wants.Anand
wanted to keep his queen in the
centre; writing in 'New in Chess' he was
more explicit: "without my queen
hanging around in the centre", Black
would no longer be able create
counterplay against the white king
based, for example, on ...Rc8 and
...Rxc2+, followed by ...Rc8+ and
perpetua! check.In the book of his best
games, Anand offered an interesting
insight: "Kasparov is very good at long
forcing lines, but it is the nature of such
34
lines that one cannot be absolutely
certain about them. In this case he was
just wrong."]
25.Qf3?
[Here 25.g3!, indicated by Kasparov
after the game, gives White good
drawing chances: 25...Rac8 (after
25...es 26.RhB+ Kg7 27.R8h7+ Kf6?!
28.Rdl Qb4 29.Qg4, White has at least
a draw; there are other possibilities,
but the evaluation is much the same)
26.gxf4 and here: Anand also
mentioned 26...RcS (Anand intended to
play 26...Qf6, with a draw as the most
probable result after 27.QeS (on
27.Qe3, the 'fearless' engines suggest
27...RfdB! 28.Qh3 KfB with advantage
to Black) 27...QxeS 28.fxeS g5! (the
only move) 29.RhS and now, among
other things, Black can play 29...f6
30.exf6 Kf7.) 27.fS Qf6 28.fxg6 fxg6
29.Rh8+ (in this line 29.Kbl is more
challenging, with the idea of f2-f4 and
perhaps Qh2; then after 29...RfcB?!, the
move 30.f4 is unpleasant, when
30...Rxc2? loses to 31.RhB+ Qxh8
32.Qxe6+ Kg7 33.QeS+} 29...Qxh8
30.Qxe6+ Kg7 31.Qd7+ (or 31.Qel+
Rf7} 31...Kg8 with equality.ln any case
the move played is a mistake, because
it gives Black a vital tempo for his
counter-attack. Kasparov needed to
give up his desire for victory and
acquiesce to a draw with one of the
above lines, but he failed to perceive
the danger and thought he could afford
to risk playing for a win for a further
move "he decided to 'fish' for a move
too long", as Anand put it.lt is notable
that the course the game now follows
was calculated by Kasparov, but his
evaluation was incorrect: it favours
Black, not White.]
25...RacS
 Recalling the weakness of c2.
29.g3 Qel+ 30.Kc2 Rcd8 31.Rd4 QeS
26.Rxf4 32.Rhf4 Qc7 33.Qe3 es
As Anand pointed out, this forces
EXERCISE: Why was 26.Qh3? no the exchange of a pair of rooks without
improvement? allowing White's remaining rook to
come to d4 the extra pawn is already
ANSWER: There is no time to beginning to make itself felt.
continue with the threat of Qh3, owing
to 26... Qxf2! 27.Rh8+ Kg7 and the black 34.Rxd8 Rxd8 35.Re4 RdS 36.g4?!
queen controls the crucial h4-square;
Black wins after 28.Qh6+ (or 28.Rhl+
Kf6} 28...Kf6 etc.

26...QcS 27.c3 Kg7 28.Rhh4

[During the game Anand was more
afraid of 28.Rfh4!, feeling that the rook
ending should probably be drawn after
28...QgS+ 29.Kc2 Qf5+ 30.QxfS gxf5!
(30...exfS 31.Rd4 makes it difficult to
win;(31.Ra4?! is answered by
31...Rfe B!)) 31.Ra4 Rc7 32.Rhal a5
33.b4. Writing ten years later in 2001,
he revised his opinion, considering that Seeking to create threats based on
33...Rfc8 34.R1a3 Rh8 35.bxaS bxa5 g4-g5 and Qh3. [Both in 1991 and 2001,
36.RxaS Rh2 would still be good for Anand indicated that 36.f4! was
Black.] stronger, exchanging pawns and
opening lines against the black
28...QeS monarch. Nevertheless, Black would
During the game Anand preferred still be better.]
in general to keep the queens on the
board, if possible, rather than play a EXERCISE: How can the black
pure rook ending, so Kasparov's move position be improved now?
suited him.
ANSWER: 36... bS!
QUESTION: Why was Anand so "Quite a nice move. 1 have to make
keen to keep the queens on? progress on the queenside and expose
his king." (Anand in 1992)
ANSWER: For two reasons: firstly
because White's king is weaker than 37.gS Qd6! 38.f3
Black's and the queen is useful for [Here 38.Qh3? fails to 38...Rd2+
attacking purposes, and secondly and White loses his rook; for example,
because "all rook endings are drawn"; after 39.Kbl Rdl+ 40.Ka2 Qd5+ etc.]
i.e. the technical difficulties in realizing
the extra pawn in a rook endgame can 38...aS!
be considerable. The logical follow-up to 36...bS.

35
39.Qe2 Qe6 40.Qh2 QfS 41.Qg3
Played after a long think; [it isn't ANSWER: 42...b4!
possible to include the rook in the The complete triumph of Black's
attack with 41.Qh6+ Kg8 42.Kb3, counter-attack; it's White's king that
intending Rh4, due to 42...Rd2! (the now finds itself defenceless.
neat 42... Rd4!? also works) 43.Rh4
Qc2+ and mate next move.] 43.cxb4
[43.b3 was the most tenacious
41...Qd7 42.Qel continuation, but offered no hope in
the long run;; whereas if 43.RxeS, Black
EXERCISE: What is the logical wins with 43...Qa4+ 44.Kcl bxc3!
continuation of Black's previous play? 45.bxc3 Qf4+ 46.Re3 Rd3.]

43...Qa4+ 44.b3
[There is no defence; 44.Kcl axb4
45.RxeS Rd8 winning for Black.]

44...Qa2+ 45.Kc3 a4
Here Black can choose between
several easy ways to win.

46.bxa4 Qa3+ 47.Kc2 Qxa4+ 48.Kc3

Qa3+ 49.Kc2 Rd3 0-1

The rest of the tournament saw a race between Anand, Kasparov and Gelfand - won
by Anand, who finished half a point ahead. Many years later, he still considered this to
be one of the best results of his career.

Game Three

First lmportant Match

In September 1992 Anand played a friendly match in Linares of eight games against
Vassily lvanchuk. Anand commented that for lvanchuk this was a chance to erase the
memory of his elimination by Yusupov in the Candidates quarter-finals, while Anand
wanted to gain further experience in matchplay in preparation for the world
championship cycles to come.

D lvanchuk,V
•Anand,V 1.e4 es 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
Sicilian Defence {866} 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.BgS e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.0-0-0
3: Linares (match) (1), 1992 h6 9.Be3 Nxd4 10.Bxd4 bS 11.f3
[Zenón Franco] Anand wrote in ChessBase
36
Magazine that he had prepared this
variation especially for this match;
nevertheless "lvanchuk blitzed his next
few moves out and in fact the whole
game!" [lnstead, 11.f4 is the main
alternative;; while lvanchuk played
11.Kbl in the fifth game of the match.
QUESTION: But doesn't 11 Kbl lose
the e4-pawn after 11...b4? lsn't this
centre pawn worth more than the b4-
pawn that White will gain in exchange?
ANSWER: Generally speaking a
centre pawn is worth more, agreed, but
there are other factors to be
considered. In this case Black's lagging
development, his king still in the
centre, and the weakness of his
queenside all combine to make the
resulting opening of lines unwelcome
to Black. After 12.Na4 Nxe4 {12... RbB
allows 13.eS!} 13.Qxb4 dS 14.Qel Bd7
15.Nb6 Rb8 16.f3!, there are too many
weaknesses in Black's camp: 16...Nf6
{16...NcS? allows 17.NxdS} 17.Nxd7
Nxd7 (or 17... Qxd7 18.Qg3} 18.c4
would be unpleasant; Black has
problems developing, not forgetting
that the a6-pawn is also loase.]
11...QaS 12.a3
[Another way to counter the threat
of...b5-b4 and...Qxa2 is 12.Kbl, after
which 12...b4
QUEST/ON: Why does White need
to give up his bishop? lsn't it better just
to play 13.Ne2?
ANSWER: The problem is that 13
Ne2 can be met by (13.Bxf6 gxf6
14.Ne2 leads to a structure which is
typical of the Rauzer Variation: Black
has the two bishops to compensate for
his damaged pawn formation and
37
potentially weak king.(14.--)) 13...eS
(note that Black only plays...e6-e5
when the white knight is no longer on
c3 and can't easily reach dS) 14.Be3
Be6 15.Ncl and the lack of white pieces
controlling the centre allows 15...dS!
with an excellent game this was played
in both V.Anand-M.Dlugy, Philadelphia
1986, and Mi.Adams-V.Anand, Paris
(rapid) 1992!; Finally, 12.Qf2 b4 13.Bb6
QgS+ 14.Be3 QaS is, according to
Anand, "a popular variation for players
who feel like an early dinner!"]
12... es
[Ten years later, in a rapidplay in
Prague, with reversed colours lvanchuk
preferred 12...Be7, which Anand
described as "an improvement on our
game from Linares 1992." Befare
playing...e6-e5, Black makes a move
that will be 'necessary' in any case, but
might yet transpose to the main game.
The continuation was 13.Kbl es 14.Bf2
{14.Be3 Be6 would be the
transposition) 14...Be6 and here Anand
suggested the immediate 15.Bh4
(rather than 15.Bel ?! Qc7 16.Bh4 as he
played.) However, 15...0-0 is worth
considering: a}Then 15... Rd8 16.Bxf6
Bxf6 17.NdS leads to "a comfortable
edge without risk", according to
Anand.(a)17.--); b}Note that the typical
Sicilian idea 15...Nxe4 (which would
have worked with the delayed Be1-h4)
is not convincing here: after 16.fxe4
Bxh4 17.Qxd6 Rd8 18.Qc6+, the black
king is uncomfortable.; lt would be
better to play 16.NdS (and if 16.Bxf6
Bxf6 17.Qxd6?!, Black gains sufficient
counterplay with 17... Rfd8 (or
17... RadB.)) 16...Qd8 17.Nxe7+ Qxe7
18.Bd3 (but not 18.Qxd6?? which now
loses to 18... RfdB, exploiting White's
weak back rank.)]
13.Be3
[Here 13.Bf2 is also playable (albeit
less usual and no better) with the idea
of playing Bh4 as in the previous note.]
13...BeG 14.Kbl Be7 15.g4?!
QUESTION: Why mark as dubious
such an aggressive move, which
prepares an attack with h2-h4 and g4-
g5?
ANSWER: The idea is good, but in
this position there will be no attack;
[and you'll see that 15 g4 is less
accurate than 15.h4, with the possible
continuation 15...Rb8 16.Nd5 Qxd2
17.Nxf6+ gxf6 18.Rxd2 f5 19.exf5 Bxf5
20.g4 Be6 21.Be2, ready to answer
21...d5 by 22.f4 with chances for both
sides.; lt is worth noting that White can
play Nd5 in many lines, but "without
any knights White can hardly expect to
do anything against Black's slightly
weakened queenside, so playing Nd5 is
an admission that White can no longer
gain the advantage," commented
Anand with his usual clarity. For
instance, after 15.Nd5 Qxd2 16.Nxf6+
Bxf6 17.Rxd2 Ke7, White's advantage is
insignificant.]
EXERCISE: What would you play
now?
ANSWER: 15...RbS
Correct lending more force to a ANSWER: 17
future...b5-b4. [Anand considered the
immediate 15...b4!? but 16.Nd5
a)when 16.Na2 d5 17.axb4 Qc7 gives
Black more than enough for the pawn,
since he has a good grip on the centre
and White's king position has been
weakened.(a}l 7...--); b)Nor is there any
advantage in 16.axb4 Qxb4 17.Nd5
Nxd5 18.exd5 Qxd2 19.Rxd2 Bd7;
38
16...Bxd5 17.exd5 Rb8 18.h4!? is less
clear.; Note that 15...0-0? would be
completely wrong, not only because
White can now play 16.h4 under
favourable conditions;(but also because
simply 16.NdS Qd8 17.Nxe7+ Qxe7
18.Qxd6 is possible. With the bishop on
f2 this would fail to...Rfd8, but here
18... Rfd8?? loses to 19.Qxe7 Rxdl+
since White has 20.Bcl available.)]
16.NdS Qxd217.Nxf6+?
"In conjunction with 15 g4 this is a
terrible move," wrote Anand. [As we'll
soon appreciate, it was better to play
17.Rxd2!, when Black can continue with
17...Bxd5 (or 17...NxdS 18.exdS Bd7)
18.exd5 Bd8, intending...Bb6, with an
equal position.]
EXERCISE: How should Black
recapture on f6? And why?
... gxf6!!
Yes, doubling the pawns and
leaving himself with a passive bishop
on e7, but correctly assessing that this
evaluation will change radically in a few
moves. [lvanchuk probably expected
17...Bxf6? 18.Rxd2 Ke7 19.h4 with a
slight advantage to White.]
18.Rxd2
 the correct one, based on the dynamic
EXERCISE: What now? factors in the position.

ANSWER: 18 ...hS! QUESTION: That's a real surprise;

Black needs to play with a concrete Black exchanges his good bishop and
plan; if he continues in routine fashion, leaves himself with the monstrosity on
White will gain the advantage for el? What's going on?
example, if he is allowed time to play
19 h3 because Black will have no ANSWER: As we'll see on other
compensation for his structural occasions, the concept of 'bad bishop'
weakness. and 'good bishop' is not something
fixed and immutable. Time and again,
19.Rgl Anand demonstrates exceptions to this
principle.Black's 'bad' bishop is actually
EXERCISE: How would you answer needed to support his pawn structure,
19.Be2? in particular the pawns at f6 and d6. Of
course, he is banking on the 'bad'
ANSWER: The situation would be status of his bishop not lasting for ever,
similar to the game after 19...hxg4 but for now it's a case of "Bad bishops
20.fxg4 Rh3!, preventing White from protect good pawns!", as Mihai Suba
coordinating his position.] said.

19...hxg4 20.fxg4 21.b3

EXERCISE: What was the thinking
behind Anand's decision to play
17 ...gxf6? What at this point would be
most in keeping with this move?
[After 21.Bxc4 bxc4, the threat of
22...c3 prevents White from playing 22
Rg3 and h2-h3, while if 22.RdS, Anand
gave 22...RbS with advantage;(though
it seems equally good (or even better)
to play the obvious 22...Rxh2, since
23.RaS Re2 24.Rg3 Kd7 25.Rxa6 Rh8
sees Black clearly on top.)]

21... Bxfl 22.Rxfl Rh3

QUESTION: What's good about

Black's position? He's stuck with his bad
bishop and his damaged structure.

ANSWER: Let's hand over to

ANSWER: 20... Bc4!!
"Just in time to stop White setting
up sorne sort of fortress on the kingside
by h3 and Rg3," commented Anand.
This seems a surprising choice, but it's
Anand: "[Black's] long-term aim is to
exchange his d-pawn for White's e­
pawn by...dS and exchange his f6-pawn
for White's g-pawn, (either by...fS or by
forcing White to play gS)."Black would
then obtain two central connected
passed pawns, while the white pawns

39
at h2 and c2 would be clearly inferior. "Simple and best" (Anand), not
Nevertheless, Anand emphasized that deviating from the main objective,
"he can only put his plan into action which is to play...d6-d5. Black
because he has the initiative".Black's overprotects d6 (prophylaxis against an
last move...Rh3 is very important, since eventual Bb4 and Rdl) and intends to
it attacks the bishop and prevents consolidate his centre with...f7-f6.
White from regrouping himself with Rf3
and h2-h3. The h3-rook also artificially 27.Bel
isolates the pawns on h2 and g4. The bishop goes to g3 to defend
the h-pawn and, at the same time,
23.Re2 block the g-file.
[23.Bgl would have been better,
but with 23...Kd7 24.Rd3 Rh4!, Black 27...fG 28.Bg3 dS 29.exdS+ KxdS
could retain the initiative; for example, Is this 'mission accomplished? Yes,
25.Rg3 Rg8 26.h3 Rgh8 27.Rff3 and to sorne extent; Black has two
now the elegant 27...fS! 28.RxfS connected, passed, centre pawns, but it
(28.exfS e4 29.Re3 d5 is clearly is still too early to speak of a clear
favourable to Black) 28...Rxh3 29.Rxh3 advantage, since the position has
Rxh3, although 30.Rxf7 {30.Bf2 Ke6 is opened up and the white pieces are
torture for White owing to the now active and can make it difficult for
weakness of his pawns at e4 and g4, Black to advance his pawns.
combined with the activity of the black
rook) 30...Rhl (instead, simply EXERCISE: How can White best
30...Rg3! is strong) 31.Rfl BgS (given by hinder the advance of the black
Anand) is not the winning line it infantry?
appears to be.
ANSWER: 30.RfS!
EXERCISE (tactical, difficult): What This forces the black forces to lose
is White's hidden defence? their coordination for a while.

ANSWER: The position can be held 30... KcG

with the surprising 32.Ka2! (moving to Played reluctantly, because it takes
a light square), planning to unpin the the black king away from its ideal e6-
bishop with Rbl if necessary (instead of square, where it supports...f6-f5.
Anand's 32.Rel? Bd2, followed by
33...Be3 and wins); while after 32...Be3, QUESTION: So why did Black not
White has 33.Rel! Bxgl 34.gS Ke7 continue with his plan and play
35.Rfl! and Black will have to return 30...Ke6??
the piece in arder to stop the
advancing g-pawn.] ANSWER: lt fails to 31.BxeS! Re8
32.Rxf6+!, when White gets two pawns
23... Kd7 24.gS Ke6 25.gxfG Bxf6 26.Bd2 for the exchange and a probable draw.;
Defending the bishop in advance with
EXERCISE: What now for Black? 30...Rh7 (or 30...Rb7) is no better;

ANSWER: 26...Be7! EXERCISE: 31.RfxeS+? (on account

40
of 31.BxeS! fxe5 32.RfxeS+ Kd6 33.Re6+
Kd7 34.Rxa6.{34.--)) 31...fxeS 32.RxeS+,
fallowed by Rxe7, again with a bishop
and two pawns far the exchange,
would be incorrect - why?
ANSWER: Because the activity of
the black king would then be decisive:
32...Kd4 33.Rxe7 Rxe7 34.Bxb8
threatening 35...Rel+ or 35...Re2.]
31.Ref2?
[White neglects the opportunity to
drive the black king even further from
the centre with 31.Rf3!, threatening 32
Bxe5. Then after 31...Rh7 32.Rc3+ Kb7,
Black's task of advancing his centre
pawns would be
difficult.(32...Kd7 is no better in view of
33.Rd2+! Bd6 {or 33... KeB
34.Rcd3 Rb6 35.Bf2 Rc6 36.BcS)]
31...RhG
Befare re-centralizing his king Black
radically prevents any sacrifice on f6.
32.Kb2 Kd7 33.Re2 Bd6 34.Rf3 Res
Black occupies the e-file to prevent
any possible white activity based on
Rc3 and Rc6. [However, it was also
possible to play 34...Ke6 at once.
EXERCISE: Why is 35.Rc3 not to be
feared?
ANSWER: On account of the simple
35 ... Bxa3+! and the bishop is taboo
owing to 36...b4+; instead,
threatens 37 Rc6+, but Black can deal
with this neatly by 36...Rb6! 37.Bf2
Bb4!, keeping the extra pawn.]
35.Bel KeG
Now it really is
accomplished!", as Anand commented.
36.Rd3 Rh7
QUESTION: 1 don't understand; so
much work to be able to advance
with...f6-f5, and yet he holds back.
ANSWER: You're right, it was also
possible to play 36...fS right away, but
Kc3, it does no harm first to improve the
position of the pieces, since...f6-f5 can't
be prevented anyway. lt would also
help Black if he could exchange a pair
of rooks, as that would more or less
eliminate any tactical tricks by White of
the type we've seen.]
37 .Rg3 Bes 38.Ka2 Rd7 39.Re3 Ree7
more Black needs to consolidate befare
activating his position; [39 ...Rdl? would
34.Rc6} fail to 40.Bf2 Bxf2 41.Rxc8 Bd4 42.c3
and Black is lucky to have 42...Kd7!,
which should draw.]
40.h4 Rdl 41.Bf2 Bd6 42.Rg3
QUESTION: l'm feeling a bit
confused here; far several moves
you've kept saying that Black's plan is
to advance with...f6-f5, but we seem to
have diverged from that a bit, don't
we?
36.Ka2
"mission
ANSWER: Well, you're quite right.
All the same, Black can return to the
41
plan of mobilizing his pawns after
activating his rook. In reality Black has 43.Rxe4+
an extra piece in play, i.e. his king, and [lf 43.Rg8 then 43...BeS; while
this enables him to gain material. 43.Rgl Rxgl 44.Bxgl fS would bring
about the complete triumph of the
42 ...e4! black infantry.]
This wins the exchange and is as
strong (or stronger) than the initial plan 43... BeS 44.RxeS+
of advancing the pawns. [Otherwise, Forced; [since 44.c3 loses the
42...fS was still possible, as after bishop to 44...Rd2+.]
43.Rg6+ Kf7 44.hS f4, Black would
threaten 45...f3.] 44...fxeS 45.Kb2 Rd2 0-1

"This match was an important point in my career as 1 gained a great deal of confidence
as a result of beating lvanchuk 5-3. He was the first really strong opponent 1 had
beaten in a match and 1 took this as a promising sign for the next world championship
cycle."

In November 1992 Anand played in the Alekhine Memorial in Moscow, once again a
Category XVIII tournament; after Reggio Emilia this was the second event of this
strength. Anand shared first place with Gelfand.

After his very good results of that year Anand's Elo rating reached 2700; he was the
eighth player to achieve this level.

Game Four

The Start of the Schism

For many years Linares was the most important tournament in the world. Kasparov
was partly responsible for the glamour of the event; he declared that it didn't bother
him that the "conditions" of the tournament failed to match the strength of the entry.
Linares was a tournament "for the players", who used to fight harder there than in
almost every other event, basically for the glory - and as we know, "glory is priceless".

On the 26th of February 1993, during the Linares tournament, Kasparov and Short
announced that they would be contesting their world championship match outside the
authority of the world chess federation (FIDE). That decision split the whole structure
of the way the World Chess Championship was organized; this was not remedied until
2006, when the title was reunified.

The 1993 edition of Linares included the top two players in the Elo list, Kasparov and
Karpov, and all the emerging stars: Viswanathan Anand from India, Vassily lvanchuk
from Ukraine, Boris Gelfand from Belarus, Gata Kamsky from the USA, and two
newcomers, Alexei Shirov from Latvia and a seventeen-year-old from Russia, Vladimir
42
Kramnik, who had played brilliantly in the 1992 Olympiad in Manila.

Kasparov was highly motivated to try to repeat his overwhelming triumph of the
previous year, where he had scored 10/13, with the added stimulus of trying to justify
at the chessboard his decision to abandon FIDE.

Alexander Beliavsky got off to a good start in the event, with victories over lvanchuk
and Anand, but he was unable to keep up this pace. lvanchuk (the winner of Linares in
1989 and 1991 and later in 1995) got off to a bad start and ended on just 50% with
61'2/13.

Anand recovered and after the eighth round was in the lead with 6 points. Kasparov
had 51'2 points and felt very optimistic. He told New in Chess that, befare his game with
Anand in the ninth round, he had said to Makarichev and Dvorkovich that the moment
had come to repeat his result of the previous year. This was greeted with sorne
scepticism, because to equal his 1992 score of 'plus seven' he would have to score
41'2/5 against Anand, Karpov, Gelfand, Shirov and Kamsky. Kasparov felt that his
'instinct' was with him, not the so-called 'killer instinct', he explained, but his instinct
for the struggle. And out of these five games only Shirov managed to salvage a draw,
so Kasparov indeed scored 10 points.

Despite his losses to Kasparov and Beliavsky, Anand had a good tournament, sharing
second place with Karpov on 81'2 points, followed by Shirov on 8 and Kramnik 7/'í.

The game we're about to see features a line of the Queen's Gambit Accepted that
Anand had prepared for his match with lvanchuk the previous year. He was unable to
use it then, since lvanchuk opened exclusively with 1 e4. Anand had played this line
against Beliavsky in the second round and met with defeat; after that game, during the
evening meal, Anand was suddenly struck by a different idea from everything he had
considered previously and, analysing it blindfold, he realized how strong it was.

OGelfand,B
•Anand,V 7...Ne4 8.Nge2 Na6! 9.f3
Queen's Gambit Accepted [D20]
4: Linares, 1993 QUESTION: Is it not better to rule
[Zenón Franco] out...Nb4 completely with 9.a3, given
that the knight on a6 doesn't appear
1.d4 dS 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 cS 4.dS Nf6 well placed?
S.Nc3 bS 6.Bf4 QaS 7.es
There are several other attractive ANSWER: No, that's not
continuations; [7.a4 was played in appropriate, since after 9...Bb7 10.f3
Beliavsky-Kamsky in round six;; while Nxc3 11.Nxc3, the knight finds a good
Shirov's choice against Kramnik in the spot in any case with 11...Nc7!, which is
first round was 7.Bd2, with which he advantageous for Black because the d5-
won a very complex game full of "fire pawn is weak.]
on board".]

43
 EXERCISE (tactical, difficult): How
should Black respond to the attack on
the e4-knight?
ANSWER: 9... Nb4!
Against Beliavsky, Anand
continued 9...Nxc3 10.Nxc3 Bf5, but
White gained the advantage with 11.g4
Bg6 12.a4! and eventually won. In his
preparation Anand had
9...Nb4, but only with the idea of
capturing on hl; after the game with
Beliavsky, Anand re-analysed the knight
jump to b4 and discovered the new
idea that appears on move 11.
10.fxe4 Nd3+ 11.Kd2
QUESTION: Okay, what's the new
idea then?
ANSWER: 11...gG! !
This is it, which convinced Anand
that the line was playable, and which
was overlooked by Gelfand
preparation. "Black's bishops and rooks
are still undeveloped, but Black's knight
is a monster. Why trade this knight far
that rook?" (Anand in New in Chess
#3/1993).ln the book of his best games
Anand went into greater detail, saying
that after the text move the immediate
compensation is indeed based on the
paralysing effect of his
However, in the longer term Black can
play ...Bg7 and ...Nxe5, when the mass
of queenside pawns, supported by the
bishop on g7, will be extremely
dangerous, especially with the white
had king stranded in the centre.
EXERCISE: How does White refute
11...Nf2?
analysed
ANSWER: Easily; after 12.Qel Nxhl
13.g3, the knight on hl will be captured
and White will gain the advantage.
12.b3?!
Gelfand thought far a long time
here and seemingly convinced himself
that he was lost. Anand thought this
was an exaggeration, but that Black
does indeed already stand better.
According to Anand in his book of best
games, with best play we reach
positions where Black has two pawns
and a dangerous attack far the piece;
he gives several lines, none of which
are sufficient far White to equalize.
[One important variation is 12.d6 exd6
13.a4 and here: lt is better to play
13...b4! (13...Nxf4? was suggested by
Gelfand in the post mortem; the two
players analysed it and both considered
it to be very strong. Anand published
this in lnfarmator #57, but there was a
flaw in the analysis: 14.Nxf4 Bh6 15.g3
{15.Kc2 seems better) 15...dxe5?! (and
here 15... b4!) 16.Kc2! exf4
in his
ANSWER: 17.Qd6!, preventing
castling, is the snag faund later by
Anand, with a complex position that
favours White, who threatens 18 Qe5+
as well as 18 Nd5.(and now 17.Qd5 0-
0! 18.Qxa8 b4 is very good far Black, as
both players agreed.
knight. EXERCISE: How can White improve
44
on 17 Qd5?(18... --))) 14.NdS Bg7 these two ideas to be the strongest in
15.Nf6+ (15.exd6 0-0 "is unclear" the position, but this is because they
according to Anand, although the consider that Black's advantage is so
engines prefer Black's position in this great that "everything wins" now. They
line too) 15...Bxf6 16.exf6 Be6, planning do approve of castling though.
to castle queenside.(The engines also
like 16... 0-0, among other things, and 19.Nd3 as
see nothing satisfactory for White, Objectively Black is winning, owing
whose king is in a bad way.); The to his decisive material advantage, but
computers consider that the most in practice White can still obtain
tenacious move is a quiet one not counterplay with his centre pawns, so
considered by the players: 12.Be3.] Black still needs to display good
technique.
12...Bg7! 13.bxc4 Nxf4 14.Nxf4?
[Here 14.cxbS Bxe5 15.Qb3 Nxe2 20.g3 Bg7
16.Bxe2 0-0 is excellent for Black, but Preparing to attack the white
the text move loses more quickly, pawns.
according to Anand. The engines go
further and consider that Black's 21.Bg2
position is winning after 16...0-0 as
well.

QUESTION: What is Black's

advantage based on?

ANSWER: The material is equal but

the black bishops, especially the one on
e5, are tremendous, a real nightmare
for the white monarch.]

14...BxeS 15.Nfe2 b4 16.Qa4+

Forced, since all other lines win
easily for Black: [16.NbS a6; 16.Na4 21...BaG!
Bd7; 16.Qb3 bxc3+ 17.Nxc3 Rb8; or lt is said that chess has a lot in
16.Rcl bxc3+ 17.Nxc3 Bf4+ etc.] common with music, but the following
moves seem more like boxing. This
16 ...Qxa417.Nxa4 Bxal 18.NxcS 0-0! move resembles a 'right hook'.

EXERCISE: Anand considered 22.cS Raes 23.cG RfdS!

18...fS?! but rejected it why? [23...Rfd8 threatens 24.-- Bxd3
25.Kxd3 Rxc6.]
ANSWER: Owing to 19.Nf4! and the
arrival of a knight on e6 would 24.Rcl Bh6+
complicate the winning process.This is And now a 'left hook'.
the human response; it is curious that
the engines don't consider either of 25.Nef4

45
 [lf 25.Ndf4 then 25...eS wins.]
25...Bxd3! 26.Kxd3 eS 27.Kc4
[And if 27.Bh3, the simple 27...Rc7
is quite sufficient.{27...f5 wins
according to Anand, but this seems
wrong since White can reply 28.Ne6!
Bxc1 29.NxdB, when 29... RxdB 30.cl
should draw.)]
27...exf4 28.Rel fxg3
[Despite being a rook up, Black still
needs to play carefully. He shouldn't
allow White to create three connected
and passed centre pawns; thus 28...f6 is
less accurate, according to Anand, on
account of 29.Rfl ! g5 30.h4.]
29.eS
[29.hxg3 leads to the pawns being
blockaded on the dark squares after
29...f6!, followed by...Bf8-d6.]
29...Bf4 30.hxg3 Bxg3 31.Re3
31...Bf4!
QUESTION: Why does this move
merit an exclamation mark? Wasn't it
better just to play 31...Bh2?
ANSWER: This is a finesse, forcing
46
the white rook to block its own bishop,
with the result that the c6-pawn is no
longer protected and so d5-d6 is
prevented. [The immediate 31...Bh2 is
also good, but it allows White to
prolong his resistance with 32.d6.]
32.Re4
[lf 32.Re2, a possible continuation
is 32...f6 33.exf6 Kf7 and the pawns are
no longer dangerous.]
32...Bh2 33.Bh3 Rc7 34.Re2 Bg3 35.Re3
Bf4! 36.Re4 gS 37.KcS Re7 38.Kd4
[On 38.d6, Anand gives as the
refutation 38...RxeS+ 39.RxeS Bxe5 and
if 40.Bd7!? then 40...hS (the simple
40... Rxdl 41.cxdl Bf6, followed by ...g5-
g4, also seems adequate) 41.c7 Rf8
42.KdS (queening leads to a lost ending
due to Black's three passed pawns on
the kingside; while if 42.BeB, the
counter-blow 42...Bxd6+! wins)
42...Bxd6! (or 42... 8/4 43.BeB RxeB,
since 44.dl fails to 44... ReS+! 45.Kd4
Re4+ 46.Kxe4 Bxc7} 43.Kxd6 g4 44.Ke7
(planning Be8) 44...Ra8! and the black
pawns can't be stopped.]
38...f6! 39.d6 BxeS+ 40.RxeS Rxd6+
0-1
Gelfand was very sporting, saying that he didn't mind losing such a game, and that
Anand had good chances of winning the prizes for best game and best novelty in
thelnformator, but "in fact 1 won neither!" said Anand.

After Linares, Anand went on to play in Madrid where he shared first place with
Kramnik and Topalov.

In July 1993 the FIDE lnterzonal took place in Biel. Anand wasn't happy with his play
there; nevertheless the tie-break put him in the top ten, which meant that he qualified
once again for the Candidates matches.

In December 1993 he shared the top spot with Michael Adams in the PCA lnterzonal
tournament in Groningen.

Game Five

Anand's First Match for the World Title

At the start of 1994, Anand played his first round match in the FIDE Candidates against
Artur Yusupov, winning 4Yz-2Yz, but went on to lose his quarter-final match, in Sanghi
Nagar against Gata Kamsky, in the rapid play-off games.

In the PCA cycle Anand was more successful: in 1994 in his first-round match he
defeated Oleg Romanishin 5-2 in New York, and went on to beat Michael Adams 5Yz-
1Yz in the semi-final, held in Linares. In the final, in Las Palmas in 1995, Anand played
Gata Kamsky again, and this time won 6Yz-4Yz, thus gaining the right to challenge Garry
Kasparov for the 1995 PCA World Chess Championship.

The event took place in the World Trade Center in New York, September-October
1995. Anand commented that to reach the final against Kasparov was very exciting,
but that he felt rather "exposed", having spent the previous two years contesting the
FIDE and PCA qualification cycles and had thus already used up most of his best ideas
in the openings. In contrast, Kasparov's task had been much more straightforward.

Furthermore, Anand was unable to devote the necessary time to prepare for the
match, because he still had to fulfil various commitments that he had taken on befare
he knew he would be playing Kasparov. In 1995, he played in tournaments in Monte
Cario, Riga and Moscow; thus Anand's preparations really only began in May, for a
match due to begin on September 11th.

The main task with White was to prepare to face Kasparov's Sicilian Defence. With
Black, Anand decided to defend against 1 e4 with 1...e5, which entailed a huge amount
of preparatory work, since, as well as the Ruy Lopez, Kasparov played the Evans
Gambit and the Scotch, and could also open with 1 d4.

47
Anand was not impressed with the way the event was organized. In the run-up to the
match various changes were made (including a reduction in the prize fund) and there
were various problems that the organizers failed to salve. Nevertheless, Anand did not
attribute his defeat to any of this.

The first eight games all ended in draws; this was the first decisive game:

DAnand,V Anand had scored several important

• Kasparov,G points. For example, 12...Na5 was
Sicilian Defence [885] played in V.Anand-V.Topalov,
5: PCA World Ch, New York (9), 1995 Dortmund 1996, and here White
[Zenón Franco] innovated with 13.g4! (instead of
13.Bgl, as Kasparov had played against
1.e4 es 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 Topalov a few weeks earlier in Dos
5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e6 Hermanas) 13...Nd7 14.Bg2
Against 1.e4, Kasparov's main
defence was the Scheveningen QUEST/ON: Why is White
Variation, which he had refined to the postponing such a 'torced' move as g4-
maximum in arder to be able to defend g5?
against Karpov in their world title
battles. This opening had already been ANSWER: Anand commented that
debated during the match in all four this was one of his discoveries; if Black
previous games in which Anand had the retreats his knight to d7 voluntarily,
white pieces. there is no need to play g4-g5 straight
away. Admittedly this move must be
7.0-0 Be7 8.a4 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.f4 played sooner or later if White wishes
Qc7 11.Khl Re8 12.Bf3 to attack, but it is better to delay it; for
[In their first matchgame Anand example, with the pawn on g5 it is
had played 12.Qd2; in his next three easier for Black to execute the
white games he tried 12.Bd3, but manoeuvre ... g7-g6, followed by ...e6-
Kasparov had neutralized the dangers, e5, whereas with pawn still on g4, after
so Anand had prepared a new line of ...e6-e5 the sacrifice Nf5 comes into
attack.] consideration, and if ...g6xf5 then g4xf5
with an attack down the g-file.The
12...Bd7 game continued 14...Bf8 15.Qel b6
[Kasparov played 12...Rb8 several 16.Rdl Bb7 17.Qh4 (with the idea of
times against Karpov but had switched Rd3-h3 after withdrawing the e3-
to the text move against Van der Wiel bishop, possibly to gl; the typical way
in Amsterdam 1987.; Although Anand for Black to defend h7 is to play...g7-g6
lost the match, he commented that his followed by...Bg7 and...Nf8, but in that
understanding of this type of position case another of the advantages of
had increased as a result of all the work having the pawn on g4, rather than g5,
he had put in and, for a while, he was is to be able to play f4-f5, answering
well ahead of all his grandmaster ...e6xf5 with g4xf5) 17...Nc6 18.Nde2!
colleagues in that regard. Eventually Nb4 19.Rd2 Qd8 20.g5 f6 21.Nd4! fxg5
everyone caught up, but not until (or 21... Nc6 22.gxf6! Qxf6 23.Qxf6 Nxf6

48
24.eS} 22.fxgS Nc6 23.Rdf2! with strong
pressure, which led to a win after
23...Rc8 24.Nce2 NcS 25.Nxc6 Bxc6
26.Nd4 Bd7 27.eS! dxeS 28.Nf3 Bc6
29.NxeS Bxg2+ 30.Rxg2 Rc7 31.Ng4 Kh8
32.Qh3! QdS 33.g6 h6 34.Bxh6! gxh6
35.g7+! Bxg7 36.Nxh6 Qxg2+ 37.Qxg2
Bxh6 38.Qg6 1-0.lt is worthwhile
playing through this game in full, since
"this was almost a model game, but it is
not easy to appreciate unless you are
familiar with all the intricacies of the
Scheveningen", as Anand wrote in the
book of his best games.]
13.Nb3
ANSWER: lt is necessary; inserting
18...axbS? 19.axbS Bd7 allows 20.Na4
with advantage.Anand was surprised to
see that Kasparov was playing this new
line in a very relaxed fashion; the
reason was that in fact it wasn't new - it
had been played befare.
19.Rabl!
[19.Ne2 is harmless: after 19...Rc8
20.bxa6 bxa6 21.Qxa6 Ra8 22.Qd3
Rxa4, Black had no problems and the
game was soon drawn. Anand said, half
in jest, that it was lucky he didn't know
about this game or he might have
abandoned the whole line.]

QUESTION: Why withdraw the 19...axbS

knight from the centre?
EXERCISE (tactical, difficult): Why
ANSWER: This is the typical does Black exchange on bS? What
response to ...Bd7; it evades the would happen after the intended move
positional threat of ...Nxd4, followed by 19...Rc8?
...Bc6, and tries to leave the black
pieces awkwardly placed.

13...NaS 14.NxaS QxaS 15.Qd3 Rad8

16.Rfdl!
[Anand had prepared both this
move and 16.g4, as in J.Van der Wiel­
L.Polugaevsky, Haninge 1989.; Another
option was 16.Qd2, as in J.Van der
Wiel-G.Kasparov, Amsterdam 1988.
The decision to play the text move was
taken at the board.]
ANSWER: White has the powerful
16... Bc6 response 20.eS ! . Let's explore a few
[lf 16...es, then 17.fS.] lines: 20...dxeS {20...Qxc3? 21.exf6 Bxf6
22.Bxbl is decisive, because the a6-
17.b4 Qc718.b5 Bd7 pawn falls) 21.fxeS QxeS (or 21...NdS
Black is planning to play 19...Rc8. 22.NxdS exd5 23.QxdS Bf5 24.Qxbl
Qxe5 25.Bd4 Qf4 26.Bc6) 22.Bd4 Qc7
QUESTION: This move leaves the 23.Bxf6 Bxf6 24.Ne4 with good
a6-pawn hanging; is it really necessary? compensation for the pawn, since
lsn't it better to take on bS? Black's queenside is weak and White
threatens 25 Nxf6+, weakening the

49
black king position.
20.NxbS!
[20.axbS is not as strong now:
White has no advantage after 20...Rc8
Nor is there any benefit in playing
21.Na4 (21.eS, since there is no pawn
on a6 hanging at the end of the line
21...Qxc3! 22.exf6 Qxd3 23.cxd3 Bxf6
24.Bxb7 Rc3.{24...--)) 21...Qxc2, as after
22.Qxc2 (22.Nb6 leads to a draw,
almost by force: 22...Qxd3 23.Rxd3 Rcl
24.e5 dxe5 25.fxe5 Nd5 26.Bxd5 exd5
27.Nxd5! Bf5 28.Nxcl Bxd3 29.Nxe8
Bxbl 30.Nd6 Bxd6 31.exd6 8/5 etc)
22...Rxc2 23.Nb6, "White's
compensation for the pawn is
nebulous", according to Anand.]
20...BxbS
A surprise for Anand, who was
expecting 20...QaS. [lt's curious that
Houdini 3 considers that the best line
for White is the one indicated by
Anand: 20...QaS! 21.Nxd6 (almost any
other move allows...Bc6 with a good
position, according to Anand) 21...Bxa4
22.Bb6 Rxd6 23.BxaS! (After 23.Qxd6
Bxd6 24.BxaS Bxf4 (not 24...Bxc2?
25.e5 and wins) 25.Rxb7 Bxc2 26.Rd8
Rxd8 27.Bxd8 Bxe4! 28.Rb4 Bxf3
29.Rxf4 BdS 30.Bxf6 gxf6 31.Rxf6, the
difference lies in the evaluation; while
the engines see an advantage to White
in the endgame (0.84), Anand is
categorical: "it's a draw".) 23...Rxd3
24.cxd3 Bxdl leaves White with a slight
advantage owing to his pair of bishops
and Black's weak b-pawn (Anand); the
engines assert that the advantage is
minimal. This line actually occurred in
the game S.Vratonjic-D.Antic, Nis 1996,
which ended in a draw.]
21.QxbS
[21.RxbS is possibly better,
50
according to Anand. For example:
21...Rc8 (Anand indicates that 21...Nd7
22.Rdbl NcS 23.Qc4 is clearly better for
White;(the engines consider 23.Qc3 to
be stronger, since after 23...RaB, White
has 24.a5!}) 22.Rdbl Qxc2 23.Qxc2
Rxc2 24.Rxb7, followed by a4-a5 or Ral
if necessary, and White has the
advantage. Then 24...dS? is bad
(24...Ra2? loses to 25.e5} on account of
25.eS, followed by Rxe7, exploiting the
weakness Black's back rank.]
21... RaS 22.c4 eS 23.Bb6!
Maintaining the tension on es,
albeit temporarily, restricts Black's
options.
23...QcS
EXERCISE: Why not the more active
23...Qc6 now?
ANSWER: Then 24.cS! is strong,
and none of the possible captures is
satisfactory; if 24...exf4? (or 24...dxc5?
25.fxe5 and the knight is lost) 25.eS
QxbS 26.axbS dxeS 27.Bxb7 with two
strong, connected, passed pawns.
24.fxeS dxeS 25.aS Bf8 26.h3 Qe6
EXERCISE (tip: remember Botvinnik
and Petrosian): What is White's best
move?
 28...QgG 29.cS e4 30.Be2 Res
[After 30 ...Be7 31.d6 Bf6 32.d7 Rf8,
Black threatens to become active
ANSWER: 27.RdS! with...Be5, but Anand (and also
An exchange sacrifice reminiscent Houdini, who by now has definitely
of V.Liublinsky-M.Botvinnik, Moscow changed sides!) points out 33.Bc7! and
1943, and several of Petrosian's games. Black is paralysed.]

27... NxdS?? 31.Qd7! RgS

"An inexplicable mistake", [Black's counterplay is inadequate
according to Anand. lt is noteworthy after 31...Qg3 32.Qxb7 (or indeed 32.d6
that even today sorne engines approve RgS 33.Rgl) 32...Rg5 33.Rgl.]
of it initially.
32.Rgl! e3
QUEST/ON: Why is it so bad to [32...Qf5 33.Qxb7 Qxd5 34.c6 Re8
accept the exchange? There doesn't 35.Qd7 is equally hopeless.]
seem to be any immediate danger.
What should Black have played 33.dG
instead? [33.Qxb7 Re8 34.d6 is similar.]

ANSWER: Anand indicated that, 33...Rg3 34.Qxb7 QeG 35.Kh2!

after 27... Nxd5, White's position is [Anand's original intention was to
much better and is easy to play; he just play 35.Rfl, but then he saw that
needs to push his pawns. Anand Kasparov had planned 35...Rb8!,
thought that Black should have made a intending 36.Qxb8? (36.Qc6 is better)
useful move on the kingside, such as 36...Rxh3+ 37.Kgl Qe5 and the game
27...h5, and although White would still will surprisingly end in a draw.; Next he
stand better, the black position would saw that 35.Rdl! Rb8 36.Qd5 would
be difficult to breach. win;; but 35.Kh2 is even better, as after
35...Qe5(35...ReB can be answered
28.exdS simply by 36.dl), White can play
The engines no longer see equality 36.Qxa8 and none of the possible
and begin to discern difficulties for discovered checks achieve anything.]
Black. 1-0

This victory over Kasparov was only Anand's second such (the first being the win in
Reggio Emilia). After nine games of the match Anand was leading 5-4, but in the final
nine games he simply collapsed; Kasparov won four and there were five draws.

Anand thinks one of his main problems was that he failed to appreciate the tension
involved in playing a match for the World Championship; it's worth recalling that
Botvinnik used to say that it took a year off your life. Kasparov's level of play was not
high, but he made fewer serious errors and controlled his nerves better, probably due
to his greater experience in such matches. Anand believes that, if he had had a second
opportunity to play a match against Kasparov, he would have been better prepared all

51
round.

Anand's first tournament following the Kasparov match was to play in Wijk aan Zee in
1996. Here's how Anand explained the difference: it "was Heaven compared to the
New York match. You could just go to Wijk aan Zee, everybody understands chess and
is enthusiastic about chess; you can just play chess and not be distracted by changes of
venues and prize-funds and 101 other things."

He needed to rediscover his "appetite for chess". In sorne games he opened with 1 d4,
and in others he played sharp lines to maintain his interest and motivation. Anand was
aware of what had happened to Andrei Sokolov and Johann Hjartarson, who, following
defeat in matches against Karpov, were never quite the same again.

Anand scored 8/13 at Wijk aan Zee and finished in second place behind lvanchuk.

Game Six

Once More Battling with Kasparov and Karpov

The Las Palmas super-tournament at the end of 1996 was not only very strong, it was
also the first time that both Kasparov and Karpov had competed together since Linares
1994, where Karpov, with a rating performance of 3000 Elo, achieved one of the most
decisive victories in chess history.

Along with Kasparov and Karpov, the tournament included Anand, Kramnik, lvanchuk
and Topalov in a double-round event that was one of the strongest ever held.

D Anand,V salid Caro-Kann. [Anand explained his

• Karpov,A
Queen's Gambit Accepted [D21]
6: Las Palmas, 1996
[Zenón Franco]
1.Nf3
QUESTION: This move does not
appear very often in Anand's practice,
does it? Is there a special reason for
this choice?
ANSWER: Very observant of you.
Unlike Kramnik, against whom Anand
had lost in the previous round, Anand
doesn't play this move very often, but
he was in no mood to face Karpov's
52
choice in this way: "There was no way 1
could face a boring Caro-Kann and
trying to deal with an improvement on
move 45 leading to a difficult ending,
etc. 1 felt that it would be better to go
down in style than to do something like
that. Now, how does a move like 1 Nf3
allow me to get interesting positions?
Well, to be honest, 1 Nf3 can lead to
positions even more boring than after
1.e4 c6, but at least they would be
unfamiliar boring positions!"]
1...dS 2.d4 e6 3.c4 dxc4 4.e4
Played immediately, in the above­
mentioned spirit of avoiding boring
positions. [In an earlier round Topalov-
Karpov had followed a more Karpov would repeat the most
conventional path: 4.e3 a6 5.Bxc4 c5 important master game with this line
6.0-0 Nf6 7.Bb3 Nc6 8.Qe2 cxd4 9.Rdl played up till then 7...Nf6 8.bxc4 Nxe4
d3 10.Rxd3 Qc7 and Black had no 9.c5 Bxc5 10.BxbS+ Bd7 11.Bxd7+
problems; the game was drawn in 27 Qxd7, A.Yermolinsky-V.Kupreichik,
moves.] Sverdlovsk 1987 given that his style is
almost the opposite of Kupreichik's.]
4...bs
Leaving the beaten track. [Karpov 8.bxc4 Bxe4
didn't want to transpose to the Vienna [8...bxc4 9.Bxc4 Bxe4 10.0-0,
Variation with 4...Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Bg5, followed by Nc3, Ne5, etc, gives White
which he had played with Black only a strong initiative.]
once, whereas he had had good results
against it as White.] 9.cxbS
The b5-pawn is again a nuisance for
5.a4 Black. [9.Nbd2 was a good alternative.]
Beginning the typical assault on
Black's structure, by which White 9...Nf6 10.Be2
generally manages to regain the pawn.
QUESTION: What a passive
5...c6 development; why not 10 Bd3?
[After 5...Bb7 6.axb5 Bxe4 7.Bxc4
Nf6 8.0-0 Be7 9.Nc3 Bb7 10.NeS, White ANSWER: Because 10.Bd3 Bb4+!
reaches a good lsolated Queen's Pawn would then be annoying, practically
position, since he has an advantage in forcing 11.Kfl (since 11.Bd2? Bxd2+
development and the b5-pawn is a 12.Qxd2 (White can't recapture with
nuisance to Black.] the knight) 12...Bxf3 13.gxf3 Qxd4 is
clearly good for Black.)
6.axbS cxbS 7.b3
10...Be7
QUESTION: Okay, this regains the [Now if 10...Bb4+, White can play
pawn alright, but at the cost of allowing 11.Bd2 Bxd2+ 12.Nbxd2, developing
a lot of pawns to be exchanged. So smoothly.]
where's the entertaining game that
White was hoping for? How can this be 11.0-0 0-0 12.Nc3
counted as a success for White? The knight develops to its most
natural post, where it exerts sorne
ANSWER: Patience. The battle has influence over the important d5-
hardly begun. All will be revealed. The square. [lnstead, 12.Nbd2 Bb7 13.Nc4
success of opening with 1 Nf3 could be a6 14.b6 Nc6 15.Bd2 Nd5 was played in
measured by the fact that Karpov was C.Lutz-P.Schlosser, Berlin 1989, but
on unfamiliar ground and spending a Anand considered this position to be
lot of time on his moves. unclear, because "it isn't clear whether
the b6-pawn will be weak or strong."]
7...Bb7
[Anand believed it unlikely that 12...Bb7 13.NeS a6

53
 Black wants to eliminate the Qxd4, when White has sorne
annoying b5-pawn, although it is easier advantage, although there would be
for White to become active on this technical problems in realizing it.]
wing. [lnstead: 13...Bb4 14.Bb2 Bxc3
(14...a6 15.Bf3! is good for White; the 15.NxdS exdS
exchange of the b7-bishop prevents Now both sides have an isolated
Black from playing ...a6xb5} 15.Bxc3 a6 queen's pawn and the "slight
(if Black tries 15...Qd5, White can play disadvantage" mentioned is the d5-
16.Nf3; (but 16.f3! looks even better, pawn, which makes the b7-bishop
keeping the knight on e5}} 16.Bf3 with passive.
an edge is another possibility
mentioned by Anand; (16.BaS can be QUEST/ON: So, wouldn't 15...Bxd5
answered by 16...QdS! 17.Bf3 Qxb5 and be better, to play against White's
Black is okay; but 16.Bb4 Re8 17.Bf3 is isolated pawn?
perhaps even more precise, when
Black's development problems allow ANSWER: The trouble is that
White to launch a strong offensive; for White's IQP is not a weakness here.
example, 17... NdS 18.b6 (threatening Black can't exploit it because his
to defend the pawn with Bc5) 18...Qxb6 mobility is severely limited: he would
19.BhS! g6 20.Qf3 f5 21.Qg3 with an still be unable to play ...a6xb5, the
attack.); 13...Nbd7?! allows 14.Nc6 knight would have to stay on b8 to
Bxc6 15.bxc6 with a strong passed defend the a6-pawn, and playing ...a6-
pawn, and the try 15...Rc8 can be met a5 isn't a solution, because the b5-
by 16.cxd7 Rxc3 17.Bd2 ! (rather than pawn would then be very strong. White
17.Rxa7?! Rc7} and White wins the could answer 15...Bxd5 with simply
exchange after 17...Rc6 (or 17...Rc7 16.Be3 (or 16.Bf4.}
18.BaS} 18.Ba5 Qxd7 19.Bb5.; Years
later, Kasparov pointed out the EXERCISE: Let's get back to 15...exd5.
improvement 13...Qc7! 14.Bf3 Qxc3 What should White do now about the
15.Bxb7 Qxal 16.Bxa8 Nbd7 with situation on the queenside?
equality.]
ANSWER: 16.Rbl!
EXERCISE: Let's return to the game. White abandons the a-file, where
How would you answer Black's last, nothing more can be achieved, in arder
13...a6? to become more active. [Anand
commented that White would also
ANSWER: 14.Bf3 have an edge after 16.Qb3 axbS
After what we've seen, selecting 17.Rxa8 Bxa8 18.QxbS, "but facing
this move is easy, isn't it? Karpov's defensive skills, 1 preferred to
aim for a large advantage!"]
14...NdS
"Typically, Karpov finds the safest 16...Qb6
solution, leaving him with a slight
disadvantage," commented Anand. QUESTION: The e5-knight is very
[Otherwise it was possible to sacrifice annoying; why not evict it with 16...f6?
the exchange with 14...Bxf3 15.Qxf3

54
 pawns. [As before, 17...aS would leave
White with a very strong pawn on bS.;
The tactics don't work for Black if he
tries to evict the knight with 17...f6.
White then has several promising
continuations, including 18.Bd3!,
defending the bl-rook and threatening
both 19 bxa6 and 19 QhS.]

18.RxbS Qc7 19.Bf4 Bd6 20.Bd3 Ba6

[On 20...Bc6, the rook would just
withdraw to b3 with the idea of
relocating to the kingside, and White
ANSWER: Although it would expel would keep his strong light-squared
the knight from a strong square, this bishop.]
pawn advance comes at a price: it
creates a serious weakness at e6, and
in fact weakens the kingside generally
as can be seen after, for instance,
17.Nd3 axbS 18.RxbS Bc6 19.Qb3! Ras
20.RxaS QxaS 21.Nf4 (attacking dS and
exploiting the weakness on e6) 21...Rd8
22.Bg4!, when 22...Na6?! loses to
23.Be6+ Kf8 (or 23... KhB 24.Ng6+!,
followed by mate) 24.Qh3.

EXERCISE (positional): Is it possible

for White increase the pressure? lf so,
how?
ANSWER: 17.Be2!!
Anand's explanation was:
decided that the bishop had nothing
more to do on f3 and the best plan was
to relocate it to d3."The point is that
White can't really increase his pressure
on dS, so the bishop seeks a square
from where its activity will have greater
effect. From d3 it will aim at both the
queenside and Black's castled position,
and the black bishop on b7 will be
unable to neutralize it. This last factor
needs to be justified tactically.
17...axbS
lt's advisable to exchange the
EXERCISE: Black is trying to
exchange the strong white bishop, but
the dS-pawn is now en prise. What is
"I White's best continuation?
ANSWER: 21.Bxh7+!
QUESTION: What's going on? Is this
the best move? lnstead of winning a
healthy extra pawn at no risk, White
sacrifices a piece, creating incalculable
complications!
ANSWER: Okay, not everything is
clear, but let's see what Anand had to
say about it: "Here, 1 spent a few
seconds looking at 21 RxdS, which
leaves White with an extra pawn, but

55
as 1 mentioned earlier 1 couldn't face a
long, technical game."He added that in
many lines an exchange on es is
possible, which would lead to an
ending of faur pawns against three on
the kingside with no guarantee of a
win; it all depends on what pieces
remain on the board, far instance a
rook ending would very probably be
drawn."Then 1 saw Bxh7+ and didn't
waste any more time on RxdS. (...) 1
didn't see a defence far Black. By now 1
was too excited to analyse and decided
that 1 would simply play it." (Anand).
The practica! element is very important
in the decision to sacrifice. Karpov
didn't have much time left, so it would
be very difficult to find the best
defence.Anand was aware that it was
impossible to calculate everything
perfectly, even with the help of a
computer. Many years later, it's still not
clear whether the sacrifice is
objectively the best continuation, but
from the competitive point of view
there is no doubt that it was the best
choice. [The move expected in the
press room was 21.RxdS, as implied
above.]
21 ... Kxh7 22.QhS+ Kg8
EXERCISE: What now far White?
ANSWER: 23.Rb3
Of course; the rook is going to the
h-file.
EXERCISE (very difficult): What is
Black's best defence?
23... BxeS?
ANSWER: "After this error there is
no saving Black's position." (Anand)
56
There are two main defences to
consider: 23...Bc8, which Anand was
most afraid of at the board, and
23...f6!, which analysis indicates as
best. Let's examine the most critica!
lines; the position is very complex.
[First, let's look at 23...Bc8?!. Here
Karpov's intuition told him that 24.Rg3
would be decisive, and analysis
indicates that this is the case. (We
should note that 24.g4?, to allow the
rook to come to h3, fails to 24...Ra3!.}
Anand believed that 24...Qe7 was
stronger, when the most accurate line
seems to be (Here 24...Ra3 loses to
25.Rxg7+! Kxg7 26.Bh6+ Kf6 (or
26... Kh8 27.BgS+ Kg8 28.B/6, mating)
27.QgS+! Ke6 28.Rel! and despite Black
being a rook and bishop up, the
situation of his king means that he can't
avoid material losses; e.g. 28...BxeS
29.RxeS+ Kd7 30.Re7+ Kc6 31.Qcl+.)
25.Bh6! BxeS 26.dxeS g6, reaching one
of the critica! positions.
EXERCISE: How to continue the
attack?
ANSWER: 27.e6!! wins: if 27...Qxe6
(while 27...Bxe6 is refuted by 28.QeS!
f6 29.Rxg6+ Anand}, then 28.Bxf8 Kxf8
29.Qh8+ Ke7 30.Re3 wins material.;
That leaves the most tenacious
defence: 23...f6! 24.Rh3! fxe5 25.dxe5, even then his king won't be completely
and now: lt's much better to counter­ safe. The immediate threat is 35 Qe3
attack with 25...Qc4!. (White's attack mate.A plausible line then is 34...Bxg4!
triumphs after 25...Rxf4? 26.e6! Kf8 (after 34...d4 35.Qe6+, White
27.Qh8+ Ke7 28.Qxg7+ Ke8 (or eventually picks up the e2-bishop with
28...Kxe6 29.Rel+! Re4 30.Rh6+) check, followed by the other one)
29.Rh8+ Rf8 30.Rxf8+ Bxf8 31.Qxc7.) 35.Qe3+ Kf5 36.Qxe7 Nc6 37.Qd7+ Ke5
Nevertheless, White can gain sorne 38.Qxc6 Rac8 39.f4+ Ke4 40.Qg6+ Bf5
advantage with a line that would be 41.Qg2+ Kd4 42.Qd2+ Kc4 43.Qa2+ Kd4
almost impossible to calculate without 44.Qa4+ Kc3 45.Qa5+ Kc4 46.Ba3 Rfe8
a computer, especially over the board: 47.Kf2 with advantage to White,
26.Qh7+! (Anand thought that the according to the engines.Be that as it
strongest move now was 26.Rel. may, this summary of such extremely
However, the surprising 26...Qb4!, complicated lines, which can surely be
found by the computers, casts doubt improved upan, gives us a clear idea of
on this line. White doesn't seem to the almost impossible defensive task
have more than a draw; for example, facing Black over the board.]
(This wins after 26...Qxf4? 27.Qh7+ Kf7
28.exd6 Re8 29.Qh5+ g6 30.Re7+!! EXERCISE: Returning to the position
Rxe7 {30...Kf6 31.Qf3! "is an after 23...Bxe5, what is White's best
unexpected win" Anand) 31.Qh7+ Kf6 continuation?
(or 31...KfB 32.dxe7+ KeB 33.Qxg6+
Kxe7 34.Rh7+} 32.Qxe7+ Kf5 33.Qf8+! ANSWER: 24.Rh3!
Ke5 34.Re3+ and wins (Anand).) 27.Bd2 [Of course, there's no time to lose;
Qxd2 28.Qh7+ Kf7 29.Rf3+ Ke7 24.Bxe5? wastes a vital tempo,
30.Qxg7+ Kd8 31.Rxf8+ Bxf8 32.Qxf8+ enabling Black to defend with 24...Qc4
Kc7 33.Qd6+ (or 33.Rbl Qc2} 33...Kc8 25.Rfbl f6 26.Bxb8 Bb5! (threatening
34.Qf8+ etc.) 26...Kf7 27.e6+ Kf6! 27...Qxb3) 27.Rh3 {27.Rc3? Qa2! is
{27...Kxe6? 28.Rel+; and 27...KeB worse) 27...Rfxb8 and there is no more
28.Qg6+ Kd8 29.BgS+ Kc8 30.Rcl are than a draw.]
much worse) 28.Rh6+! gxh6 29.Qxh6+
Kf5 (not 29...Ke7? 30.BgS+ and mates) 24...fG
30.g4+ Ke4 31.Rel+ Qe2! (not 31...Kd3? Threatened with mate in one, Black
32.Qg6+ Kd4 33.Bxd6 and White is opts for the lesser evil. [lnstead, 24...f5
winning, according to the engines) weakens the dark squares and allows
32.Rxe2+ Bxe2 33.e7! (not 33.Bxd6?? 25.Bxe5 Qd7 26.Qh7+ Kf7 27.Rel (or
Ral+ 34.Kg2 Bfl+ 35.Kg3 Rf3+ 36.Kh4 27.Bxg7 with an unstoppable attack.)]
Rh3+ and Black wins Anand) 33...Bxe7
(33...Ral+ now fails to 34.Bcl Bxg4 25.dxeS Qe7
35.Qe3+ Kf5 36.exfBQ+ BxfB 37.Qf4+ [lf 25...Qc4, White can win either
Ke6 38.Qxg4+ etc) 34.Bcl, reaching an by going straight for the enemy king
amazing position. Black currently has with 26.Qh7+ (or by playing 26.Rel!
two rooks and two minar pieces for the first, intending 26...Qxf4 27.Qh7+ Kf7
queen, but the insecure position of his 28.e6+ Ke8 29.Qg6+ (Anand), which is
king means that he will have to give up easier to calculate) 26...Kf7 27.e6+.; No
two minar pieces to prevent mate, and better is 25...Qd7 26.Qh7+ Kf7 27.exf6

57
Kxf6 28.Rel Be2 29.Rg3, again with a examples of the importance of practica!
winning attack.] issues during a chess game. Here there
are several strong continuations, but
26.Qh7+ Kf7 27.Rg3 Ke8 Anand makes sure of avoiding any
[lf 27...Rg8, one way to win is catastrophes.
28.Qg6+ Kf8 29.exf6 and the black king
is helpless; note that 29...Qxf6 loses at 31...Bb7 32.Rcl BaG 33.Ral Bb7 34.Rdl
once to 30.Bd6+.] BaG 35.Qbl!
[Here 35.Bc7+! forces mate in 11
28.Rxg7 moves according to the engines, which
"From now on, the game pretty found other forced wins at various
much plays itself there are several ways points too, but of course the text move
to win on every move!" (Anand) [Here is good enough.]
28.exf6! would also have won.]
35...RxfG 36.Bg5
28...QeG [After 36.BgS, Karpov lost on time
[28...Rf7 loses to 29.exf6] while playing 36... Kc8, which loses
immediately to 37.Qb6 as indicated by
29.exfG NcG 30.Ral Kd8 31.h4 Anand, though there are numerous
"To clear the back rank it's always other winning moves;(such as 37.Rcl;
nice to have time for such details." or, surprisingly, 37.Qh7.)] 1-0
(Anand)We've already seen sorne

With this victory Anand moved on to 'plus 1' for the tournament. He drew his
remaining games, which enabled him to claim second place on his own, behind
Kasparov. The year 1997 was a very good one for Anand: he won in Dos Hermanas,
beating Kramnik on tie-break, ahead of Salov, Karpov, Topalov, etc, and then went on
to compete in Biel.

Game Seven

"An Effort of Which 1 am Very Proud"

Anand has good memories of the tournament in Biel/Bienne: excellent organization,

very comfortable conditions, and pleasant walks along the lakeside. This sense of well­
being was reflected in Anand's chess as early as the very first round, in which he
conjured up a spectacular combination of great beauty, one of which he was very
proud, and that produced a miniature.

DAnand,V 1.e4 d5
• Lautier,J Anand couldn't recall Lautier
Scandinavian Defence {801} having played the Scandinavian
7: Biel, 1997 Defence befare, but assumed that he
[Zenón Franco] had made a thorough study of it in the
previous few months while he had
58
been absent from competition. 10.Nxd7 Nxd7 11.hS Be4 12.Rh3
Developing the rook along the third
2.exdS QxdS 3.Nc3 QaS 4.d4 Nf6 S.Nf3 rank is quite normal in the lines where
c6 6.Bc4 White plays g2-g4 and h2-h4. Among its
other advantages, the rook defends the
QUESTION: Anything to say about possible weak point on c3.
this?
12...Bg2
ANSWER: Yes. Anand explained A neat zwischenzug, the idea of
that 6 Ne5 was more popular at that French GM Eric Prié, provoking Rg3.
time, but he opted for this move partly [The alternative is to play 12...Bd5
for practica! reasons, since it was straight away.]
probable that Lautier was less familiar
with it. [6.Ne5 is a main line, but at that 13.Re3
time it was less popular. There was also
an objective element in Anand's choice: QUESTION: The rook goes to e3?
during preparation for his World Doesn't this just invite Black to
Championship match with Kasparov (in play...Nb6-d5? lsn't it better to play the
which Anand had played the natural 13.Rg3?
Scandinavian himself in one game), he
had noticed that that "the lines with 6 ANSWER: When Anand opted for
Bc4 were very dangerous for Black to 13 Re3, he logically took this knight
navigate."] manoeuvre into account. 13 Re3 is a
notable and very deep idea, not
6...BfS 7.NeS preparation but over-the-board
This was chosen for similar reasons. inspiration.Nevertheless, it's not clear
[Although 7.Bd2 offers White a slight that it's the best move, for equally
edge, Anand remembered that, deep reasons. In fact 13 Rg3 was
according to his analysis, 7 Ne5 and 8 Anand's first thought, which he also
g4 set Black more problems.] considered to be slightly better for
White, even though an eventual...Bd6
7...e6 8.g4 Bg6 9.h4 Nbd7! hits the rook.]
[9 ...Bb4 10.Bd2 Ne4 11.f3! Nxc3
12.bxc3 Bxc3 can be met by 13.h5! 13...NbG?!
(even stronger than 13.Rbl, which gave A very natural response, which
White sorne advantage in D.Campora­ seems to exploit the position of the
Cu.Hansen, Palma de Mallorca 1989), rook on e3 by playing... Nd5; but, as
though White needs to be careful: for Anand will prove brilliantly, it's not the
example, 13...Nd7!? 14.Nxd7 Kxd7 best. [lnstead, 13...b5 14.Bd3 b4
15.Rbl (15.hxg6?? loses to 15...hxg6 15.Ne4 wouldn't be very promising
16.Rfl Rh2} 15...b5 16.Be2 Bxd2+ either. Black would soon have to
17.Qxd2 Qxa2 18.Rcl and the g6- acquiesce to the exchange of his light­
bishop can finally be taken.ln light of squared bishop, surrendering the
this, Black began to use the text move, bishop pair and remaining with a
to exchange the strong knight on e5.] somewhat inferior position.

59
 QUESTION: Alright then, what's
Black's best move here?
ANSWER: Patience; all will soon be
revealed. (Please skip the next exercise
for now.);
EXERCISE: Knowing what we know
now, years after this game, what was
Black's best 13th move, and does it call
the idea 13 Re3 into question?
ANSWER: lt was much better to
play 13... Qc7!, another idea of Eric
Prié's, possibly found after his game
with Bauer. Prié later got the chance to
play 13... Qc7! in T.Moriuchi-E.Prié, San
Sebastian 2005. White responded with
14.f4?!, weakening his pawn structure,
and after (The point is that 14.f3? now
fails to 14... Qh2! (and 14 Bel! may be
. . .
even better.)J 14...Nb6 15.Bb3 0-0-0
16.Kf2 Bd5 17.NxdS Nxd5 18.Rf3 Nf6,
Black soon opened the kingside and
gained the advantage, winning in 29
moves.]
14.Bd3!
[In contrast, 14.Bb3 Nd5 is less
clear.]
14... NdS
14...cS would be met by 15.f3,
when 15...cxd4? fails to 16.BbS+.]
60
EXERCISE: What was Anand's idea
in putting his rook on e3?
ANSWER: 15.f3!
This calm move is the key to
White's idea. "He is willing to jettison a
few pawns and/or the exchange in
arder to snare the bishop on g2."
(Anand)Anand calculated that,
although he would have no material
advantage following the demise of the
g2-bishop since Black gains a rook and
two pawns for two minar pieces, the
minar pieces will be more active than
the black rook, which lacks open files.
Coupled with White's lead in
development, this will give White the
advantage. Yes, all this was calculated
and evaluated by Anand when he
played 13 Re3. Admirable, don't you
think? Going back a little, since neither
13...Nb6 nor 13...bS was best, let's
return to your earlier question. [In
contrast, 15.Rg3 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Bd5
17.Bd2 Qa4 gave Black good play in
Ch.Bauer-E.Prié, French Champ,
Auxerre 1996.]
15...Bb4
[After 15...Nxc3 16.bxc3 Qxc3+
17.Bd2 Qxd4 18.Kf2 Bxf3 19.Kxf3 0-0-0
20.Rbl; or 15...Nxe3 16.Bxe3 Qb6
(Black might create more confusion
with 16 Ba3!?, but the engines still
. . .
prefer White, albeit not to any great
degree) 17.Kf2 Bh3 18.Rbl (or 18.Kg3,
we reach the kind of position described
by Anand above, and which is good for
White.)]
16.Kf2! Bxc3
[Now 16...Nxc3 17.bxc3 Bxc3
18.Rbl Bxd4 19.Kxg2 Bxe3 20.Bxe3
brings about an even more favourable
scenario for White, who threatens to
capture on b7, while if 20...0-0-0 then
21.Qcl, followed by Qb2, is very
strong.]
17.bxc3 Qxc318.Rbl Qxd4
[In the event of 18...Bxf3 19.Qxf3
lnserting 19...Nxe3 (19...Qxd4 20.Rxb7
0-0, then 21.Qe4 saves the exchange
and wins, as indicated by Anand.{21.--))
20.Qxe3 allows White to defend the d4-
pawn and threaten Rxb7, while if
20...b6 {20 ...0-0-0 fails to 21.Rxbl!,
exploiting the loase black queen)
21.Bd2 Qa3 22.QeS!, White's activity
gives him a decisive advantage.;
Switching the move arder by 18...Nxe3
19.Bxe3 Bxf3 20.Qxf3 allows White to
retain his important central pawn. Then
after 20...0-0-0, White activates his
pieces with surprising speed: 21.Rb3
QaS 22.Be4! and now 22...Qc7
{22...RhfB? loses at once to 23.Bxc6!
bxc6 24.Qxc6+ Qcl 25.Qa6+ Kdl
26.Rbl) 23.Bf4 Qd7 runs into 24.Bxc6!
Qxc6 25.Rc3.]
19.Rxb7 Rd8
EXERCISE: The other critica! line
was 19...Bh3. What did Anand have in
mind in that case?
ANSWER: White can exploit the
loase black queen once again with
20.Rxf7!. Anand commented that he
looked no further, but Lautier
calculated more deeply: 20 ...cS
(defending the queen and threatening
to take the rook) 21.RfS!! and wins; for
example, 21...Nxe3 (or 21...c4 22.Rf4!!)
22.Bxe3 Qb2 23.Qe2! (threatening
BbS+; Anand's 23.Rxc5 0-0 24.Kg3!
wins as well) 23...exfS 24.BxcS+ and
mates.; In the event of 19...Nf4 20.Kg3
Qd6, White has the nice shot 21.Ba3!,
and if 21...Qxa3 (while after 21...Nxh5+
61
22.Kxg2 Qg3+ 23.Kfl, White threatens
24 Re7+ as well as to capture the knight
on hS}, then either 22.Be4! (Anand)(or
22.Bb5!.}; Finally, 19...0-0-0 can be
met by the simple 20.Rxf7 Kb8 21.Qgl!.
EXERCISE (difficult): The black king
is still in the centre and White's pieces
are active. Is it possible to exploit these
factors? lf so, how?
ANSWER: 20.hG!!
This is not the first move that
springs to mind. In ChessBase Magazine
#60, Anand explained his thought
process: "Here 1 saw the possibility of
Bg6 and then 1 realized that it didn't
work because at a certain moment
Black would simply play...Kg8. Then 1
saw the possibility of h6, when...Kg8
could be met by Rg7+!. Suddenly, all
that remained was to check the
details." [To clarify, the first line he saw
(which didn't work) was 20.Bg6?? Qxd1
21.Rxe6+ Kf8 22.Ba3+ (or 22.Rxfl+ KgB)
22...Ne7 23.Bxe7+ Kg8 and Black wins.]
20...gxhG?
"This gave me a chance to have a
really beautiful finish. Black could still
fight with...Nxe3, but Joel hadn't seen
the idea behind h5-h6." [In view of the
harsh punishment now meted out,
20...Nxe3 was preferable, though
White would still be winning after give it back) 24... Kxd8 25.Bxe3 Bh3
21.Bxe3 QeS 22.hxg7 Rg8 23.Qcl!, 26.Rxa7 with an easy win.; 21...Nxe3
covering the e3-bishop so as to enable 22.Bxf7+ Kf8 23.Qxd4 Rxd4 24.Bxe3
Kxg2, while also threatening Qa3; (or wins easily too, threatening Bxh6 mate
similarly 23.Qgl!; Note that White as well as the rook and bishop.]
should avoid 23.Bh6? Qh2!.)]
22.Qxd4 Rxd4 23.Rd3!
21.BgG!! Ne7 [23.Rxe6 Rd7 24.Rxd7 Kxd7 25.Bxf7
[Now if 21...Qxdl, Black does get would win, but the text move is
mated: 22.Rxe6+ Kf8 23.Bxh6+ Kg8 simpler, eliminating Black's only active
24.Bxf7#.; And there are no better piece.]
defences: 21...Qxe3+ 22.Bxe3 hxg6 (or
22...fxg6) 23.Qd4 wins with multiple 23...Rd8 24.Rxd8+ Kxd8 25.Bd3!
threats.; 21...Qf6 22.Bxf7+ Qxf7 23.Rxf7 [After 25.Bd3 Bhl 26.Bb2 Re8
Nxe3 24.Qxd8+! (retreating the queen 27.Bf6, Black is paralysed and will soon
is good, but the most practica!, and lose material.] 1-0
indeed strongest, option is simply to

Anand's good form in this event continued: he won a good game against Gelfand,
among others, and finished in first place, half a point ahead of Karpov.

After Biel, Anand triumphed again in Belgrade, where he tied for first with lvanchuk,
and was in excellent form to contest the FIDE World Championship qualification event
in Groningen at the end of the year, from which he emerged the winner - defeating
Predrag Nikolic 2-0, Alexander Khalifman 3Yi-2Yi (decided in the tie-breakers), Zoltan
Almasi 2-0, Alexei Shirov 1Yi-Yi, Boris Gelfand 1Yi-Yi, and Michael Adams 5-4 (decided in
a sudden-death blitz game) - and went on to challenge Karpov, the official FIDE World
Champion, in Lausanne.

Game Eight

Second World Title Match, in Unequal Conditions

In the 1997/98 cycle, FIDE conceded an excessive "time advantage" to the title-holder,
Karpov. After contesting an exhausting seven rounds of knock-out matches that made
up the Candidates Tournament in Groningen, Holland, finishing on the 30th of
December 1997, the victor then had to face a well-rested World Champion a mere
three days later in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Befare the sixth game, the last to be played at the classical time limit, Karpov was
leading the match 3-2. How to approach the game? In such cases the usual
recommendation by the great champions is to avoid any theoretical battles, maintain
the tension and postpone the struggle to the middlegame and endgame.

Anand recalled a similar situation in the 1991 Candidates quarter-finals, also against
62
Karpov, where he was trailing 2Yi-1Yi, and by playing "calm chess" he gained winning
positions in both the fifth and sixth games.

lt's also worth recalling the 24th game of Kasparov-Karpov match in Seville in 1987,
where only a win was of any use to Kasparov: he played a quiet Réti Opening and
gained the needed victory after a tense struggle in which the game was clase to equal
for much of its course.

DAnand,V Qe7 8.0-0-0 a6 9.h4 Bg7 10.g3 bS

• Karpov,A 11.Bh3 b4 12.NdS (1-0 in 79 moves),
Trompowsky Opening [A45} V.Korchnoi-A.Karpov, Candidates final
8: FIDE World Ch, Lausanne (8), 1998 (19th matchgame), Moscow 1974.]
[Zenón Franco]
s ...dG 6.Qd2 gS 7.Bc4
1.d4 Nf6 2.BgS
"The Trompowsky!" commented QUESTION: Explain to me what's
Anand, who couldn't bring himself to happening here. How does White
play a RÉti, as Kasparov had done; but intend to deploy his pieces?
this choice seemed very appropriate,
given that at the time the theory largely ANSWER: 7 Bc4 was suggested by
consisted of games by Hodgson, and Yusupov, who was one of Anand's
there were no long forcing lines that seconds. The idea is to castle on the
led to a draw.Julian Hodgson began to kingside, but develop the gl-knight to
play the Trompowsky after seeing it in e2 instead of f3, where it would be
Spanish open tournaments in the constantly subject to harassment by
1980s, in which he frequently ...g5-g4; for this White needs to
participated, but he went on to develop the bishop first. From e2 the
popularize it and give it his personal knight might go to g3 and hS later.
stamp. [lt's notable that in Karpov's [7.0-0-0 was Hodgson's usual
heyday, when he lost very infrequently, preference.]
he suffered three defeats against this
type of opening (Trompowsky or Torre 7...Nc6 8.Nge2 Bg7 9.Rdl Bd7 10.0-0
Attack). Karpov had a bad result in 0-0-0
another important game: after 2.Nf3 e6
3.BgS es 4.e3, he made an error known
since the Petrosian era by playing
4 ... b6?!, which is a weak move on
account of 5.dS! exdS 6.Nc3 Be7
7.NxdS Bb7 8.Bxf6 Bxf6 9.c3 0-0 10.Bc4
(1-0 in 37 moves), A.Yusupov-A.Karpov,
Candidates semi-final (4th
matchgame), London 1989.]

2...e6 3.e4 h6 4.Bxf6 Qxf6 5.Nc3

[A second defeat against Korchnoi
carne after 5.Nf3 d6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Qd2 [On 10...0-0, Anand was intending

63
11.Qe3 with ideas of f2-f4, as well as
Ng3-h5.]
EXERCISE: What plan should White
adopt to try to attack the black king?
ANSWER: 11.NbS!
[Anand didn't consider 11.b4 to be
dangerous for Black: after 11...g4 12.bS
Nas 13.Bd3 hS (or 13...KbB, the black
position is salid, since there is no
immediate contact between the pawns
(15 years later the engines agree with
this evaluation). Therefore White seeks
to provoke Black into creating
weaknesses, after which b4-b5 will be a
pawn break that forces open lines.)J
11...a6
QUESTION: Anand didn't comment
on this move; can you explain to me
why Black didn't choose the more salid
11...Kb8?
ANSWER: The king move avoids
giving White a 'hook', that's true, but
White can continue with 12.dS Ne7
13.QaS, forcing 13...BxbS 14.BxbS,
when the black king is short of
defenders.
12.Na3
Now the plan of c2-c3 and b2-b4 is
definitely on White's agenda.
12 ... g4
Black shows that he, too, can
expand on the kingside; [it is a good
practica! decision, although Anand later
said that playing for ...f7-f5 was better,
and specifically that " 12...Qg6 13.f3 fS
appears more effective than the plan
Karpov chose."]
13.f4
64
EXERCISE: Why not 13 b4 now?
ANSWER: Black could reply to
13.b4?! with 13...QgS! and the
exchange of queens would leave the
white pieces uncoordinated, while
retreating to c3 or el doesn't look very
attractive.]
13...gxf3 14.Rxf3 Qe7 15.c3 hS 16.Rdfl
Rdf8 17.b4 Na7
Anand didn't consider this to be a
bad move, "but it perhaps shows an
over-developed sense of danger."
18.Nc2 Bh6 19.Qel Kb8 20.Bd3 Bc6!
The two bishops and the half-open
g-file give Black counterplay.
21.Nf4 Rfg8
[lf 21...eS, White can simply
capture the h-pawn with 22.NxhS!,
when neither Anand nor the engines
see any problems arising from opening
the h-file.]
22.dS
[Now 22.NxhS would be met by
22...ts !.J
22...Be8
[22...Bxf4?! is weak because of
23.dxc6! {23.Rxf4?! exd5 24.Rxfl Qg5 is
good for Black) 23...Bxh2+ {23...QgS
24.Qe2 is no better; while after 23... eS
24.cxbl, White accomplishes his task of
weakening the opponent's castled
position) 24.Kxh2 Nxc6 25.Rh3 NeS
26.Be2 QgS 27.Ne3 h4 (or 27... Ng4+
28.Bxg4 hxg4 29.RxhB Rxh8+ 30.Kgl}
28.Qf2 and "White can slowly
consolidate." (Anand)]
23.Qf2
[After 23.NxhS?, Anand also added
the line 23...fS (Anand originally
suggested 23... QgS, on the basis that
Black has an excellent position and very
good play on the g- and h-files. But as
he later noted, 24.Nf4! is better (if
24.Ng3, the h6-bishop JOms the
offensive with 24... Bgl, planning... Qh4
or...Be5}, when 24...eS?! fails to 25.Rg3
and White relieves the pressure by
exchanging rooks.) 24.Nf4 e5 25.Ne6 f4
26.c4 (White is willing to give up the
exchange on f3 in return for a strong
knight on e6 that will guarantee him
counterplay on the queenside) 26... Qh7
27.bS "and White's attack develops
quite fast", but today's engines play
27...BgS 28.h3 Bh4 and 'demand
proof'.]
23 ... Bg7
[After 23...h4 24.Nd4 Bxf4 (or
24... Bdl 25.Nh5, heading for f6}
25.Rxf4 Nc8 (or 25...Rgl 26.Qf3 Rhg8
27.Rf2) 26.c4 etc, White has sorne
advantage, according to Anand.;
However, the engines dispute one of
these lines, finding unclear
complications after 23...h4 24.Nd4 Bd7
25.NhS e5! 26.Rxf7 (26.Nf5?! Qg5
27.Nxh6 Rxh6 28.Nf6 Rxf6 29.Rxf6 Bh3
favours Black) 26... Qe8; for instance,
27.Rxd7 Qxd7 28.Nf6 (28.Ne6 Bg5 isn't
satisfactory for White) 28... Qh3
65
29.Nxg8 Qxd3 30.Nxh6 exd4 31.Nf7
Re8.]
24.Nd4!
In 1998, writing in New in Chess,
Anand was enthusiastic about this
move, saying that White has
successfully neutralized the two
bishops. In the book of his best games,
written three years later, he is less
enthusiastic, and in fact lets the move
pass without comment.
EXERCISE: What's the best way to
defend e6?
24... Bd7
According to Anand, this is Black's
first inaccuracy.
ANSWER: Karpov should not have
missed the opportunity to exchange
the decentralized a7-knight with
24...NbS!, when 25.dxe6 Nxd4 26.cxd4
fxe6 is satisfactory for Black.
25.dxeG Bxd4 26.cxd4 fxe6 27 .es Bc6
28.NgG
There is nothing better. [lf 28.Rg3,
then 28...h4 is awkward.]
EXERCISE (tactical, difficult): What
is Black's best response?
28...QdS??
Anand noted that, immediately
after making this move, Karpov
grimaced, as if he'd just realized that
he'd overlooked something. lt was
actually two things: the possibility of 30
Nf7 in the game continuation, and the
defensive resource ...Nc8 below.
ANSWER: The correct continuation
for Black was 28...Rxg6!. White would
have to limit himself to 29.Bxg6 (Karpov
rejected this because of 29.Rf8+,
missing that he could play 29...Nc8 (in
fact 29... RxfB! 30.QxfB+ Nc8 31.Bxg6
QgS! is even more accurate) 30.Bxg6
Rxf8 31.Qxf8 QgS!, winning material.)
29...Bxf3 30.Qxf3 dxeS 31.dxeS Qxb4
(not 31... Nc6?! 32.Qf6 and White has
an edge) 32.Qf6 with an unclear
position.
29.NxhS
"Suddenly 1 was back in the
match!!" wrote Anand in New in Chess.
Now it was just a matter of technique,
though he needed to calm his nerves.
29... Bxf3 30.Nf7 Qh4
This is the only move that gives
Black any practica! chances of saving
the game. [30...Bxg2 offers no
resistance after 31.Nxd8 Be4+ 32.Qg3
Rxg3+ 33.hxg3 Bxd3 34.Rf8!.]
31.Qxf3
[Not 31.Qxh4?? Rxg2+ 32.Khl Rf2+
and Black draws.]
31...Qxd4+ 32.Khl dS
EXERCISE: There are several pawns
en prise which is the most important?
What is White's best move?
ANSWER: 33.Rdl!
66
The white b-pawn is less important
than the black h-pawn. With this move
White threatens a discovery, but the
main point of it is to defend the bishop.
[lnstead, 33.a3?! would allow 33...h4.]
33...Qxb4 34.Rbl Qa4 35.QxhS NcG
[35 ...Qxa2 36.Qe2! Qxe2
(otherwise White takes on a6) 37.Bxe2
is also hopeless.]
36.Qe2 Ka7 37 .Qf2+ b6
lntending ...Nb4, with a glimmer of
hope.
38.Rcl!
Now Black must defend the c7-
square.
38...Kb7 39.h3!
Although there are several winning
moves, Anand doesn't neglect the
practica! aspect; White makes all the
necessary prophylactic moves, befare
mounting his final offensive.
39...RcS
EXERCISE: Against 39...Nb4, it is
good enough simply to retreat the
bishop, but there is something more
forceful what is it?
ANSWER: The most convincing
answer is 40.Nd6+!, followed by 41
Qf7! and wins, whether or not Black
takes the knight.
40.QfG Nd4 41.NdS+!
["I saw that 41.Nd6+ won as well
(...) but Karpov has swindled far too
many points from me over the years, so
1 looked for something less
complicated" was Anand's comment.
Similarly, the earlier 39 Nd6+! and 40
Qf7(+) was also decisive.]
 [Karpov resigned, since 42.Nxe6
41... KbS 42.NxeG Qa3 43.Rdl allows Black no hope.] 1-0

Although Anand admitted that the game was not of the highest quality, he was proud
to have pulled through in a desperate, 'must-win' situation, thus drawing the main
match 3-3 and forcing a rapidplay tie-breaker. Unfortunately, Anand failed to take his
chances in the play-off and lost both games, which meant that with a final score of 5-3,
Karpov retained his title.

Later that month, January 1998, Anand returned to traditional tournament play in Wijk
aan Zee, coming joint first with Kramnik. At the same time he tried to withdraw from
the Linares event (Category XXI), due to take place in February, on the grounds that he
was too tired. However, the organizer convinced him that this would have a very
negative impact on the tournament, so Anand agreed to play after all.

In the first few rounds in Linares his results were better than his play, but befare the
final three rounds he had two rest days, after which he played very well and eventually
emerged in first place, ahead of Shirov, Kasparov and Kramnik.

Game Nine

World Champion for the First Time

Full of renewed optimism, Anand set off to compete in the FIDE World Championship
tournament. The first six rounds took place in New Delhi from the 27th of November
to the 15th of December 2000.

Anand started in the second stage and he defeated, in succession, Viktor Bologan,
Smbat Lputian and Bartolomeij Macieja, 1Yz-Yz. In the quarter-finals he overcame
Alexander Khalifman 3Yz-2Yz (in the tie-breakers); then in the semi-finals (over four
games) he beat Michael Adams 2Yz-1Yz. The final against Alexei Shirov was due to be
contested in Tehran over six games, between the 20th and 27th of December.

After three games, Anand was leading 2Yz-Yz and, requiring just one more point for
victory, he "decided just to play normally and forget about the score." On the rest day
prior to the fourth game Anand spent sorne time checking all Shirov's openings and
noted that he had been playing the French Defence quite a lot, including several games
against Anand himself.

DAnand,V 1.e4
•Shirov,A [Compare 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3
French Defence {C11] Nf6 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 e6 7.f3
9: FIDE World Ch, Tehran (4), 2000 Bb4 8.e4 Bxe4 9.fxe4 Nxe4 10.Bd2
[Zenón Franco] Qxd4 11.Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12.Qe2 Bxd2+
13.Kxd2 with the line after 19...Qxe2+
67
etc below. In the position that could
have arisen in our game the black
pawns would be weaker.]
1...eG 2.d4 dS 3.Nc3 NfG 4.es
[In their exhibition game at the
Sydney Olympics, Anand had played
4.BgS, but he admitted that he didn't
get much out of the opening.]
4...Nfd7 S.Nce2
Anand and Shirov had twice
previously contested this line, in Lean
(computer-assisted) and Frankfurt
(rapid), with Anand winning both times.
Anand also won against Bareev in the
FIDE World Cup, but without gaining
any advantage from the opening, which
was why he switched to 4 BgS in
Sydney game, played only days later in
the same month. But now the players
resume their old 'debate'.
s ...cs 6.f4
[Anand played 6.c3 cxd4 7.cxd4 f6
8.Nf4 against Bareev, but this isn't very
dangerous for Black;(whereas 8.f4 at
this point is risky for White.)]
6...Nc6
Played quickly; [6...cxd4 is another
option, but Shirov had prepared an
improvement over their Frankfurt
encounter.]
7.c3 QbG 8.Nf3 f6
An unimportant transposition; [the
Frankfurt game had gane 8...Be7 9.a3
0-0 10.h4 f6.]
9.a3 Be7 10.h4
QUESTION: Why this move?
ANSWER: lt prevents the counter­
strike...g7-gS, while increasing the
68
scope of the hl-rook. [Shirov had also
played the white side of this variation
and carried out another typical
advance, 10.b4, seeking to stabilize the
pawn structure after 10...cxd4 11.cxd4
0-0, but in fact it isn't so easy to
consolidate the position.]
10...0-0 11.Rh3
[Two years later Shirov's line was
met by 11.b4, an idea of the Latvian
Grandmaster Zigurds Lanka. The game
V.Bologan-A.Vaisser, French Team
Championship 2002, continued
11...cxd4 12.cxd4 as 13.bs. lt's best to
accept the pawn with 13...QxbS !, and
after (On its debut the pawn was
declined with 13...Nd8?! 14.Nc3 a4?!
(compare this with Shirov-Gurevich
above: instead of sacrificing on eS,
Black has passively retreated his knight)
1S.Bd3 fS 16.Qc2 hS 17.Nxa4 Qa7
18.Nc3 Nb6 19.a4, when White
emerged with an extra pawn and a
clear advantage.{19.--)) 14.Nc3 Qb6
1S.Rb1 Qd8 16.Bd3, Christian Bauer
successfully upheld Black's cause in
V.Bologan-Ch.Bauer, Belfort 2002 (0-1
in 48 moves), befare switching to the
white side in Ch.Bauer-E.Bareev,
Enghien les Bains 2003, with an
eventual draw (Yi-Yi in 44 moves).]
 13.Negl
EXERCISE: How can Black create
counterplay on the queenside? EXERCISE (difficult, both positional
and tactical): Now that Black has
ANSWER: 11...aS! moved his queen, how should he
[An improvement on 11...NaS?!, continue?
which Anand criticized because it
releases the pressure on d4. After 13...a4?
12.b4 cxb4 13.axb4 Nc4 14.Ng3, as in Not like this. Shirov thinks the
V.Anand-A.Shirov, Frankfurt (rapid) moment has come to demolish the
2000, White can make progress on the centre by sacrificing sorne material, but
kingside, while the strong knight on c4 this idea will fail.
isn't very important because it can't
link up with Black's other forces.After ANSWER: Both Anand in 2001 and
the text move, White is prevented from the engines in 2013 agree that Black's
expanding with b2-b4 and the centre best course is to play the positional
remains in a state of tension, which is 13...b6, preparing to exchange his 'bad'
in Black's favour.] bishop; when the attacking try
14.Bd3?! fails to (14.Be3 Ba6 15.Bxa6
12.b3 Rxa6 is about equal(15... --)) 14...cxd4
[12.Ng3 can now be answered by 15.cxd4 (15.Bxh7+? Kxh7 16.Ng5+ fxg5
12...cxd4 13.cxd4 fxe5 14.fxeS (after 17.hxg5+ Kg8 18.Qh5 loses to
14.dxe5?! Nc5, White's attack can make 18...Ndxe5! 19.fxe5 Qxe5+ 20.Ne2 Ba6}
no progress and the weaknesses in his 15...fxeS 16.fxeS Nxd4! (or 16...Ncxe5!,
own camp, including the monarch, give utilizing the check on c3 that Anand
Black the advantage; e.g. 15.Ng5 Nb3 mentioned.); Another idea is 13... Rb8,
16.Qd3 Bxg5 17.hxg5 g6 and the f­ intending...b7-b5-b4, which is approved
pawn falls) 14... Rxf3! (a typical 'French by the engines who don't see any
combination') 15.gxf3 Nxd4 16.f4 Nb3 dangers for the black king.
(or 16...Bc5 with great compensation.)]
14.b4 fxeS 15.fxeS NdxeS
EXERCISE: The black queen has
fulfilled her task on b6 and should now QUESTION: Is Black really torced to
retreat, to make way for the d7-knight sacrifice here?
or else allow the b-pawn to advance.
What is the best square for the queen? ANSWER: Yes. In this position such
radical measures are necessary
ANSWER: 12... Qc7! because, as Anand wrote, "if White can
This was Shirov's new idea. consolidate his centre, then his kingside
[12... Qd8 had been played previously, attack will be overwhelming; for
but the queen is better on c7, because example, 15...cxd4 16.cxd4 Ndxe5
"there are possibilities of... Qc3+ in 17.dxeS Nxe5 18.Bb2 " and White's
sorne lines", according to Anand; i.e. advantage is clear.
combinations based on capturing on d4
and culminating in... Qc3+.] 16.dxeS NxeS

69
 should still count for more after
19.BgS.]

EXERCISE: What is the good

response that White has here?

ANSWER: 19.Kdl!
The difference is that the best that
Black now has is to exchange queens,
when his pawns would be less
threatening. [Of course not 19.Rxh4?
Qxc3+.]

EXERCISE (tactical and positional): QUESTION: Exchange the queens?

How should White reorganize his Why?
defences?
19...QfG?
ANSWER: 17.NxeS!
In principie, exchanging pieces can
ease the defence; in this case it
activates the black queen, so it is vital
that the tactics work for White. From
the positional of view, what we have
here is a typical case of a 'superfluous
piece'; i.e. when two pieces (two
knights in most cases) are treading on
each other's toes. Other things being
equal it is appropriate to exchange one
of them. [lnstead, 17.Qe2?! would
allow 17... Ng4, planning...e6-e5 and
leaving the gl-knight out of the game.] ANSWER: Avoiding the exchange
makes White's task easier, as we shall
17...QxeS+ 18.Qe2 Bxh4+? see. lt was preferable to play
19...Qxe2+ 20.Bxe2 Bf2 21.Be3 eS
QUESTION: Why award this move 22.Bxf2 Rxf2 23.Rg3, although White
with a question mark when it wins a would be comfortably better. This
third pawn for the piece? reminded Anand of the line in the Slav
Defence where Black also gains three
ANSWER: The extra pawn has little pawns for the piece (see ld4 above).
influence at this stage of the struggle
and, after White's good response, EXERCISE: How can it be
Black's attack evaporates. [Anand demonstrated that not exchanging
suggested 18 ...Qc7!, with the idea queens was a mistake?
of...e6-e5, when the white king would
be unable to find safety anywhere, ANSWER: 20.Nf3!
although he thought that the piece With this developing move,

70
attacking the bishop but only after 26...e3
calculating correctly that the capture [lf 26...c4, then 27.Bd4 blockades
on c3 is not to be feared. the pawns and White wins easily.]

20...Qxc3?! 27.Nf3
[After the superior 20...g5, White [There are several other ways to
gains the advantage with 21.Nxh4 win, such as 27.Nxb3 Bg6 28.Be2 Rf2
Qxfl+ 22.Qxfl Rxfl+ 23.Ke2 Rxcl 29.Kdl Bc2+ (or 29...Rxg2 30.Rg4}
24.Rxcl gxh4 25.Rxh4, and although 30.Kxc2 Rxe2+ 31.Kbl c4 32.Nd4 Rxg2
Black has two pawns for the exchange, 33.Rhl Re8 34.Rel, planning Re2, Kc2
the white rooks "have all the open files etc.; White could even give a piece
they need !" (Anand)] back with 27.bxc5 exd2+ 28.Kxd2.]

21.Bb2 Qb3+ 22.Kcl 27...Rae8 28.Kdl

Now if Black retreats the bishop, This wastes a little time; [28.Be2; or
then either Ne5 or Nd2 traps the 28.Bb5 was more precise but it isn't
queen, so White wins a second piece. really important.]
The game is already decided but, owing
to its competitive significance, play 28...c4 29.Be2 Be4 30.Kcl ReG 31.Bc3
continued. RgG 32.Rh2 Bd3 33.Bxd3 cxd3 34.Kb2
d2 35.Kxb3
22...es [35.Rdl was another way, followed
[Or if 22...Bf6, then 23.Bxf6, by Bxd2, or if 35...e2 then 36.Rxd2 Rxf3
followed by Ne5 or Nd2.] 37.Rxe2.]

23.Rxh4 35...Rg3 36.Kb2

The clearest practica! option. [Nerves prevented Anand from
Anand saw that he could force the playing 36.Kc2 immediately.]
exchange of queens and win the
ending, so he didn't bother analysing 36...gS 37.Kc2 Rc8
anything else. [After the game he carne [lf 37...g4, White wins with 38.Nd4
to the conclusion that he could have Rf2 39.Rdl e2 40.Nxe2 Rxe2 41.Rxd2,
won more quickly with 23.Nd2 Bxh3 among other things.]
24.Nxb3 Rf2 (or 24... Bg4 25.Qxg4 Rxfl+
26.Kc2 axb3+ 27.Kxb3 c4+ 28.Ka2 and 38.Kd3 g4 39.BeS Rcl 40.Rhl Rxg2
Black's pawns begin to fall) 25.Qb5 41.Nh4
Bg5+ 26.Kbl Bf5+ 27.Bd3 axb3 28.Bxf5
Rxf5 29.bxc5.] EXERCISE: Why not the centralizing
41 Nd4?
23...BfS 24.Qdl e4 25.Qxb3 axb3
26.Nd2 ANSWER: This was the last pitfall.
As Anand indicated, while it will 41.Nd4?? obstructs the bishop on the
take sorne time to win all of Black's long diagonal; the continuation would
pawns, the evaluation of the position is have been 41...dlQ+! 42.Rxdl Rd2+!
clear: White should win. and Black is back in the match.After
playing 41 Nh4, Anand left the stage;

71
on his return, Shirov resigned and Champion... for the first time. 1-0
congratulated him on becoming World

Winning the FIDE World Championship was the highlight of Anand's chess career so
far. lt had a great impact, and not just in India, where he received many accolades and
chess became even more popular. Anand was the first world champion since 1972
from outside the former Soviet Bloc. He was also the first world champion from Asia,
so it was hardly surprising that his win received great publicity in other Asian countries,
such as Malaysia. On his return to his base in Madrid, Anand was interviewed by all the
most important communication media.

In 2001, Anand made his debut as World Champion at Wijk aan Zee.

GameTen

The Hammer of Thor

Raymond Keene's book Leonid Stein: Master of Attack contains a chapter entitled "The
Hammer of Thor" in which he expresses his surprise and admiration for the large
number of miniatures (games of 25 moves or less) won by Stein, including sorne
against very strong players.

In Anand's praxis this type of lightning victory is rather infrequent. He began the 2001
tournament in Wijk aan Zee with a draw and a win, followed by eight more draws, so
the prospects of a good final result seemed out of reach - until the eleventh round
carne to his aid with, in the spirit of Stein, "The Hammer of Thor".

DAnand,V rapidplay game. Mamedyarov

• Piket,J subsequently found a more appropriate
Petroff Defence [C42] response in the shape of 14...b6!,
10: Wijk aan Zee, 2001 opening another front as soon as
[Zenón Franco] possible. He gained good play after (In
V.Anand-S.Mamedyarov, Benidorm
1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 NfG 3.NxeS dG 4.Nf3 (rapid) 2003, Black failed to react in the
Nxe4 5.d4 dS 6.Bd3 BdG 7 .0-0 0-0 8.c4 best way and was overwhelmed after
cG 9.Rel Re8 10.Nc3 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Bg4 14...Bxh2+?! 15.Kxh2 Qxh4+ 16.Kgl
[We'll come back to 11...Rxel+ Qd8 (now Black's lack of development
12.Qxel h6 13.cS Bc7 later on. (So gives White enough compensation, and
please skip the following for now.)The Anand launched his attack with great
position is very similar to the one speed) 17.Qe3 b6 18.Qg3! (threatening
reached after Black's 14th move in our to take on h6) 18...Kh8 19.Qh2! Qf8
main game. Anand carne up with 20.Bf4! (all White's last few moves have
14.Nh4!?, which is not quite as strong come with gain of tempo, and his rook
here but is equally dangerous in a is ready to come into play) 20...Nd7
72
21.Rel Nf6 22.Bd6! Qg8.
EXERCISE: What now? What did
Anand come up with here to increase
his initiative?
ANSWER: There are several
attractive moves, given White's greater
freedom of movement. One possibility
is 23.Be7!, making room for the queen
to head for d6 or c7.{Another idea is to
invade with 23.Rel.; However, Anand
didn't deviate from his attacking plan
and played 23./3! to restrict the f6-
knight and prepare g2-g4-g5.)J 15.Nf5
Be6 (maintaining the tension; although
15 ...Bx/5 16.Bx/5 bxc5 17.dxc5 Na6 was
satisfactory here, followed by...Qf8,
attacking c5} 16.Ba3 Nd7 17.cxb6 axb6
18.Ne7+ Kh8 19.Nxc6 Bxh2+ 20.Kxh2
Qc7+ 21.Kgl Rxa3, when White had
slightly more active pieces but a weak
structure, D.Stellwagen-S.Mamedyarov,
Wijk aan Zee 2005 (Yz-Yz in 39 moves).]
12.BgS Rxel+ 13.Qxel Qd7
[13...Qc8 is the alternative,
employed frequently by GM Rozentalis.
QUESTION: The queen is more
passive there than on d7, so what is the
positive side of 13...Qc8?
ANSWER: After 14.c5 Bf8, the
move 15.Ne5 no longer gains a tempo
by attacking the black queen; while
13 Qd7 also has the snag that it takes
...
away the natural developing square
(d7) from the b8-knight.]
14.cS Bc7
EXERCISE: Now 14...Bf8 is bad why?
ANSWER: Because then 15.Ne5
Qc8 16.Qbl! is strong, winning material
73
with a double attack on h7 and b7. This
could even end tragicomically: if Black
tries to defend h7 by 16...h6??, then
White has 17.Bh7+ Kh8 18.Nxf7#.]
EXERCISE (difficult): The spirit of
'the Hammer of Thor' helped Anand
here, but he also helped himself since
he had prepared a strong idea. Can you
find it?
ANSWER: 15.Nh4!
[White achieved an advantage in
the endgame after 15.Qe3 Qe6 16.h3
Qxe3 17.fxe3 Be6 18.Bf4 Bxf4 19.exf4
b6 20.Rbl! bxc5 21.Ng5! in B.Socko­
D.lppolito, World Junior Champ,
Kozhikode 1998, and he went on to
win; this game illustrates the problems
created by the delay in developing the
b8-knight.
QUESTION: That continuation
seems quite good, so why is it better to
deploy the knight on the edge of the
board?
ANSWER: The text move is an
attempt to derive greater benefit in the
middlegame from the uncomfortable
position of the black pieces. Among
other details that will become clearer
later, we can note that the queen
impedes the development of the b8-
knight and now the g4-bishop can no
longer go to f5.]
15 ... hG
This doesn't provide an escape
hole, but at least the pawn is less
exposed than on h7. [Anand indicated
that "after 15...Na6 16.h3, Black hasn't
solved the problem of his knight."]
16.Bd2 Qd8?
This attacks the h4-knight and it
looks as if Black will finally be able to
play ...Nd7. The idea isn't bad as we
mentioned earlier, a 'knight on the rim'
is rarely well placed but it fails for
tactical reasons.
EXERCISE: How can it be shown
that the knight move was still a good
one if Black attacks it another way: with
16...Bd8?
ANSWER: Black's lagging
development and the weakness of his
back rank allow the nice shot 17.NfS!,
heading for d6 while threatening Qe5.
After 17...BxfS 18.BxfS Qxf5 (18...Qel?
loses to 19.Qxel Bxel 20.BcB!) 19.Qe8+
Kh7 20.Qxd8, White threatens Rel with
decisive effect; Black's queenside still
slumbers and 20...Qd7 21.Qf8 doesn't
help.; 16...Qc8 17.h3 is no solution
74
either, as the bishop will then get in the
way of Black's other pieces after
17...Bd7 (or 17...Be618.f4 etc.);
EXERCISE: In view of all this, what
was Black's best defensive idea?
ANSWER: Given that developing
the knight to d7 proves impossible, it
was best to play 16...Na6!, because "it's
imperative to get the rook out", as
Anand said. The idea is to play... Re8
and then recycle the badly placed a6-
knight via c7 or b8. Admittedly, this
plan takes time, but it's a question of
priorities; the absence of the queen's
rook from the defence will be more
serious.]
EXERCISE: Show Anand's idea
behind the move 15 Nh4.
ANSWER: 17.f4!
This was the other idea behind the
knight move, in addition to controlling
f5. There is now a threat to incarcerate
the bishop with 18 f5, followed by h2-
h3 and g2-g4.
17...BcS
This retreat is a bad sign, but there
was nothing better. [17...Nd7 cuts off
the bishop's line of retreat, so 18.h3
Bh5 19.g4 would follow;; on the other
hand, 17...Bd7 would leave the b8-
knight still with no way out.Let's go
back and examine the position after
11... Rxel+ (instead of 11...Bg4) 12
Qxel h6 13 c5 Bc7 above.]
18.Qg3 b6
QUESTION: lf Black was preparing
18...Nd7, why didn't he play it here?
ANSWER: One of the ideas behind
18 Qg3, putting pressure on g7, was
precisely to impede that move, as well ANSWER: 21.Be3!
as to prepare to bring the white rook As is usually the case, the simplest
into the heart of the struggle. 18...Nd7 way is the best. The bishop wasn't
would have been answered by 19.NfS doing much on d2, so it heads for d4, to
Qf6 20.Rel! Nf8 {or 20... KfB 21.Nxgl! increase the pressure on g7.
Qxgl 22.ReB+) 21.Re8 and there is no [Alternatively, 21.Ng6!? was tempting,
defence against the threat of 22 Ne7+, but White's advantage after 21...QxcS+
other than giving up the exchange by 22.Khl Bd7 would be less than he
21...BxfS (since 21...BdB?? runs into achieves with the game continuation.]
22.RxdB!) 22.Rxa8.
21... Na6
EXERCISE: The attempt to expel the [After 21...Nd7 22.Bd4, there is no
white pieces with 18...Qf8 19.Rel Bd8 good defence against 23 Re8.]
doesn't work either; what is the most
convincing reply? 22.Bd4 gS

ANSWER: 20.Ng6! fxg6 21.Qxg6 is EXERCISE: What is the quickest way

decisive. The threat is 22 Re8, and if
Black plays 21...Be7, White draws out
the king with 22.Qh7+ Kf7 23.Bg6+ Kf6
and now there are several ways to win:
24.g4 mates in eight moves according
to the engines;(but "the prettiest line",
according to Anand, is 24.BhS Bf5
25.g4! Bxhl 26.gS+ and mate follows.)]
19.Rel bxcS 20.dxcS Qf8
EXERCISE: White has all his pieces
in play, but he needs something a bit
special to tilt the scales in his favour,
befare Black's sleeping queenside
awakens. What is the most effective
plan?
to deal with this desperate attempt to
prevent 23 Re8?
ANSWER: 23.Qf2!
Not the only way, but the clearest.
[With 23.Qf2 No better is 23...Bxf4,
since White can win with either a)
White unpins, so as to be able to play
23...-- 24.fxgS hxgS 25.Qf6.; b) After
23...gxh4 24.Qxh4 (threatening Qf6 or
Qg3+) 24...fS, the most direct win is
25.Re8! (b)Anand's intended 25.QhS is
equally decisive) 25...Qxe8 26.Qg3+ Kf7
27.Qg7+ Ke6 28.Qf6+ Kd7 29.BxfS+.;
24.Qc2 (threatening Bh7 mate) (or
24.g3 gxh4 25.gxf4 with imminent
victory on the g-file.)] 1-0

After this win carne another in the penultimate round against Jan Timman, and in the
final round Anand beat Loek Van Wely. With these three consecutive victories Anand
claimed clear second place behind Kasparov.

In the rest of 2001 Anand competed in sorne rapidplay events and, in May, won a
double-round quadrangular in Merida, Mexico, ahead of Alexander Khalifman, Nigel
Short and the local representative, Gilberto Hernandez. Subsequently he played in
Dortmund, where he had one of his worst ever performances, losing four games and
finishing in last place.

75
In Moscow, starting on the 27th of November, Anand defended his world title. He
eliminated Olivier Touzane 2Yi-1Yi (after surprisingly losing the first game), Peter Heine
Nielsen 1Yi-Yi, Vladimir Tkachiev 2Yi-1Yi, Alexey Dreev 1Yi-Yi, and Alexei Shirov 1Yi-Yi (in
the quarter-final), befare losing 2Yi-1Yi in the semi-final to lvanchuk, who in turn lost
the final to Ruslan Ponomariov.

Game Eleven

Second Triumph in the FIDE World Cup

Anand began 2002 with an insipid result in Linares, scoring 50%, to finish in a tie for
third place, behind Kasparov and Ponomariov.

In September, Anand defended his title of FIDE World Cup winner, which he had
gained in Shenyang 2000, by beating Bareev in the final. The second World Cup, played
in Hyderabad, comprised 24 contestants for the second and last time; from 2005 on
there were to be 128 contestants.

After qualifying from the group stages, Anand overcame Vladimir Malakhov 1Yi-Yi in
the quarter-finals and Alexey Dreev 3Yi-2Yi in the semi-final, befare going on to
confront Rustam Kasimdzhanov in the final. Kasimdzhanov was subsequently crowned
FIDE World Champion himself in 2004 and, much later, became one of Anand's
seconds in his world title matches.

DAnand,V QUESTION: Here Black develops a

• Kasimdzhanov,R piece with gain of tempo, so isn't 9.Qc2
Petroff Defence [C42] inferior to 9.Rel?
11: FIDE WC Final, Hyderabad (2), 2002
[Zenón Franco] ANSWER: lt's true that 9...Na6
forces White to 'waste' a tempo with
1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nf6 a2-a3, but we saw in sorne lines of the
Kasimdzhanov had frequently used previous game that the development of
the Petroff, including against Ye the knight to a6 isn't ideal, since it's
Jiangchuan in the quarter-finals, so inactive there. Black will need to
Anand was prepared for it. redeploy it towards the centre as soon
as possible for it to have any influence.
3.NxeS d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 dS 6.Bd3 On the other hand, a2-a3 isn't
Bd6 7.0-0 0-0 8.c4 c6 9.Qc2 completely useless, since it allows a
After analysing several possibilities timely expansion with b2-b4-b5.
Anand decided to follow the same line
as Ye Jiangchuan. [We saw 9.Rel in the 10.a3 Re8
previous game.] [Nowadays, 10... Bg4; and 10...f5
are the main moves here.]
9...Na6
11.Nc3 BfS
76
 [Both players gained a lot of
experience with this line, which was
quite fashionable for a while. The usual
continuation was 11...Bg4 12.Nxe4
dxe4 13.Bxe4 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Qh4 15.g3
Qxd4 16.Be3 Qf6 17.Be4 and now:
Something similar took place in
R.Kasimdzhanov-V.Akopian, FIDE Grand
Prix (rapid), Moscow 2002: after 17...g6
(V.Anand-J.Piket, Montecarlo (blindfold
rapid) 2001, continued 17...h6 18.b4
Nc7 19.Radl, when White's trumps are
obvious: two bishops, more active
pieces, pressure on the queenside (1-0
in 51 moves).{19.--)) 18.b4 Nc7 19.Radl
a5 20.bS Bxa3 (or 20...cxbS 21.cS BeS
22.c6! b6 23.Bxb6 with a strong passed
pawn and the advantage, T.Nedev­
S.Safin, World Team Championship,
Yerevan 2001} 21.bxc6! bxc6 22.Bd4
Qe6.
EXERCISE: How did White justify his
pawn sacrifice?
ANSWER: 23.Bal! created serious
problems for the black king along the
long diagonal and Akopian soon shed
material (1-0 in 61 moves).]
12.Rel
Putting more pressure on e4.
[lnstead, 12.Be3 had been played in the
above-mentioned Ye Jiangchuan­
Kasimdzhanov game five days earlier,
but this move places fewer demands on
Black. After 12 ... Bg6 13.cs Bc7 14.Ne2
Nb8! (solving the familiar problem of
the inactive knight) 15.Bf4 Nd7 16.Bxc7
Qxc7 17.Nh4 Nef6 18.Nxg6 hxg6 19.b4
Re7 20.Qcl Rae8, the harmony among
the black pieces was evident, and
Kasimdzhanov won in 58 moves.]
12... hG!
[Anand didn't really expect Black to
77
repeat the weak 12...Qf6?, as in
F.Lornje-V.Meijers, Leningrad 1989,
since White wins material with the
simple 13.cxdS Nxc3 14.Rxe8+ Rxe8
15.BxfS.; He looked at 12...Bg4, played
in V.Bologan-M.Konopka, European
Cup, Panormo 2001; note that 13.Nxe4
a)with the possible continuation
13.NeS Bxe5 14.dxeS Nac5 15.Nxe4
Nxd3 16.Qxd3 Bf5 17.cxdS cxd5
18.Nf6+ Qxf6 19.Qxd5;{a)19.--); b)while
the engines suggest 13.cxdS as a
potential improvement; 13...dxe4
14.Bxe4? (as after 11...Bg4 above) (but
14.Rxe4 is reasonable) fails here to
14...Bxf3 15.gxf3 f5, since the bishop is
pinned to the rook.
QUESTION: What is the advantage
of 12...h6 over these moves?
ANSWER: The obvious answer is
that it's always useful to create an
escape hale for the king, but the real
justification is more complex and is
based on tactics connected with the
capture on e4, when control of g5 is
very important, as we'll see.]
13.cs
QUESTION: This move releases the
central tension, so isn't it a slight
concession? Why not just carry out the
threat and invite Black to prove
compensation for the pawn?
ANSWER: Well, yes, this move does
release the tension, but it also gains
space, and a future advance with b4-b5
will come with greater force. Another
reason for clarifying the position in the
centre is simply that the alternatives
are no better. [The first line to consider
is, as you suggested, taking on e4, but
13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Bxe4 Qe7 15.BgS
(thanks to 12...h6!, after the flurry of with the better game in either case.))
tactics this bishop will be en prise; but 15...Bxe4 16.Bxe4.
15.Bf4 Bxe416.Bxd6 is worse, since the
neat zwischenzug 16...Qe6! wins EXERCISE: White has only one
material) Apart from this simple pawn for the exchange, but he has the
variation, Anand gave preference to the bishop pair and a powerful grip on the
more spectacular 15...Qxe4! (and now light squares, while Black still suffers
15...Bxe4 16.Bxe7 Bxh2+ 17.Kxh2 Bxc2 from a badly placed knight. So why did
is fine for Black.(17... --)) 16.Rxe4 Bxe4 Anand reject this?
17.Qb3 hxg5 18.NxgS Rab8! 19.cS
(19.Nxe4 Rxe4 20.Rdl "is probably ANSWER: Because Black can salve
about equal") 19...BdS 20.Qd3 Bf4! his greatest problem with 16...Nb8! and
21.Qh7+ Kf8 22.h4 (in this line the White seems unable to exploit the loss
engines prefer 22.QhB+ Kel 23.Qxgl, of time involved; for example, after
but after 23...BxgS 24.QxgS+ Kdl, they 17.Bd3 Nd7 18.Bc4 Qf6!,
aren't able to demonstrate a convincing overprotecting h6, the black pieces are
way forward; the kingside pawns can't harmoniously placed.]
easily advance, while Black is ready to
bring the a6-knight back into play) 14...BaS?!
22...BxgS 23.hxgS g6 with equal Black is reluctant to give up his
chances in a position with an unusual outpost on e4 and thinks that tactics
material balance. will come to his aid, but it's a mistake.
[lt was necessary to play 14...Nxd2
EXERCISE: Why did Anand reject 15.Rxe8+ (to prevent the black queen
advancing with 13.b4? from becoming active after 15.Qxd2
Qf6} 15...Qxe8 16.Nxd2 Bxd3 17.Qxd3,
ANSWER: Because of 13...Bxb4! when the position is approximately
14.axb4 Nxb4 15.Qbl Nxd3 16.Qxd3 equal, although Anand commented
Nd6, followed by...Nxc4, when Black that "White can press on the queenside
has excellent compensation for the with b4-b5."]
piece: three pawns and a good
position.] 15.Bf4
The simplest and most practica!
13 ...Bc7 14.Bd2 response, activating the bishop on the
Once again it was possible to take diagonal that Black unwisely
on e4, but Anand wasn't convinced by abandoned. [Anand pointed out that
this; instead, he decided to connect his 15.Nxe4 also gave White sorne
rooks, finally threatening to win a pawn advantage, albeit after great
by taking on e4, which he thought complications. The main line runs
would force Black to exchange his 15...dxe4 16.Bxa6! (16.Bxe4 Bxe4
annoying e4-knight. [After 14.Nxe4 17.Rxe4 Rxe4 18.Qxe4 fails to 18...Bxd2
dxe4 Another idea for White was to 19.Nxd2 Nxc5!} 16...exf3 17.Rxe8+
sacrifice the exchange with 15.Rxe4 Qxe8 18.QxfS Bxd2 19.Bc4! fxg2 20.dS
(15.Bxe4, Black can create one cxd5 21.QxdS!.
awkward pin with 15...Qe7 (or another
with15...Rxe416.Rxe4 Qd517.Nd2 Rd8 EXERCISE: The obvious 15.b4 is

78
unpromising why?
ANSWER: l'm sure you will have
noticed that our familiar 15...Bxb4! is
even better now. Then 16.Nxe4 is
necessary (16.axb4? is bad on account
of 16...Nxb4 17.Qbl Nxd2}, but after
16...dxe4 17.Bxa6 exf3 18.Rxe8+ Qxe8
19.Qxf5 Bxd2, there is no advantage far
White, who is just playing the 15 Nxa4
line without his b-pawn.; After 15.Bf4,
on the other hand, since...Nxd2 is
impossible, there is indeed a threat of
15...-- 16.b4, because 16...Bxb4? now
fails to 17.axb4 Nxb4 18.Qbl! and
Black's compensation far the piece is
insufficient.]
15...Bxc3 16.bxc3
"White simply wants to play Ne5
and f2-f3." (Anand)
16... Nc7
EXERCISE: What is White's best
continuation?
ANSWER: 17.h3!
There's no hurry. This move allows
White to maintain the bishop on its
most active diagonal by retreating to
h2; it also controls the g4-square and
supports the manoeuvre Ne5-g4. [The
immediate 17.Ne5 is less effective.
79
After 17...Ne6 18.Be3 f6 19.Nf3, the
most accurate move appears to be
19...Bh7!, planning a timely...b7-b6
or...Qa5; (whereas 19...b6 at once can
be met by 20.Nh4 Bh7 21.f3 N4g5
22.Bxhl+ Nxh7 23.NfS with advantage
to White.)]
17... Ne6
[The bid far counterplay with
17...b6 can be answered by 18.Ne5!,
threatening the c6-pawn and enabling
f2-f3. The tension is then in White's
favour; far example, if 18...Ne6 19.Bh2
Qg5 then 20.h4! Qxh4 21.f3 wins
material and Black's initiative comes to
nothing.]
18.Bh2 N6g5?
QUESTION: A question mark? Why
is this move so bad?
ANSWER: Because it takes the
square away from the other knight.
[According to Anand, the correct plan
was to regroup with 18...Bh7! Another
interesting idea is to insert 19.Rabl,
and if (19.Ne5 f6 20.Ng4 Nf8!, going on
the defensive. Although White has the
more pleasant position after 21.f3
(White does have sorne other ways of
testing Black; far instance, he could
play 21.Ne3 first, intending 21...-- 22.f3
Ng5 23.Bxhl+ Ngxhl 24.NfS etc by doesn't even feature among the top
delaying f2-f3 he hinders Black from five lines given by the engines.]
defending the d6-square with the
manoeuvre...Ng5-f7) 21...NgS 22.Bxh7+ 21.Ne3 Be6
Ngxh7, Black is quite salid and can [After 21...Bh7 22.h4 Ne6 23.f3
parry 23.Ne3 (threatening Nf5-d6) with Qxc3, but 24.fxe4 (White can win a
23...NgS 24.NfS Nf7.) 19...b6 then piece with 24.Bxe4 Qxc2 25.Bxc2 Nxd4
20.NeS comes with greater force; e.g. 26.Bxh7+ etc(26.--)) 24...Qxd4 25.Bd6!
20...bxcS 21.f3 c4 22.Nxc4 dxc4 may be even better, when the presence
23.Bxe4.] of the queens increases White's
advantage; e.g. 25...b6 26.cxb6 axb6 (or
19.NeS! 26... dxe4 27.bl and wins) 27.Radl.]
This threatens f2-f3 and there is no
satisfactory defence now. 22.Racl
White now wins material, and the
19...f6 black pieces don't have enough
[lf 19...Bh7, White has several coordination to compensate.
options: Anand gives 20.Rabl (another
idea is the immediate 20.h4, to answer 22...Nxh3+
20...Ne6 with 21.f3 Nf6 22.Bxhl+ Nxhl [lnstead: 22...Nf7 fails to save the
23.Nxfl!, exploiting the overload on knight after 23.f3 Neg5 24.h4.;
the black king}, intending 20...Re7 22...Bxh3 23.f4 wins a piece for two
21.h4 Ne6 22.f3 Nf6, when the rook on pawns.; 22...fS 'only' loses a pawn, but
el obstructs the black queen from Black's position is a disaster after 23.f3
defending f6, so White can play Nf6 24.BxfS.]
23.Ng4! Bxd3 24.Nxf6+ gxf6 25.Qxd3
with a clear advantage.; The retreat 23.gxh3 Bxh3
19...Bc8 looks equally depressing; [lf Black tried 23...NgS 24.Khl! Nf3,
Anand indicated that after 20.h4 Ne6 Anand intended simply to return sorne
(or 20...Nhl}, White can play 21.f3 Nf6 of the extra material with 25.Rgl! Nxgl
22.g4 with a big advantage in 26.Rxgl and switch over to a decisive
development and space.] attack.]

20.Ng4 QaS 24.Nc4

[In the event of 20...Bxg4 21.hxg4 As he's done so many times, Anand
Nf7, something strange happens. Here selects the most practica! and effective
yet Houdini prefers either 22.f3 (or option, forcing a simplification, after
22.c4; despite the fact that White can which White's advantage is easy to
simply capture a pawn advantageously realize.
with 22.Bxe4 dxe4 23.Rxe4} 22...NegS
23.BfS, considering that White has a 24...Qxc3 25.Qxc3 Nxc3 26.Nd6 Rxel+
winning position in both cases. lt is true 27.Rxel bS 28.Re3 Bg4 29.BfS
that Black is left paralysed and the [After 29.BfS Bxf5 30.NxfS Ne4
difference in activity is enormous, but comes 31.Ne7+ and 32 Nxc6 with an
there can't be many cases where easy win.] 1-0
winning a pawn with a clear advantage

80
At the end Anand wrote: "Coincidentally, Xu Yuhua also won the Women's World Cup,
so that we both retained our titles. Once in China and once in India!"

Game Twelve

First Outright Victory in Wijk aan Zee

Wijk aan Zee is one of Anand's favourite tournaments; he has won there five times, if
we include the shared victories. In 2003, the 65th edition of this event, held between
the 11th and 26th of January, saw Anand gain clear first place far the first time.

Until 1999 the tournament was known as Hoogovens, but when the sponsors
Koninklijke Hoogovens merged with British Steel to farm the Corus Group, it became
known as Corus Wijk aan Zee far the years 2000-2010. Then in 2011 it changed to Tata
Steel, after the lndian company who had bought out Corus in 2007.

The only top player missing from the 65th edition was Kasparov. Anand led from the
start, although he was run clase by Judit Polgar. The day befare the 10th round game
below had been a rest day. At this stage Anand was half a point ahead of the pursing
pack.

D Shirov,A 8 ...a6 against Motylev a few months

•Anand,V befare, but on the rest day during the
Caro Kann Defence [812] tournament he analysed the more
12: Wijk aan Zee, 2003 usual capture on e5.; Another
[Zenón Franco] continuation, 8 ...h5 9.Nd4 (or 9.Nf4
Bh7) 9...a6 was faund later, which is
1.e4 c6 also good far Black.]
Varying from the Petroff Defence,
which he had been using previously in 9.Nf4 Ne7
the tournament. So far as in A.Shirov-Z.Gyimesi,
FIDE World Championship, Moscow
2.d4 dS 3.es BfS 4.Nc3 e6 S.g4 Bg6 2001.
6.Nge2 cS 7 .Be3
Anand commented in the press 10.Qe2
conference after the round that he had Shirov is the first to deviate with
been preparing this variation the this aggressive approach. White is
previous afternoon. "lt is a very sharp ready to castle, while Black is still not
line, and the theory is progressing fast," completely developed. In New in Chess
he said. [The alternative was 7.h4.] #2/2003, Anand related that he noticed
this move 15 minutes befare the round
7 ...Nc6 8.dxcS NxeS and was able to give it a brief
[Anand had successfully played examination. Luck? lntuition? Perhaps,
81
but probably also knowledge of his this factor prompts Shirov to accelerate
opponent. [10.BbS+ N7c6 11.Qe2 was his attack befare the enemy king leaves
the course of Shirov-Gyimesi.] the centre.]

10...N7c6 12.NfxdS?!
This move has passed 'the test of In principie, opening the position
time'; [but 10...QaS has proved to be should be good for White, but general
even more effective the queen controls considerations are not sufficient in this
bS and prepares quick queenside situation; sacrificing material and
castling. For instance: 11.0-0-0 0-0-0 entering tactical complications requires
12.Rd4 {12.Nxe6? fxe6 13.Bf4 Ndl accurate calculation, and this sacrifice
14.Qxe6 Qxc5 15.Rd2 ReB didn't work is unsound.lndeed, this move surprised
in E.Sutovsky-S.Erenburg, lsraeli Team Anand, since he had thought that by
Championship 2003) 12...Nc4 13.Rxc4 preparing castling he had removed a
dxc4 14.Qxc4 Nc6 15.Nxg6 hxg6 16.Bg2 large part of the venom, and he had
Qb4 and Black managed to convert his already fareseen his 13th move.
material advantage in F.Amonatov­ [Anand suggested a less radical plan:
A.Galkin, Russian Cup Qualifier (online 12.h4 QaS 13.hS Be4 14.Nxe4 dxe4
blitz) 2004.] 15.Kbl BxcS 16.BxcS QxcS 17.Bg2,
perhaps with a slight advantage to
11.0-0-0 Be7 White.]
A novelty by Anand; [deviating
from the previously known 11...QaS; 12...exdS 13.f4?
White does better to play 12.Bd4!?; A mistake, made after a long think.
(after which 12.NfxdS can be answered White is trying to trap the fS-bishop,
by 12...0-0-0! with good play far but there is a tactical flaw. [lt was
Black;(rather than the riskier 12... exd5 better to play 13.RxdS Qc8 14.h3 f6
13.Rxd5 f6 14.f4 Ndl, when White has 15.f4 Nd7 16.Bg2 0-0, when White has
good compensation far the piece.)) sorne compensation; probably this
instead, 12...Nxd4? would be a mistake, didn't appear enough to Shirov, but the
because the exchange of this important move he chose instead meets a clear
defender will soon cost Black dearly; refutation.]
far example, after (when Lukacs gave
12...Nd7! 13.Nxe6 fxe6 14.Qxe6+ Be7
15.Bxg7 as unclear; the engines assess
this as equal.(15.--)) 13.Rxd4 Nc6.

EXERCISE: Prove this statement

true and punish the erroneous
exchange on d4 which deprived the
black king of protection.

ANSWER: 14.Nxe6! highlights

Black's delay in bringing his king to
safety. After Anand's 11...Be7, on the
other hand, Black is ready to castle, and EXERCISE: Why was Anand

82
surprised by the move 12 Nfxd5? What
reply had he foreseen here?
ANSWER: 13...d4!
This advance is very strong; Anand
couldn't see an adequate defence for
White.
14.h4
EXERCISE: Refute 14.fxe5.
ANSWER: 14...Bg5! wins on the
spot.
EXERCISE: What is the problem
with 14.Bxd4?
ANSWER: The elegant 14...Nd3+!
wins.ln both cases Black wins a piece.;
On 14.Bf2, while Nunn preferred
14...Bxc5 a)Anand originally considered
that 14...Qa5! was strong and that
evaluation still stands: 15.Rxd4
al}Black wins easily after 15.Nd5 Bxc5
16.fxe5 d3! 17.cxd3 Bxf2 18.Qxf2 Qxd5;
a2}and 15.Bxd4 is no better due to
15...Nd3+! 16.cxd3 (a2}or 16.Rxd3 Bxd3
17.Qxd3 Rd8) 16...Nxd4 17.Qe5 Nc6,
when 18.Qxg7? 0-0-0 19.f5 loses the
queen to 19...Bg5+ and 20...Rhg8;
15...Nxd4 16.Bxd4 0-0-0! 17.Bxe5 f6
and White doesn't have enough for the
exchange.; b) Another option is
14...Nd3+ 15.cxd3 dxc3 16.f5 Qd5
17.Rgl Qxa2 (b}Houdini 3 likes 17... Nd4
even more) 18.bxc3 Qb3 with
advantage to Black; 15.fxe5 0-0 and,
with the material now equal, Black is
better, in view of his attacking chances
against the white monarch.The choice
is a matter of taste; all these lines
favour Black.]
QUESTION: What a complicated
position! How did Anand find the best
83
path?
ANSWER: Closing the d-file would
be very convenient that's an important
guide.
14... Nd3+!
"The right piece to sacrifice."
(Anand). With the d-file closed, the
danger from White's piece activity will
be drastically reduced. [To the same
end, Anand considered 14...Bd3?!
15.cxd3 Nd7, but he didn't like 16.Ne4
dxe3 17.d4. Perhaps White's
compensation for the piece is not
enough; all the same, "this isn't the
way to play," Anand remarked.; Black
has less advantage after 14...Qa5
15.Bxd4 Nd3+ 16.cxd3 Nxd4 17.Qe5 0-
0-0 18.f5, regaining the piece;; while
14...d3?! 15.cxd3 Nxd3+ 16.Rxd3 Bxd3
17.Qxd3 Qxd3 18.Bxd3 gives White
reasonable compensation for the
exchange.]
15.cxd3
[lf 15.Kbl then 15...Nxb2!.]
15...hS!
QUESTION: Why is this move so
good? Was it not better to play 15...h6?
ANSWER: In this way the bishop
"can't be buried", according to Anand.
[15...f5 was also attractive (so that the
bishop can remain active from f7), but
Anand considered it to be less accurate,
since after 16.Bd2! dxc3 17.Bxc3 Bf7 (or
17...QdS 18.Bg2 Qxc5 19.d4} 18.g5 (or
18.d4 Bd5} 18...0-0 19.d4 Bd5 20.Bg2,
the white pawns are restricting Black's
dark-squared bishop.; 15...h6?! is
inferior because, after 16.f5 Bh7, as
well as continuing as in the game White
can play 17.Bxh6!? gxh6 18.Ne4 with
greater compensation for the piece, game; now he can do nothing; the c6-
since the bishop on h7 is out of play.] knight will have a beautiful square on
b4." (Anand) [This is a typically human
16.fS solution, whereas Houdini prefers to
Restricting Black's light-squared return the piece (!) with 19...QdS!
bishop. [In contrast, 16.Bd2 dxc3 20.Bg2 Qxa2 21.Bxc6 bxc6 22.Qxe7,
17.Bxc3 hxg4 leaves the bishop active.] since it calculates that Black has a
crushing attack on the dark squares; for
16...Bh7 17.Bd2 dxc318.Bxc30-0 example, 22...Rae8 23.Qc7 hxg4
24.Rhel (or 24.QaS Qd5 25.Kbl Bxf5+
QUESTION: White has two pawns 26.Kal g3} 24...BxfS 25.Kd2 Qa4 26.Rcl
for the knight, and the bishop on h7 is Rxel 27.Kxel Re8+ 28.Kf2 Qc4 29.Rel
again out of play. Why does this not Rxel 30.Kxel Qd3 31.Qf4 g3 32.dS g2
compensate for the piece? etc.]

ANSWER: The answer depends on 20.a3

the time factor. lf White could manage Controlling b4, for now. [20.Bg2
to consolidate his position, while Re8 21.Be4 Bf6 was no good for White.]
keeping the black bishop out of the
game, the verdict would be a positive 20... ReS 21.Qc4
one for him. The problem is that the [lf 21.Qf3 then 21...hxg4! (not
bishop threatens to return quickly to 21...Bxh4? 22.Kbl Qg5 23.Qh3}
the fray. Anand emphasized that if he 22.Qxg4 Bf6, intending...QdS or...Qd7,
had played 15...h6? ! instead of 15...hS!, and the extra piece should count; e.g.
White's compensation might indeed 23.dS Bxc3 24.dxc6 Qf6 and wins.;
have been adequate.
EXERCISE: What would happen
19.d4 after 21.dS?

ANSWER: Despite appearances, 20

a3 didn't rule out...Nb4 altogether, and
in fact here 21...Nb4! is very strong;
while 22.Qc4 can be met by (for
example, 22.axb4 axb4 23.Bxb4 BxcS!
24.QbS Bxb4 25.Qxb4 Ral+ 26.Kc2
Rxdl 27.Kxdl Qxd5+ and wins{27...--JJ
22... bS! 23.Qb3 (if 23.QxbS Na2+; or
23.cxb6 Rc8} 23...BxcS 24.axb4 axb4
"and Black wins", according to Anand in
the post-game press conference ten
years on, the engines completely agree
EXERCISE: Where and how should with him.]
Black seek counterplay?
21...Bxh4
ANSWER: 19...aS! "Now the extra piece begins to
"The most important move of the make itself felt," said Anand.

84
 QUESTION: This move also opens
the h-file. Doesn't this matter?

ANSWER: lt matters, but "better a

pawn up than a pawn down" as
Najdorf's auntie used to say, and
control of the gS-square is equally, or
more, important.

22.Bd3 hxg4 23.Kbl QgS

As Anand indicated, the rest is
simple, though Black must remain on
his guard against a possible Rxh7. EXERCISE: Demonstrate your
winning technique, using an idea
24.Kal Rad8 mentioned by Anand. What is Black's
[24...g3? would be somewhat hasty continuation?
due to 25.dS; for example, 25...g2 ANSWER: 26...BxfS!
26.Qxh4 gxhlQ 27.Qxhl NeS 28.Rgl Bearing in mind the previous note,
(Anand), and the engines claim equality this move isn't so difficult to find, is it?
despite Black's extra rook.] The bishop returns to the fray and the
value of the g3-pawn rises all the
25.Bbl time."lt was a simple decision to
[In the event of 25.Bc2, Black has sacrifice the exchange; now it's
several options, such as 25... Ne7 practically all over," said Anand in the
(25 ... Re3 is the engines' preference; press conference.
whereas 25 ...g3? would again be too
hasty: after 26.dS g2 27.Qxh4 gxh1Q? 27 .Bxd8 Rxd8 28.Rhfl g6 29.Qb3 Be6
28.QxgS, White is suddenly on top) 30.Qxb7 QdS 31.QxdS
26.BxaS (or 26.Bb3 Nd5} and here, as in Otherwise the bishop on bl can't
several similar lines, Black can offer the move.
exchange with 26...BxfS, to relieve the
pressure and activate his pieces.] 31... NxdS 32.Rhl Bf2 33.c6 Rc8 34.Rcl
g3 35.Be4 Nf6 36.Bg2 BdS 0-1
25... Ne7 26.BxaS

When asked whether this was a victory that tilted the tournament in his favour, Anand
replied: "I take the tournament round by round. Of course l'm delighted with a victory
like this with Black against such a strong player with such an aggressive style." In fact
the crucial game was in the twelfth round against Judit Polgar, who launched a
dangerous attack against Anand's Caro-Kann. After great complications the game was
drawn, and so finally Anand triumphed, with 8Yi points from 13 games, comprising
tour wins and nine draws and a rating performance of 2809 Elo points.

This was Anand's third victory in Wijk aan Zee, following his wins in 1989 and 1998, but

85
it was his first time in sole first place and it took his total to 59 games without defeat in
Wijk aan Zee tournaments. The last time he had lost was against Judit Polgar herself,
five years earlier. Anand subsequently increased this unbeaten run to 70 games befare
finally losing to Topalov.

In Linares 2003 Anand shared third place with Kasparov, behind Kramnik and Leko. He
was also successful in several rapidplay tournaments, winning in Middelfart, Mainz (in
a match with Judit Polgar), Cap d'Agde and Corsica.

In Dortmund 2003 he played much better than the year befare; this was a six-player
double-round event, surprisingly won by Viktor Bologan, who finished a point ahead of
Anand and Kramnik.

Game Thirteen

World Championship in San Luis

The most important tournament of 2005 was the World Championship in San Luis,
Argentina, in September. This was a preparatory step towards the reunification of the
world title. The system of knock-out matches was set aside and instead eight players
contested a double-round closed event, with the notable absence of Kramnik, who was
considered to be the world champion of the 'classical' chess world. The contestants in
the 2005 World Championship were Kasimdzhanov (who had won the 2004 FIDE World
Championship in Libya), Adams, Anand, Leko, Morozevich, Polgar, Svidler and Topalov.
Anand started well with a victory over Judit Polgar, and in the third round he was able
to make use of sorne old, but spectacular, preparation.

DAnand,V Heine Nielsen, one of Anand's seconds,

•Adams,M because Adams had never played it
Spanish Opening {C92} befare.However, Anand had faced it in
13: FIDE World Champ, San Luis, 2005 his match against Kamsky in Las Palmas
[Zenón Franco] 1995, ten years befare this game.

1.e4 es 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.BbS a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 11.Nbd2

5.0-0 Be7 6.Rel bS 7.Bb3 d6 [Black's move arder relies on the
A surprise far Anand, because fact that White can't actively punish the
Adams' main weapon at the time was omission of...h7-h6; far instance, in the
the Marshall. event of 11.NgS Rf8 12.f4, Black gains
good play with 12...exf4 13.Bxf4 Na5
8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Bb7 10.d4 Re8 14.Bc2 Nd5, as practice has confirmed.]
The Zaitsev Variation, which is
designed to prevent the typical 11...BfS 12.a4
manoeuvre Nbd2-f1-g3 by applying This is the sharpest line, which
quick pressure on the e4-pawn. This became popular fallowing the duels
was a majar surprise according to Peter between Karpov and Kasparov.
86
[Subsequently, quieter moves, such as
12.a3; or 12.dS, carne to prominence.

EXERCISE: Why no mention of the

typical Spanish manoeuvre 12 Nfl,
followed by Ng3?

ANSWER: The idea of Black's

defence is that 12.Nfl? isn't
appropriate here, since after 12...exd4
13.cxd4 Na5, the attack on e4 forces
White to make concessions.]

12 ... hG 13.Bc2 exd4 ANSWER: Yes, this move appears

By means of this manoeuvre Black illogical, but it's based on tactical
secures the square b4 for his c6-knight, considerations. In theory it isn't
after which he will attack the centre appropriate for White to open lines on
with ...c7-c5. his weaker wing; the problem is that if
he plays 18.Nd4 immediately, the b5-
14.cxd4 Nb4 15.Bbl cS 16.dS Nd7 pawn isn't under immediate threat
17.Ra3 from the knight, so Black can reply
This was the start of the theoretical 18... Qf6 and, after 19.N2f3, he has
debate. White has his pieces pointed good play with either 19...NcS, as in
menacingly at Black's kingside; both V.Anand-G.Timoscenko, Frunze 1987,
bishops are ideally placed and the rook (or 19... Nd3 20.Bxd3 b4, as played in
on a3 is impatient to reach g3.For his the fifth game of the above-mentioned
part Black has two main plans: one is to Anand-Kamsky match in 1995.Najdorf
profit from the position of the knight used to say: "to gain something, you
on b4 and follow up with ...c5-c4 and have to give something, old chap"; and
...Nc5, aiming at d3, a4 and e4; the Fischer said something similar: "to get
alternative plan is to try to attack squares you have to give squares". lf
White's central structure with ...f7-f5. we substitute "the a-file" for "squares",
it's the same principie at work.)
17...c4
[After the alternative 17...fS, also 18...axbS 19.Nd4 Qb6
employed by Karpov, the main replies The queen must now defend the
are 18.Nh2 (and 18.Rae3.)] bS-pawn, so Black's castled position
loses a defender. [Alternatively,
18.axbS 19...Rxa3 20.bxa3 Nd3 is playable but,
as Nunn indicated, after 21.Bxd3 cxd3
QUESTION: Why rush with this 22.Re3 Ne5 (or 22... NcS 23.Bb2}
exchange? lsn't it better to maintain 23.N4f3, White has a slight advantage
the tension and play 18 Nd4 without and can play for a win with no risk.; In
opening the a-file? the seventh game of the Las Palmas
match, Kamsky tried 19...NeS!? and
managed to draw, though objectively

87
Black doesn't really have enough for
the pawn after Anand's response,
20.Rxa8 Qxa8 21.NxbS, as Nunn also
makes clear.]

20.NfS NeS

QUESTION: You talk about White's

activity and, admittedly, the fS-knight
does look menacing, but how does he
deal with the invasion 20 ...Rxa3
21.bxa3 Nd3 now?
ANSWER: 23.Qd2!!
ANSWER: White can exploit the In reality the question was almost a
fact that the d7-knight is loase with the rhetorical one. lt is very difficult to take
combination 22.Bxd3 cxd3 23.Nxh6+! this decision without hours of analysis.
gxh6?! 24.Qg4+ etc. The idea was actually discovered during
the 1995 match by one of Anand's
21.Rg3 g6 seconds, Yusupov, who analysed it
Forced; [21...Kh7?, to avoid deeply, together with Ubilava. This was
weakening the kingside, is refuted by at a time when computers were almost
22.Nf3 Nbd3 23.Bxd3 Nxd3 24.Be3 QaS useless.The idea is simple to explain:
25.Bxh6! (25.Ng5+ also wins) 25... gxh6 White attacks Black's castled position
26.NgS+ Kg6 and now: with all his forces, without worrying
much about sacrificing material
EXERCISE: What's the clearest way although Black has his chances too, due
to win? in part to the open a-file.Objectively,
after letting today's chess engines
ANSWER: The most straightforward analyse this position for a while, we can
and beautiful finish is 27.QhS+!! 1-0 say that the move doesn't deserve two
A.Marcinkiewicz-W.Zundel, corresp exclamation marks and should really be
2002; after 27...KxhS 28.Nh7 Qxel+ given "!?", but its practica! value was
29.Kh2 mate is inevitable.] devastating. [Previously, only the
natural 23.Be3 had been played, but
22.Nf3 Ned3 then Black reaches a satisfactory
All this was well-known theory and position after 23...Qd8.]
Adams was moving almost instantly,
whereas Anand had spent more than EXERCISE (tactical, very difficult):
twenty minutes. How should Black defend now? (and
without any help from the computer)
EXERCISE (tactical, very difficult):
How can White combine attack and 23... BxdS?
defence? This was another rhetorical
question. Even for a 2700-rated player
it would be an almost impossible task
to defend successfully here without

88
having analysed it extensively at home
or with a computer.The text move is an
error, and objectively the game is
already decided, though it remains very
complicated. [lnstead: 23...Nxcl? fails
to the calm 24.Rxcl! (24.Nxh6+ Bxh6
25.Qxh6 Ncd3 26.Re3! is also strong)
24...Kh7 25.Qxb4 gxf5 26.Qc3! Qd8
27.Qd4 and the queen moves
victoriously to the kingside after e4xf5
or e4-e5, without having to give up any
material.; 23...Ral? is refuted by
24.Nxh6+! Bxh6 25.Qxh6 Qxf2+ 26.Kh2
Nxel (or 26...Nxcl 27.eS! Rxbl 28.e6!}
27.Rxg6+! and mate in 14 moves; e.g.
27...fxg6 28.Qxg6+ Kf8 29.Bh6+ Ke7
30.Bg5+! (for the attack to succeed
White needs to remove the d6-pawn
with check) 30...Kf8 (or 30...Kd7
31.Qf7+} 31.Qxd6+ Kg8 32.Qg6+ Kf8
33.Bh6+ Ke7 34.Qe6+! Kd8 35.Bg5+ Kc7
36.Bf4+ Kd8 37.Qd6+ Kc8 38.Qc7#.;
ANSWER: 23...Nxel! was the only
defence, and now: 24.Nxel is the best
try, confirmed by analysis; for example,
a)24.Nxh6+ Bxh6 25.Qxh6 allows
25...Nxf3+ 26.gxf3 and White has no
more than a draw; for example,
26...Qd4 (a)if 26...Re7 27.Bd2; a)or
26...ReS 27.f4} 27.e5! Qxe5 28.Bxg6
Qxg3+! 29.fxg3 fxg6 30.Qxg6+ Kh8 etc.;
b)24.N3h4? fails to 24...Nbd3! 25.Nxg6
(b}25.Nxh6+ Bxh6 26.Qxh6 Qxf2+
27.Kh2 Ne5! 28.Bd2 Ral 29.Bxel Qf6!
defends the king and once again gains a
decisive material advantage) 25 ...fxg6
26.Rxg6+ Kf7 27.Nxh6+ Ke7! 28.Qg5+
Kd7 29.Be3 Qa5 30.Ng4 Kc7 with a
winning material advantage for Black.;
24...Nxd5! (or 24...Ral 25.Nxh6+ Bxh6
26.Qxh6 Nxd5!, transposing) 25.Nxh6+
Bxh6 26.Qxh6 Ral! (not 26...Ne7?
because of 27.Be3, followed by Bd4 and
wins; nor 26...Qd4? 27.eS!, which gives
White a very strong attack; e.g.
89
27...Ne7 28.Bxg6! Nxg6 29.Rxg6+ fxg6
30.Qxg6+ Kf8 31.Bh6+ Ke7 32.e6! Kd8
33.Be3 and Black must give up his
queen) 27.Rxg6+ fxg6 28.Qxg6+ Kf8
29.Qf5+ (since 29.Bh6+?! Ke7 30.exdS
Bxd5 31.BgS+ Kd7 32.BfS+ Re6! favours
Black) 29...Kg7 30.Qg5+ Kf8 with a draw
after ali.To calculate the greater part of
this (and more!), accurately, over the
board and with limited time, would be
an almost impossible task, even for the
best players on the planet.]
24.Nxh6+! Bxh6 25.Qxh6
Now the sacrifices on g6 will be
deadly. White sacrifices a great deal of
material but has just enough left to
mount an irresistible attack.
25...Qxf2+
[lf 25...Bxe4, Anand (in lnformator
#94) gave 26.Ng5 (26.Be3 also works)
26...Qxf2+ 27.Kh2 Nxel 28.Qh7+ Kf8
29.Nxe4 Qd4 30.Rxg6! Rxe4 31.Bxe4
Qe5+ 32.Khl Ral (or 32...Nf3 33.Bxf3
etc) 33.Rg8+ Ke7 34.Qh4+ Qf6 35.Qxel
and wins;(of course White could also
play 35.ReB+ etc here.)
EXERCISE: lndicate how to win after
25...Nxel.
ANSWER: White should continue
the assault on Black's castled position.
The most convincing way is 26.Nh4!,
intending Nxg6 or Nf5.]
26.Kh2 Nxel
[26...Nxcl fails to 27.exd5! Ncd3 (or
27...Rxel 28.Bxg6!} 28.Re6!.{lnstead,
Houdini prefers 28.Bxd3 Nxd3 29.Re6!,
but it makes little difference and no
human player would exchange his
bishop here if he doesn't have to.)]
Anand was finally out of his
preparation, People watching this game
live on the internet were quoting the
evaluation of the strongest engine at
the time, Fritz, which said that White
has no more than a draw after
sacrificing on g6.
EXERCISE: Can you overturn this
almost 20-year-old assessment?
ANSWER: 27.Nh4!
As we've already seen, in such
positions sacrifices on g6 are inevitable
and almost always win. Despite his
menacing-looking pieces and large
material advantage, Black is
defenceless.The evaluation of this
move is quite curious. Nunn awards it
an exclamation mark, Nielsen gives it
two; while Anand just says modestly
that it's the only move, which is true,
but the other two opinions are also
valid, don't you think? [The 'old'
variation 27.Rxg6+? fxg6 28.Qxg6+ is
indeed only enough for a draw.]
36.Qe6+ Kc7 37.d6+! Kb7 (or 37...Kb6
38.Be3+) 38.Be4+ Kb6 39.Bxa8 etc.;
Trying to deflect sorne attackers with
27...Nf3+ 28.Nxf3 Bxe4 29.Bxe4 Rxe4
doesn't work either, because the attack
resumes with 30.Ng5 Rel 31.Qh7+ Kf8
32.Rf3 and wins.
EXERCISE: How would you deal
with the attempt to defend the second
rank with 27...Ra7?
ANSWER: Thus White wins with
28.Nf5! (Here 28.Nxg6? is refuted by
28...Qxg3+! 29.Kxg3 fxg6, which is good
for Black since the a7-rook is a good
defender and prevents 30.Qxg6+?? in
view of 30...Rg7. But as we've noted
befare, the h4-knight can also go to f5.
31.-- {31.--)) 28...Qxg3+ 29.Nxg3!
(Stohl's 29.Kxg3 gxf5 30.Qf6 wins as
well) 29...Bc6 30.Bg5 Re6 31.e5! dxe5
(or 31...Ral 32.Bf6} 32.Nh5!, as
indicated by Anand in lnformator.]

27...Ned3 28.NxgG Qxg3+ 29.Kxg3 fxgG 30.QxgG+

Other lines are no better. [Anand
pointed out that defending g6 with
27...Re6 fails to 28.exd5 Rf6 (or
28...Re2 29.Bxg6} 29.Nxg6! fxg6
30.Rxg6+ Rxg6 31.Qxg6+ Kf8 32.Qxd6+
(once again it's important to remove
the d6-pawn with check) 32...Kg8
33.Qg6+ Kf8 34.Bh6+ Ke7 35.Bg5+ Kd7
Kf8
[Or 30...Kh8 31.Bg5 etc.]
31.QfG+ Kg8 32.BhG
[lf 32.Bh6 Ra7, then 33.Qg6+
wins.A game featuring a fascinating
novelty and a spectacular finish!] 1-0

However, things then started to go wrong for Anand, with a loss to Kasimdzhanov in
the fourth round, followed by another to Morozevich in the seventh. Meanwhile
Topalov was in impressive form, scoring 6Yi out of 7 in the first cycle, two points ahead
of Svidler in second place.

Anand made a good score (5/7) in the second cycle, but was unable to catch the
leader. He finished in a tie for second with Peter Svidler on 8Yi/14, well behind
Topalov, who scored 10 points.

90
 Game Fourteen

More Great Preparation on Display at Wijk aan Zee

The 2006 Wijk aan Zee event saw a hard struggle for first between Topalov and Anand.
The tournament began with a brilliant victory for Anand over Karjakin, in which Anand
gave another demonstration of his excellent theoretical preparation in 'his' Najdorf
variation.

D Karjakin,S normal Sicilian move.

•Anand,V
Sicilian Defence [890] ANSWER: The problem is not the
14: Wijk aan Zee, 2006 move itself, but the fact that it allows
[Zenón Franco] White to exploit the weakness of the
light squares arising from the exchange
1.e4 es 2.Nf3 dG 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 NfG ...BxdS. Byrne continued 15.Bh3! Rc7
S.Nc3 aG 6.Be3 es 7.Nb3 BeG 8.f3 Be7 16.NaS! (a typical manoeuvre in this
9.Qd2 0-0 10.0-0-0 Nbd7 11.g4 bS structure, aiming at c6, sometimes
12.gS even involving a pawn sacrifice, and
The so-called 'English Attack' began here it comes with a gain of time)
to come into fashion in the 1980s and 16...Nb8 17.Bg4 Nf4 18.h4 fS 19.gxf6
largely replaced what had been the Bxf6 and now simply 20.Nc6! would
main move for decades, 6 BgS, as well have given White an almost decisive
as Karpov's favourite 6 Be2. The advantage; (rather than 20.Bb6?!
strongest player to use it befare it rose Rxc2+! 21.Qxc2 Qxb6.}} 15.gxf6 Bxf6
to popularity was the late American 16.NaS then 16...Nf4, followed
grandmaster Robert Byrne, who played by...Nb6, with enough activity to
it in the 1970s, as Nunn mentions in the compensate for the weakness of c6.
book of Anand's games. Black has the f-file and a good knight
on f4, whose exchange would bring the
12... b4 f6-bishop to life.]
[The line chosen by Fischer against
Byrne (New York blitz 1971) was 13.Ne2 Ne8
12...NhS, which is still seen, although it
isn't the main move. However, after QUESTION: lsn't this a dubious idea
13.NdS BxdS 14.exdS for Black? The knight on e8 obstructs
his mobility.
QUESTION: In that case, what
should Black play instead of 14... Rc8? ANSWER: That's true; Anand
thought along similar lines when he
ANSWER: Black can gain saw Vallejo Pons play this move (with
counterplay with 14...fS, and if (Fischer success) in Monte Cario 2004. Anand
played the weak move 14... Rc8?! said to him: "what strange lines you
play!" but once the idea had been
QUESTION: How can this be weak? brought to his attention, he analysed it
Occupying the e-file just looks like a deeply and decided to play it
91
himself.Black is relying on being quickly
able to salve the current problem of his
badly coordinated forces. There is
something else too: Black is planning to
attack with...a6-a5-a4, and we know
that king safety is often the most
important factor.
14.f4
QUESTION: Capturing on b4 in
exchange for the gS-pawn doesn't look
very good, does it?
ANSWER: The gS-pawn is
important for restricting the mobility of
the black pieces; its exchange for the
b4-pawn would grant Black the use of
the f6-square. More importantly,
14.Qxb4?!, as well as allowing
14...BxgS, (walks into 14... aS! and if
15.Qd2?! then 15... a4 and ...Bxa2,
capturing a pawn which is at least as
important as the one on g5.}; The game
that Anand witnessed, P.Svidler­
F.Vallejo Pons, Monte Cario (rapid)
2004, continued with the ideas
mentioned in the previous note: 14.Kbl
as 15.Nbcl a4 16.f4 exf4 17.Bxf4 NcS
18.Bg2 b3 19.cxb3 axb3 20.a3 dS!? and
after a complicated struggle, Black
won.]
14...as 15.fS a4
There are now hundreds of games
with this line. [Another popular idea is
15 ... Bxb3 16.cxb3 a4 17.bxa4 Rxa4.]
16.Nbd4
[Here 16.fxe6 is an important
alternative. Let's take a brief look at a
recent grandmaster game: 16...axb3
17.cxb3 fxe6 18.Bh3 Rxa2 19.Bxe6+ Kh8
20.Ng3 Nc7 21.Bc4 Qa8 22.Rhfl Rxfl
23.Rxfl Ral+ 24.Kc2 Rxfl 25.Bxfl dS
was played in F.Caruana-B.Gelfand,
92
Moscow 2013, and now White sprang
the novelty 26.h4?! (it was better to
play 26.exdS, keeping the lines open; or
else 26.Qf2, allowing the bishop to
retreat to d2 and maintaining harmony
among the white pieces), but after
26...d4! 27.Bgl, the bishop remained
badly placed and Black took over the
initiative with 27...Ne6 28.Qe2 NdcS!
29.Qc4 Nf4, culminating in a mating
attack.]
16...exd4 17.Nxd4
This threatens both 18 Nc6 and 18
fxe6, ensuring that White will regain
the piece.
17...b3 18.Kbl bxc2+
[Better than 18...bxa2+ 19.Kal,
after which the white king would feel
more secure, since the black pawn is an
effective defensive barrier.]
19.Nxc2
EXERCISE: Since a piece will be lost
in any case, what is the best way to
relinquish it?
ANSWER: 19... Bb3
lt's best to give back the piece on
this square, so as to create a strong
advanced pawn on b3, which will
trouble the white king.
20.axb3 axb3 21.Na3 NeS 22.h4 Ras
[The main alternative is 22... Ra4. In
either case Black frees a8 for the queen
and seeks to activate his pieces with a
timely...d6-d5.]
23.Qc3?
A logical move, suggested by
Vallejo in a brief note in a previous
lnformator. The queen attacks the b3-
pawn and, by putting pressure on the
e5-knight, hinders one of the ways for
Black to activate his pieces (i.e....d6-d5,
as mentioned above, which would
revive the e8-knight as well as the e7-
bishop). However, Anand now
brilliantly demonstrates the defects of
this move. [lnstead, the game P.Leko­
F.Vallejo Pons, Monte Cario (rapid)
2005, continued 23.Qe2?, allowing
23...d5! at once, and the black pieces
became active after 24.Rxd5 Rxd5
25.exd5 Bxa3 26.bxa3 Nd6 with
excellent play.; The best line is
currently thought to be 23.Qb4 Qa8
24.Bb6 Ra4 25.Qxb3, although this isn't
conclusive.]
23 ...QaS 24.Bg2
[lf 24.Rd4, Black can again play
24...d5!, since the queen is no longer
putting pressure on the e5-knight;;
while 24.Qxb3 allows both 24...Qxe4+
(and 24 Ncl, when all the black pieces
. . .
are ready to attack.J] Things don't
appear to be going well for Black: his
kingside is 'dormant', the b3-pawn is
hanging, and in fact the computers
award White a clear advantage at first,
which then starts to diminish, until...
the evaluation changes.
EXERCISE: How? Why?
ANSWER: 24... Nc7!!
93
Played immediately, which shows
that it was part of Anand's preparation.
[In his lnformator notes mentioned
above, Vallejo gave just 24...Ra4 25.Rd4
"unclear".; After their initial pessimism,
the computers like 24... Nf6, attacking
e4, in arder to bring the f8-rook quickly
into play, while after 25.gxf6 Bxf6, a
new piece joins the attack. But Anand's
move is better, since it adds an even
stronger threat of... Nb5, always
assuming of course that Black has an
adequate answer to the capture on c7.]
25.Qxc7
[lf 25.Bb6 (or 25 Bd2), the arrival of
the knight is decisive; i.e. 25...Rxa3
26.bxa3 Nb5 etc.]
EXERCISE: What did Anand have in
store against this obvious capture on
c7?
ANSWER: 25... RcS!
Offering a second piece to speed
up the attack.
26.Qxe7
[26.Qb6 is punished by 26... Nc4!
27.Qxb3 Nxa3+ 28.bxa3 Rxa3 29.Qb2
Rb8 30.Bb6 Ra6 31.e5 Ral+! 32.Qxal
Rxb6+ and it's easy to predict that the
white king will not survive the attack by
Black's majar pieces after 33.Kc2 Qxg2+
34.Rd2 Rc6+.]
EXERCISE: What is the third link in
Black's plan?
ANSWER: 26... Nc4!
Just when the white queen is away
from the action (albeit at a high price),
a new piece arrives to attack a3.
EXERCISE: Why doesn't the
immediate sacrifice 26...Rxa3 27.bxa3
Qxa3 work?
ANSWER: Because there is a
hidden defence which turns the tables:
28.Qa7! and White wins, proving that
one should always ask oneself "what
does my opponent want to do?"
27.gG
An attempt to divert the struggle to
the kingside, since there is no adequate
defence on the other wing. [27.BcS was
analysed by Kasparov at Playchess.com,
and it seemed to be the only possibility
of resistance. However, today's Houdini
4 engine almost immediately proclaims
that it's mate in 18 moves! lts longest
line goes 27...Rxa3! 28.bxa3 RxcS (not
28... Nxa3+? due to 29.Kcl! and White
may survive) 29.a4 Na3+ 30.Kb2 Rc2+
31.Kxa3 Ra2+ {Anand gives the more
'human' move 31...Qb8! in lnformator
#106, and this also wins easily) 32.Kb4
Qxa4+ 33.Kc3 Qc6+ 34.Kd4 QcS+
35.Kd3 Qc2+ 36.Kd4 Qf2+ and it's now
mate in eight moves, which is not
difficult to imagine.; Against 27.Bd4,
which defends the al-square, the
recipe is the same: 27...Rxa3! 28.bxa3
Nxa3+ 29.Kb2 Nc4+ and the white king
is forced to 'take a walk' (this is what 29
a4 was trying to avoid in the previous
line) 30.Kc3 (or 30.Kxb3 Qa3+ 31.Kc2
Ne3+ 32.Kd2 Rc2+ 33.Kel Qb4+ and
mates) 30...Qa2! 31.BcS Qc2+ 32.Kd4
Qf2+ (even stronger than 32...dxcS+
33.KdS Ne3+ 34.Kd6 Nxdl} 33.Kc3 QxcS
and wins.The power of Black's attack,
now that the lines have been opened,
can't be parried. All his available pieces
coordinate to perfection.]
EXERCISE: How to continue the
attack?
94
ANSWER: 27...hxgG!!
Accurately combining attack and
defence. Tactics rule here, and Black
needs first of all to create an escape
square for his king, to avoid any back­
rank problems, befare launching the
final attack. [Here 27...Rxa3?? runs into
28.gxf7+ Kh8 29.f8Q+! (deflecting the
c8-rook) 29...Rxf8 30.bxa3 Nxa3+
31.Kcl and White wins;; while
27... Nxa3+? 28.bxa3 Rxa3 fails to
29.gxf7+ Kh8 30.f8Q+! Rxf8 31.Qxf8+!
(notice this capture is with check)
31...Qxf8 32.Bd4 and Black's attack and
advantage both disappear.]
28.fxgG Nxa3+
[28...Rxa3 wins again now, but
Anand's move is more convincing.]
29.bxa3 Rxa3 30.gxf7+
[30.Qxf7+ Kh8 31.Bd4 is too slow,
as Black mates by 31...Ral+ 32.Bxal
Qa2#.]
30... Kh7!
Showing the point of 27...hxg6.
31.fSN+
An ingenious resource, forcing
Black to capture on f8.
31... RxfS 32.QxfS
 Now this is without check. [But
there was nothing better: 32.Bd4 Ral+
33.Kb2 Qa2+ 34.Kc3 Qc2+ 35.Kb4 Rb8+
leads to mate;; or if 32.Qxd6 Ra1+
33.Kb2 then 33... Ra2+ 34.Kbl Rc2!,
making way for the queen.]
32...Ral+!
[More accurate than 32...Qxf8,
when 33.Bd4 (or 33.Rd2 would prolong
the game. lnstead, Black wins by direct
attack.)J
For instance, after 35.Bd4 (while Anand
shows that the counter-attack 35.Bh3
QaB 36.BfS+ also fails, most quickly to
36...KhB 37.Rcl Ral+ 38.Kb2 Qa3+
39.Kc3 b2+} 35...Qa8, it is mate in five
moves according to Houdini.] "Here
Anand invested a few minutes to find
the mate",according to chessbase.com.
34...QaS+ 35.Kd3
[Or 35.Kxb3 Qa4+ 36.Kc3 Rc2+
37.Kd3 Qc4#.]

33.Kb2 Ra2+ 34.Kc3 35...QbS+ 36.Kd4 Ra4+ 37.Kc3 Qc4+

[lf 34.Kbl then simply 34...Qxf8, as [Mate follows with 37...Qc4+
Black has an unstoppable attack with 38.Kd2 Ra2+ 39.Kel Qe2#.] 0-1
the rook already on the seventh rank.

Anand caught up with Topalov in the final round and they shared first place on 9/13,
1Yi points ahead of Adams and lvanchuk. lt was the Anand's fifth victory in this
traditional Dutch tournament.

Meanwhile Magnus Carlsen, aged 15, finished equal first in the second group,
qualifying to play in the top group the following year.

Game Fifteen

In the Land of the World Champion

In May, Anand played in the Sofia M-Tel Masters tournament - a double-round six­
player event, attended by the new World Champion, Veselin Topalov, playing in his
home country of Bulgaria.

In 2005 Anand had finished second with 5Yi out of 10. In 2006 he could not have
gotten off to a better start, defeating Bacrot in the first round with Black, and Topalov
in the second round,also with Black. Let's now look at that game.

D Topalov,V 1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.BbS a6 4.Ba4 Nf6

• Anand,V 5.0-0 Be7 6.Rel bS 7.Bb3 0-0 8.h3
Spanish Opening {C88} [This system is primarily aimed at
15:Sofia,2006 drawing the sting from the Marshall
[Zenón Franco] Attack, which arises after 8.c3 d5. The
Anti-Marshall (with either 8 h3 or 8 a4)
95
was played in no less than 11 of the 30
games in Sofia.] ANSWER: The flexible move 10...h6
retains the possibility of ...BcS as well
8...Bb7 9.d3 as ...Bf8; whereas after 10...Bf8, in this
particular case the pin 11.BgS would be
QUESTION: lt seems that Black has annoying, as Topalov had himself
given up his idea of playing the played successfully.
Marshall. So why not play 9 c3?
11.Nbd2
ANSWER: In reality Black hasn't yet [11.a4 would transpose to their
abandoned the idea of playing the game from Monte Cario (blindfold
Marshall. (Only 8...d6 would have rapid), played a month and a half
signalled that that was the case.) After befare. Anand thought that it was
9.c3, Black can still play 9...dS, when better to postpone any decision about
accepting the sacrifice with 10.exdS the a-pawn, as in the present game.
NxdS 11.NxeS?! {11.d3 is better) The earlier game continued 11...BcS
11...NxeS 12.RxeS Nf4 would 12.Nbd2 Bb6 13.Ba2 and in view of the
demonstrate that 8 ...Bb7 is much more threat of Qb3 with a double attack,
useful than 8 h3. Anand felt obliged (unsighted) to play
the rather sad move 13...Rf8.
9... Re8 Nevertheless, Black's position remains
A 'normal' move and a very flexible salid and the game ended in a draw.]
one; Black retains the possibility of
...d7-dS, and prepares the typical 11...Bf8 12.a3
regrouping ...Bf8, or perhaps ...BcS. [In Aiming to maintain the bishop on
earlier games, Anand mostly played the a2-g8 diagonal, trying to exploit the
9...d6 here; while the direct 9...dS!? fact that its opposite number is on b7
features later in Game 31 (with Anand and so cannot immediately oppose on
on the White side).] e6. White didn't play a2-a4 because he
is planning to set up a different
10.c3 structure with b2-b4.
White delays a decision about
whether or not to play a2-a3 or a2-a4, 12...dG 13.Ba2
while giving him the option of playing
d3-d4 at sorne point.

10 ... h6

QUESTION: 1 know that the move

...h7-h6 is necessary in many similar
positions, preventing NgS, but here
why not play 10...Bf8 immediately,
given that 11.NgS would allow Black to
return to the Marshall theme by 11...dS
12.exdS Nas 13.c4 c6 with good
compensation?

96
 EXERCISE (positional): What should maintain his structure in that case?
Black play now, and with what plan in
mind? ANSWER: Black could play 16...as!
17.bxcS a4, followed by 18...dxcS, with
ANSWER: 13 ...NbS! a good position.
Preparing ...c7-c5, while
redeploying the knight to a more EXERCISE: (positional): How should
flexible position: as well as returning to Black continue?
c6, it can go to d7. This is better than
moving it to aS; [especially since ANSWER: 16...BcS!
13...NaS? can be answered by 14.b4.] A typical manoeuvre in the Anti­
Marshall. The bishop heads for e6, to
14.b4 neutralize the 'Spanish bishop' on a2.
This was Topalov's idea; [but since [With 16 Rbl White restrained the idea
Black soon stands very well, it's of 16...aS, since 17.bxcS a4 (17...dxcS
appropriate to recall that that 14.Nh4 18.Be3 is annoying) 18.Nbd2 would
was his choice against Adams in Linares now reveal an attack on bS, and after
1999, which continued 14...dS 15.Qf3 18...dxcS 19.RxbS Ba6 20.Qxa4!, White
c6 16.b4 Nbd7 17.Nb3 Rc8 18.NfS Ba8 would gain two strong pawns for the
19.Be3 with advantage to White.; The exchange.]
typical Spanish move 14.Nfl is another
reasonable option.] 17.Be3 Be6
Defending the cS-pawn by pinning
14...cs 15.Nb3 the b3-knight.
Playing in similar fashion to the
game with Adams, where Topalov 18.Qc2 Rc8
gained sorne advantage; the problem is lt's very pleasant to be able to deal
that White's pieces are starting to lose with a threat by developing a piece.
coordination. [In view of the result of
White's manoeuvre, it's easy to deduce 19.Qb2
that the natural 15.Bb2 was sounder.] Preparing to return the b3-knight
to d2.
15...Nc6
Here we see a big difference from QUESTION: Why not play 19.Nbd2
the game against Adams: Black can immediately? Also interesting is
prevent White from playing Nas. 19...cxb4

16.Rbl ANSWER: Because 19...Nd4 is

Played after a long think; "trying to annoying: 20.Bxd4 cxd4 21.Bxe6 (21.c4
create sorne veiled threats on the b­ leaves the white pieces tied up on the
line", as Nielsen commented in New in queenside, so Black could play
Chess. 21...NhS!, intending ...Nf4, ...Qf6 etc)
21...Rxc3 22.Bxf7+ Kxf7 23.Qa2+ Kg6
QUESTION: Why, after such a long 24.Rb3 (24.Rbcl is worse, on account
think, did Topalov not play 16.Be3, of 24...Rxd3 25.Rc6 a5} 24...Qc7 and
putting pressure on cS? Can Black Black controls the open e-file.) 20.axb4

97
d5 (threatening ...d5-d4) 21.Qb2 d4
22.Bxe6 (not 22.cxd4? Bxa2 23.Qxa2
exd4 24.Bf4 Nxb4} 22...Rxe6 (or simply
22...dxe3 23.BxcB exd2 24.Qxd2 Qxc8}
23.cxd4 Nxb4.
QUESTION: What's wrong with
19.bxcS dxc5 20.NxcS?
ANSWER: This would be met by
20...Bxa2 21.Qxa2 Nb8! 22.d4 (22.Nb3
Qxd3 is even worse) 22...BxcS 23.dxcS
Nxe4 and Black regains the pawn with
the superior structure and sorne
advantage.
19 ...c4 20.dxc4
EXERCISE: Which pawn should
Black take?
ANSWER: 20...Bxc4
The most practica! choice, gaining a
good position without any
complications. [The computers prefer
20...Nxe4! 21.cxbS axb5, when White
has the worse structure and Black's
central pawn majority gives him a
positional advantage, but it's essential
that this works tactically which it does;
for example, after 22.Bxh6 (22.Rbcl
Ne7, planning...Nd5, is unpleasant for
White) 22...Nxc3! 23.Qxc3 gxh6, the
bishop pair and centre pawns give
Black the advantage.]
21.Nbd2 Bxa2
QUESTION: Does capturing the e4-
pawn after 21...Bd3 not give Black the
advantage?
ANSWER: No, this time the tactics
aren't so favourable to Black. After
22.Rbdl Bxe4?! (22...Nxe4 23.Nxe4
Bxe4 24.BgS! hxg5 25.Rxe4 is similar,
98
and also satisfactory for White)
23.Nxe4 Nxe4 24.Bxh6! Nxc3 25.Qxc3
gxh6 26.Qd3, White controls the light
squares and has a lot of compensation
with ideas of Re4-g4, while the extra
pawn is relatively unimportant at the
moment.
22.Qxa2 dS 23.Rbdl
Of course 23.exdS? just gives more
freedom to the black pieces after
23...QxdS, followed by ...e5-e4 and
...Ne5, while 24.c4 bxc4 25.Nxc4 fails to
25...Nxb4 (or 25...e4.}
23...d4 24.cxd4 exd4 25.Nb3?!
Still playing with ambition. [The
simplest way to equalize was 25.Nxd4
Nxd4 26.Nb3; after 26...Nxe4 27.Rxd4
Qf6 28.Qbl Nc3 29.Qd3, for example,
White's position is healthy.; 25.Bf4 was
equally ambitious, but tactically it isn't
clear that White benefits from 25...aS
26.bxaS. But Black can improve with
26...b4!, when he stands better. For
example, (Admittedly, 26...QxaS?! isn't
appropriate, because it allows 27.eS!
Nd7 28.e6 fxe6 29.Rxe6 Qxa3 30.QdS!
Nb6 31.Qe4 and at the cost of a pawn
White achieves the complex play that
he was seeking, and the black king is
weakened.(31.--)) 27.axb4 (if instead
27.a4, keeping things closed, then
27...NxaS 28.BeS d3 29.Qbl Nd7 and
Black's position appears preferable)
27...Nxb4 28.Qbl (or 28.Qb3 Rc3
29.Qa4 Nd3 with complications in
which White fails to equalize) 28...Nc2
29.Rfl Qxa5 is rather unpleasant for
White.]
25...Nxe4 26.Bxd4?
This move fails tactically. [lnstead,
26.Qb2! would minimize White's
disadvantage: 26...d3 27.Nbd4 (27.Ncl
Nd6! 28.Nxd3 Nc4 29.Qb3 Nxe3
30.Rxe3 Rxe3 31.fxe3 QeB is worse for
White due to his damaged structure)
27...Nxd4 28.Qxd4 d2! 29.Nxd2 Nc3
30.Qxd8 Rcxd8 31.Ral NdS 32.Nfl.]

26...Nxd4 27.Rxd4
Forced, in arder to prevent ...Nc3.

EXERCISE: What is the tactical flaw

in White's idea?

ANSWER: 27...NgS!
Simple, but quite pretty.
EXERCISE: What had Anand seen
28.NeS here?
[Of course 28.Rxd8 Nxf3+ 29.gxf3
Rxel+ 30.Kg2 Rxd8 would be almost ANSWER: 30...QfS!!
losing for White. The two rooks [Much better than 30...RxeS 31.f4
dominate the board, especially Qg6 32.RxeS Rc2+ 33.Qxc2 Qxc2+
considering the weakness of White's 34.Nd2, when White can still resist.]
kingside.; Alternatively, after 28.Rxe8
Nxf3+ 29.gxf3 Qxe8, White has no 31.Rde4
compensation for his weaknesses.] [31.Nd3 can be punished by
31...Rxel 32.Nxel Rc3! {32... QeS+
QUESTION: White felt obliged to 33.Kg2 Qxel also wins) 33.Kgl Qe6;;
embark on complications, and 1 notice while the most artistic response to
that his queen and knight are both on 31.Qe2 is 31...RxeS! 32.QxeS Qxf2+
the queenside at the moment, but is his 33.Khl Rc3! 34.Rh4 Bd6! and White's
position really that bad? position collapses.]

ANSWER: Everything depends on EXERCISE: Use the ideas that we

tactics. With an elegant sequence of
moves, Black demonstrates that the
position is indeed bad for White.
28...Nxh3+! 29.gxh3
[29.Kfl QgS 30.Rde4 Nf4 31.g3
QhS! 32.Kgl Ng6 leaves Black with a
healthy extra pawn.]
have seen above to come up with the
most accurate finish.
ANSWER: 31...RxeS!
[Even better than 31...Bd6 32.Nd4
(32.f4 is met by our familiar 32... Rc3!}
32...BxeS+ 33.Kg2, when Black just has
an extra pawn.]

29...QgS+ 30.Kh2 32.RxeS Bd6 33.NcS BxeS+ 34.Kg2 Rc6

35.Qb3
[lf 35.Ne4, the simplest way is
35...Rg6+ 36.Ng3 Bxg3 37.fxg3 Qd3,
winning another pawn.]

99
35 ... RgG+ 36.Kfl Bg3 0-1

After the first cycle, Anand shared first place with Kamsky on 31/i/5, but in the second
cycle he was on 'minus one', losing to Topalov and drawing the rest. So he ended up
with 51/i points out of 10, as in 2005, and this time it was only enough for third place.
Topalov put on another of his then typical spectacular spurts in the second cycle
(scoring 4/5) and won the event with 61/i points.

After the M-Tel Masters, Anand went straight to the Turin Olympiad where he
continued his indifferent form from the second cycle in Sofia, scoring only 41/i points
out of 9. Rapidplay victories carne in Leon, Mainz (in a match vs. Teimour Radjabov)
and Villarrobledo, but his comparative slump at the classical time limit was set to
continue for a while.

In 2007 Anand was unable to replicate his Wijk aan Zee success; he finished in fifth,
one point behind the winners Aronian, Topalov and Radjabov. However, this
tournament was notable for something else: the debut of Magnus Carlsen among the
elite.

Carlsen actually had a bad tournament, scoring only 41/i/13, and he shared last place
with Shirov. Would he be able to recover quickly from that disappointment?

The answer carne soon enough.

Game Sixteen

The Start of the Anand vs. Carlsen Rivalry

Between 2006 and 2008 the Linares tournament was actually split between two
venues; the first half was played in Morelia, Mexico, and the second in its traditional
venue, the Spanish town of Linares.

The majar surprise of the tournament was the excellent debut, in what was then the
most important tournament in the world, of the sixteen-year-old Norwegian Magnus
Carlsen, the youngest player in the tournament by a long chalk, and the only one who
didn't have an Elo above 2700.

The first leg of this, the 24th Linares/Morelia Tournament, was played from the 17th to
the 25th of February 2007 at the Palacio Clavijero in Morelia. Anand carne up against
Carlsen in the third round and defeated him; this result was very important for the
partial classification. Carlsen managed to take sole lead of the tournament in rounds 5
and 6, but Anand and Carlsen finished the first leg tied in first place, with 41/i points out
of a possible 7.

The second leg of the tournament took place from the 2nd to the 10th of March in its
100
usual venue in Linares, a city in the Andalusian province of Jaen. Among other good
things, Jaen is known for its immense olive graves and for being the "World Olive Oil
Capital", as the signs proudly, and justifiably, proclaim as you drive into Linares.

In the first two rounds of the Linares leg there were no changes, until in Round 10 the
two leaders faced each other once more.

DAnand,V
•Carlsen,M ANSWER: On the basis of the game
Spanish Opening [C96] R.J.Fischer-P.Keres, Cura�ao Candidates
16: Morelia/Linares, 2007 1962, played in round 21 where
[Zenón Franco] curiously Fischer switched from 12 dxc5
(with which he had been successful in
1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.BbS a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 round 7) to 12 d5 it was concluded that
S.0-0 Be7 6.Rel bS 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 13.g4 isn't very effective in this
9.h3 NaS 10.Bc2 cS 11.d4 Nd7 position, because White doesn't have
This idea of Paul Keres has also enough pieces on the kingside to
been played occasionally by Adams, support this advance.The fine balance
Mamedyarov, Piket, Ponomariov, between considering 13 g4 a useful
Short, and various other strong players. move, restraining the enemy
counterplay, and one which weakens
12.dS the position, tilts towards the second
White decides to clase the centre. verdict after 13...hS!, when in arder to
[The main alternatives are the standard support the g4-pawn White has to
12.Nbd2; and 12.dxcS dxc5 13.Nbd2, allow the activation of the opponent's
employed successfully by Fischer dark-squared bishop. Fischer-Keres
against Keres in the seventh round of continued 14.Nh2 hxg4 15.hxg4 Bg5!
the 1962 Cura�ao Candidates 16.Nd2 g6 (planning to occupy the h­
tournament. With 12.dS the central file with his rook) 17.Ndf3 Bxcl 18.Qxcl
tension is released and the position Kg7 and Black has made progress,
becomes a closed one, leading to a exchanging his generally passive e7-
manoeuvring game. Now it's possible bishop for the one on el, after which
to 'recycle' the a5-knight with 12...Nc4, the weaknesses created 13 g4 become
but Carlsen continues with Keres' more noticeable. In the game Black
original idea.] obtained a good position and won after
a long struggle.
12 ... Nb6
Black prepares an eventual ...f7-f5, 13...g6
and at the same time controls a4, to Black continues to prepare the f5-
slow down White's thematic a2-a4 break. [Actually, the immediate 13...fS
break. was possible but, in general,
exchanging the light-squared bishops
QUESTION: What to do now? Allow and ceding the e4-square to a white
...f7-f5, or restrain it with 13 g4? knight isn't advisable, even though
Black gains the f-file. This was
13.Nbd2 demonstrated by Leko, who gained the

101
advantage in games against Kramnik the temptation to play 17 Bh6,
and Adams in 2005 with 14.exf5 Bxf5 considering that "in fact, the bishop
15.Bxf5 Rxf5 16.Ne4. lt might be belongs on e3" (Anand), where it will
thought that the white d-pawn is rather exert pressure on the queenside.; A
weak in this line, but the black pieces 'lazy' solution would be to play 17.Bh6
aren't well placed to exert pressure on and 'think later'. P.Leko-S.Mamedyarov,
d5. For example, 16...Qd7 17.b3 Qb7 Moscow 2006, showed that this doesn't
fails to 18.c4, and if 18...bxc4 then give White anything special: 17...Re8
19.Bd2 wins the knight on a5.] 18.Bb3 Bd7 (18.../5?! is risky, as after
19.exfS gxf5 20.Rcl, Black can't retreat
14.b4 with 20...Nb6? because 21.NxeS! allows
A committal decision, but White the b3-bishop to show its teeth !)
has a plan in mind and clarifies the 19.Qe2 Nb6 20.Racl Rc8 (now, little by
position, temporarily ceding the c4- little, exchanges take place) 21.Be3
square to the black knights. [The Rxcl 22.Rxcl Qb8 23.Nd2 Rc8 24.Rxc8+
modest 14.b3, preventing the a5-knight Nxc8 25.f4 Qc7 26.Nf3 Qc3 27.Qd2
from 'recycling' itself via c4 and b6, is Qxd2 28.Bxd2 f6 and the game ended
typical in this type of position; but in a draw.]
there is no time for it here because
Black would just play 14...f5.] 17...NbG
The possibility of White eventually
14...cxb4 15.cxb4 Nac4 16.Nxc4 Nxc4 capturing on c4 makes it advisable to
withdraw the knight.

QUESTION: The bishop on b3

doesn't seem to be very active, does it?

ANSWER: That's true, but we've

just seen the influence that this bishop
can exert along the a2-g8 diagonal
(closed at the moment) if Black
weakens it by playing...f7-f5. On b3 the
bishop has an effective deterrent effect
(in fact the latent threat of Nxe5 keeps
Black from ever playing...f7-f5) and it's
EXERCISE: (positional, difficult): also useful that it's no longer on the c­
How should White deploy his pieces? file, as we'll see.

ANSWER: 17.Bb3! 18.Be3 Bd7 19.Rcl

An extraordinary move or as my White is first to occupy the open
translator and friend Phil Adams file. This control also discourages Black
pointed out, Nimzowitsch would have from playing...f7-f5, since it's difficult to
perhaps called it a "mysterious bishop sustain a struggle on two fronts
move" ! [White fights against the...f7-f5 simultaneously.
break, without resorting to drastic
measures, such as 17.g4. He also resists 19...RcS

102
 Black follows suit, but now his
position will suddenly become
uncomfortable. [In view of the course
of the game, it was preferable to play
19 ...Qb8!, intending 20 ...Qb7 and only
then...Rac8, as pointed out by Anand.
Six years on, the engines agree with
him that 19 ...Qb8! was best, which was
also confirmed by practice.]
20.Rxc8
This creates slight disharmony
among the black pieces, which White
can exploit to re-establish control of
the e-file, albeit only temporarily. The
e3-bishop shows its usefulness by
preventing Black from recapturing with
the queen.
20... Bxc8
[20 ...Nxc8 21.Qc2 Nb6 comes to
the same thing.]
21.Qc2 Bd7 22.Rcl
The complement of the previous
exchange of rooks; this forces the
knight to retreat to the uncomfortable
square a8.
22... Na8
QUESTION: What an ugly move!
Why is it necessary?
ANSWER: Black has to prevent an
invasion via c7; [for example, if
22...Qb8? then 23.Qc7 Rc8 24.Qxb8
Rxb8 25.Bxb6 Rxb6 26.Rc7 wins a piece.
QUESTION: Okay, you've convinced
me; but how serious is it to have to put
the knight on a8 for a moment?
ANSWER: lt isn't serious yet; it's
just a temporary disadvantage and if
White plays indecisively he won't be
103
able to profit from the short time
required for the knight to return to the
fray and for Black to re-establish
harmony in his camp.]
EXERCISE: (positional, difficult):
Black needs two tempi to be able to
contest the c-file: ...Qb8 and...Rc8. How
can White make use of this time?
ANSWER: 23.Qd2
An obvious move? lt might appear
so at first the queen leaves the e-file in
anticipation of a future ...Rc8 but
White's motivation is much deeper
than it seems. [Another tempting idea
was 23.Nel, with the idea of offering a
piece with Nd3-c5, since if Black takes
on es, the recapture b4xc5 creates a
powerful mobile pawn mass. lt is true
that 23 Nel allows Black to exchange
his passive e7-bishop with 23...BgS,
which provides sorne relief, but Anand
considered that 24.Qd2 Bxe3 25.Qxe3
Qb8 (while 25...fS?! is unattractive in
view of 26.Nf3! fxe4 27.NgS with a
clear advantage to White after either
Nxe4 or an eventual Ne6; here again
we can see the influence of the bishop
on b3) 26.f4 would still be slightly
better for White.]
23...QbS
 EXERCISE: What was the idea EXERCISE: 24...f6, declining the
behind 23 Qd2? exchange of bishops, isn't a solution
why not?
ANSWER: 24.BgS!!
ANSWER: Because then White has
QUESTION: Previously White was 25.Nxe5!, winning material, and the
concerned about the trade of bishops 'long shadow' of the b3-bishop appears
and yet now he seeks it! What's the once again.]
explanation?
25.NxgS
ANSWER: lt's for tactical reasons;
White needs to exchange this bishop to QUESTION: Why not transfer the
speed up his attack on Black's king, one queen to the kingside with 25.Qxg5?
motive being to introduce the queen
into the attack via h6.This trade would ANSWER: Because of the simple
rarely be good for White in 'normal' reply 25...f6!, when Black would be
positions, but here it's the best way to able to defend his kingside without
open a second front and try to exploit allowing any breaks. In contrast, driving
the temporary displacement of Black's the knight away won't be so easy.
queen and knight. The exchange of
'good' or 'bad' pieces needs to be 25...Rc8 26.Rfl!
considered in context, rather than as
sorne absolute truth. QUESTION: What's so good about
this move, which abandons the e-file?
24...BxgS?!
[The best move was 24...Qd8!, ANSWER: Yes, it abandons the
including the queen in the defence, open file. The general rule is that pieces
although after 25.Qe3 (not 25.Bxel?! must be retained for the attack, but
Qxel, which improves the position of tactics are also important and must
Black's queen and indeed his whole back up such decisions. White would
position; for instance, if 26.Qe3 then have had to calculate quite a lot befare
26...RcB! and Black is defending all the making this logical move, which
invasion points) 25...Bxg5 26.Nxg5 Qe7 prepares f2-f4. [The alternative was
27.f4, White has the initiative.; In the 26.Rxc8+, followed by f2-f4; or just
event of 24...Bd8?!, White gains a 26.f4 at once.]
strong attack with 25.Bxd8 Qxd8
26.Qh6, which is the main idea of 24 26... h6 27.Ne6!
Bg5. Let's see one of the lines given by This pretty sacrifice (forced, strictly
the winner: 26...f6 (or 26... Qf6 27.NgS speaking) formed part of White's
Qgl 28.Qh4 h6 29.Ne6!} 27.Rc6! Bc8 calculations and was the reason why
28.h4! Rf7 29.h5 Rg7 {29...gS? runs into White chose 26 Rfl. [lnstead, the
30.NxgS! fxg5 31.Rxd6) 30.hxg6 hxg6 passive 27.Nf3? would allow Black to
31.Nh4 g5 32.Nf5 Bxf5 33.exf5 "and salve his problems with 27... Kg7.lt is
White's rook can never be dislodged notable that, since move 24, it's only
from c6." here that Houdini (in 2013) finally
'changes sides'. Up to this point the

104
engine considered that Black's position
was satisfactory.]
27...Kh7
Best. [After 27...fxe6 28.dxe6 Be8,
then 29.Qxh6! is very strong. Let's look
at another sample line given by the
winner: 29... Nb6 30.e7+ Nc4 31.Qf8+
Kh7 32.f4 (the computer prefers the
'inhuman' move 32.Bdl!, intending
Bg4-e6, or if 32...Bc6 then 33.Qf7+ Kh6
34.f4, which also wins) 32...Qa8 33.Rf3!
Qxe4 34.fS gxf5 35.Rg3 and White
wins.]
28.f4 Qa7+ 29.Kh2 Be8
[The capture of the knight,
however bad it looks, always needs to
be considered. Let's see what Anand
gave this time: 29...fxe6 30.dxe6 Be8
31.fS gxf5 (31...Qd4? 32.Qxd4 exd4 is
worse on account of 33.f6 Nb6 34.f7
Bx/7 35.Rx/7+ and because Black didn't
take on f5, he has to move his king to a
passive square, 35... KgB, when 36.Rd7
Nc4 37.e7 Re8 38.Rxd6 Rxe7 39.Rxd4
Rc7 40.Rd6! wins) 32.exfS Qd4 and
here there are several moves. lnstead,
he was intending to go straight into an
ending with 33.Qxd4 (The engines like
33.Qel, which looks objectively
strongest after 33...e4 34.f6 Qe5+
35.Qg3! Qxg3+ 36.Kxg3, for example,
we arrive at a more favourable version
for White of the endgame seen below
but Anand considered that the full
consequences of 33 Qel would be very
difficult to calculate over the board.
36...-- (36...--)) 33...exd4 34.f6 Nb6
35.f7 Bxf7 36.exf7 (36.Rx/7+ Kg6 is less
conclusive) Of course this isn't
everything which could be said. The
positions remain complex and Black has
other interesting choices for example,
36...Kg7 (36...Rf8 37.Be6! (played
befare the bishop can be shut out
105
by...d6-d5 or... Nc4) and after 37... Nc4
38.Rdl Ne5 39.Rxd4 Nxf7, once again
White faces a crucial decision.
EXERCISE: What type of endgame
should White head for?
ANSWER: The correct way is to
force a pawn ending with 40.Rf4! (it
would be a mistake to go straight into a
rook ending with 40.Bx/7? Rxf7
41.Rxd6, since after 41...R/4! 42.a3 a5!
43.bxa5 Ra4, the saying that "all rook
endings are drawn" would be valid)
40...Kg7 41.Bxf7 Rxf7 42.Rxf7+ Kxf7
43.Kg3, which is winning because
White can create a passed pawn on the
kingside, which will deflect the black
king and allows White's king to reach
the queenside first; for example,
43...Ke6 44.Kf3 Ke5 45.g4 d5 46.h4 d4
47.gS hxg5 48.hxgS Kf5 49.g6 Kxg6
50.Ke4 etc.) 37.Be6 Rb8, when 38.Rf3
seems best and if 38...Kf8 then 39.Rg3!
Ke7 40.Rg8 Rf8 41.Kg3 but White
seems better in any case.]
30.fS gxfS 31.exfS f6
[lnstead, 31...fxe6 32.dxe6 would
transpose to 29...fxe6 30 dxe6 Be8 31
f5 gxf5 32 exf5 in the previous note.]
EXERCISE: lt's obvious that the fl­
rook must join in the attack, but how?
 Bxh5 and Rh4) due to 34... Nxe6!
ANSWER: 32.Rel! 35.dxe6 d5 36.Rh4 (or 36.QxdS Bc6)
White plans to attack using the 36...Rc4 and Black defends.]
fourth rank and now threatens Re4-h4
or Re4-g4. [Actually, the route 32.Rf3 is 33... Bd7 34.Rc3 e4
also strong. lt is true that this can be [Taking on e6 with 34... Nxe6
answered by 32...Bf7 33.Rg3 Rg8, but 35.dxe6 would give White the winning
the exchange of the rooks gives Black trump of a protected passed pawn, and
no relief, because he has too many 35...Rxc3 (or 35...Bc6 36.Qxd6 Qb7
weak points where White can 37.e7) 36.exd7 is decisive.]
penetrate; for example, 34.Rxg8 Bxg8
35.Qc3 Nb6 (or 35...Qb7 36.Qg3 Qf7 35.Rg3
37.Bdl) 36.Qc6, winning.] 32... Nc7 [lf [lncreasing the pressure on the
Black tries 32... Nb6 33.Re4 h5 {33...Nc4 pinned piece with 35.Qcl was another
is refuted by 34.NfB+!, which wins after way to win, but... you can only choose
34... Kg7 35.Rg4+ Kxf8 36.Qxh6+ Ke7 one at a time.]
37.Rg7+ Bf7 38.Rxf7+ Kxf7 39.Qh7+),
then 34.Qel Nc4 35.Bdl and there is 35... NxeG
no defence against Bxh5, followed by [Obviously, Black's position is
Rh4.] indefensible after 35...Rg8 36.Rxg8
Kxg8 37.Qxh6.]
EXERCISE: Okay, what now?
36.dxe6 Be8 37.e7!
ANSWER: 33.Rcl! The fastest way, threatening 38
This pin restricts Black's defences Bg8+.
while the rook makes its way across to
the g-file. [This is stronger than the 37... BhS 38.Qxd6
direct 33.Re4 because, after 33...h5, [All resistance ceases; after
White cannot utilize the plan from the 38.Qxd6 Re8 39.Qxf6 Qxe7, White wins
previous note with 34.Bdl? (intending with 40.Bg8+ etc.] 1-0

Anand considered this his best game from Linares 2007, which also gave him a point
lead over his pursuers; and with that advantage he won the tournament, with a rating
performance of 2816.

In addition to the €100,000 prize, this majar triumph elevated him to No.1 in the world
rankings on the Elo list of April lst 2007, a success that he achieved for the first time in
his career, displacing Veselin Topalov, who had occupied the top spot since Kasparov's
retirement.

Game Seventeen

World Champion for the Second Time

After the disappointment of San Luis 2005 the opportunity arase for Anand to
106
establish himself as World Champion in Mexico City from the 13th to the 29th of
September 2007.

Taking part were the World Champion Kramnik, Anand, Aronian, Gelfand, Grischuk,
Leko, Morozevich and Svidler; the only top players missing from this double-round
tournament were Carlsen (knocked out by Aronian in a Candidates match) and
Topalov.

Anand, who ended with 'plus 4' (4 wins and 10 draws), said, in an interview granted to
europe-echecs.com, that he considered that this was one of the best tournaments of
his career. After the first cycle he scored 'plus 3' and in the second "only plus 1".

Anand explained that leading the tournament, right from the fourth round, allowed
him to choose the most suitable rhythm; after the eleventh round he was one and a
half points ahead, which made him play more conservatively in the last three rounds.

Let's look at one of his wins from the first cycle, against an opponent who has defeated
him several times.

DAronian,L
•Anand,V QUEST/ON: What? Wasn't the idea
Queen's Gambit Declined {043} of 5...h6 to prevent 6.Bh4? After
17: World Champ, Mexico City, 2007 6...dxc4 7.e4, Black can play 7...g5
[Zenón Franco] befare ...b7-b5, because Nxg5 doesn't
work now. So doesn't this just lose a
1.d4 NfG pawn?;
[In Morelia earlier that year Anand
had employed the move arder 1...d5 ANSWER: Yes, this is a pawn
2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6, to which Aronian sacrifice, and it's true that previously
replied 4.Qc2 and eventually won. 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.e3 was considered to be
Anand wanted to prevent that line, in almost torced, with quieter play in
arder to be able to reach the position which White's advantage is minimal.
he wanted.] Your bewilderment, or doubts, on
seeing this position for the first time,
2.c4 eG 3.Nf3 dS 4.Nc3 don't surprise me at all. In fact, as a
Anand is aiming for the Moscow teenager, 1 once saw an old book
Variation. written by Botvinnik in which 6 Bh4 was
suggested (the main line at that time
4...cG S.BgS hG was his own variation with 5...dxc4), to
[This move, leading to the Moscow, which an irreverent young person had
has displaced the Botvinnik Variation added an annotation in pencil: "He is
5...dxc4 6.e4 b5 7.e5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 crazy, it just loses a pawn." (To clarify,
9.Nxg5, which was the main line until it wasn't the present author who wrote
the 1990s.] that.) Black will have an extra pawn; on
the other hand he will have to weaken
6.Bh4 himself by advancing his pawns on both

107
wings, so that his king will not be able
to find safety on either flank.
6...dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Ne5
Kasimdzhanov had played this
against Anand in Mainz (rapid) a month
befare this game and achieved a
promising position. White is planning
Qf3 and/or g2-h4. [9.Be2 is the main
move here, when 9...Bb7 10.h4 g4
11.NeS hS transposes to the game.]
9...h5
[9...Bg7 10.h4 Nfd7 11.hxgS hxgS
12.Rxh8+ Bxh8 13.QhS BxeS 14.BxeS
NxeS 15.Qh8+ Kd7 16.QxeS was the
continuation of the above-mentioned
game; Anand managed to draw but
only after experiencing difficulties.; In
Sao Paolo 2011 against Nakamura,
Anand opted for Gelfand's idea of
9...Nbd7!? and reached a good position
after 10.Nxc6 Qb6 11.dS Bb7 12.a4 a6
13.Be2 Bxc6 14.dxc6 Qxc6 15.axbS axbS
16.Rxa8+ Qxa8.]
10.h4
[10.f3 was Carlsen's choice in
Morelia/Linares 2008, when 10...h4
11.Bf2 Bb7 12.Be2 Nbd7 13.Nxd7 Nxd7
14.0-0 es! 15.a4 a6 led to an
objectively equal position; but after
16.dS?! Rh6!, the rook proved to be
very well placed on the third rank and
Anand managed to win.]
10 ...g4 11.Be2
The game now transposes to lines
more often reached by the 9 Be2 move
arder above. [Nielsen indicated 11.f3 as
the only way to take the game along an
independent track, but also that Black
seems to stand well after 11...Rg8, an
evaluation which is backed up by the
engines.]
108
11...Bb7 12.0-0
[Kasparov was successful with 12.f3
Nbd7 13.fxg4 hxg4 14.0-0 NxeS
15.BxeS Nd7! 16.Bxh8 Qxh4 17.Bxg4
Qxh8 18.eS in the game G.Kasparov­
A.Dreev, Russian Championship,
Moscow 2004; but Dreev himself later
showed that Black can reach a good
position with 18...0-0-0!, E.Bacrot­
A.Dreev, Poikovsky 2005, when the
extra pawn and the weakness of the
white centre compensate for the
exchange.]
12...Nbd7 13.Qc2 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Bg7
15.Radl
[The more aggressive 15.Bg3, with the
idea of e4-e5 and Ne4, was tried in
Grischuk-Svidler in round six of the
same tournament. After 15...Qxd4
16.Rfdl QcS (as Svidler played)(or
16... Qb6, the struggle is sharp, but
Black seems to stand well.)J
15...0-0 16.Bg3
QUESTION: This is a strange
retreat, isn't it?
ANSWER: Yes, at first sight it does
look odd, but each move must be
viewed in its context. Here White wants
to break with f2-f3 and by retreating
the bishop first he defends the h4-
pawn. [The point is that if he plays
16.f3 immediately, Black can reply with
16 ... Nh7 and the bishop can't then go
to g3 because the d4-pawn falls with
check; while after 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.fxg4
Qxh4 19.gxhS NgS, Black has good
counterplay. In fact the threatened
...Nh3+ virtually forces a draw, which
would be a moral defeat for White; for
example, 20.Qd2 (or 20.Bf3 f5! with a
strong attack) 20...Nh3+ 21.gxh3 Qg3+
22.Khl Qxh3+ etc.

16... Nd7 17.f3
White increases the pressure on
the kingside, opening lines.Nielsen
gives an interesting account of this
game and of Anand's magnificent
preparation for this tournament. While
spending sorne time in Mexico befare
the start of the event, Anand 'sensed'
that this position hadn't been
sufficiently well prepared and that a
nasty surprise might be waiting for him.
17...cs
QUESTION: This looks very risky,
doesn't it? lt allows the opening of the
d-file with X-ray pressure by the dl­
rook against the black queen. Why not
play something quieter, such as
17...Qb6?
ANSWER: 17...Qb6 was indeed
considered best at that time, and is still
employed even today. But 17 ...cS was
Anand's prepared line. You're not alone
in regarding it with suspicion; the
computer also frowns on it and, at first
sight, this attitude appears justified,
given that, as you say, it seems to open
the position prematurely in White's
favour. However, the more Anand and
his team analysed the position, the
more they carne to believe in Black's
109
resources. Here we see a quality that
the computer lacks: at times, elite
grandmasters can 'sense' (or perhaps
deduce by logical but unconscious
thought) that, contrary to all
appearances, their evaluation is
correct, despite what the computer
says. Naturally, after deep analysis the
tactical justification was found.
18.dxcS
The most natural move, made by
Aronian almost immediately.
[18.NxbS?! gives White no advantage.
In fact, after 18...cxd4 19.Nxd4
{19.Qxc4 Rc8 is good for Black) 19...Qb6
20.Bf2 g3! 21.Be3 Qd8 22.f4 (not
22.BgS? Bxd4+ 23.Rxd4 Qb6 24.Be3 eS!
and wins; e.g. 25.Rxd7 (or 25.Rd3 cxd3)
25...Qxe3+ 26.Khl Qf4) 22...Bxd4
23.Rxd4 Qxh4 24.Rfdl NeS!, Black has a
very strong attack; for example,
25.fxeS?! fS! 26.Bf3 fxe4 (threatening
27...Qh2+, followed by...Rxf3+ or...c4-
c3 and...Ba6+) 27.Rld2 (to defend the
rank) 27...Qh2+ 28.Kfl Qhl+ 29.Bgl c3!
(to forestal! Qxc4) 30.bxc3 (otherwise
...Ba6+) 30...RfS (threatening 31...exf3,
because 32 Qg6+ is not possible
anymore) 31.Rd8+ (or 31.Rxe4 Rxf3+)
31...Rxd8 32.Rxd8+ Kg7 33.Rd7+ Kg6
34.Rd6 BdS 35.Rxe6+ (what else?)
35...Bxe6 36.Qxe4 h4 37.Qc6 Rxf3+
38.gxf3 Qh3+, followed by 39...QfS and
the pawns will win.; Aronian said he
had considered 18.dS as well, but
rejected it on account of 18 ... BeS!
19.BxeS (the line 19.f4 Bd4+ is better
for Black: the d4-bishop is very strong,
White's bishop on g3 is badly placed
and "White can no longer play fxg4", as
Nunn indicates) 19...NxeS 20.fxg4 (not
20.f4? Qxh4! with a decisive attack)
20...Qxh4 21.gxhS b4 22.Na4 Rac8 with
a complex position, offering chances
for both sides.]
 18 ...Qe7: 19.Rd6 can be met calmly by
18...Qe7! 19...a6! and White doesn't win a piece
The key idea this, as Nunn put it, after 20.c6 Bxc6 21.Rxc6 because of
"at first sight suicida!" move keeps the 21...NeS! 22.Rb6 Qa7 23.Bf2 g3 24.Be3
queen aimed at h4 and closer to the Qe7 "and White gets mated", according
kingside than on b6, with intentions to Nielsen (in New in Chess #7/2007)
that are both defensive and offensive. which is something of an exaggeration,
but in any event, after 25.f4 Qxh4
19.Khl?! 26.Rdl Bh6, Black's attack is very
Played after a long think. Aronian strong.; 19.fxg4 QxcS+ 20.Bf2 Qc6
couldn't find a good response to 21.gxhS NeS "leads to a position that is
Anand's plan and made a passive move, quite typical for this line; White has an
fleeing the gl-a7 diagonal and extra pawn, but Black has very
threatening NxbS, but "a tempo is a harmonious pieces and, in my opinion,
tempo". Note that the g3-bishop is now excellent compensation" (Nielsen).;
tied to the el-h4 diagonal, as 19.Rf2 was highlighted by Nielsen as
otherwise the h4-pawn falls with check. White's strongest continuation,
without going into detail, but it seems
QUEST/ON: What about 19.Bd6 that Black is fine; for example, 19...Bc6
then? lt's very tempting. Is it a bad 20.Bd6 Qxh4 21.g3 QgS and, in this
move? chaotic position, the chances are once
again equal.
ANSWER: No, it isn't bad, but nor
does it win material. After 19...Qxh4, 19...aG 20.a4 Bc6!
the threat of ...g4-g3 prevents the Black has managed to stabilize the
capture of the rook. queenside and now threatens ...NxcS.

EXERCISE: The attempt to trap the 21.NdS!?

black queen with 20.g3 (Then a Aronian tries to change the
possible continuation is 20.fxg4 NeS! unsatisfactory course of the struggle by
with equal chances in a complicated adding to the chaos. [lnstead, 21.fxg4
position (note that White still can't take was considered by Nielsen to be "the
the rook); (but not 20... hxg4? in view of best fighting chance", but here
21.Rf4.}} 20...Qh3 21.Rf2 doesn't work 21...NxcS! looks good for Black; for
either why not? example, 22.gxhS b4 23.h6 Bxc3
24.bxc3 Bxa4 25.Qd2 Bxdl 26.Rxdl
ANSWER: Black must quickly Nxe4 27.Qf4 fS and Black has a winning
counter-attack against g3 with position.
21...NeS! and the queen escapes with
catastrophic consequences for the EXERCISE: What's the problem with
white king (not the passive 21...eS, 21.Rd6, threatening the c6-bishop,
which leaves the black pieces inactive while also planning Rfdl?
22.NxbS would be the answer); for
instance, 22.NxbS now fails to ANSWER: 21...BeS! reveals a
22...Qxg3+ 23.Rg2 Nxf3+ 24.Bxf3 Qxf3.; negative side to the white king being on
Let's examine sorne other replies to hl; after 22.Rxd7 Bxd7 23.BxeS Qxh4+

110
24.Kgl g3, White has to give up his dxc6 is that White's two minar pieces
bishop on g3 to prevent immediate are now passive, whereas Black's are
mate.] very active; in particular, the e4-square
is ideal for the knight. Black has a
21 ...exdS 22.exdS definite advantage.

25.RdS?
This will be clearly refuted. [lt was
better to play 25.Kh2.]

25... Ne4 26.Bel

[lt's too late for 26.Kh2 now, in
view of 26...Rfd8 27.Rfdl RxdS 28.RxdS
Nxg3 29.Kxg3 Qe3+ and wins.]

EXERCISE: (difficult): How to

respond to White's lateral threat to hS?

EXERCISE: (difficult): Seeing as ANSWER: 26... Qe6!

22...NxcS 23 dxc6 isn't attractive for "Anand finds the best solution to
Black, what should he play instead? the attack on the hS-pawn, which is
again somewhat paradoxical" (Nunn).
ANSWER: 22...BeS!! Black forces White to capture the
Nielsen approves of this move, pawn. [lnstead, 26...fS 27.Kh2 Qe6?
awarding it one exclamation mark. fails to 28.axbS.]
Nunn gives it two and is much more
enthusiastic: "A truly brilliant move!" is 27.RxhS
his comment. Black ignores his [The attempted resource 27.axbS
attacked piece and forces the move f3- QxdS 28.Bxc4 runs into 28...Qd4 29.b6
f4, after which both white bishops will (or 29.bxa6 g3) 29...Nd6, winning.]
be 'dead'. Nunn remarks that this move
can appear obvious once you've seen it, EXERCISE: What response had
but "finding such paradoxical solutions Anand prepared against 27 RxhS?
at the board is not at all easy."
ANSWER: 27...fS!
23.f4 This was the idea: the rook on hS is
[23.BxeS loses to 23... Qxh4+ 24.Kgl shut out of the game and Black's knight
NxeS 25.fxg4 (otherwise 25...g3 wins) is entrenched on e4. [27...Qg6 28.fS
25...hxg4 26.Rf4 Qh6 (more accurate QxhS 29.Qxe4 Rfe8 is also
than 26... Bdl} 27.Qe4 Ng6 28.Rxg4 advantageous, but less conclusive than
Rae8 29.Qf3 Re3 30.Qf2 Rfe8 31.Bfl the game continuation; whereas now
Bd7 and the extra piece is decisive.] "it's trivial", according to Nielsen.]

23...Bg7 24.dxc6 NxcS 28.Kh2 Raes

The difference between this Bringing a fresh piece into play,
position and the one after 22...NxcS 23 rather than rushing to win the

111
exchange (with ... Qg6) this will happen [After 33.hxgS there are several
anyway since the rook isn't going ways to win, the simplest being
anywhere. 33... Rxc6, threatening 34.-- QhS+
3S.Kg3 Re3+ 36.Kf2 Rce6 and mates.]
29.Bb4 Rfe8 30.axbS axbS 31.Rel Qf7
Now Black wins the exchange 33...RxcG 34.Bfl Rxel 3S.Bxel ReG
without offering any relief to White's 36.Bc3 Qc7+ 37.g3 Re3 38.Qg2 Bxc3
position. 39.bxc3 f4 40.QaS+ Kg7 41.QaG fxg3+
[42.Kgl Qf7.] 0-1
32.RgS NxgS 33.fxgS

Game Eighteen

The Rival who most lnfluenced Anand's Victory

Grischuk had an important role in deciding the destiny of the World Championship. In
the fourth round he saved a lost position against Kramnik, who would have been in the
lead had he won. Then there carne the game below in round seven, while in the
penultimate round he was unable to defeat Anand in a very superior ending. Anand
also highlighted the great importance of this draw.

Let's look at the game which put Anand on to "plus 3" at the end of the first cycle.

DAnand,V
• Grischuk,A 10...NaS
Spanish Opening {C88} [Other options are 10... Rb8; and
18: World Champ, Mexico City, 2007 10... Be6 (which Grischuk played against
[Zenón Franco] Leko in the eighth round).]

1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 NcG 3.BbS aG 4.Ba4 NfG 11.Ba2 cS 12.c3

S.0-0 Be7 6.Rel bS 7.Bb3 0-0 8.a4 [12.Nc4 is also played here, but
[In the fifth round Anand defeated after 12...Nc6 and a timely... Be6, Black
Svidler by allowing the Marshall Attack doesn't have any problems; we'll see an
after 8.c3 dS, but here he prefers to example in the next note. In general
avoid a theoretical debate.] there are many transpositions and the
same position can be reached by
8...b4 9.d3 dG 10.Nbd2 slightly different move orders.]
[In the third (2012) edition of the
book of Anand's best games, Nunn 12...NcG
notes the possibility of 10.aS, which [At that time 12... Rb8 was the
prevents ...NaS and leaves the b4-pawn exclusive choice of Aronian, another big
with less protection by preventing ...a6- expert on the black side. Leaving the
aS. The price, of course, is a tempo, and knight on as for the moment allows
it isn't clear whether it's worth it or Black to consider the resource...b4-b3
not.] in sorne positions; for example,
112
S.Karjakin-L.Aronian, Wijk aan Zee
2013, continued 13.Nc4 Nc6 14.h3 h6
(14...Be6 is playable too) 15.d4 cxd4
16.cxd4 exd4 17.Bf4 b3 18.Bxb3 Be6
19.Ba2 d3! 20.Qxd3 Nb4 21.Qe2 Nxa2
22.Rxa2 Rc8 23.b3 Nxe4 and White's
position is uncomfortable; the game
ended in a draw after Aronian let slip a
winning advantage.]
13.d4
This natural move was actually a
novelty; [instead, 13.Nc4 Rb8 14.h3
transposes to the previous note.]
13...bxc3
QUESTION: 1 don't like this move;
why exchange this pawn?
ANSWER: The idea is to gain the
b4-square for the c6-knight. But your
view coincides with that of Magnus
Carlsen, who criticized this exchange in
New in Chess #7/2007, since the b4-
pawn is a nuisance to White; it isn't a
clear error though. [13...cxd4 14.cxd4
exd4 (14...Bg4 15.h3 Bh5 16.dS Nas
seemed preferable to Carlsen, who
considered that Black's activity
compensates for the 'bad bishop" on
hS, which will be pushed back to g6
after a timely g2-g4 by White) 15.Nb3
leaves Black with a weakness on d6,
and 15...Bg4 (instead, 15...d3! was
suggested by Notkin in Chess Today as
a way to relieve the pressure; for
example, 16.Qxd3 Ne5 17.Qe2 Bb7
18.Bbl Re8} 16.Nbxd4 Nxd4 17.Qxd4
Bxf3 18.gxf3 is promising for White,
whose bishop pair is more important
than the weakness of his kingside,
according to Carlsen.; 13...Rb8 is
Houdini's preference; this was tested
subsequently and also appears to be
satisfactory for Black.All the indications
113
are that Anand's new idea isn't really
very dangerous, but it proved so in this
initial game.]
14.bxc3 exd4
[In lnformator #101, Anand
suggested 14...cxd4 15.cxd4 Bg4, which
appears to be somewhat less effective
than in Carlsen's line above (i.e.
without the prior exchange on c3),
because the cl-bishop can develop
more easily here; nevertheless, it
seems sufficient for equality.;
Alternatively, after 14...cxd4 15.cxd4
exd4 16.Nb3, Black can equalize with
the familiar resource 16...d3 and then
17.Qxd3 NeS (or 17... Nb4.}]
15.cxd4 Nb416.Bbl
QUESTION: The knight on b4 looks
very strong does this not guarantee
Black an advantage?
ANSWER: The b4-knight is indeed
well placed and, yes, it does look
strong, but it has its downsides too: the
knight might later find itself out of play,
or it might get in the way of possible
counterplay down the b-file. lts
influence on b4 in terms of limiting
White's mobility isn't very great, since
the al-rook can come into play via a3,
while the bl-bishop is already well
placed.
16 ... Bg4
Anand considered it positionally
risky on Black's part to stick the knight
on b4 and then develop this bishop to
g4, only for it to end up on g6, but he
also wrote that actually exploiting this
tactically was very difficult.
17.h3 BhS 18.g4 Bg619.d5
The structure of this position is
now that of a Modern Benoni, with the
difference that the b4-knight, the e7-
bishop and the g6-bishop are all in
unusual and possibly disadvantageous
positions.
EXERCISE: (difficult; concerned with
preventing Nc4 tactically): White is
planning the typical Benoni manoeuvre
Nc4, followed by Bf4. At this critica!
moment, how should we play as Black?
19 ...Nd7?
ANSWER: In lnformator #101
Anand suggested 19 ...Rb8!; for White,
20.Ra3 appears to be the best
response, albeit a complicated one:
after a)which prevents 20.Nc4? owing
to 20...NbxdS! 21.exdS Bxbl with
complications favourable to Black;
b)20.Nh4? is also bad, in view of
20...Bxe4! 21.Bxe4 (b)or 21.gS Bxbl}
21...Nxe4; 20...NbxdS 21.exdS Bxb1
22.Nxbl Rxb1 23.Rae3, White
compensation, though it isn't clear
whether he has any advantage.
20.Nc4
Now White manages to deploy the
knight to its ideal square on c4, where
it puts pressure on d6 and supports an
eventual e4-e5 advance, if and when
the moment seems ripe (which actually
never comes).
20... RbS 21.Bf4
QUESTION: The engines quite like
Black's position here are they wrong?
ANSWER: As Nunn noted, this is a
type of position that deceives the
computers. All the analysis engines
value the b4-knight very highly, but
they don't take into account the
inactivity of the g6-bishop, a factor that
will become more important after the
simplifications that Black needs to
boost his mobility.
21...NbG 22.NxbG
[A similar position is reached after
22.Nfd2 Bf6 (besides which, 22...BgS
could just transpose to the game after
23.BxgS Qxg5 24.Nxb6 Rxb6) 23.Nxb6!
(not 23.Ra3? N4xd5!} 23...Rxb6
{23...Bxal 24.Nbc4 would give White
excellent compensation for the
exchange, following the capture of the
d6-pawn) 24.Ra3 and Nc4.]
22... RxbG 23.Nd2
The other knight heads for c4 and
this one can't be exchanged.
23...BgS 24.BxgS QxgS 25.Nc4 Rbb8
has
114
 EXERCISE: (positional): White has bishop is guaranteed. Among other
several possibilities here which is the examples which are quite deceptive (if
best one? we only consider the position of the
pawns and the colour of the bishop),
ANSWER: 26.Qd2! there is the classic game W.Winter­
After the exchange of queens, J.R.Capablanca, Hastings 1919.
White will exert strong pressure.
[26.Qcl? Qf6 27.Ra3 would be less
accurate on account of 27...NxdS! (the
text move renders this impossible
because, from d2, the queen could just
take the knight); while 26.Nxd6?? fails
to 26...QeS!, farking knight and rook.]

26...Qxd2

QUESTION: lsn't it better to avoid Position after 15 f6 . . .

the exchange of queens? And a more recent example,

L.Polugaevsky-V.Korchnoi, Candidates
ANSWER: Keeping the queens on semi-final, Evian 1977.
the board with 26...Qh4 27.Ra3 doesn't
seem a good idea far Black, since he
doesn't have the means to challenge
White's control of the kingside, and the
black king will suffer.

27.Nxd2 f6

QUESTION: Based on the pawn

structure, doesn't Black have a good
bishop and White a bad one? Position after 34 . . . Bd6
Black, with his 'bad' bishop, has a

ANSWER: There isn't always a big advantage in both cases; in the first

single criterion far resolving such a example because the white bishop is

question. In this case the theoretically incarcerated, and in the second

"good" black bishop is in reality "bad", because Black's pawn majority is far

because the white pawn structure superior to White's and because he

restricts its activity. The bishop is thus controls the open file. (See the

ineffective, either as an attacking or fallowing games.)

defensive piece. Furthermore, the 'bad

bishop' on bl is in fact carrying out an 28.Nc4 Rfd8 29.f4 Bf7 30.Ra3
important defensive function, Discussing this position in the post­

restricting the b4-knight and game press conference, Anand said

overprotecting the e4-pawn; in that it was always necessary to pay

addition, since White has an advantage attention to the tactical details.

in space, the future mobility of this

115
 EXERCISE: 30.Kh2?! (and equally 30
Kf2?!) was inaccurate why?
ANSWER: Owing to 30...Nc6!,
heading for d4, and in the event of
31.dxc6 Bxc4 32.c7, Black has the
saving move 32...Rb2+.]
30...gS
Black doesn't want to wait for
White to advance with h3-h4, so he
tries to restrict the mobility of the
white pawns, while giving himself a
strong square on es.
QUESTION: This is rather
weakening, isn't it? Does it not go
against the rule that says "don't
advance pawns on your weaker flank"?
ANSWER: The reply to both
questions is "yes". Anand wasn't
convinced that this advance was
correct, but he also commented that if
Black restricts himself to waiting, White
can indeed play h3-h4 and, at an
appropriate moment, only when he can
seize the resulting open g- or h-file,
break with g4-g5 or h4-h5. Meanwhile,
the weakness of d6 is an important
factor, limiting Black's mobility.
31.h4!
116
EXERCISE: Here 31.fxgS fxgS 32.Rf3
Kg7 33.Refl Bg6 34.Rf6 looks tempting
why did Anand reject it?
ANSWER: Because Black has
another tactical resource in the shape
of 34...NxdS! 35.Rxg6+ hxg6 36.exdS
Rb3, when he stands very well.]
31...gxf4
[lf instead 31...gxh4, White could
32.Rh3 with a big advantage;; while in
the event of 31...h6, Nunn commented
that White could continue with his
strategy of restricting the black bishop
by 32.fxgS fxgS 33.hS!, intending to
double rooks on the f-file and invade
the black camp via f6, with Ne3-f5 as a
possibility;(this looks better than
33.hxgS hxg5 34.Rf3 Kg7 35.Ne3 Bg6,
when Black can take the knight if it
comes to fS.}}
32.Rf3 Be8 33.Rxf4 Kg7
[Not 33... Bxa4? 34.Rxf6 and the d6-
pawn falls.]
EXERCISE: (difficult): Black wants to
play 34... Bxa4, followed by... BbS. How
should White respond?
ANSWER: 34.hS!
"An impressive move" (Nunn);
instead of going after the f6-pawn,
Anand wants to attack the king. [The
routine 34.Refl would now allow
34 ... Bxa4 35.Rxf6 BbS ! and the
situation changes radically.]
34... Bxa4
[In the event of 34...h6, the
weakness of g6 and f6 would now
justify 35.Refl Bxa4 36.Rxf6 with a
decisive attack; for example, 36... BbS
37.Rg6+ Kh8 38.Rxh6+ Kg7 39.Rg6+ Kh8
40.Nxd6! etc.]

35.hG+! Kxh6 36.RxfG+ Kg7
[36...KgS is no better, because of
37.Refl, threatening either to take on
d6 or launch a mating attack with 38
R1f5+, 39 Ne3, etc.]
37.gS
lntending 38 Nxd6 and NfS+.
QUEST/ON: Why not 37.Rxd6
immediately?
ANSWER: Because Black's king
would become active, giving him
reasonable play after 37...BbS 38.Rxd8
Rxd8 39.Ne3 Kf6.]
37...RfS 38.RxdG
[38.Rxf8 Rxf8 39.Nxd6 was an
interesting alternative; for example,
39...BbS 40.Kg2 c4 41.Kg3 Nd3 42.Rdl
and White's position is preferable, but
Anand prefers to keep more material
on the board and try to exploit the
weakness of the black king.]
38... Bc2
[Activating the b8-rook was the
priority, to which end 38...BbS! was
Black's last chance of creating
counterplay; after 39.Ne3 Rbe8! 40.Rdl
Kh8 41.NfS Rg8 42.Kf2 RxgS 43.Re6 Kg8
44.Ke3, the two passed pawns and
more active pieces, including the king,
would give White the advantage, but
Black could still fight on. However,
Grischuk was now in serious time
pressure and having to rush.]
39.NeS!
Preventing ...Nd3. The admiration
that Carlsen felt in 2007 for Anand's
play comes across in this sentence:
"Many players would lose control in
such positions, but Vishy is just far too
117
strong for that!"
39...Rf4
[39...Bxbl 40.Rd7+ Kg8 41.Rxbl
leaves Black defenceless against the
various threats of Ng4, Rcl or Rc7.]
40.RfG
[As Nunn points out, 40.Rd7+ Kg8
41.d6! was more accurate here, (and
even better than 41.Rcl} and if 41...c4
then (when 41...Bxbl 42.Rxbl Rxe4
43.Re7 etc transposes to the game {43.­
-)) 42.Bxc2 Nxc2 43.Rfl! Rxfl+ (or
43...Rxe4 44.Rel} 44.Kxfl Nd4 and now
the white forces soon deliver mate; e.g.
45.Ng4 c3 46.Nf6+ Kf8 (or 46... KhB
47.Rxhl#} 47.Nxh7+ Kg8 48.Nf6+ Kf8
49.g6 etc.]
40... Rh4
EXERCISE: lt was almost impossible
for Black to find the computer line
40...NxdS!? in time pressure and Anand
admitted, laughing, that he hadn't seen
it either. What is the idea after
41.exdS?
ANSWER: Black has the beautiful
resource 41...Re4!!. Even so, after
42.Rxe4 Rxbl+ 43.Kf2 Bxe4 44.d6
(which Anand saw straight away), the
passed pawn is dangerous and White
retains the advantage; for example,
44...Rb8 45.d7 Rd8 46.Ke3 BdS 47.Rxa6
Kf8 48.Rd6, although Black has sorne
drawing chances if he defends very
accurately (starting with 48...Bg2!).
41.dG! Bxbl 42.Rxbl Rxe4 43.Rf7+ Kg8
44.Re7
We mentioned this position befare,
in the note on 40 Rd7+ etc. "White has
had to give up the e4-pawn and may
appear to have lost control, but his
passed pawn, combined with an attack [45...Rf4 46.d7 RfS fails to 47.g6!
on the black king, guarantees the win", {47.Rel; and 47.Rd6 are also good; but
was Carlsen's evaluation. not 47.Ng4? KfB 48.Rdel Rxdl! 49.Rxdl
Rxg5 etc) 47...hxg6 48.Rd6 RxeS
44...RdS 45.Rdl! 49.RxeS Kf8 50.RxcS Ke7 51.Rd4 aS
The white forces are more active 52.ReS+ Kf6 53.RxaS and wins.]
and better coordinated, the d6-pawn is
very strong, and the knight on b4 is just 46.d7 Rf4 47.Rfl Rff8 48.RxfS+ Kxf8
a passive spectator. 49.Rxh7 c3
[Or 49... Kg8 50.g6!, intending Ng4-
EXERCISE: 45.d7 would be f6+; e.g. 50...c3 51.Ng4 c2 52.Nf6+ Kf8
premature why? 53.Rf7#.]

ANSWER: Because of the riposte 50.NgG+

45...Rxd7! 46.Rxd7 RxeS, followed by [lf 50.Ng6+ Kg8 then 51.Rh8+ Kg7
47...RxgS, and Black is equal.] 52.Rxd8 c2 53.Rc8 etc."A very nice
game, typical of Anand at his best."
45...c4 (Carlsen, in New in Chess)] 1-0

Finally, on the 29th of September 2007, Viswanathan Anand, 37 years old, achieved
the highest title in world chess for the second time. Anand finished undefeated on
9/14, a point ahead of his pursuers, Vladimir Kramnik and Boris Gelfand. The expected
happened, the main favourite won, as predicted by Garry Kasparov.

In an interview granted to Vijay Kumar, Anand pointed out that this title was different
from the previous one in that there was now only one world champion, rather than
two, as there were befare. That gave it a different value; although his first world title,
in Tehran in 2000, also had a very special flavour, so it was difficult to compare the two
successes.

The title also had a short shelf-life - it needed to be confirmed in 2008, since FIDE
granted Kramnik the right, if he didn't win the tournament in Mexico, to challenge the
World Champion.

2008 began, as usual, with Wijk aan Zee. Here Anand was in contention for the top
spot right until the end, when he had to console himself with sharing third place with
Radjabov on 71/z points, half a point behind the winners, Aronian and Carlsen.

Morelia/Linares the following month was a success for Anand; he won it with 8Yi out of
13, ahead of Carlsen on 8 points. Then suddenly "night fell": he played badly in one of
his speciality events, the Amber rapidplay/blindfold tournament; and in Bilbao Anand
had one of the worst performances of his career, coming last with 4 points out of 10.

Naturally, this worried his supporters, because the match for the title was fast
approaching...

118
 Game Nineteen

World Champion for the Third Time

For this match there was no obvious favourite. Anand was the world champion but had
just failed spectacularly in Bilbao. On the other hand, Kramnik had the reputation of
being stronger in matches. He had an excellent opening repertoire, very salid with
Black and ambitious with White, which had been proving very effective in
tournaments. At that time he was reviving the Catalan Opening, with which he had
achieved many wins. Kasparov thought that Kramnik was the slight favourite in this
match, as he was "more stable".

After the Mexico World Championship, Kramnik considered, "without false modesty",
according to his own words, that he and Anand were the best chess players in the
world at that present time, and then made a curious slip of the tangue about the
future match: he said he was confident about "retaining my title", forgetting that "his
title" currently belonged to Viswanathan Anand.

The match took place in the Federal Art and Exhibition Hall in Bonn, from the 14th to
the 29th of October, with a prize fund of 1.5 million Euros. lt was scheduled to be
contested over twelve games, which is not many to decide the best player in the
world, but in this case, there was an indisputable winner after only eleven games.

The failure of both players in their most recent tournaments - Kramnik had finished
seventh in Dortmund and fifth in Moscow - was attributed partly to the fact that they
had kept back their best opening weapons for this duel. In Anand's case, that was
certainly true; with the exception of the tenth game, when the match was already
virtually decided, Anand got the better of Kramnik in the openings. He surprised him
by playing 1 d4, which he had not often used in the past, and even then mainly in
unofficial games; while with the black pieces he successfully revived a line in the
Meran Variation.

As Anand pointed out, during the past year he had mainly been preparing 1 d4,
whereas in tournaments he was playing 1 e4, which went sorne way towards
explaining any poor performances of his. In addition, Anand was more practica!; in
almost every game he had a big time advantage and, unlike his opponent, he made
few serious mistakes.

The first game developed quietly, Kramnik saved the theoretical duel for later, gained
no advantage, and it ended in a draw.

In the second game Anand surprised his opponent, and everyone else, by opening with
1 d4 and gained sorne advantage, although he was unable to make anything of it.

The third game brought the first victory for Anand. In the Meran Variation he revived
119
an old idea of the Argentinean master, Luis Piazzini, from the 1940s.

In the faurth game Anand again played 1 d4; after sorne interesting skirmishing it too
ended in a draw.

After the next scheduled rest day, which carne after every two games, Anand gained
two consecutive wins, giving him an advantage of 4Yi to 1Yi, and with that the match
was virtually decided.

In the fifth game, perhaps the most important of the match, Anand repeated the line
with which he had won the third game. He varied sooner than expected by Kramnik,
who then used up too much time and made a horrible blunder in an equal position.

D Kramnik,V that 12...gxf6 13.Nxd4 Qb6 14.Be3

•Anand,V Bb4+ 15.Kfl BcS was fine far Black, and
Queen's Gambit Declined {049} everyone switched to the game move
19: World Champ, Bonn (5), 2008 arder.]
[Zenón Franco]
13.0-0 Qb6 14.Qe2
1.d4 dS 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 This position hadn't featured
In the first game Kramnik played befare in Anand's practice; [but
the Exchange Variation, without curiously Kramnik had reached it as
achieving anything tangible. Black: in G.Kamsky-V.Kramnik, Linares
1994, which continued 14.Be4 Bb7
3...Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 15.Bxb7 Qxb7 16.Nxd4 Rg8 with equal
7.Bxc4 bS chances.]
We've reached the complicated
Meran Variation, which both players 14...Bb7!
use frequently.
QUESTION: Explain to me why this
8.Bd3 a6 move deserves an exclamation mark.
A relative surprise far this match,
although Anand had played it several ANSWER: This was a new idea at
times befare. [8 ...Bb7 is the main the time, faund separately by Anand
alternative.] and one of his seconds, Kasimdzhanov,
and it proved to be the key to the
9.e4 cS 10.eS outcome of the match. Anand managed
[Here 10.dS is White's other main to win two games from this position.
option, seen with about equal This sort of score with the black pieces
frequency.] is unprecedented in the history of the
world championship. lnstead of
10...cxd4 11.NxbS axbS 12.exf6 gxf6 defending the bS-pawn, or advancing
[From the 1920s, when this it, Anand decides to sacrifice it in arder
variation was first employed, 12... Qb6 to speed up the combined activity of
used to be considered obligatory; until, his bishop on the long diagonal and his
in 1993, Alexander Chernin showed rook on the g-file.Nielsen, Anand's

120
second, commented that one of the
reasons they decided to repeat the line
(after having re-analysed it
deeply, of course) was that Kramnik,
after losing the third game, said in the
press conference that he didn't believe
in the black position.
compensation for the exchange; while
if 16.Rdl (as in the third game), then
again 16...RaS 17.Bxd7+ {17.a4? is punished
by 17...RxbS! 18.axbS Ne5 with a strong
attack) 17...Kxd7 18.Rxd4+ Qxd4
19.Nxd4 Bxg2 and White is forced to
acquiesce to perpetua! check.]

15.BxbS Rg8 16...Bd617.Bg3

[In one of the very few earlier After fifteen minutes' thought,
games that reached this position, Kramnik retreated his bishop,
V.Trinidad-L.Piazzini, Argentina vs. neutralizing the pressure on the g-file
Uruguay, radio match 1948, Black for the time being. Anand continued to
continued with 15...Rd8 16.a4 Rg8.; play very quickly, an indication that he
Anand himself diverged here from the was still in his preparation. [The
earlier matchgame, in which he played alternative was 17.Bxd6 Qxd6 18.Rfdl,
15...Bd6 16.Rdl Rg8 17.g3 Rg4; when 18...eS (suggested by both Fritz
interestingly, lnformator #79 had and Rybka) (unless Black wants to try
suggested 18.Nd2 (threatening Nc4) as Houdini's interesting 18... Kf8!?)
being good for White, but here Anand 19.Rxd4 Qxd4! 20.Nxd4 Bxg2! leads to
had prepared the defence (and now another draw; e.g. 21.Qd2 Bh3+ 22.Khl
18.Bf4 Bxf4 19.Nxd4 hS 20.Nxe6 fxe6 Bg2+ etc.]
21.Rxd7 Kf8 22.Qd3 Rg7 23.Rxg7 Kxg7
24.gxf4 Rd8 25.Qe2 Kh6! 26.Kfl Rg8 17...fS
27.a4 Bg2+ 28.Kel Bh3! with a
dangerous attack, which Kramnik failed QUESTION: This looks very risky,
to hold off.(2 8...--)) 18...Ke7! 19.Bxd7 doesn't it? After all, the black king is
(not 19.Qxg4?! Qxb5} 19...Rag8 20.BbS still in the centre.
d3! 21.Qxd3 Rxg3+ 22.hxg3 Rxg3+
23.Kfl Rxd3 24.Bxd3 Qd4! 25.Nc4 Bb4 ANSWER: Yes, it's another 'all or
26.a3 Bg2+! 27.Kxg2 Qg4+ with a draw nothing' decision, but it's consistent
by perpetua! check.] with the path Anand has chosen. Black
must try to open the g-file or create
16.Bf4! activity on the kingside at almost any
Kramnik replied quickly, as if to price; otherwise White's kingside will
indicate that Anand's new move didn't remain salid and Black's weaknesses
take him by surprise. The bishop will begin to tell.
occupies the h2-b8 diagonal (befare
Black can seize it with 16...Bd6) and 18.Rfcl
prepares to nullify the pressure down Kramnik considered that it was
the g-file with Bg3. [This can't be done important to occupy the e-file to
by 16.g3?! on account of 16...RaS! restrict the black queen, thus
17.a4 (not
17.Nxd4? Qxd4 18.Rdl preventing a timely ...QcS-dS, or ...QcS­
Qxdl+ 19.Qxdl Rxb5 with a material hS (after ...f5-f4 and Bh4).As
advantage) 17...RxbS 18.axbS QcS, throughout almost the whole match,
planning ...QdS, with a lot of Kramnik left himself with less time than

121
Anand to reach the control at move 40; because 19...RaS 20.a4 RxbS 21.axbS
this move alone cost him no less than NeS? now loses to 22.NxeS! Rxg2+
40 minutes. [lnstead, a logical move 23.Kfl Rxh2 24.Ra8+! Bxa8 25.Rc8+ and
such as 18.Rfdl?! can be punished by mates.]
18...f4 19.Bh4 Ras!, and if 20.a4 then
20...RxbS! 21.axbS NeS is very strong; 20.a4! Bxh4
we can see the great potential for [20...Qd6 is Houdini's preference,
cooperation between the g8-rook and and it was played in M.Mozharov­
the b7-bishop.; In general, something lv.Popov, Moscow 2012, which
like 18.a4!? would be better than the continued 21.Ra3 In the earlier game
rook move, according to Kramnik, but M.Kazhgaleyev-Y.Zherebukh, Cappelle
the type of position reached after, for la Grande 2010, Black opted for
example, 18...f4 19.Bh4 QcS 20.Khl 21...RaS?? instead.
QhS did not appeal to him.; Finally,
against 18.NeS, Black has 18...d3! EXERCISE: What strong
19.Bxd7+ Ke7 20.Qxd3 (or 20.Qel f4!} continuation did White have after
20...BxeS 21.QbS QxbS 22.BxbS f4 21...RaS?
23.Bh4+ f6 24.g3 fxg3 25.hxg3 BdS with
a slight advantage, according to ANSWER: Kazhgaleyev overlooked
Anand.] the beautiful shot (21...f6 22.aS?! (if
22.Rd3, the best appears to be 22... Kfl,
18...f4 19.Bh4 with a very complicated position)
22...Kf8 23.a6 BdS 24.g3 fxg3 25.fxg3
Qf4 and Black won material.) 22.Qe4!!
(instead, there followed 22.Rd3? Bxh4
23.Nxh4 Rxb5! Ne5 with
24.axbS
compensation) 22...Qb8
(22... Bxe4?
23.RcB+ is mate in two; while 22... Bxh4
loses to 23.Qxbl} 23.Qxh7 with a
decisive advantage.]

21.Nxh4 Ke7!
The time left for each player to
reach move 40 speaks volumes:
Kramnik had just 36 minutes left,
EXERCISE: (positional, difficult): compared to an hour and 21 minutes
How should Black continue? for Anand.

ANSWER: 19...Be7! 22.Ra3!?

In the press conference after the Kramnik said that he had the
game, Anand stated that the plan of feeling that White was better here, but
exchanging the bishops and placing his he couldn't find a way to prove this at
king on e7 was correct, since the king is the board. [One line he looked at was
relatively well protected by his pawn 22.Bxd7!? Kxd7 23.QhS, without seeing
centre. [Note that Black can't continue anything concrete after 23...Rg7.;
in the same way as after 18 Rfdl?!,

122
 EXERCISE: Kramnik also ANSWER: lt fails to 23.Nxg2 Rg8
commented that 22.b4 didn't work why 24.Rf3!, revealing one of the points of
not? 22 Ra3.]

ANSWER: Because of 22...Rxg2+! 23.RxcS

(Black also had 22...Rg5!?, planning to [23.Rdl was another interesting
double rooks) 23.Nxg2 Rg8 24.f3 d3+ possibility. Kramnik commented: "with
25.Qf2 Bxf3 26.Qxb6 Rxg2+ 27.Kfl more time this is what 1 would have
Nxb6 28.Bxd3 Nd5 with advantage to played."]
Black.; In the press conference Kramnik
was asked whether he had considered 23...RxcS 24.Ral QcS!
22.g3, which was suggested by the then Played very quickly; Kramnik now
Computer World Champion, Rybka. had only 25 minutes for the remaining
Kramnik looked astonished, and 15 moves.
admitted that he hadn't considered it
at all. For the computer, such a move, 25.Qg4!?
weakening the long diagonal, is not a The most active response,
worry if it fails to find a refutation with pressurizing f4 and planning Rel. [After
its deep powers of calculation; whereas 25.Qd2 Qd6 26.Rdl (26.Rcl ?! Rxcl+
a human player would be very reluctant 27.Qxcl Ne5 is less convincing Black's
to play such a move, and often he'd be pieces are more active and his passed
right.ln this case 22...fxg3 23.hxg3 Rg5 pawn is more valuable) 26...Ne5 27.Kfl
is fine for Black, although it would f3, Black retains the initiative,
require great ability to calculate the according to Anand, even if the engines
consequences precisely, according to assess the position as equal.]
Nielsen. For example, 24.Bxd7 Rag8!
(threatening...d4-d3; instead 24 ... Kxdl?
25.Nf3 shows exactly what Black must
avoid, since White seizes the initiative
befare Black can create any threats)
25.a5 Qd6 26.Ra3, and now Houdini
shows a way to draw with 26...Rxg3+!
(26... Kxdl keeps the position
complicated, with chances for both
sides) 27.fxg3 Rxg3+ 28.Rxg3 Qxg3+
29.Ng2 Bxg2 30.Qf2 Qg5!! 31.Rc7 Be4+
32.Kh2 Qh5+ 33.Kg3 Qg5+ etc.]

22...RacS 25...QeS!
Anand thought it was appropriate Ambitiously played; the queen goes
to control the e-file; [the alternative to the kingside, with the idea of
was 22...Rg5. Both moves are playable.; bringing the rook across, if possible, to
revive the attack with...Nf6, ...Rg8, etc.
EXERCISE: What's wrong with [lnstead, 25...Qc2 26.Qxf4 d3 27.Nf5+
22...Rxg2+ here? exf5 28.Rel+ Kf8 (but given his
advantage on the dock, Anand might

123
have opted for 28... KdB!? 29.QxfS Bc6
30.Bxd3 Qd2 31.Re3 f6 with continuing
complications) 29.Qh6+ Kg8 30.Bxd7 d2
31.QgS+ would be a draw.]
26.Nf3 QfG 27.Rel
The rook aims towards the black
king, but it "is based on a flaw in
calculation", according to Kramnik.
[White has many options here:
27.Nxd4? loses to 27...Qxd4 (Kramnik,
however, didn't see this, and rejected it
on account of 27... NeS, which seemed
very unclear to him) 28.Rdl Nf6! in a
similar way to the game, as we'll see
later.; Setting the passed pawns rolling
with 27.aS was another idea mentioned
by Kramnik in the press conference;;
while Anand commented that White
could keep the position balanced with
either 27.Rdl Ne5 28.NxeS Qxe5; or
27.Bxd7 Kxd7 28.Nxd4 Ke7 29.Rdl Rc4,
followed by...Rxa4 regaining the pawn.;
QUESTION: Since White has two
connected passed pawns on the
queenside, would it not suit him to
exchange queens?
ANSWER: Both 27.QgS? Qxg5
28.NxgS Rg8; and 27.Qh4?! Qxh4
28.Nxh4 Ne5 would leave White clearly
worse; the knight would be out of play
(on h4 or g5) and the d4-pawn is
dangerous, since it can be supported by
the active black pieces.]
27...RcS 28.b4
White has failed to spot Black's
idea, although 28 b4 is not in itself a
bad move; [whereas the apparently
useful 'luft' 28.h3?! would have been
answered by 28...hS!, followed
by...Bxf3.]
EXERCISE: What is Black's best
124
continuation now?
ANSWER: 28...Rc3!
Kramnik thought that Black was
intending to simplify; [and 28...NeS?!
29.NxeS Rxe5 30.RxeS Qxe5 31.Qh4+
Kf8 32.Bfl would be favourable to
White, whose passed pawns give him
the advantage.]
29.Nxd4??
Played after only a minute's
thought; it seems that Kramnik
believed he was better and
underestimated Black's chances. Now
comes a torced sequence, which will
show that Anand calculated more
deeply. [lnstead: 29.QhS would
maintain the tension of the struggle;
for example, 29...d3 (or 29...Bxf3
30.gxf3 Qg6+ 31.Qxg6 hxg6 32.aS Rb3
33.a6 Rxb4 34.a7 Nb6 35.Bc6 Rb2 and
it's possible that White's extra piece
wouldn't be sufficient to win the game
after 36.aBQ NxaB 37.BxaB Kd6,
followed by ...e6-e5, ...f7-f5, etc, and
...d4-d3 at the right moment) 30.Rdl
Bxf3 (or 30...Be4 with a complex
position) 31.Qxf3 Qd4 32.Bxd3 Qxb4
33.Qe2 Nf6 would keep the balance.;
29.Bxd7 Bxf3 (29... Kxd7 is good too)
30.gxf3 Kxd7 shouldn't be worse for
Black either, according to Anand,
especially because ...d4-d3 is coming
soon; and even in the worst case
scenario Black can put his rook behind
one of the pawns and play ... Qg6.;
29.Nd2 is suggested by the computers
as another possibility, when the play
again becomes very complex.]
29...Qxd4 30.Rdl NfG! 31.Rxd4 Nxg4
32.Rd7+ KfG 33.Rxb7 Rcl+ 34.Bfl
Played confidently the white pawns
look unstoppable.
 ANSWER: 34... Ne3!!
When Anand was about to touch
his knight and paused for a second or
two to check it, it was obvious in the
broadcast, from Kramnik's expression,
that it was only then that he became
aware of the true situation. Black wins,
as the white rook can't get back to
defend.

35.fxe3 fxe3
[After 35 ...fxe3 36.Rc7 Rxc7 37.g3
EXERCISE: What had Kramnik Rcl 38.Kg2 Rc2+, Black wins the bishop
missed? with 39...e2 or 39...Rf2+.] 0-1

lf you didn't know which of the two was playing White in the sixth game, most people
might have assumed it was Kramnik, rather than Anand, since he defeated his
opponent very much in the Russian's own style, increasing the pressure without
allowing any counterplay. With this fresh victory, the three point advantage became
unassailable.

After the excitement of the first six games, the next two were quieter and finished in
draws; in the ninth Kramnik finally gained an advantage but was unable press it home
and it, too, ended in a draw. What attracted attention was that, being so clase to
victory, Anand did not try to "cool things down" by aiming for a draw; he played
ambitiously, possibly spurred on by his big advantage on the scoreboard.

In the tenth game, Kramnik managed to get one of "his" positions for the only time in
the match; he used a novel idea, achieved a slight advantage, which he increased by
precise play, and gained a consolation victory. A draw in the eleventh game, the only
time Anand opened with 1 e4, meant that he won the match by 6Yz to 4Yz.

With this brilliant triumph Viswanathan Anand was crowned World Champion for the
third time. Each victory was achieved in a different way: his first win was in Tehran in
2000, where a knockout format was used and he defeated Alexei Shirov in the final; his
second triumph was gained in a round-robin tournament, in Mexico City in 2007; and
now in 2008, as reigning champion, he had retained his title in a traditional match.

At 38 years old Vishy Anand had confirmed his place as one of the greatest chess
players in history, dominating almost all varieties of chess. He was World Junior
Champion in 1987 and World Rapidplay Champion in 2003. He was the best at the now
defunct "Advanced Chess" format (in which players were allowed computer
assistance), popularized in the Lean tournament, as well as gaining the classical chess
title, as we have just described.

125
In a talk given in Madrid in 2012, Anand commented on how important it is to know
your opponent, what he likes and what he doesn't like. For this match for the World
Championship in Bonn, his main objective was to reach complex positions, not because
Kramnik was weak in that field, but because he was very strong in clear and simple
positions.

Anand prepared several complicated lines, over several weeks, while Kramnik had only
a few days to come to terms with them. Anand was also fortunate in that Kramnik fell
into his prepared lines three times.

Game Twenty

Thinking again about the Title Match

In 2009, after Linares in February, where he finished fourth on 7/14, Anand basically
just played rapid tournaments and exhibition games, until the Tal Memorial, in
November, which was the strongest tournament of the year. By then his rival and the
venue for his defence of the world title were already known: it was to be against
Veselin Topalov in Bulgaria, starting in April 2010.

Anand began the Tal Memorial very well. He took the lead after beating Svidler and
Leko in rounds 3 and 5, sharing first place on 3Yi points out of 5 with Kramnik, who was
in top form.

Let's look at Anand's win against the now seven-times Russian Champion.

DAnand,V defence and he is one of the greatest

•Svidler,P specialists on the black side. On this
Grunfeld Defence {085} occasion Anand didn't want to play a
20: Tal Memorial, Moscow, 2009 main line; in New in Chess he wrote
[Zenón Franco] that he deliberately went for a
variation that "wasn't too topical" at
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 dS 4.cxdS NxdS the time.
S.Bd2
s ...Bg7 6.e4 Nb6
QUESTION: This move is hardly
critica!, is it? QUEST/ON: Is 6 ... Nxc3 7.Bxc3
inferior?
ANSWER: You're right; 5.e4 is more
ambitious, but this variation doesn't ANSWER: No, not as far as we
lack venom either. The idea is naturally know; it's simply a question of taste. 1'11
to play e2-e4 and recapture with the try to explain it briefly: taking on c3
bishop if Black exchanges on c3.The leads to a different position, where the
practica! reason for Anand's choice is white centre is strengthened but it's
that the Grunfeld is Svidler's favourite easier for Black to play the typical ...c7-
126
es break. After the move in the game, have reason to view it in a favourable
the d2-bishop will soon have to lose a light. For example, Black can consider
tempo to defend the d4-pawn.] that the weakness of his castled
position is no longer a factor and that
7.Be3 his pieces are developing faster; White
This almost rules out ...c7-c5, so can argue that he has his king
Black must seek an alternative way to centralized, instead of on gl. The main
attack the white centre. issue is where and when to exchange
the queens, choosing the most
7...0-0 8.h3 favourable moment and square, and
here tactics enters the equation.
QUEST/ON: What's this? Yet
another lost tempo? 11...Qe7

ANSWER: Once again it's difficult to QUESTION: This looks like a clever
know what's best here; the text move move arder. Black prevents QcS, which
radically prevents ...Bg4, at the cost of would be the response to ll...Nc6,
a tempo, as you say. [Other possibilities wouldn't it?
are 8.Nf3; 8.BbS (we'll come back to
this move which 'loses' another tempo, ANSWER: Not really; ll...Nc6 was
something you seem to dislike); and playable, and Anand would probably
8.Be2.] have replied with 12.Qe3 as in the
game.
s...es
This is the price; Black quickly EXERCISE: How, after ll...Nc6,
strikes at the centre. Conversely, White would Black have answered 12.QcS
considers that the coming exchanges then?
on d4 are not unfavourable to him.
ANSWER: Perhaps 12...Be6 would
9.Nf3 be more accurate, and if (One option is
[lf 9.dS, Black plays 9...c6, when it the immediate 12...Qe7, but 13.Qxe7
really would be noticeable that White is Nxe7 14.NbS is a bit annoying, when
somewhat lagging behind in Black must either allow the knight to
development.] settle temporarily on d6 after 14...c6
(or else sacrifice a pawn for activity
9...exd410.Bxd4Bxd4 with 14 ... Bdl 15.Nxcl Rac8 16.Nb5 Rc2
[Other options are 10...Nc6; 17.b3) 15.Nd6 Rd8 16.0-0-0.) 13.Rdl
10...Be6; and 10...Qe7.] then 13...Qe7 14.Qxe7 Nxe7 15.Nd4
(not now 15.Nb5?! Bxa2} 15... Rad8,
11.Qxd4 when Black has solved his problems
with all his pieces placed harmoniously.
QUESTION: Which side is favoured
by the exchange of queens? 12.Qe3 Nc6
[In l.Sokolov-E.Sutovsky, European
ANSWER: Neither side is opposed Team Championship, Gothenburg 2005,
to the exchange of queens; they each Black tried 12...fS, changing the

127
character of the position; after 13.Be2
(13.Rdl is a possible improvement,
planning to answer 13...fxe4 with
14.Bd3, though this needs practica!
confirmation) 13...fxe4 14.Nxe4 Bf5
15.Nc5 Qxe3 16.fxe3 N8d7 17.Nxb7
Rae8 18.0-0 Rxe3, chances were equal,
according to Sokolov.]
13.BbS
QUESTION: You really need to
explain this move to me; what's the
point of playing Bb5 when it can be hit
later by ...c7-c6 or ...a7-a6?
ANSWER: White is actually seeking
to provoke one of those moves, judging
that it would slightly weaken the black
position; for instance, ...a7-a6 leaves
the Nb6 with less protection, while
...c7-c6 (after the Nc6 moves) takes
that square away from the knight.
13... Nb4
This avoids damage to his
structure, thanks to the threatened
check on c2. [In contrast, attacking the
e4-pawn with 13...f5 would allow
14.Bxc6 bxc6 15.0-0 and it isn't easy
for Black to justify the damage to his
queenside pawn structure.]
14.Rcl BeG
EXERCISE: What to do about the
attack on the a2-pawn?
ANSWER: 15.b3!
The black pieces are getting in each
other's way, so it's better not to
exchange pieces; [after 15.a3?! Na2!
16.Nxa2 Bxa2, Black would have solved
his problems.]
15...a616.Be2 NcG 17.0-0 fG18.Rfel
128
QUESTION: Why move the rook
here, surrendering the open d-file?
ANSWER: White doesn't want to
allow the exchange of rooks, since he
hopes to exploit his kingside (and
central) pawn majority. lt's important
to note that, in the immediate future,
Black has no way of profiting from his
control of the d-file.
18...RadS19.Bfl
The position doesn't allow either
side to initiate any significant activity,
so for the time being they both need to
make the most useful waiting moves
available.
19...Bf7
Anand didn't like this move; [but
19 ...Ne5?! isn't convincing either. One
possibility then is to isolate the e5-
pawn with 20.Nxe5, followed by Nb1-
d2-f3;(another is to play 20.Nd4 Bf7
21.f4.}; 19 ... Rd7 makes more sense; for
instance, 20.e5 f5 (20...NdS? leaves the
black pieces badly placed after 21.exf6
Rxf6 22.NxdS Bxd5 23.Qxel Nxe7
24.NeS; while if 20...BdS 21.exf6 Qxe3
22.Rxe3 Rxf6, then 23.NgS, intending
Nge4, is rather annoying) 21.h4 (not
21.NgS? f4} 21...Nd5.; On the other
hand, 19 ... Rd6, retaining the possibility
of...Nd7, has the problem that 20.e5 is
now stronger; for example, 20...fxe5
21.Nxe5 Bf5 22.Nxc6 Qxe3 23.Rxe3
Rxc6 24.g4! Bc8 25.Bg2 leaves White
with a slight edge, since his pieces are
better placed.]
EXERCISE: What plan can you
suggest to enable White to exploit his
above-mentioned superiority in the
centre and on the kingside?
 ANSWER: 22.Qf2! contains more
venom, with annoying X-ray pressure
from the el-rook on the black queen
(22./5 Bfl 23.Ng4 wouldn't be
dangerous on account of 23...Ne5, with
a satisfactory defensive position); then
after 22...Rfd8 (22...Nd4 fails to 23./5
Bfl 24.Nd5, winning material) 23.fS Bf7
24.Ng4, White achieves a more
aggressive set-up, since 24...NeS? loses
to 25.fxg6 and Nxf6+.]

ANSWER: 20.Nh2! EXERCISE: With the aid of

Let's hand over to Anand: "White everything we now know about the
needs to play f4, but thanks to the f7- position, can you indicate how White
bishop, Ng4 is an additional threat should continue to make progress?
now."
ANSWER: 22.fS
20... BeG "Of course!" you'll say, since we
[The immediate 20 ...Nd4 allows achieve the ideal set-up mentioned
21.Ng4 (seeking to exploit the above.
weakness of c7 with 21.Nd5 would be
less effective, inof 21...Nxd5
view EXERCISE: lt is essential to keep
22.exd5 Qxe3 23.fxe3 Nb5 24.Bxb5 considering all the tactical possibilities.
axb5 25.Rxcl Bxd5;}; whereas 20 ...hS The black knight on d4 is poorly
prevents Ng4 but weakens the defended, so why not try to exploit this
kingside; then besides 21.f4 as planned, with 22.NdS, as befare?
(21.Qh6 is even more attractive, with
ideas such as NdS, Re3, e4-e5, etc.)] ANSWER: The problem is that the
white f-pawn is now on f4, so that after
21.f4 22... BxdS 23.exdS (if 23.Qxd4 then
White has made sorne progress 23...Bxb3! is good) 23...Qxe3+, White
since the previous Exercise the pawn­ no longer has the move f2xe3, and
breaks e4-e5 and f4-f5 hang over the 24.Rxe3 NxdS is clearly bad for him.
black position, prepared by Qf2 and Nf3
(or Ng4, if f4-f5 is played first). 22... Bf7 23.Ng4 gxfS
[As with 20 ... Be6, it was possible to
21...Nd4 reverse his decision and play 23...Nc6.
This prevents Nf3, centralizes the Then Anand points out that 24.NdS
knight, and doesn't look at all bad. isn't as good as it looks, on account of
[Alternatively, 21...Rfe8; and 21... Kg7 24... BxdS 25.exdS Qxe3+ 26.Nxe3 Nb4
were worth considering. 27.Rxc7 Rf7 "and Black should be able
to hold."
EXERCISE: What would be the best
continuation for White after 21...Rd7? QUESTION: lsn't there a more

129
promising plan after 23...Nc6? 30.Rxc7 bS 31.Re7 with an unpleasant
initiative; 27.NdS! anyway, and after
ANSWER: hesitate to be 27...cxdS 28.exdS NxdS 29.Qxd4,
categorical about this, but the idea of fallowed by Be2-f3 and/or Rcdl, far
24.Ne2, heading far f4, certainly instance, Black's position lacks a salid
deserves attention. After 24...NeS faundation.) 26... BxdS! 27.exdS and
(while 24... Rfe8 25.Nf4 Nd4? now fails now the counterblow 27...Qg7 defends,
to 26.Nd5! Bxd5 27.Qxd4 and if which was the move that Svidler
27... Bxb3 then 28.Qx/6) 25.Nh6+ Kg7 overlooked.]
26.Nxf7 Rxf7 27.Nf4, the knight finds a
very pleasant post on e6.] 26.Rxe4 QdG 27.Rdl cS 28.Nxf7+ Rxf7

24.NhG+ Kh8 25.Qf2 EXERCISE: How can White exploit

the precarious nature of Black's
EXERCISE: White's move is defences?
consistent with his previous play, and
it's also a pawn sacrifice. Should Black
accept it?

25...fxe4??

ANSWER: lt will soon be apparent

that he shouldn't, since Black will be
unable to defend his main weakness,
f6. The distance of the b6-knight from
the action doesn't help; neither does
the fact that the proud-looking knight
on d4 lacks firm support. White can
exploit ali this with his greater activity. ANSWER: 29.b4!
[lt was preferable to clase lines with Now Black can't defend the d4-
25...f4! knight and the f-pawn at the same
time. Backtracking, 28 b4! was also
EXERCISE: Svidler actually feared effective. 29...fS This loses, but there
26.NdS why isn't that as dangerous? was no defence. [29...Rc8 30.bxcS QxcS
31.Rexd4 Qxc3 still loses a piece after
ANSWER: Because Black could 32.Rd8+ Rxd8 33.Rxd8+ Kg7 34.Qxb6;
reply with (and if 26.Qxf4 ar if 26...c6, while 29 ... Rfd7 30.bxcS QxcS 31.Qxf6+
White's greater activity can be leads to mate.]
highlighted by playing a) then 26...Nc6!
is best, according to Anand, "and after 30.bxcS fxe4 31.Qxf7 Nf3+
... Bg6 and ...NeS, Black is still in the [The counter-attack 31...QeS
game."; b) 26...QeS doesn't inspire 32.cxb6 Nf3+ is equally ineffective:
confidence after 27.Qf2, with NdS and 33.gxf3 Rg8+ 34.Khl and it's all over.]
Ng4 as threats, while 27... Be6 can be
met by 28.NdS! NxdS (b) or 28.../5 32.Qxf3
29.Nxcl fxe4 30.Qh4} 29.exdS QxdS [lf 32.Qxf3 QxcS+, then 33.Qf2

130
wins.] 1-0

Kramnik gained the lead in round six and was still in sale first, coming into the last
round, with 5Yi out of 8, followed by Anand and lvanchuk on 5, and Carlsen on 4Yi.

On the last day, Carlsen defeated Leko, lvanchuk posed serious problems for Kramnik
but was unable to finish him off, while Anand couldn't explain his defeat by Aronian:
"How do you explain a thought process where on move 12 or 13 you can resign?" he
wondered. He actually resigned after 25 moves.

Even leaving aside this disappointing game, Anand wasn't satisfied with his play,
although his final result wasn't bad: he gained 1.6 Elo points and shared fourth place
with Aronian.

In April/May of 2010 a new defence of his title was called for, this time against Veselin
Topalov. Anand said that he wasn't hiding anything for the match. Undoubtedly it was
starting to occupy more time in his thoughts, but that didn't mean he couldn't play
tournaments.

Befare the title match, Anand competed in Wijk aan Zee in January. He put on another
other indifferent performance, with nine consecutive draws, only picking up towards
the end, when he had two important wins which, as Anand himself described it,
"served to ruin the tournament for two hopefuls" - against Shirov, with fortune on his
side, and in a very high-quality game against Kramnik.

Anand's first win carne as late as the tenth round, and he should really have lost that
game. Was this a bad ornen for the defence of his title against Topalov? He was in no
rush to find out; something similar had happened in Bilbao 2008, befare his match
with Kramnik.

Game Twenty-One

Triumph in the Bundesliga

Anand had never played in team tournaments befare the 2002/03 season, in which he
made his debut for Baden Oos (now called OSG Baden-Baden) in the German
Bundesliga. Anand still plays for this club which, since 2005/06, has won the
championship nine seasons running. In his first season Anand scored 6 points out of 7
on top board.

In later years, his participation depended on his tournament schedule, first in pursuit
of the world title and then in its defence.

Let's look at one of his wins from the 2009/10 season, befare his match with Topalov.

131
DAnand,V since Black has regrouped with 11...Re8
• Kempinski,R and 13...Bf8, the queen has surprising
Sici/ian Defence [885} possibilities on the f-file, even if the
21: German League, 2010 prospects don't appear very promising
[Zenón Franco] at the moment. The pawn-breaks e4-e5
and f4-f5 now start to come into
1.e4 es 2.Nf3 dG 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 NfG consideration.
S.Nc3 aG 6.Be2
Anand reverts to this modest 14...RbS lS.Radl Nxd4 16.Bxd4 bG
move, which was fearsome in the
hands of Karpov in his best period. As
we saw in Game 5, Anand employed
this as a weapon against Kasparov in
their 1995 match.

6...eG 7.0-0 Be7 8.a4 NcG 9.Be3 0-0

10.f4 Qc7 11.Khl Res
All this is very well known. The
main supporter of Black's cause has
been Kasparov as we know, this line
was his main defence in his matches
with Karpov in the 1980s. lt is even said
that this is what prompted Karpov to EXERCISE: Show your mastery of
abandon 1 e4. typical Sicilian themes.

12.Bf3 Nd7 ANSWER: 17.es!

An unusual reply; [12...Bd7 was This break is routine in many lines
played in Anand-Kasparov (Game 5); of the Sicilian and is especially effective
where we also mentioned 12... Na5, the here, in view of White's clear
choice of Topalov against Anand in superiority on the kingside. lf the game
Dortmund 1996.] remains closed that factor will be
relatively unimportant, which is why
13.Qel opening lines is a priority for White,
As usual, the white queen heads for even at the cost of sacrificing material
the kingside; the accelerated retreat of if necessary.
the f6-knight discourages the bayonet­
style attack with g2-g4. 17 ... dxeS?!
[17...Bb7?! isn't satisfactory for
13...BfS 14.Qf2 Black either, as after 18.exd6 Bxd6
19.Bxb7 Rxb7 20.Bxg7 Kxg7 21.Qd4+
QUESTION: Hmm, Qf2? Doesn't it Nf6 22.Qxd6, White had won a pawn in
usually go to g3? K.Aseev-Y.Dokhoian, lrkutsk 1986.;
Closing the centre with 17...d5 gives
ANSWER: Generally, the queen White a free hand on the kingside; for
does indeed go to g3, to put pressure example, he can continue with 18.Bh5
on g7 and support e4-e5; but here, g6 19.f5!. Nevertheless, this appears to

132
be Black's best defence, and then
19...exfS {19...gxh5?? 20.fxe6 just wins)
20.NxdS Qc4 21.Bf3 Bb7.]
18.fxeS
We can see that the course of the
game has justified 14 Qf2 the f-file is
open, and White's majar pieces are the
beneficiaries. lt is true that the eS­
pawn is weak (it's actually en prise), but
here we have an example of the eternal
struggle between dynamic and static
advantages.lf Black reaches an ending,
the weakness of the isolated pawn will
weigh heaviest, but in the middlegame
it guarantees White greater
manoeuvring capability, which enables
him to attack more easily.
18...BcS
[lt's not possible to take the eS­
pawn yet, because of 18...NxeS 19.BhS
Ng6 (or 19... g6? 20.Bxe5} 20.Bxg6 hxg6
21.BeS! QxeS 22.Qxf7+ Kh7 23.Rd3 and
wins.]
EXERCISE: How to continue the
attack now?
ANSWER: 19.BhS
The weakest point of the castled
position (f7) is defenceless. Even
though the capture of the f-pawn will
leave the bishop pinned (after Black's
next move), intuition suggests that "it
must to be good", based on White's
large dynamic advantage. Nevertheless,
that must be backed up by calculation.
19... Rf8 20.Bxf7+ Kh8
EXERCISE: The insecurity of the
black king is usually decisive in this type
of position, but it's essential to keep
attacking relentlessly and calculate
precisely. How should White continue?
133
ANSWER: 21.Ne4!
White's numerical superiority on
the kingside means that the tactics will
tend to favour him. The loss of the eS­
pawn is insignificant when weighed
against the possibility of bringing more
pieces into the attack.
21...NxeS?!
[21...Bxd4 was more tenacious,
although White completely dominates
the play after 22.Rxd4 QxeS (while if
22...NxeS, then 23.NgS h6 24.Rf4! Qe7
(not 24...hxgS? 25.Rh4+ and mates)
25.Bg6! is decisive) 23.Nd6.]
22.NxcS
[White had an alternative in
22.BxcS! bxcS 23.Qg3, threatening Nd6
or NgS, and Black is defenceless on
account of the pin and the weakness of
his king.]
22... bxcS 23.BxeS!
The point of White's previous
move, and the beginning of the end.
[The surprising 23.BxcS Rxf7 24.Bd6!
was also sufficient, since White gains a
decisive material advantage despite
currently being a piece down; for
example, after 24...Rxf2 25.Bxc7.]
23...QxeS
 EXERCISE: Black needs only a single EXERCISE: How to conclude the
tempo (such as 24... Bb7) to make his attack?
position safe, but "in chess, a tempo is
an eternity". Can you show why this is ANSWER: 25.Bxh7!
true here? And with this move the defences of
the black king are annihilated. White's
ANSWER: 24.BgG! combination is helped by the fact the
This is the key, exploiting the black rook on b8 is loase and is therefore a
king's lack of 'luft', and the potential 'tactical weakness'.
aforementioned superiority of White's
forces manifests itself in an artistic 25... Kxh7 26.Qh4+ Kg6 27.Rd3!
manner. The black monarch is defenceless
against the arrival of White's final
24...RgS reserves.
[After 24...Qf6, there is a pretty
finish with 25.Qe2! Qe7 26.QhS h6 27...QhS 28.Rg3+
27.Qh4! Rxfl+ 28.Rxfl Qd6 (or [Kempinski resigned, in view of
28... Qxh4 29.RfB#) 29.Qg3 eS 30.QxeS! 28.Rg3+ Kh6 29.Qf4+! and 30 Qxb8.]
etc.] 1-0

Game Twenty-Two

World Champion for the Fourth Time

"More than anything what 1 need is to rest, having reached a point where the tension
overwhelms you and 1 am anxiously waiting to be able to sleep a lot," declared an
exhausted, but satisfied, Viswanathan Anand, after retaining his World Championship
title by defeating Veselin Topalov by 6Yi points to SYz.

The start of the match was postponed for a few days because of the eruption of the
lcelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull, the ashes from which brought European air traffic to
a standstill. The twelve-game match took place in Sofia, Bulgaria, from the 24th of April
to the 12th of May 2010.

In an earlier interview, Anand had commented: "As an opponent, Topalov is very

demanding because he has a lot of energy at the board and is capable of getting the
most out of a position. He is a tenacious and tireless player..."

Topalov, for his part, said of his rival: "Anand is one of the greatest talents in the
history of chess. He is now forty and for half of his life he has been one of the best
chess players in the world."

The score between them after 44 previous games at a classical rate of play was a mere
"plus one" in favour of Topalov (11-10, with 23 draws). A clase struggle was therefore
134
expected, as well as a clash of styles. Anand has a more varied game, with a 'universal'
style, and is very good at everything; whereas Topalov, fond of aggressive play, isn't
quite so good at everything, but is extraordinarily strong with the initiative. Anand had
more experience of match play, but Topalov is younger by five years, which can have
an influence in an intense competition.

The opening has been an important factor in Topalov's success; a good computer helps
in this regard by carrying out deeper and more precise analysis. Anand's team were
worried when they discovered that Topalov had acquired ( for his exclusive use at that
time ) the Rybka 4 program, which was not yet on the market, and a supercomputer to
run it on.

Topalov won the first game with a piece sacrifice and an unstoppable attack; Anand
mixed up the arder of the moves from his preparation.

"These things can happen, but 1 thought, if it happens, it's better for it to be now" was
Anand's reaction, though it was obviously the worst possible way to start the match.
Later, they learned that the piece sacrifice that Topalov made so quickly had already
been analysed by his state-of-the-art IT team.

But opening preparation is not everything. Anand hit back in the second game; he
played the Catalan Opening and successfully steered the game into a manoeuvring
struggle where he was better able to cope. After a draw in the third, another Catalan in
the fourth enabled the champion to win "a nice game. lt was a beautiful game. With
lovely tactical blows", as Anand described it, which put him ahead by 2Yi to 1Yi.

Three draws followed until Topalov won the eighth game, leaving the score at 4-4.
Another draw followed in the ninth game. In another interview with the
newspaper The Hindu, he commented that the phase of the match from games 7-10
was complicated for him. Topalov took the initiative and, in the tenth, gained a
winning advantage. Anand was annoyed with himself; while he was trying to defend he
thought to himself that, after the way the last four games had gane, his survival
prospects were almost nil. But he managed to save that critica! tenth game.

The penultimate game also ended in a draw, and in the twelfth and final game Topalov
risked more than was advisable. Topalov later explained that he played very
aggressively and riskily because, if it was a draw, Anand was the big favourite to win
the tie-breakers, played at a faster time limit.

Anand admitted to having been surprised by Topalov's general strategy. He was

expecting that the challenger would change openings during the match, as had been
his custom previously, but this was not the case. Topalov continued fighting with the
same weapons.

Anand added that he had sorne problems in the second half of the match, because the
games were fought on the terrain where Topalov had focused his preparation; this

135
meant that it was Anand who was forced to change his openings.
Let's now see the decisive game of the match.
D Topalov,V
•Anand,V
Queen1s Gambit Declined {056]
22: World Champ, Sofia (12), 2010
[Zenón Franco]
1.d4 dS 2.c4 e6
lnstead of the Grunfeld or Slav,
which Anand had played up to that
point in the match, for this decisive
game Anand preferred the Queen's
Gambit Declined, where theoretical
preparation would be less important.
3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.BgS h6 6.Bh4 0-
0 7.e3 Ne4
The Lasker Defence is a very salid
line and was one of the surprises that
Anand had prepared, initially just with
the logical idea of equalizing the
struggle.
8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.Rcl c6 10.Be2
QUESTION: Why develop the
bishop to e2, rather than to the more
active square on d3?
ANSWER: Nielsen commented, in
New in Chess #4/2010, that this was
"an important finesse". lt's essential
not only to think about one's own
development but also to consider the
threats and/or ideas of the opponent,
which Mark Dvoretsky describes as
"prophylactic thinking" in his books.
[The natural move is indeed 10.Bd3,
but this allows 10...Nxc3 11.Rxc3 Nd7,
intending to answer 12.0-0 with
12...eS!, threatening 13...e4, and
equalizing the game.]
136
10...Nxc3 11.Rxc3 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Nd7
13.0-0 b6
Anand and his seconds believed
that the Lasker Defence might have
been considered by Topalov and his
team, but not this particular line, which
appears to aspire to nothing more than
the worse side of a draw. [13...eS was
Anand's choice against Grischuk at the
World Blitz Championship in Moscow
2009, and after 14.Bb3, he chose
14...Re8 (in Sofia 2009 against Carlsen,
Topalov had faced 14 RdB; this game
. . .
ended in a draw after 45 moves)
15.Rel e4 16.Nd2 Nf6 17.RcS Be6
18.ReS Bxb3 19.Qxb3 Qc7 etc.]
14.Bd3 cS 15.Be4 Rb8 16.Qc2
[16.Qa4 is the main alternative, as
employed by Anand himself against
Kramnik in two uneventful short draws
the first for German television in 1996,
the second in the Monte Cario
(blindfold rapid) 2001.]
16...Nf6
Nielsen commented that they were
hoping this idea of the Polish GM
Miroslaw Grabarczyk would be a
surprise for Topalov; this was one of
their main reasons for choosing the
Lasker Defence. [Up until then, 16...aS;
16 ... Bb7; and 16 ... Ba6 were more usual
here.]
17.dxcS Nxe4 18.Qxe4 bxcS
QUESTION: After the exchanges,
Black has been left with a weak isolated
pawn on c5 is that acceptable?
ANSWER: This is the fundamental
position of this line. lt is true that Black The bishop is not achieving much
has a weakness on es, but he also has a on the long diagonal and so seeks
half-open b-file and a minar piece pastures new.
which might prove stronger than the
opponent's. To try to prove an 22.Rf2
advantage White needs to apply Trying to maintain the tension, but
maximum pressure on es and, at the the white pieces are beginning to lose
same time, try to restrain Black's harmony. [After the more natural
activity. This seemed impossible to continuation, 22.Rcl, Black could play
Anand and his team, which led them to 22...Qd7 23.Nb3 Bd3 (23 c4
. . . is also
assess Black's chances as reasonable. sufficient) 24.NxcS Bxc2 2S.Nxd7 Rxb2
and the play levels out.]
19.Qc2
[19.b3 was played against the EXERCISE: What has changed now
inventor of this line, but Topalov is the placement of the pieces. How
prefers activate his pieces more should Black continue?
quickly, since after 19... Bb7 20.Qf4 Bxf3
21.Qxf3 Rfd8, as in K.Kulaots­ ANSWER: 22...Rd7
M.Grabarczyk, Borup 2008, the position Black doubles rooks on the central
is equal.] file, which is a logical plan, with extra
venom in this position owing to the
19... Bb7 20.Nd2 slight weakness of White's back rank
and the lack of coordination among his
EXERCISE: What's wrong with pieces.
20.RxcS?
23.g3
ANSWER: The problem is 20... Bxf3 Another escape hole for the king
21.gxf3 Rxb2!, an idea which can crop will be necessary sooner or later, but
up in several other variations.; lf this move also creates a weakness.
instead 20.e4, trying to neutralize the
bishop, Black can play the sharp 20...fS, 23...RbdS 24.Kg2
in arder to re-open the diagonal; for White has managed to neutralize
example, 21.Nd2 Rfd8 22.exfS Bxg2! the activity of Black's bishop, at the
23.Kxg2 QgS+ 24.Rg3 Qxd2 2S.QxcS cost of ceding the central open file to
exfS and Black is okay. Black, which still compensates for the
vulnerability of his c-pawn.
20... RfdS 21.f3
The bishop must be restricted. [Of 24... Bd3
course not 21.RxcS?? because of Since a draw with Black isn't a bad
21...Rxd2!.] result, and with Topalov playing in an
ambitious yet risky manner, Anand
EXERCISE: The structure has decides to repeat moves and decide
changed. How should Black adapt to later whether to continue playing or
this? not. [Otherwise 24...hS was a sharp
alternative.]
ANSWER: 21... BaG

137
25.Qcl
[Moving the queen away with 27.Nb3
25.Qa4 wasn't advisable. At first the
engines like the following line for QUESTION: Since the bishop is
White: 25...QgS 26.e4 Qe3 27.QaS, but active on b7, why not 'kill two birds
soon Houdini, Fritz, and Co. "change with one stone' with 27 e4, closing the
their minds" and start to prefer the long diagonal and threatening Rxa7 at
black position after, for example, the same time?
27...Qel 28.QxcS (not 28.Rxc5? Be2
29.Nb3 Rd2! 30.Nxd2 Rxd2 with the ANSWER: After 27.e4, Black can
decisive threat of...Bfl + etc) 28...Be2! strike at the centre again with 27...fS!,
29.Nb3 Rdl 30.Kh3 R8d3.] following up with...g7-g5-g4 if White
defends passively; or should he play
25... BaG 26.Ra3 28.Rxa7 then 28...fxe4 29.Nxe4 Bxe4
[Topalov didn't consider repeating 30.Rxd7 Bxf3+ leads to a balanced
with 26.Qc2. lnstead, he continues to position. Of course 27.Rxa7? fails to
play ambitiously; but we should note 27...Bxf3+.
that the white pieces are gradually
distancing themselves from the 27...Rc7 28.Na5 Ba8
kingside.] Now the advance ...g7-g5-g4 is
threatened, softening up the long
diagonal.

29.Nc4

EXERCISE: White seems to have

managed to deprive Black's pieces of
their coordination; at least he no longer
dominates the d-file. Try to
demonstrate that this doesn't matter
very much.

ANSWER: 29...e5!
EXERCISE: The pawn structure and Anand made this move almost
piece placement has changed from the without thinking; Black threatens
diagram after White's 21st move. How 30...e4, conquering the d3-square. [The
should Black play now? alternative was to continue with the
belligerent 29...gS; and even 29...fS was
ANSWER: 26... Bb7! interesting.]
[lt was possible to continue a
waiting policy with 26...Bd3, but Anand 30.e4
considered this to be the right moment
for the bishop to return to the long EXERCISE: Anand expected this.
diagonal, where the prospects have What did you intend to reply?
improved thanks to the weakening of
White's kingside.] ANSWER: 30...f5!

138
 Once again this blow; the bishop EXERCISE: What is the tactical
plays the leading role in this position. refutation of White's play?

31.exfS? ANSWER: 33... Rd4!

The tenant of the a8-square will
have been delighted to see this move.
[lt was necessary to play
modestly with 31.Nd2!.
considered that the capture on fS was a
risky gamble if all goes well, White
remains with a material advantage,
but... things go badly.]
31...e4! 32.fxe4?
QUESTION: lsn't this decision by
Topalov obviously a bad one?
ANSWER: Objectively yes, but let's
not forget the practica! side. Topalov
played this quickly, and it's consistent
with his previous move. White is still
banking on his risky gamble coming off,
but there is a fatal tactical flaw, and he
will be punished for his opening of the
long diagonal. [lt was essential to keep
the diagonal closed with 32.Kgl; or
32.Re3, even if Black would have the
advantage after 32...exf3+ 33.Kgl QgS
etc.]
32...Qxe4+ 33.Kh3
This is the move that more or less
decides the whole struggle. Nielsen
more points out a curious fact; if this rook
Anand were on e8 or c8, there would be no
refutation of (in his words) Topalov's
"obviously bad" decision. In that case
the engines would approve of White's
idea. Once again we see that tactics
rule, trumping all other factors.
34.Ne3
EXERCISE: How to continue the
attack? (Hint: the only pieces that can't
retreat are the pawns, aren't they?)
ANSWER: 34...QeS!
A decisive blow. Anand commented
that this move perhaps escaped
Topalov's attention. The threat is mate
on hS, so the white king will have to
weaken his position even more.
35.g4 hS!
lt's now clear who's in charge.
36.Kh4!?
[36.gS Qe4! leads to mate.]

36...gS+
There were other good options
here. The move chosen by Anand is just
one of the paths that lead to victory.
[36... Qd8+! was also decisive; after
37.f6 hxg4 38.Nxg4 gxf6, the c7-rook
joins the attack and decides the
struggle.; But not the seemingly logical
36...hxg4?, opening lines, as White is
surprisingly okay after 37.Nxg4; for
example, 37...gS+ 38.fxg6 Qxg6 39.Rf4.]

37 .fxg6 Qxg6 38.Qfl

139
 The only practica! chance, shows that Black can surprisingly still
according to Nielsen. draw due to the weakness of the white
king: 43...Kd6! 44.Qf8+ KeS! 45.QxcS+
38...Rxg4+ 39.Kh3 Re7! BdS 46.Re7+ Qe6! 47.Rxe6+ Kxe6 (now
threatening ... Bg2 mate!) 48.Qf2 Ke7,
EXERCISE: "Once again Anand plays followed by ... Be6 and draws.]
the prettiest solution" was Giri's
comment at chessbase.com. What is 42.Rg3
the concrete threat? Countering the threat of 42...Rh4+
and mates.
ANSWER: The threat after 39...Re7
is 40.-- Rxe3+! 41.Rxe3 Rh4+! 42.Kxh4 42...Rxg3+ 43.hxg3 Qg4+ 44.Kh2 Re2+
Qg4#.; Another way was 39...QgS 45.Kgl Rg2+ 46.Qxg2 Bxg2 47.Kxg2
40.Rf8+ Kg7 41.Qf2 Re4!, leading to a [After 47.Rf7+ Kg6! 48.Rg7+ KxfS
winning rook endgame after 42.Rxa8 49.Rxg4 hxg4! 50.Kxg2 Ke4 51.Kf2 Kd3,
Rxe3+ 43.Qg3 Qxg3+ 44.hxg3 Rxa3 Black wins easily in the king and pawn
45.bxa3 c4 46.Rb8 c3 47.Rbl c2 48.Rcl endgame.]
Kf6 and the rest is easy, as the black
king marches straight across to b2. 47...Qe2+ 48.Kh3 c4!
[E ven more accurate than
40.RfS+ Kg7! 48...Qxb2 49.Kh4. lt suits Black to keep
"The human move, creating the white king as a tactical liability on
confusion on the Net," commented h3 then the b2-pawn will fall under
Nielsen, referring to the fact that the more favourable circumstances.]
engines were now evaluating the
position as 0.00. That was back in 2010; 49.a4 as 50.RfG
by 2013 the engines were more
accurate. [The 'inhuman' line was
40...Kh7 41.Rh8+ Kxh8 42.Qf8+ Qg8
43.Qxe7 and now 43...Qc8! wins.
(Curiously, 43... Bg2+ 44.Nxg2 QcB!
does the trick as well.)]

41.NfS+
[lf 41.Rxa8, the pretty mate
indicated by many viewers on ICC is the
one we've already seen: 41...Rxe3+!
42.Rxe3 Rh4+! 43.Kxh4 Qg4# etc.]

EXERCISE: How should Black SO ...Kg8!

respond to the knight check? Zugzwang! Black keeps the b2-
pawn on ice, rather than allowing Rh6+
ANSWER: 41...Kh7! and RxhS. White is now forced to
[41...Kxf8?? 42.Nxe7+ Kxe7 worsen the position of his pieces and
43.Rxa7+ would have changed the the b2-pawn will eventually be
result, albeit not to a loss. Houdini captured 'for free'.

140
51.NhG+ Kg7 52.RbG Qe4 53.Kh2 Kh7! 54...Qe5 55.Nf7
Zugzwang again ! [lf the rook goes back with 55.Rb6,
Black has several ways to win, such as
54.RdG 55...h4 (or 55 Qd4 and the b2-pawn
. . .

[White can't play 54.Nf7, since this again falls with check.)]
loses to 54... Qe2+, followed by a
forking check on fl or e3; and he can't 55...Qxb2+ 56.Kh3 Qg7!
move his king, because then he either [lf 56... Qg7 57.Rd7 then 57... Qg4+
loses his rook at once or gets mated.] picks up the rook.] 0-1

In Game 19 we quoted from the talk Anand gave in Madrid. Among other things
highlighted was the importance of knowing the opponent. For the 2008 match against
Kramnik, the main objective was to reach complex positions; whereas against Topalov,
in 2010, Anand had to change the focus radically, since Topalov was at home in
dynamic play but disliked simplified positions.

Game Twenty-Three

Lasker1s Defence Strikes Again

Following the successful defence of his title, Anand remained active in what remained
of 2010. In October he played in the final of the Grand Slam in Bilbao, a quadrangular
double-round event in which he finished second, half a point behind Kramnik, and
ahead of Carlsen and Shirov.

Shortly after Bilbao, Anand played in Nanjing, where he again finished second, this
time a point behind Carlsen, with 6 points out of 10. The following game carne in round
three.

DTopalov,V Olympiad (against Nakamura), where

•Anand,V he played 9.Rcl.]
Queen1s Gambit Declined {057}
23: Nanjing, 2010 9...Nxc3 10.bxc3 exd5 11.Qb3 Rd8
[Zenón Franco] 12.c4
This line was popular back in the
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 late 1930s to early 'SOs but had
5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 0-0 7.e3 Ne4 become topical again, only four days
"Continuing from the 12th game in befare, when lvanchuk had used it to
Sofia," wrote Anand. beat Jakovenko.

8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.cxd5 12...BeG

[Topalov diverges from his earlier [At the time 12...dxc4 13.Bxc4 Nc6
games in Sofia (against Carlsen and was the main line. lnstead, V.lvanchuk­
Anand) and at the Khanty-Mansiysk D.Jakovenko, European Cup, Plovdiv
141
2010, had continued 14.Be2 (In equal) 16.Rcl Qa3 17.Qxc7 and here
A.Karpov-A.Yusupov, Candidates semi­ the spectacular 17...Nc6!! should force
final (6th matchgame), London 1989, a draw; i.e. 18.Rxc6 (but White wanted
Black defended successfully after more and ended up with less after
14.Qc3 Bg4 15.0-0 Bxf3 16.gxf3 Qf6 18.Rdl? Rac8 19.Qf4 Bc2!, eventually
and should later have won.(16... --)) losing to a mating attack) 18...Rac8
14...Rd6 15.0-0 Be6 16.Qb2 BdS 19.QeS Rxc6 20.dxc6 Qcl+ etc.
17.Rfcl Re8 18.Nel, when Black
achieved a good position with the 13...bG 14.Rcl
combination 18...Nxd4! 19.Qxd4 Bxg2. [Opening the a-file with 14.cxb6?!
At this point lvanchuk gave up his axb6 isn't advisable, and after 15.NeS?!
queen with 20.Qxd6 Qxd6 21.Nxg2 and Qa3 16.Qc2 c5! 17.Be2 Rc8, White lost
ended up winning, though Black is quickly in A.Girish-Z.Javakhadze,
certainly not worse after, for instance, Balaguer 2009.]
21...cS (or 21... gS; while Jakovenko
opted to handle his pawns more 14...bxcS 15.Qa3
conservatively and played 21...Rd8,
which isn't bad either.)J QUEST/ON: understand that
White wants to take with a piece on c5,
13.cs and this pin helps, but isn't it simpler
just to play 15.RxcS?
QUESTION: There is a pawn
hanging on b7 why not capture it with ANSWER: This would indeed be the
13.Qxb7? case if White weren't so far behind in
development, but here Black gains
ANSWER: The capture of the pawn sufficient counterplay with 15...Nd7! by
doesn't come without cost: the queen occupying the open lines; for example,
strays from the defence of sorne vital 16.Rxc7 Rab8 (or 16...Rdb8) 17.Qc2 Qa3
squares and, thanks to White's lack of 18.Bd3 Rb2 19.Qc3 Qxc3+ 20.Rxc3 Rxa2
development, Black can counter-attack 21.0-0 Rb8, as in Pr.Nikolic-D.Jojua,
on the queenside. The modern European Championship, Plovdiv 2008.
treatment, which appears to be better,
is 13...Qa3!, threatening...Qc3+. Then 15... Nd7 16.BbS
B.Jobava-D.Shengelia, European Ch,
Batumi 2002, continued (In Argentina EXERCISE: White is about to fulfil
in the 1940s they used to play 13...dxc4 his plan of recapturing on es with a
14.Qxa8 Qa3 15.Rbl Bd5; for example, piece and leaving Black with a
R.Letelier Martner-E.Reinhardt, Mar del backward pawn on the e-file. Is it still
Plata 1946, continued 16.Rxb8 possible to oppose this idea?
(however, White's play was later
improved by 16.QxdS! RxdS 17.Rxb8+ ANSWER: 16...Bg4!
Khl 18.Rbl, when Black's game is more "Anand's improvement,
difficult) 16...Bxa8 17.Rxd8+ Kh7 18.Be2 threatening to shatter White's kingside.
Qcl+ 19.Bdl Bxf3 20.gxf3 Qc3+ 21.Kfl lt had to be well calculated, because
Qd3+ with a draw by perpetua! check.) the black pieces could be hanging in
14.Rbl Qxa2 15.cxdS BfS!? (15... BxdS is many variations," commented Kavalek

142
in 'The Huffington Post'.From this
comment we can conclude that it's not
enough to have an idea that looks
correct, you also have to check that it
works tactically. [Alternatively, Black
could prevent White from carrying out
his plan in ideal fashion with the
previously known line 16...Rab8
17.Bxd7 Bxd7 18.0-0 Bb5 19.Rfel Bc4,
which is sufficient to equalize but
Anand's novelty is more ambitious, and
it's now White who has think about
equalizing.]
17.Bxd7
QUESTION: This is the first
variation to consider, 1 can see that, but
since Black will obtain good play, would
it not be better to play 17 Nd2,
postponing the captures on d7 and c5?
From d2 the knight defends against the
annoying incursions of a black rook on
b1.
ANSWER: Don't forget that 17.Nd2
isn't in fact a developing move and
Black could slide out of the pin with
17...QgS!, creating X-ray pressure on
g2.{lt would also be possible to exploit
the position of the white king by
opening lines and further activating the
black pieces with 17...c6!; far example,
18.Bxc6 Rac8! 19.Bxdl cxd4 20.RxcB
Rxc8 21.BxcB Qxa3 22.Bxg4 dxe3, and
despite White's slight material
advantage, the pressure on his king
gives Black the initiative and
advantage.)
17...Rxd7
[17...Bxf3 is interesting as well, and
this would be the safe option if Anand's
move proved unsound.]
18.QxcS
[The alternative was 18.RxcS, when
18...Qe4! is most incisive (otherwise
18...Bx/3 19.gx/3 Rb8 is a simple
equalizer); far example, 19.Ke2 Rd6
(threatening...Rf6, and even stronger
than 19...ReB 20.Rhcl Rd6 21.h3 Bxf3+
22.gx/3 Qxd4} 20.h3 Bc8 (as Anand
remarked, this is "harder to find, but
either way Black is better") 21.Rhcl
Ba6+ 22.Kdl Qg6.
EXERCISE: 17...Bxf3 was the "safe
option", because it rules out any
possibility of 18.NeS why was Anand
unafraid of this double attack?
ANSWER: Because "the tactics
work" after 18...cxd4! 19.Qxe7 Rxe7,
since if 20.Nxg4 (and as Anand pointed
out, 20.Nc6 is no better, as after
20...Re6 21.h3 Bh5 22.Nxd4 Ra6
23.Rxcl Rxa2 24.0-0 a5, the passed a­
pawn gives Black the advantage), then
20...hS regains the piece, leaving Black
a pawn up.]
18...Qe4 19.Rgl
the
This move surprised Anand. lt's
notable that 19 Rg1 is the top
preference of the analysis engines,
demonstrating that computers 'think'
differently from sorne humans,
although both agree that it fails to
143
salve White's problems. On the positive
side it defends g2, enabling White to
play Ne5; on the other hand, it gives up
the possibility of castling, which means
that the king will be stuck in the centre.
EXERCISE: How are going to
respond to the threat of 20 Ne5 now?
ANSWER: 19 ... ReS!
Bringing the only inactive piece into
play, which is generally a good thing,
but we mustn't forget that it needs to
work tactically, since it involves the
sacrifice of an exchange. [There was
more than one attractive continuation
here. The most immediate was
19 ...Bxf3 20.gxf3 Qxf3 21.Qc6, when
the best defence to the triple attack (on
a8, d7 and h6) is the counterblow
21...Rb8!, and 22.Qxh6 (preventing
22.Qxd7? on account of 22...Rb2 and
mates; (22...--)) 22...g6 23.Rg3? (Anand
was unsure about 23.Qf4, which is the
best defence; the ending after 23...Qxf4
24.exf4 looks good for Black at a quick
glance, but here we have another
difference of opinion: "The computer
really likes Black's position, but 1 am not
sure his edge is so great" was Anand's
comment) 23...Qhl+ 24.Kd2 Rb2+
25.Rc2 Rxc2+ 26.Kxc2 doesn't work
either, because Black's attack triumphs
after 26...Rd6!.; The third possibility
was simply to prevent Ne5 with 19 ...f6,
but after 20.Qc2 (20.Nd2? fails to
20 Qd3) 20 ... Bxf3 21.gxf3 Qxf3 22.Rg3
...
Qe4 (Black could be two pawns up after
22...Qhl+ 23.Ke2 Qxh2 24.QJS, but
even then he isn't actually better, since
his position is now passive, his queen is
out of play and he has several weak
pawns himself) 23.Qxe4 dxe4 24.Rg4
Re8 25.Rf4, Anand thought that the
extra pawn would be insignificant,
since the white rook will find activity on
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the queenside.]
20.QbS
[lf 20.Ke2, defending f3, the black
rook can switch to the b-file with
20...Rb8 (but 20...fS!, followed by...f5-
f4, is even stronger.); The decision to
sacrifice the exchange turns out to be
justified tactically. After 20.Ne5 Rxe5
21.dxe5 d4, 22.h3 (Anand pointed out
the pretty line 22.Qb4 Qxe5 23.h3 es
24.QxcS d3! 25.hxg4 Qb2 and wins)
22...dxe3!, the position of the white
king is again a cause for concern:
23.fxe3 and now: a)23.hxg4 exf2+
24.Kxf2 Qf4+ 25.Kel Rd4! and White
will soon be forced to give up his
queen, remaining at a material
advantage and with his rooks
uncoordinated; e.g. 26.Qc3 Re4+
27.Kdl Qf2 28.Rel Rd4+.; b)23.Qxe3
Qb4+ 24.Kfl Qb5+ 25.Kel Rd3 also
forces White to give up his queen, since
26.Qe4? loses to 26...Qb2.(b}26...--);
the preliminary 23...Rd5! is stronger,
and then (after 23...Rd3 24.Kf2 Bxh3!
(Anand), 25.e6! (25.gxh3? loses to
25... Rd2+ 26.Kg3 h5!) 25...Bxe6
26.Rgdl would allow White to put up
more resistance.) 24.Qxa7 Rd3! 25.Kf2
Rd2+ 26.Kg3 Bc8!, intending 27.Kh2
(while 27.e6 doesn't help this time in
view of 27...Qxe6 28.Kh2 Qxh3#)
27...Bb7 and wins.]
20... RddS 21.Qe2
EXERCISE: How can Black penetrate
White's defences?
ANSWER: 21... RbS!
Objectively the strongest move,
occupying the b-file. [Anand wrote
that, immediately on playing this move,
he saw the idea of 21...c5, which he
believed was stronger, because it
smashes open the white king's with decisive effect.)) 25...Qxbl+
defences. As usual, this needs to be 26.Qdl Qxa2 27.Kfl, White manages to
supported by tactics, and in the calm of safeguard his king, but he is now a
the post-mortem analysis, after 22.h3 pawn down with his rook out of play.
Bxf3 23.gxf3 Black can prevent this Meanwhile Black activates his pieces in
defence by playing 23...Qh4, since the now familiar manner: 27...Rb8
(Anand found that 23...QfS 24.dxcS! 28.Kg2 Rb2 29.Qfl Qc4!, followed
(not 24.Rxc5? in view of the by...a7-a5, and if White exchanges
devastating switch 24...RbB! 25.Rcl queens he loses, because he can't stop
Rec8! and Black is attacking with an the queenside pawns.
extra rook) 24...d4 25.Rg3, "it seems
that White is holding"; e.g. 25...d3 QUESTION: Does 29...Qc4 really
26.Qd2 Re5 27.e4.) 24.dxcS (but in this deserve an exclamation mark? Why not
line 24.Rxc5 is more tenacious, when immediately 29...a5?
Black misses the influence of his queen
on the queenside) 24...d4 25.Rg3 loses ANSWER: Because sorne
to 25...dxe3.] 'prophylactic thinking' is very useful.
White would play 30.Qa6!, threatening
22.h3 Bxf3 23.gxf3 perpetua! check with Qc8+ and Qf5+
[White can't take with the queen in etc; and astonishingly, he is able to
view of 23.Qxf3? Qxd4 (or 23...Qd3.)] save the game, with the two white
pieces combining to salvage a draw
23...QfS after 30...Rxf2+ 31.Kgl g6 32.Rxg6+!.)
"The problem for White is that his
king still can't get to safety." (Anand) 24...Rbl 25.Rxbl
[After 25.Qdl, Black achieves his
24.f4 now familiar numerical superiority on
the queenside with 25...Reb8! 26.Kd2
EXERCISE: With 24.Rg3 White could R8b2+ 27.Kc3 Rxcl+ 28.Qxcl
prepare Kf1-g2 to evacuate his king
from the centre. How would you EXERCISE: In this line 28...Rb6 is
continue in that case? most in accord with the ideas we've
already seen, but we should always
ANSWER: By executing the idea of stay alert for alternative ways which
21...Rb8! and invading with 24...Rbl. lt might be stronger, or at least simpler.
is no better to take the rook. After Show that 28...Rxf2 isn't one of them.
25.Rxbl (lt's obvious that leaving the
king in the middle with 25.Kdl ANSWER: White has the
shouldn't work. Black has two strong counterblow (28...Rb6! 29.Kd2 Qxh3
continuations in 25...cS (and 25...RebB; and "Black can slowly advance his h­
while Anand pointed out a third with pawn whilst harassing White's king", as
25...Rxcl+ 26.Kxcl Rb8 27.Qc2 Qe6, Anand pointed out.(29... --)) 29.Rxg7+!
which he regarded as winning. lf we Kxg7 30.Qgl+, followed by 31 Qxf2, and
pursue this a little further, we see that Black would have to negotiate a more
28.Kd2 fails to 28...c5! 29.dxc5 Qf6 and difficult queen endgame.]
the two black majar pieces cooperate

145
25 ...Qxbl+ 26.Qdl Rb8 27.Ke2 coordination of the white king's
defences. "The key move, now it's
over." (Anand)

30.a4
[lf 30.Rh2, defending f2, then
among other things Black has 30...Qe4+
31.Kg3 Rbl 32.Qf3 h4+ 33.Kg2 Rgl+
and wins.]

30...Qe4+ 31.Kg3

EXERCISE: We've reached another

typically 'dangerous' position, in the
sense that Black is presented with
several attractive options, What's the
best move here?

ANSWER: 27...QfS!
The most accurate, "not allowing
White's king to get to safety." (Anand)
[Black would also be better with an
extra pawn after 27...Rb2+ 28.Kf3 Qxa2
(or vice versa), but then White's king
would be far less vulnerable than in the
game.]
28.Rhl Rb2+ 29.Kf3
EXERCISE: Black has his pieces
ideally placed, but if he is to avoid a
long and arduous technical win, he
needs something to help him exploit
the odd position of the white king. Can
you find that 'something'?
EXERCISE: Now a simple Question:
How to continue the attack?
ANSWER: 31... h4+!
The sequel to 29 ...hS ! the white
king will become even more vulnerable.
32.Kxh4 Rxf2 33.Qg4
[The attempt to counter-attack
with 33.Rgl comes to nought. Black
might simply play 33...g6 (but there is
also 33... Qxe3, since 34.Rxgl+ Kxgl
35.Qg4+ KfB 36.QcB+ fails to 36...QeB
and there is no perpetual.)J

ANSWER: 29... hS! 33...Rg2 0-1

This pawn will help to break the

The final tournament of the year was the London Chess Classic, in December, where
Anand scored 41'2 points out of 7. This would have given him a share of first prize under
normal rules, except that a football-style scoring system (3 points for a win, 1 point for
a draw) was used in this event, which meant that he carne joint second behind Carlsen,

146
whose four wins and one draw (with two losses) counted for more than Anand's two
wins and five draws.

Game Twenty-Four

Homework Pays Off

Anand started the year 2011 on a good note, scoring 8Yi out of 13 in Wijk aan Zee,
which would generally have been enough for first prize, but this year Nakamura, in
fantastic form, made 9 points.

As we've already mentioned, Anand believes that home preparation always comes in
useful, sooner or later. He has proved this on many occasions, as we saw in the
lntroduction. Let's recall a few of the most important occasions:

• In one tournament, following a defeat he was able to think up a significant

improvement and use it to beat Gelfand in a later round (Game 4).

• His detailed work on Kasparov's favourite line in the Scheveningen gave him a big
analytical lead over his rivals for a considerable period of time (Game 5).

• His work prior to his match against Kamsky carne to fruition a full ten years later in
San Luis 2005 against Adams (Game 13).

• The brilliant cascade of sacrifices which led to a winning attack against Karjakin was
based on home preparation (Game 14).

The following game is yet another example; it was the fruit of Anand's preparation
against Kramnik in 2008.

DAnand,V 9...Ne7 10.Be3 0-0 11.Qb3 Qc7 12.BbS

•Wang Hao Nec6 13.Ne2 Nas
Nimzo-lndian Defence [E25] [The immediate 13...eS, restricting
24: Wijk aan Zee, 2011 White's knight and leaving Black's
[Zenón Franco] knight on c6, was suggested by Anand
as more accurate. After 14.0-0 Be6
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 dS S.a3 15.Qa4 a6 {15...NaS was met by
Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 cS 7.cxdS NxdS 8.dxcS 16.Nd4! exd4 17.cxd4 Bd7 18.dS a6
QaS 9.e4 19.Bxdl Nxd7 20.Racl Rac8 21.Bd2
Anand repeats the moves of Wang with advantage to White in L.León
Hao's game against Kramnik in the Varela-P.Santana Montero, Telde 2009}
previous round, because " ... 1 had in 16.Bc4 Bxc4 17.Qxc4 Nas 18.Qa4
mind a trap and was curious to see if 1 {18.Qb4!? was interesting, similar to
could get it in." Anand's play in the main game)
18... Nd7 19.Rfdl NxcS 20.Qb4, as in
147
H.Hernández Carmenates-L.Guliev, account of Rd8+). Another possibility is
Santa Cruz de la Palma 2007, Black 15...a6!? (suggested by Krasenkow)
should play 20...b6 with a reasonable 16.Bd3 (here 16.Ba4 Nbc6 would oblige
game.] White to take on c6, as otherwise he
loses control of c4} 16...Nbc6, when
14.Qb4 after 17.Qb6 (17.Qb2!?) 17...Qxb6
[Kramnik had preferred 14.Qa4 the 18.cxb6 Be6, Black has compensation
day before, when 14...a6 15.Bd3 Nd7 for the pawn in the form of a blockade
16.Bc2 Nxc5 17.Qb4 Nd7 18.0-0 Nc6 and good control of the queenside.]
led to equal chances. Anand
commented that both moves have EXERCISE: Why did Anand say that
basically the same idea: to hold on to he got lucky?
the c5-pawn for as long as possible and
to control c4. Anand's move allows ANSWER: 16.Nd4!
...Na6, but as he said, "it's a question of The key move; this sacrifice was
what you want to allow."] part of Anand's preparation for the
match against Kramnik in 2008. He
14...es added that they didn't actually spend
[With the queen on b4 (rather than very long on it at the time, because
a4), 14...a6 could now be met by there were other lines with bigger
15.Ba4.] problems to solve.We saw this sacrifice
in León Varela-Santana Montero,
15.0-0 BeG? quoted in the note to Black's 13th
move above. lt's an idea known from
similar positions and is in fact the top
suggestion of the engines. lf Black takes
on d4, White gains two pawns for the
piece and a massive central pawn
presence that greatly restricts the
opponent, especially the a5-knight,
which remains exposed. At the same
time the two bishops provide security.
This all amounts to good compensation
for the piece; and Houdini even goes
further, awarding White the advantage.
[Anand: "I get lucky 15...Na6 has [lnstead, 16.Rfdl Bb3 17.Rd6 Nbc6
also been played here." For example, 18.Bxc6 bxc6 19.c4 Rab8 gave White
16.Bxa6 bxa6 17.Rfdl (or 17.c4 Be6 nothing in M.Cebalo-S.Marinkovic,
18.Racl Rab8 19.Qa4 Rfd8 and the European Championship, Budva 2009.]
game is equal, B.Gelfand-D.Jakovenko,
Russian Team Championship 2011) 16...exd4
17...Be6 18.c6 Nc4 19.BcS Rfc8 20.Qb7, [lf Black declines the piece with
V.Moskalenko-A.Delchev, Benidorm 16...Bc8, Houdini discerns a clear
(rapid) 2007, and now 20...g6 and...Kg7 advantage for White. Anand gives
is fine for Black, who then threatens to 17.NfS Nbc6 18.Qa4 Bxf5 19.exfS Ne7
play...Qxc6 (which isn't possible yet on and now: 20.Radl (20.f6 Nd5 (20...gxf6

148
21.Radl, threatens 22 Qg4+ and Rd7;
or if 21...RfdB 22.Qg4+ Ng6 then 23.h4
etc) 21.fxg7 Rfc8 22.Bf2 Nxc3 23.Qb4
NxbS 24.QxbS, when Black has still not
completely solved his problems,
according to Anand. After putting a
rook on bl and bringing the queen to
e4 or g4, "either the black king captures
at sorne moment on g7 and remains
vulnerable, or he must live with a pawn
placed there; it's quite obvious that
White is clearly better.") 20...Rfd8
21.Qe4 and "the structure is very
pleasant for White, with his two
bishops, and Black has problems on the
light squares." This can be seen in the
line 21...Nac6 22.Bc4, putting pressure
on f7. Anand also mentioned the plan
of exchanging a pair of rooks, when the
extra pawn (albeit doubled) is
supported by the bishop pair, which
gives White the advantage.]
17.cxd4 Nbc6
[17...a6 18.Be2 Re8, restraining the
d4-d5 advance on account of...BxdS, is
the line suggested initially by Houdini
and Rybka. Since it will probably be
forced sooner or later, it's best to
retreat the queen straight away with
19.Qc3!. (In the event of 19.Bf2
(planning Bg3 and Bd6) 19...Nbc6
20.Qc3, Black has 20...Qf4!, suggested
by Rybka, and explained thus by Anand:
"lt's not easy to understand at first
sight, but the queen is well placed on
f6"; for instance, after the further
moves 21.Rabl Qf6, White's advantage
is insignificant. lt's if the queen on f6
drains the energy from the white
pawns, immobilizing them; there's even
the possibility of increasing the
pressure with...Nb3.{21... --JJ lf Black
opts for 19...Nbc6 instead, White just
plays (Then after 19...Nd7 20.Rabl bS
21.dS BxdS 22.exdS QeS 23.QxeS RxeS
149
24.Bd2! Rxe2 25.BxaS NxcS, White can
play 26.Rfcl! "with a big advantage in
the ending", according to Anand and
the engines concur; for example,
26...Nb7 {or 26... Nd3 27.Rcl Nf4 28.d6)
27.Bb4 aS 28.Bel Nd6 29.Bg3 NfS
30.Bf4!, when 30...Nh4?! is met by
31.Kfl! and the weakness of bS and the
strength of the d6-pawn give White a
decisive advantage, since if 31...Rxg2?
then 32.d6 wins quickly.) 20.dS BxdS
21.exdS;
EXERCISE: What happens if Black
tries 21...Qe7?
ANSWER: This is even worse. White
responds with (and after 21...QeS
22.QxeS RxeS 23.dxc6 Nxc6 24.Kf2
Rae8 25.Bxa6 bxa6 26.Rfel, once again
the extra pawn is significant. {26.--))
22.Bd2! Nd4 (or 22...Qxe2 23.dxc6 Nxc6
24.Rfel Qb5 25.RxeB+ Rxe8 26.a4! and
wins) 23.Qxd4 Nb3 24.Qc3 Qxe2
25.Radl Nxd2 26.Rxd2 Qe3+ (or
26...Qel 27.d6) 27.Qxe3 Rxe3 28.Rbl
and this time the extra pawn will be
decisive.]
18.Qc3 Ne7 19.Rfdl
EXERCISE: (difficult): lt's time for
Black to centralize one of his rooks;
which one should he move to d8?

19...RadS?
Another example of 'the wrong
rook'.
ANSWER: For tactical reasons, as is
often the case, it was better to play
19 ...Rfd8, although White remains
better after 20.Bf2 Nac6, as we can see:
21.Rabl appears to be the best move;
for example, a)21.d5 Nxd5 22.exd5
Rxd5 23.Rxd5 Bxd5 24.Rdl Be6 is
advantageous for White with the two
bishops, but Black is very salid,
according to Anand.; b)21.Bg3 Qa5
22.Qxa5 Nxa5 23.Bc7 (b)stronger than
23.Rabl Ba2) 23... Nb3 24.Bxd8 Rxd8
25.Rabl Nxd4 26.Kf2 is slightly better
for White.; 21...Qf4 (if 21...Rdl then
22.Bh4! is awkward) 22.d5 {22.Bg3 Qf6
23.Bd6 is ineffective since, without a
rook on f8, Black can defend with
23... NcB) 22... Nxd5 23.exd5 Rxd5
24.Rxd5 Bxd5 25.Bfl and the two
bishops, plus the weakness of b7, give
White the edge.
20.Bf2 a6
EXERCISE: In the previous note
Black played 20... Nac6 here. How can it
be shown that Black moved the wrong
rook to d8?
ANSWER: After 21.Bg3 Qa5
22.Qxa5 Nxa5 23.Bd6, having the rook
on f8 is clearly a serious problem for
Black.; Krasenkow suggested 20...f5,
with the idea of 21.Bg3 (but in this case
White can simply regain the piece with
21.dS, when the weakness created
by...f7-f5 will make itself felt) 21...f4.
EXERCISE: How should White play
now?
ANSWER: 21.Bg3
Of course, why not? We've already
encountered this idea the bishop is
heading for d6.
21...QcS 22.Bfl b6
[Or 22... Nac6 23.Bd6, followed by
d4-d5.]
23.Rabl Nb3 24.Rxb3 Bxb3 25.Qxb3
bxcS 26.dS
As Anand said, "the rest isn't
difficult." The weak black pawns on the
queenside will soon fall, after which
White will have two passed pawns.
Black's extra rook is irrelevant, since
the white bishops dominate the centre
and the queenside, without allowing
any counterplay.
26... Ng6 27.Qb6 fS 28.Bxa6 Qd7
29.BbS Qf7 30.exfS QxfS 31.QxcS Rc8
32.Qd4 Rfd8 33.a4 1-0

"A nice win befare the rest day - on +2, 1 was feeling confident at this stage!"
commented Anand. Two more wins (against Smeets and Shirov) saw him finish the
tournament on 'plus 4', but it wasn't sufficient to overtake Nakamura's 'plus 5'.

During the remainder of 2011, Anand competed in rapidplay events, such as the final
Amber tournament and the Botvinnik Memorial (which he won by 1Yi points).

In September-October he played in the Grand Slam Final, half of which was played in
Sao Paulo (Brazil) and half in Bilbao (Spain). Anand scored only 50%, and this was the
start of a run of indifferent results. In November he scored 4Yi/9 at the Tal Memorial in

150
Moscow (won by Carlsen and Aronian), and then ended the year with yet another 50%
in the London Chess Classic (which was won by Kramnik, followed by Carlsen and
Nakamura).

In 2012 Anand gave Wijk aan Zee a miss, in arder to concentrate on the preparations
for his world title match against Gelfand in May.

Game Twenty-Five

World Champion for the Fifth Time

"lt was a hard fight and l'm too tense to feel anything other than a sensation of relief,"
said Viswanathan Anand after beating off the challenger, Boris Gelfand in the tie­
breaker, and thus retaining his title of World Champion.

The match took place between the 11th and the 30th of May 2012 in the Tretyakov Art
Gallery in Moscow. The size of the audience following the games online smashed all
previous records. After twelve games at the 'classical' rate of play, the score was six­
all, but Anand won the tie-breaker by 2Yi-1Yz.

The first six games all ended in draws; Anand only gained an appreciable advantage in
one game, the third - but this was drawn after a tense struggle, based on detailed
preparation with the help of computer programs, whose playing strength was already
by then at a very high level.

In the seventh game Gelfand managed to beat Anand, after clearly outplaying him
from the opening, and the score became 4-3. Gelfand sensed that his opponent was
weakening (and he was right - after it was all over, Anand said that he had been
unable to sleep after his defeat in the seventh game, thinking that he had just thrown
away the match) and in the eighth game he tried to create tension from very early on,
in an attempt to go for the kill. Let's now see that crucial game.

DAnand,V Quite a rare continuation; the

•Gelfand,B Cuban GM Walter Arencibia has played
King's lndian De/ence [E60] it a few times with success. In the event
25: World Champ, Moscow (8), 2012 of 7...e6 and a quick ...e6xd5, the
[Zenón Franco] knight on bl can quickly come to c4.
[The usual move is 7.Nbc3.]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 cS
[In the third game Gelfand played 7 ...NhS
in the spirit of the Grunfeld with 3...d5 Played after a long think. With this
but ran into sorne problems, so this provocative move Black wants to
time he went for a Benoni structure.] complicate the game, seeking a second
win, which would have decided the
4.dS d6 5.e4 Bg7 6.Ne2 0-0 7 .Nec3 match. [In M.Sadler-V.Tkachiev,
151
Enghien les Bains 1999, Black played
7...e6 8.Be3 Na6 9.Be2 Nc7 10.a4 Nfe8 QUESTION: What about 10 g4
11.Qd2 fS 12.0-0 Nf6 and here, instead now? Is it good or not?
of 13.eS (it was better to continue
developing with 13.Na3, maintaining ANSWER: Sorne commentators,
the central tension with sorne such as Shipov, were in favour of 10.g4,
advantage) 13...dxeS 14.BxcS Rf7, 10...Nf4 (when 10...Ng7? 11.Qe2 f5
which didn't lead to anything far 12.gxfS gxf5 13.Rgl! is very good far
White.] White.(13.--)) 11.Qd2 gS 12.h4 was
considered advantageous as well, but
8.BgS the World Champion delved further
and couldn't see a good continuation
QUESTION: Why not 8.g4? Is it a after 12...Nd7. For instance, 13.hxgS
bad move? fxgS 14.Qh2 h5 15.gxhS Ne5, fallowed
by... Qf6, "appears horrible far White".
ANSWER: lt is difficult to be sure. Anand spent a lot of time thinking
There's nothing obviously wrong with about 10 g4, and was surprised to learn
it, but the position looks very later that people thought it was better
complicated; far instance, 8...Nf6 9.Be3 than 10 Qd2.]
Na6 10.Nd2 Nd7 11.Be2 Bd4!? was
played in sorne games between 10...fS 11.exfS! BxfS
computers. Whatever its merits, 8 g4 11...Qh4+ 12.Kdl
didn't seem clear enough to Anand.
Thinking that this was what Gelfand QUESTION: What's wrong with
had prepared, Anand decided to try 12...Ng3?
something with which he would be less
familiar. ANSWER: White plays (12...BxfS
13.g4 transposes to the next note (13.-­
8...BfG )) 13.Qf2 Nxf5 14.Qxh4 Nxh4 15.NbS!
A surprise far Anand, but not an and wins.
unpleasant one in general the exchange
of dark-squared bishops isn't 12.g4 Re8+? !
unfavourable to White.

9.BxfG exfG

QUEST/ON: What's this? Now this

really is unusual, isn't it?

ANSWER: This was another

surprise, although the idea is not
unknown. Something similar is seen in
lines of the Accelerated Dragan; the
idea is to play a quick ...f6-f5.

10.Qd2 "As often happens, a small error is

152
followed by a bigger one," said Anand,
who considered that Black's best EXERCISE: (difficult): Is it necessary
continuation was 12...Bxbl, which is to retreat the knight, or is there sorne
also what the engines prefer. Even so, other way to exploit the odd position of
after 13.Rxbl Ng7 (13...Nf6 14.h4 is White's king?
pleasant for White, who can attack
once he has improved the position of 14...QfG??
his king, deploying it on either c2 or f2,
according to Anand) 14.h4 h5 15.Kdl
Nd7 16.Kc2 Ne5 17.Be2 etc, White has
definite attacking chances.; Another
line suggested on the internet was
12...Qh4+ 13.Kdl Bxbl(13...Ng3? loses
a piece after 14.Qel Bxg4 15.Nd2!)
14.Rxbl Ng7, intending ...f7-f5, when
the rook is useful on f8. Shipov then
suggested offering the exchange of
queens with 15.Qel, assessing that
White is somewhat better in the
ending.
ANSWER: No, there isn't anything
13.Kdl! else. Gelfand's combination is based on
a serious error in calculation. Leko and
QUEST/ON: Why such enthusiasm? Nepomniachtchi made the same error
Is it good to give up castling rights? in the official live commentary, but
obviously they were less focused than
ANSWER: This was one of the main the players. ["I could hardly believe this
reasons behind 10 Qd2. Anand when 1 saw it on the monitor," said
considered that his king would be safe Anand. He considered 14...Nf6 to be
on c2 and the position would then be in "the least of the evils", though after
his favour. The game was later decided 15.h4 the inclusion of 12...Re8+ and 13
"in one move" (White's 17th); Anand Kdl (on the 12...Bxbl line) favours
couldn't recall whether he saw this White.; Both 14...Nf6 and 14...Ng7
when he opted for 10 Qd2, but he saw "were unpleasant for Black", according
it at this point. [Not 13.Kf2? because of to Gelfand, but there would at least still
13...Nd7! and the white king will come be a fight.]
under a violent attack.; The only
alternative was 13.Be2 Qh4+ and White EXERCISE: What's the refutation of
has to play 14.Kdl in any case; then the Black's idea?
Gelfand had analysed 14...Bxbl
15.Rxbl Nf6 16.Nb5 Na6 17.Nxd6 Re7 ANSWER: 15.gxhS!
18.a3 Rd8 19.Nb5 h5 and if 20.g5 then [Both Leko and Nepomniachtchi, as
20...Ne4! 21.fxe4 Qxe4, attacking both well as Gelfand himself, were under the
rooks.] impression that 15.Kc2 Nf4 16.Ne4 was
critica!, when Black can try 16...Rxe4!?
13... Bxbl 14.Rxbl 17.fxe4 Nd7 with compensation.Anand

153
said he didn't consider that for "more
than a second", as he considered that
the exchange sacrifice would give Black
good play, and he had already foreseen
his 17th move in the game.]
15 ...Qxf3+ 16.Kc2 Qxhl
EXERCISE: Can you find the move
which forced the challenger to resign?
ANSWER: 17 .Qf2 !
This was what Gelfand had missed.
[White now threatens Bh3 or Bd3,
while after 17.Qf2 Nc6 (the only way to
save the queen) 18.dxc6 Qxc6 19.Bg2,
followed by Nd5, Black has no hope.
For sorne strange reason Gelfand (and
Anand at first) thought that White's
'only' move here was 17.Qf4.] 1-0

With this win the match score was equalized, and with it the confidence of the
champion was restored.

In the ninth game Gelfand gained the advantage again, but was unable to exploit it. In
the tenth game the challenger showed his excellent preparation and equalized easily.
In the eleventh it was Anand who demonstrated good preparation, equalizing through
precise play.

In the final game Anand sacrificed a pawn in the opening, Gelfand replied with the
sacrifice of two pawns and gained compensation. Anand offered a draw, which was
criticized by Kramnik as a bad practica! decision, as while the game would probably
have been drawn anyway, Anand could have played on without any risk. On the other
hand, Anand's decision could be regarded as a good one, since he felt in worse shape
physically and was by now very tired.

From the lottery of the rapidplay tie-breaker, Anand emerged victorious, though the
result could easily have gane the other way, as he admitted himself. The deciding
factor was perhaps Gelfand's poor time management. He had handled his dock badly
in the 'classical' games too, but he'd gotten away with it then. Be that as it may, in this,
the most closely fought of all his matches, Anand was again the winner and thus
retained his title for the third time.

For the rest of 2012 his results weren't very good: next to bottom in the Sao
Paolo/Bilbao Grand Slam (won by Carlsen) in September; while at the London Chess
Classic (also won by Carlsen) in December, Anand again finished fifth on 50%.

The bad results persuaded Anand to revise his schedule in 2013 in an attempt to raise
his level of play. He decided to compete in several tournaments and then, from June
onwards, focus on preparing for the defence of his title, which was due to take place in
November 2013 against an as yet unknown opponent. This would be the winner of the
Candidates Tournament, scheduled for March, and where Carlsen would be the
favourite.

Wijk aan Zee was the first of the six tournaments that Anand would play in 2013
befare the match for the world title.

154
 Game Twenty-Six

11 11
One for the Ages

Magnus Carlsen achieved a majar victory in the 75th edition of the Wijk aan Zee
tournament, which took place on the 12th to 27th of January 2013. He scored 10
points out of 13, equalling Kasparov's record score in 1999. Behind carne Aronian with
8Yi points, followed by Anand and Karjakin (8), Leko (7Yi), etc.

Anand's good performance was a welcome surprise, since his recent efforts had been
disappointing. There was a bonus, too, in his fourth round defeat of Aronian, where
Anand played what he described as one of the best games of his career. lt was all the
more significant because he managed to beat a player against whom he has a poor
personal score - Aronian is Anand's 'bete naire'. The score between them at a classical
rate of play was 13Yi-8Yi in Aronian's favour, and he hadn't lost any of their previous 17
games.

As Anand related: "This was in the fourth round. 1 had just beaten Fabiano Caruana the
previous day, which made a perfect start for the New Year." Once again it was partly
the fruit of home preparation, in this case for the match against Gelfand in 2012.

In the press conference that day, Carlsen commented that Anand's game was "one for
the ages". Let's look at it now.

DAronian,L Slightly unusual; [8...a6 (as in Game

•Anand,V 19); and 8...Bb7 are the main moves
Queen's Gambit Declined {046} here. However, Anand had played
26: Wijk aan Zee, 2013 8...Bd6 befare, and used it again now in
[Zenón Franco] the hope of being able to use the idea
that appears later in the game (see the
1.d4 dS 2.c4 c6 next note).]
The Slav and Semi-Slav Defences
are frequent guests in the duels 9.0-0 0-0 10.Qc2 Bb7 11.a3 Rc8
between these two players, who are This idea of Alexander Shabalov
happy to take either side. belies its modest appearance; in fact
Anand called it "an amazing move".
3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 [lnstead, 11...a6 is played most often,
[Up to move 11 it's all well-known defending the bS-pawn with the
theory, albeit by a less common move obvious idea of preparing...c6-c5.
arder; 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Bd3 0-0 8.0-0 dxc4 Another option is 12.b4, aiming to
9.Bxc4 bS 10.Bd3 etc is the traditional prevent...c6-c5, when Black generally
route to the position.] targets the b4-pawn after (Then one
possibility for White is 12.NgS.
6...dxc4 7.Bxc4 bS 8.Bd3 Bd6
155
 QUESTION: But doesn't this just QUESTION: Okay, but seeing that
lose a pawn after 12...Bxh2+ 13.Kxh2 Black wants to play...c6-c5 at sorne
Ng4+ etc? Does White have enough point, why not stop it with 12 b4 again?
compensation?
ANSWER: Because this time 12.b4
ANSWER: Yes indeed, this is a pawn fails to achieve that objective, since
sacrifice. After 14.Kgl Qxg5 15.f3 Ngf6 Black can nevertheless play 12...cS! !
16.e4, which was actually played in and the position evens out ("is drawn"
V.Anand-L.Aronian, Linares 2009, the according to Anand) after 13.bxcS Bxf3
two bishops and the weak dark squares 14.gxf3 Nxc5 15.dxcS Rxc5 16.f4 (or
in Black's camp provide good 16.Bb2 Bxh2+! 17.Kxh2 Rh5+ 18.Kg2
compensation. Anand lost that game, Rg5+ with a draw by perpetua! check,
but only after blundering in a winning V.Malakhatko-D.Khismatullin, St.
position."So the obvious question is Petersburg 2012) 16...NdS 17.Bb2 Nxc3
why not 12 Ng5 also after 11...Rc8," as 18.Bxc3 Qc7 19.Rfcl Rc8, as in
Anand commented in the press V.Topalov-R.Kasimdzhanov, FIDE Grand
conference after the game.(16.--)) Prix London 2012.]
12...aS 13.Rbl axb4 14.axb4 Qe7 15.e4
e5. Then B.Gelfand-V.Anand, Nice EXERCISE: (difficult): What was the
(blindfold rapid) 2008, continued idea behind 11...Rc8?
16.dxeS (attention subsequently
switched to 16.Ne2!? Bxb4 17.Ng3 with ANSWER: 12... cs !
compensation for the pawnJ 16...NxeS Naturally this sacrifice required
17.NxeS Bxe5 18.Ne2 Qe6 19.f4 Ra2 deep calculation to back it up. "Of
20.Qdl and here Anand unleashed the course this is our preparation for Boris"
surprising novelty 20...Bal! 21.eS? c5! [i.e. the match for the World
22.exf6 Bd4+ with a decisive advantage Championship in Moscow 2012.] "To be
already.] honest 1 couldn't remember all the
details but of course it helps to know
12.NgS it", said Anand, referring to the
evaluation and the ideas in the
position. [A previous game saw
12...Bxh2+ 13.Kxh2 Ng4+ 14.Kgl Qxg5
15.f3 Ngf6 16.b4 with good
compensation in R.Wojtaszek-P.Negi,
German League 2012; compared with
the equivalent line after 11...a6 12 Ng5,
here the rook on c8 is less useful for
Black than the pawn on a6.]

13.Nxh7
[13.Bxh7+ is also possible, "but we
found compensation for Black in all the
"This is the typical reaction and a lines," said Anand. In ChessBase
very logical move", according to Anand. Magazine he gave this sample line:
13...Kh8 14.Be4 Nxe4 15.Ngxe4 Bb8,

156
"and in fact...Qh4 is coming and the
Rc8 and the black bishops are perfectly
placed."]
EXERCISE (difficult): Try to discover
how to follow up Black's idea.
ANSWER: 13 ... Ng4!
Anand said that this is the first key
move instead of taking the knight on
h7, Black continues with his own plan,
offering an exchange.
14.f4
[In ChessBase Magazine, Anand
said that Aronian was already out of his
own preparation, and 14.h3 "was
slightly safer", when "I think it's
important to play 14...Bh2+! 15.Khl
Qh4 and this seems good for Black." In
'CBM' he added that "this line is self­
evident and in fact if you analyse with
the computer a little bit, it will show all
the direct lines." For example, 16.Be4
(if 16.dS then 16... RfdB gives Black
good compensation) 16...Bxe4 17.Qxe4
f5 18.Qxe6+ Kxh7 19.Qxd7 cxd4
20.exd4 Bb8 21.Kgl Bh2+ 22.Khl Bb8
with a draw by repetition, which is
theoretically satisfactory for Black.]
14...cxd4
Played after half an hour's thought.
In the press conference, Anand
explained that: "To be honest, 1 was
trying to remember the details, which
is why 1 spent half an hour here, which
is strange if you consider that this is
preparation, but of course, sorne time
had passed."
15.exd4
QUESTION: How does a world
champion operate in this complicated
position? What does he think about?
157
How does he decide on his move?
ANSWER: There is no universal
method. Anand commented that he
couldn't remember exactly what he had
prepared which was a problem, given
that the position requires concrete
measures, based on salid tactical
grounds, rather than simple moves
based just on common sense. There
were several possibilities to consider.
This was his thinking process:"I was
considering moves like 15...e5,
15...Nde5, 15...Qh4, etc. But none of
them made a lot of sense. And then 1
got the key." This seems to contradict
what he said previously, but then the
explanation falls into place: "Though 1
couldn't remember the variations, 1
remembered that in sorne lines my
knight gets to d3. So 1 mainly
remembered the position where my
knight gets to d3 and from this 1
managed to reconstruct and find this
move...Bc5."This is a rather unusual
way of finding the salid tactical
justification we were talking about, but
in this case... it worked! [For White, the
engines initially prefer 15.Nxf8, but if
we go deeper, the black position is very
prom1smg; for example, 15...Bxf8
16.exd4 (or 16.h3 dxc3 17.hxg4 Nf6}
16...Ndf6 17.h3 Qxd4+ 18.Khl Nh5! a
line which Anand did remember.]
15...BcS! 16.Be2?!
Anand considered this a mistake.
[lnstead, after 16.dxc5 Nxc5 17.Nxf8 (it
was also possible to play 17.Qe2.
Aronian said that, in view of what
happened in the game, he should have
tried this; but after 17...Qd4+ 18.Khl
Nxd3 19.Qxg4 Kxh7 20.Qg3 Rfd8 (or
just 20... a6, Black has an excellent
position)J 17...Nxd3, Anand
commented that Black is "very
comfortable with the knight on d3, but
it might not be enough"; i.e. to win the 17.Bxg4
game.] [17.fxeS? runs into the familiar
mate 17... Qxd4+ 18.Khl Qgl+! 19.Rxgl
Nf2#.]

17...Bxd4+ 18.Khl Nxg4

QUESTION: 1 read recently that

sorne of the World's best players
believe that it isn't necessary to know
the historical games, the classical
models; and there are several who
admit that they've hardly looked at any
games of the great players of the past.
Is such knowledge redundant these
EXERCISE (difficult): There are a lot days?
of pieces hanging and it's difficult to
navigate with precision. What should ANSWER: "l'm glad you asked me
Black play now? that question." lt was here that Anand
was reminded of the game Rotlewi­
ANSWER: Once again it took a Rubinstein, Lodz 1907. "For me, it's just
while for Anand to make his move, a classic. 1 imagine for Gelfand also. He
though not a lot this time, since the would have remembered it effortlessly;
main idea was already clear to him, so first of all he knows his classics and
he was able to 'find'... secondly it's Rubinstein. he is one of his
big heroes." The main difference, as
16 ...NdeS!! Anand pointed out, is that in the
Anand was asked if this beautiful Rubinstein game Black invaded the
move was still part of his preparation, white camp with both rooks, but
and he replied: "Not that 1 can recall otherwise the games are remarkably
exactly; 1 knew that the position was similar.
good for Black. 1 was just playing with
that confidence." Later, in ChessBase 19.Nxf8
Magazine, he wrote: "This is simply a
brilliant move. So if there is a single
move of which 1 am really proud in this
game, it's move 16." [On the other
hand, Anand said that 16 Be2 surprised
him, as after 16...Bxd4+ 17.Khl Nf2+
(17...Nxh2? doesn't work in view of
18.Ng5!; while 17...Nde5? allows simply
18.fxe5, among other things) 18.Rxf2
Bxf2 19.Nxf8 Nxf8, "Black also stands
very well, because he will play... Qh4,
and...Bg3 or something like that."]

158
 [lf 19.NgS then 19...fs 20.h3 Rf6 ANSWER: 21...Nxh2! is now decisive;
21.Nf3 Rh6 wins.] (whereas the obvious 21...Qh4?; and
21...Qh6? both fail to 22.Nf3, as after
EXERCISE (difficult): How to 22... Bxf3 23.gxf3, the white queen
continue the attack? defends h2.}

ANSWER: 19 ...fS! ! 21...Qxg6

"This is a move of which l'm proud, Anand emphasized that, although
To find it over the board is of course Black's attack with ...Qf6, ...Qxg6,
very pleasant."Anand wrote that it ...QhS, etc is very slow, White is
didn't take him very long to find this defenceless because of the strength of
move, because the ideas were quite Black's bishops and knight on g4.
obvious. The basis of Black's strategy is
that the queen will go to h4 or f6, 22.Qe2 QhS 23.Qd3?!
capture the knight, and leave White [23.Rf3 doesn't hold either. "I
defenceless. "So this was also very didn't see a defence; the best he can do
easy," he said. [But we should point out is reach a worse ending"; i.e. after
that Anand had to foresee this befare 23...Nf2+ 24.Kh2 (not 24.Rxf2? Qxh3+
playing his 16th move, since the 25.Kgl Qxg2#) 24...Bxf3 25.Qxf3 Qxf3
tempting 19...Qh4? fails to 20.Qh7+!.] 26.gxf3 Bxc3 (or 26...Nd3) 27.bxc3 Rxc3
but without any real hope of saving the
20.Ng6 game, one can add.]
Preventing ...Qh4 for now.
EXERCISE: There are now several
EXERCISE: What does Black play ways to win. Which is the most
instead? elegant?

ANSWER: 20...Qf6 ANSWER: 23... Be3!

Slower, but still deadly, threatening This interferes with the white
21...Qxg6 and then ...QhS or ...Qh6. queen's defence along the third rank
There is no good defence. and threatens 24...Qxh3 mate.Anand
again referred to the similarities with
21.h3 Rotlewi-Rubinstein: "lt was the same
idea: bishop on b6, bishop on b7,
EXERCISE: How would you refute knight on g4, queen on h4, and always
21.NeS? something on g3, h3, ...Rxc3-h3 it's very
similar." 0-1

In the mini-interview after the game Aronian said: "I think 1 fell into a theoretical trap. 1
didn't see 15...BcS, which is very strong... 1 should study the openings better," he said,
with his sense of humour which never seems to desert him.

"So, one of the best games of my life obviously! Especially against a giant like Levan. 1
was very happy, it was a rest day, very nice..." was Anand's final comment
in ChessBase Magazine.

159
Let's remind ourselves of the finish to "Rubinstein's lmmortal":

G.Rotlewi-A.Rubinstein, Lodz 1907

Black to play

22... Rc3!! 23. gh4 Rd2!! 24. Qd2 Be4 25. Qg2 Rh3! 0-1

Game Twenty-Seven

An Encouraging Triumph in Preparation for the Match

After Wijk aan Zee, Anand's next commitment was the GRENKE Chess Classic in Baden­
Baden, a Category XIX event played between the 7th and 17th of February. This was a
double-round tournament of six players, comprising the three best in Germany, Arkadij
Naiditsch, Daniel Fridman and Georg Meier, and three elite players, Fabiano Caruana,
Michael Adams and Anand himself. Anand took first place with 6Yi points out of 10,
ahead of Caruana on 6. lt was his first tournament win since Linares/Morelia 2008, but
he was highly motivated for the defence of the title at the end of the year.

Anand commented that his last reasonably good performance was in Wijk aan Zee
2011, where he finished second: "after that 1 was practically on a precipice and the
next five tournaments were horrible." He added that "after Bilbao 2011 my greatest
problem was to reach interesting positions, with chances. This year the new problem is
exploiting those chances", and he quoted games where he had let the full point escape
him. However, he said that it was better to have the second problem rather than the
first, and he remarked: "I need to improve my technique."

Let's now see an example of that improved technique of the World Champion.

D Naiditsch,A
•Anand,V With two rounds to go, Anand had
Sicilian Defence {852] been lying second, a point behind the
27: Baden-Baden,2013 leader Caruana, but after his win
[Zenón Franco] against Fridman and Caruana's defeat

160
by Adams, the World Champion found analysing precisely this position (among
himself, in his own words, many others, naturally) and noticed
"unexpectedly" sharing first place with that it was possible to delay castling
Caruana going into the final round. with this queen move, which attacks
the pawns on e4 and c4.0ne of the
1.e4 es 2.Nf3 dG 3.BbS+ important games to feature this line
Anand hadn't been having good was G.Kasparov-Rest of the World,
results against this check; on the other online game 1999. Anand hadn't
hand, or precisely because of this, he actually analysed this in any depth
had been analysing several critica! because, after the semi-forced line that
positions that can arise from it. follows, Black gains two pawns for the
exchange without running any great
3...Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.c4 NfG risks, which seemed sufficient
[Anand had previously employed compensation.
the move arder 5...Nc6 6.d4 cxd4
7.Nxd4 g6 8.Nc3 Bg7 9.Nde2 Nf6 10.f3 11.NdS
0-0 11.0-0 a6 12.a4 e6 13.Bg5 h6 Almost forced. [After ll.Qb3 0-0
14.Bh4 Rfd8 15.Rbl Qc7 16.Khl Rd7 12.Nf4 Qc8 13.Nfd5, Black achieves a
17.Rcl Re8 18.Nd5 exd5?! 19.cxd5 Qb6 good position with either 13...Nxd5 (or
20.Bf2 Qxb2 21.dxc6 bxc6 22.Rxc6 with 13...e6 14.Nxf6+ Bxf6 15.Bh6 Rd8
advantage to White in F.Caruana­ 16.Racl Ne5, B.Damljanovic-1.Stohl,
V.Anand, Sao Paulo/Bilbao 2012 European Team Championship, Batumi
(though Yz-Yz in 70 moves).] 1999} 14.Nxd5 e6 15.Ne3 Ne5 16.Bd2
Qc6 17.f3 f5, P.Velicka-V.Dydyshko,
6.Nc3 gG 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bg7 9.0-0 Czech League 2000.]
[Diverging from 9.f3 Qc7 10.b3 Qa5
ll.Bb2 Nc6 12.0-0 0-0 13.Nce2 Rfd8 11... Qxe4 12.Nc7+ Kd7 13.Nxa8 Qxc4
14.Bc3 Qb6 15.Khl d5 16.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Nc3
17.Qel, which ended in victory for [Kasparov chose 14.Nb6+ axb6,
White in M.Carlsen-V.Anand, from the doubling Black's pawns. Anand said
same tournament, Sao Paulo/Bilbao that doubled pawns are a weakness in
2012.] theory, but this case isn't so clear, and
White's position doesn't appear to be
9...NcG 10.Nde2 anything to boast about.]

EXERCISE: Why not continue with 14... RxaS 15.BgS

10 f3, as Caruana did in the game A logical developing move which
quoted above? has been played several times; [as has
15.Rel.Anand gives a very instructive
ANSWER: lt is necessary to retreat description here: "There's no need to
the knight first, since 10.f3? fails to study all the games. lf you look at the
10...Nxe4!. position and put a white pawn on f4
instead of on f2, for example, this
10... QeG resembles a position from the Austrian
Anand commented that, just Attack. There White has a pawn on c2
befare the tournament, he'd been and even so Black has good

161
compensation. The position looks so
good that 1 couldn't take it seriously."] 18...exdS 19.Radl h6 20.Bcl d4
The black pawns, although
15...e6 16.Rel doubled, restrict the mobility of the
white rooks.
EXERCISE: (difficult, positional):
What to play now? 21.Rd3 Res 22.Rb3 b6 23.Kfl NeS
24.Ra3 as
ANSWER: Anand related the Anand criticized his choice here,
process by which he chose his next attributing it to optimism. [He thought
move. He said that, after 16.Rel, Black that the quieter move 24...Rc7 was
has several moves that hold the preferable, with the following sample
position, such as 16...h6, followed by line: 25.h3 gS 26.f4 gxf4 27.Bxf4 Ke6
bringing the king to f8, relying on his and even though the computer
two pawns for the exchange.(On the considers the position to be balanced,
other hand, the presence of the queens once the black king reaches dS, the eS­
means that tactics will be ever-present, knight will become mobile and Black
which will be more likely to affect the will be able to play ...Bes, after first
black king while it remains in the defending the h-pawn.]
centre; for example, if 16... RdB, White
could play 17.Qf3. With the queens on
the board it also would be difficult for
Black to exploit his extra pawns,
because advancing them would open
lines, so the following move soon
began to look more attractive.)

16...NdS
Anand commented that "of course
it's depressing to change these two
pawns into doubled d-pawns", but he
thought that it was worth the trouble
and that, without the queens, Black EXERCISE: What's the drawback to
could force White to give ground. Anand's move?

17.NxdS QxdS 18.QxdS ANSWER: 25.b4!

This changes the character of the
QUEST/ON: But what if White position. In the line in the previous
doesn't exchange on dS? note, White was passive and forced to
wait for Black to make progress. White
ANSWER: Anand doesn't even needs to try to avoid this scenario by
mention avoiding the exchange and the complicating the struggle, and 24...aS
engines aren't impressed either. After has helped him in that respect, since he
18.Qg4, for example, Black can play is now able to come to grips with the
18...QfS 19.Qg3 Rc8 20.Radl dS with a enemy.
good position.

162
25 ...Rc2
[At first 25...axb4 26.Ra7+ Kc6 27.f4
Nd3 28.Rdl Nc5 29.Rxf7 Bh8 30.Bd2 b3
31.axb3 Nxb3 32.Rh7 h5 33.Rh6 Rg8
seemed to Anand to be good for Black,
but then he couldn't see any clear way
to exploit his scattered passed pawns.]
26.bxaS bxaS
Threatening ... Nc4, or else ... Nd3 if
the a3-rook leaves the third rank. lt
appears that White is effectively forced
to sound the retreat once more.
EXERCISE: What move changes the
picture completely?
ANSWER: 27.RxaS!
Played immediately. This surprising
defensive resource was overlooked by
Anand when he played...Rc2, though he
saw it immediately afterwards. White
seeks salvation in a rook ending. [Both
27.Rdl Nc4 28.Rf3 Ke6; and 27.Bf4 Nc4
28.Rb3 Rxa2 (or first 28...gS, are clearly
inferior, because White would be very
passive.)
27... Nd3 28.Ra7+ KcG 29.Rxf7 Nxel
30.Kxel Rxcl+
QUESTION: Why exchange pieces?
lsn't it better for Black to retain his
bishop, in arder to support the passed
d4-pawn?
ANSWER: That would generally be
the case, but as usual every decision
needs to work tactically. Originally
Anand had planned to play 30...BeS,
but then he saw that White has
31.Bxh6 d3 32.Rf3!, when he defends
without any problems; for example,
32...Re2+ 33.Kdl Rxa2 34.Bf4.
31.Kd2
163
EXERCISE: How can Black retain
sorne practica! chances?
ANSWER: 31...Rgl
The only hope of victory; capturing
the a-pawn would be pointless.
32.Rxg7 Rxg2
EXERCISE: How should White
defend the f-pawn?
33.Kel?
A subtle move, but in fact a serious
error. As Anand said, it seems
appropriate to reject 33 Ke2 in arder to
avoid a future...d4-d3+, apparently
winning a tempo. Unfortunately, 33
Kel is bad for another reason.
ANSWER: 33.Ke2! was in fact the
right move; for example, after
33...Rxh2 {33...d3+ 34.Kxd3 Rxf2
35.Rxg6 Rxh2 36.a4 draws easily)
34.Rxg6 h5 35.Rh6 h4, White has two
defences: 36.Kd3 (36.a4 h3 37.aS Rhl
38.a6 h2 (this is virtually the same
position as after 39 a6 in the game, but
with White to move) 39.Rh7! draws; for
example, 39...KdS 40.a7 Ral 41.Rxh2
Rxa7 42.Kd2 Kc4 43.Rh6 Ra2+ 44.Kel!
Kd3 45.f4! etc.(45.--)) 36...h3 (or
36...KcS 37.a4 Rhl 38.aS h3 39.a6 Ral
40.Kd2 with similar play to 36 a4
above) 37.Kxd4, capturing the doubled
pawn, draws as well, since after
37...Rhl 38.Ke3, the white king reaches
safety in time and the h-pawn is kept
under control although it is worth
noting that, if the black pawn were
already on h2, Black would win with
38...Rel+.
33...Rxh2 34.RxgG
 QUESTION: We already know that
if White plays f2-f4 then...Ral wins, but
why is White lost here?

ANSWER: Because White will be

forced to worsen his position. He could
draw if he could "pass", but by means
of zugzwang Black will be able first to
capture the a-pawn then advance his
king to support the d-pawns.

QUESTION: What is the snag with
33 Kel?
ANSWER: 34...Rhl+!
This is the punishment. Rather than
gaining a tempo by avoiding ...d4-d3+,
White loses one to this rook check, so
Black wins by a single move, as we'll
see. [Black could delay the check and
play 34...hS first, but Anand had it all
worked out and played the rest of the
game extremely quickly.]
35.Kd2
[35.Ke2 is no better here.]
39.aG Kc7
[39...Kb6 40.Rxd6+ Ka7 41.Rh6 d3
wins as well but it complicates matters;
there is no need for Black to sacrifice
the rear d-pawn and have to calculate
it all accurately.]
40.Rh7+ Kb8 41.Ke2 d3+
Necessary to prevent White from
shuffling with his king between e2 and
d2.
42.Kd2
Now the white king is immobilized.;
[but the pawn obviously can't be taken
due to 42.Kxd3 Rdl+.]

35...hS 36.Rh6 EXERCISE: How can Black make

[36.Kd3 h4 37.Kxd4 h3 is now too progress?
slow, since the white king remains
vulnerable to rook checks after 38...h2; ANSWER: 42...KaS!
whereas in the note to move 33, the By means of zugzwang. Black has
black rook was still on h2, giving the two waiting moves, ...d6-d5 and ...d5-
white king an extra tempo to reach d4, whereas White, who can't move his
safety.] king, has only one, the advance a6-a7.

36...h4 37.a4 43.RhS

[Pushing the f-pawn with 37.f4 The first achievement; the black
allows Black an easy win by...h4-h3-h2 king will now be able to join in the
and...Ral; for example, 37...h3 38.fS h2 struggle. [43.a7 d5 would only have
39.Rh7 (or 39.f6 Kdl} 39...Ral 40.Rxh2 postponed matters for a move, as the
Rxa2+, skewering the white rook.] rook would now have to allow the black
monarch through.]
37...h3 38.aS h2

164
43 ... Ka7 44.RhG dS
As befare, there's no
sacrifice the pawn.
45.Rh8 Kxa6 46.RhG+ KbS 47.Rh8 Kc4
[47...Kc4 threatens to win with 48.­
- Ral 49.Rxh2 Ra2+ 50.Kdl Kc3 and
mates, since there is no check on c8.]
48.Rc8+ Kd4 49.Rh8 Ke4
EXERCISE: Why did White resign
here?
ANSWER: His king can't move at all,
because any move would allow a rook
check, followed by promoting the
need to pawn. Meanwhile White's rook has to
keep attacking the h-pawn, in arder to
prevent the black rook from simply
moving out of the way, allowing the
pawn to promote. This means that the
f-pawn can't be saved, and once the f­
pawn drops, the second rank will be
open and the familiar winning resource
...Ral will be possible.[For example,
49...Ke4 50.Rh3 Kf4 51.Rh8 Kf3 52.Rf8+
Kg2 (threatening to move the rook and
promote the pawn) 53.Rg8+ Kxf2
54.Rh8 Kf3 55.Rf8+ Ke4 56.Rh8 and
now 56...Ral 57.Rxh2 Ra2+ etc.] 0-1

So Anand 'did what he had to'. Caruana looked as if he was going to win as well, but he
missed sorne chances and after 86 moves he had to be content with a draw, which left
Anand as sale winner of the tournament.

Anand's intense tournament activity very soon continued with the Zürich Chess
Challenge, a category XXI event, held between the 23rd of February and the lst of
March. This was quadrangular double-round event, in which Fabiano Caruana achieved
a notable triumph with 4 points out of 6, followed by Anand on 3, with Kramnik and
Gelfand tied on 2Yi.

From the 15th of March to the lst of April, an event of sorne importance to Anand
took place in London. This was the Candidates Tournament, from which emerged his
next challenger for title of World Champion. lt was to be Magnus Carlsen this time,
who won after a tight and dramatic finish, ahead of Kramnik on tie-break.
Subsequently, from the 21st of April to the lst of May, Anand played in the Alekhine
Memorial in Paris/St Petersburg, finishing third with 5 points, behind Aronian and
Gelfand on 5Yi.

Game Twenty-Eight

"One of those Dream Najdorfs"

The marathon continued with the strongest tournament ever played in Norway, a
Category XXI event staged between the 7th and 18th of May at several different
venues in the Stavanger region, with the participation of six of the top ten players in
the Elo list. Karjakin won with 6 points out of 9, followed by Carlsen and Nakamura
with 5Yi, then Svidler, Aronian and Anand on 5.

165
Anand was in the hunt for first place right up to the last round, in which all six of the
elite participants had a chance to win the event, Karjakin was the leader with 51/i/8,
followed by Carlsen and Anand on 5, and then Svidler, Nakamura and Aronian on 41/i.
in the end Wang Hao defeated Anand, and Carlsen drew with Aronian, which meant
that Karjakin's draw (with Topalov) was enough for him to win the tournament
outright.

Here is one of Anand's three wins in Norway. He enjoys playing the Najdorf Variation
of the Sicilian with both colours, and he was very pleased with his victory against
Topalov in the third round.

DAnand,V 14.The text move is less common but is

•Topalov,V also becoming popular. Anand was
Sicilian Defence {890} actually one of the first to play it,
28: Stavanger, 2013 against Morozevich in 2006. Leaving
[Zenón Franco] the g-pawn on g4 for the moment has
the virtue that it controls the f5-square,
1.e4 es 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 which can be useful in the event that
S.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 eS 7.Nb3 White plays Nd5 and Black responds
lt is worth noting that one can find with...Nxd5. However, this doesn't
numerous games featuring this position mean that g4-g5 isn't a move to
by both players, with both Black and consider in the near future; and as we'll
White. In contrast, the person who has see further on, the rook being on gl
done most to revitalize the Najdorf opens up new possibilities.
Variation in modern times, Garry
Kasparov, has a much higher 12...Nb6
percentage of games with the black [Another option is 12...b4, but then
pieces. In several lines, contemporary Black must give up his bishop; i.e.
theory reaches almost to move 30. 13.Nd5 Bxd5 14.exd5, and after 14...a5
15.g5 Nh5 16.Kbl (clearing the ideal
7...Be6 8.f3 Be7 9.Qd2 0-0 10.0-0-0 defensive square on el for the knight)
Nbd7 11.g4 bS 12.Rgl 16...a4 (or if 16...RbB, as in V.Anand­
A.Morozevich, Monte Cario blindfold
QUESTION: 1 know that we're on rapid 2006, then 17.Rg4} 17.Ncl Qa5
well-known ground here, and so far the 18.Nd3 Rfb8 19.Rg4, White was a bit
moves of both sides have looked logical better in L.Dominguez Perez-L.Van
to me, but this one is a bit strange, isn't Wely, Foros 2007. Here we can see one
it? Aren't we in a typical attacking race of the justifications of 12 Rgl the rook
with the kings castled on opposite can come quickly to the queenside via
sides? Why is this move better than g4.]
continuing with g4-g5? What
advantages does it have? 13.NaS
This prevents ...Nc4, eyes c6, and
ANSWER: The main line is 12.g5, prepares a typical pawn sacrifice in this
played in thousands of games, and line with Nd5.
which we've already seen in Game

166
13 ... RcS S.Karjakin, Nice (rapid) 2009, continued
[Let's look at another example 16.NdS NxdS 17.exdS BxdS 18.QxdS
featuring Anand with White: 13...Qc7 QxaS 19.c4!
14.gS Nfd7 15.NdS BxdS 16.exdS NxdS
17.QxdS QxaS 18.Bd3 Qc7? 19.g6! QUESTION: Hang on isn't there a
(again the usefulness of Rgl is evident) rule that says you shouldn't touch the
19...Nf6? 20.gxf7+ Kh8 pawns on your weaker wing?

EXERCISE: Can you work out how
Anand finished this game off?
ANSWER: 21.Rxg7! Kxg7 (obviously
21...NxdS is impossible on account of
22.Rxh7#} 22.Rgl+ Kh8 23.Bh6
(threatening Bg7, an unusual mate)
23...Ng4 (if 23 ...NhS then 24.BxfB Rxf8
25.RgB+) 24.Rxg4 Rxf7 25.Qxa8+ 1-0
V.Anand-L.Van Wely, Monte
(blindfold rapid) 2007.
14.gS NhS 15.Kbl Nf4
Topalov adds another piece to the
control of dS and now threatens ...b5-
b4.
QUESTION: Why not
immediately?
ANSWER: Because White's main
idea here is then very strong: 16.NdS!
NxdS 17.exdS QxaS (neither 17...BfS
18.Nc6; nor 17...Bd7 18.Qxb4 is much
better) 18.dxe6 fxe6 19.Bh3! and the
e6-pawn falls, leaving White in control
of the light squares.
EXERCISE: Refute 19 ... Kf7.
ANSWER: Yes, and most of the
time this is valid, because the opponent
often has the advantage there; but in
this case Black can't exploit the opening
of the enemy king's defences and in
fact his bS-pawn is weak. White
dominates the light squares and has
greater mobility, thanks to his two
bishops and the ability of his gl-rook
Cario to come into play via g4. The X-ray
between the two queens also works in
White's favour here.After 19...Rb8
20.Rg4 Ng7 21.h4 (defending the g­
pawn, with the option of a later h4-h5
if the knight moves away) 21...NfS
22.Bf2 Bd8 23.cxbS axbS 24.Bd3 b4?!
25.Qb3! Bb6 26.Rxb4 Qxb4 {26...Ba7
15...b4 27.Bel is annoying, and if 27...Qc7 then
28.BxfS gxf5 29.Qd3, so Karjakin
decides to sacrifice the queen) 27.Qxb4
Bxf2, White had the advantage but the
technical difficulties are very complex
and Karjakin eventually managed to
draw.) 16...Qc7 and then 17.NdS NxdS
18.exdS BxdS 19.QxdS QxaS 20.Bd3
Rfd8 21.Rg4 Rb8.
EXERCISE: Find a way to justify
White's pawn sacrifice.

ANSWER: The quickest is 20.g6+! ANSWER: This can be done with

hxg6 21.Qg2 with a mating attack yet the slow but deadly move 22.Rh4!
another positive side of including the (once again showing the usefulness of
move Rgl!.; lnstead of Topalov's Rgl!) with the threat of RxhS followed
15...Nf4, it was also possible to play by Qe4, against which there is no good
15...g6. Let's examine another defence. For example, S.Ter Sahakyan­
instructive example, in which White Wei Vi, World Junior Championships,
played 16.a3!? (Then V.Anand- Athens 2012, saw White carry out his

167
threat after 22...Qc7 (if 22... Ngl then
23.Rxhl! Kxhl 24.Qxfl Rf8 25.Qxg6+
Kg8 26.Qhl+ Kfl 27.Bg6+ Ke6 28.Qxgl
b4 29.Bh5! and White's attack strikes
first) 23.RxhS! gxhS 24.Qe4 fS 2S.QxfS
Bf8 26.g6 with a decisive attack.]
16.a3 g6
[The immediate 16...Qc7 was an
alternative. After 17.Bxf4 exf4, White
can offer the same pawn sacrifice with
18.NdS. More recently, Anand declined
the pawn with 18...BxdS (Then
L.Dominguez Perez-L.Van Wely, Wijk
aan Zee 2010, continued 18...NxdS
19.exdS BxdS 20.QxdS QxaS 21.Bd3 g6
22.h4 Res 23.Qe4 Res 24.Qxf4 Rb8
2S.c3 Qb6 26.Bc2 as 27.Bb3 and White
had sorne initiative. This line has sorne
similarity to our main game.(27.--))
19.exdS QcS 20.Rg4 Rfe8 21.h4 Bf8
22.Rxf4 NxdS! 23.Nb3 and a draw was
agreed in P.Leko-V.Anand, Wijk aan Zee
2013; (on 23.Qxd5, the continuation
would have been 23...Qxd5 24.Rxd5
Rel+ 25.Ka2 Rxfl.}]
17.h4
The gS-pawn requires protection.
17...Qc7
[After 17...dS, one possibility is
18.Bxf4 exf4 19.NxdS NxdS 20.exdS
BxdS 21.QxdS QxaS 22.Bd3, when the
duel between the bishops again favours
White, whose light-squared bishop is
more active.]
18.Bxf4 exf4 19.NdS! BxdS 20.exdS
With the disappearance of Black's
light-squared bishop, the threat of Nc6
becomes stronger.
20...NxdS
[Black is almost obliged to take the
pawn, since 20...QcS 21.Rg4 Rfe8 (as
168
Anand played against Leko) is less
effective here, on account of 22.Rxf4
Bf8 23.Re4.]
21.QxdS QxaS
[Not 21...Qxc2+? 22.Kal and Black
has nothing.]
EXERCISE: After all the examples
that we've seen, it shouldn't be difficult
for you to find White's best move here!
ANSWER: 22.Rg4!
The rook becomes active, regaining
the pawn; and thanks to his superior
bishop and the possibility of breaking
with h4-hS, White's position is
preferable.
22...RcS 23.Qb3 dS
[23...RfS is pointless in view of
24.Bd3. With 23...dS Black activates his
bishop, at the cost of weakening his d­
pawn.]
24.Rxf4 Qc7 25.Rfd4 Qh2
By putting pressure on the h4-
pawn with this infiltration, Topalov is
trying to complicate the struggle,
because if the game continues on a
quiet course, it won't be in his favour.
[For instance, after 2S...Rd8, White can
play 26.f4, planning Bg2, or first f4-fS to
weaken Black's castled position
especially if taking on dS would drop with the black bishop already active.(.
the f4-pawn in any case.] The key is that Black must capture on
h4 when White takes on dS, whereas
EXERCISE (positional): White has after 28...Qxg2 29.Bxg2 Rc4 30.f4 Rxd4
the advantage; his pieces are more {30 . . . B c5 ?! 31.Rxc4} 31.Rxd4 Bes
active and there is a weakness on dS, 32.RxdS RxdS 33.BxdS Bf2 34.b4, White
but Black's position is not going to would attain a favourable endgame,
collapse on its own. How can White despite the opposite-coloured bishops.
make progress? That's his general aim, the creation of
passed pawns, on the queenside.)]
ANSWER: 26.c3 !
White eliminates the pressure on 28...BdG?!
c2, though that isn't the only idea [The critica! move is 28...Qxh4!.
behind this move. Probably Anand would have ended up
playing 29.Bg2, with ideas similar to
26... RdS those we'll see in the game.(Anand was
thinking about answering this with
EXERCISE: What is the complement 29.Qg2, intending Be2 and Rhl, but he
to White's previous move? couldn't find any path to an advantage
after 29...Re8 ("a remarkable move"
ANSWER: 27.Qc2! Anand) (the engines prefer the reverse
White invites an exchange of arder of moves, first 29... Bd6, already
queens, which is in his favour, since he pressing against f4, and if 30.Be2 then
can then put pressure on, and 30... ReB)
eventually capture, the dS-pawn in
advantageous circumstances. QUESTION: lnstead of 30 Be2, can't
Otherwise, White can transfer his White win with 30.BxbS, followed by
queen to a more active position. Rhl?

27...Qg3 ANSWER: Anand saw that line too,

[Exchanging queens on c2 isn't but he didn't think it was adequate.
beneficia! for Black, who has a White does indeed win the queen, but
permanent weakness on dS. After the technical difficulties after (30.Be2,
27 ...Qxc2+?! 28.Kxc2, as well as 29 f4 since 30...Bd6! 31.Rhl? can now be
followed by Bg2, it's also possible to answered by 31...Rxe2.{31... --))
play 29 b4 because the c-pawn is 30...RxbS 31.Rhl Qxhl+ 32.Qxhl Bxa3
defended.] 33.b4 as are almost insoluble.)]

28.f4 29.Bg2
Anand was a1mmg for a position [Here 29.Qg2 would simply be
with his bishop on dS, when White answered by 29...Bxf4.]
would be better thanks to the strong
pawn on gS. [He would have liked to 29 ...Bxf4 30.BxdS
play 28.Qg2. However, Black has a Now White has achieved the sort of
stronger move in 28...Bd6!, when the ideal position Anand was aiming for.
exchange of queens is less convincing The bishop is very strong on dS, and its

169
pressure on f7 is important."I felt that
tactically with so many majar pieces
the opposite-coloured bishops don't
really come into play" (Anand); i.e. as a
possible drawing factor.
30 ... Kg7
EXERCISE: How can White make
progress?
ANSWER: 31.Qe4!
Centralization! This protects the
bishop and threatens Rfl. The
difference in dynamism between the
two sides is remarkable.
31...Qe3
"Of course the move that worried
me." {Anand) [lnstead, 31...BeS? loses
to 32.Rfl! Bxd4 33.Qxd4+ and mates;
while 31...Qxh4 fails to 32.Bxf7 (or even
the simple 32.Bb3) 32...BxgS 33.Qb7!.]
EXERCISE: The structure has
changed. What should White play now?
ANSWER: 32.Qhl!
In view of all the open lines, the
power of the dS-bishop, and the
weakness of f7, exchanging queens is
naturally out of the question. [The
alternative was 32.Qg2, with the same
idea of increasing the pressure on f7 by
Qfl. Anand didn't know which square
was better, but he finally decided on hl
because in sorne lines it might
important to have the back rank
defended.]
32...Rd7 33.Rld3?!
QUESTION: 1 don't understand;
wasn't 33 Qfl the idea? What's wrong
with it?
ANSWER: You're right;, the World
Champion didn't play the most
accurate move, which was 33.Qfl! as
planned. lf then 33...BeS 34.R4d3! Qf4,
White wins with 35.Rf3!.
33...QeS?!
This is not the most tenacious
defence, since it allows the white
queen to return to the f-file, winning
material. 33...Qf2 would have created
more difficulties.
EXERCISE: Why isn't 34.Rf3 as
strong as it looks?
ANSWER: Black has the resource
34...Qxd4! (not 34... Qh2? because of
35.Rfxf4} 35.cxd4 Rcl+ and he survives
after 36.Qxcl Bxcl 37.Bc6 Rc7.
EXERCISE: lsn't 34 Bf3 stronger
here?
ANSWER: 34.Bf3? fails to
34... Qxd3+ 35.Rxd3 Rxd3 and White's
advantage has vanished.J
34.Qf3!
Reaching the ideal position for
White.
34... Bh2
be
170
 EXERCISE: What is the best way for 35...Qxe6!? 36.Rxd7 Rf5 would have
White to crystallize his advantage? created more problems, although after
37.Qhl, followed by R7d5, White's
ANSWER: 35.BeG! material advantage should count in the
A beautiful move which wins long run.After the move played,
material. [Anand wasn't certain that White's task is simpler.
this was the best choice technically
(we'll expand on this in the next note). 36.Re4 RxeG
He hesitated between this spectacular [lf 36...Qc7, White mates with
move and the simple 35.Bb3!; for 37.Qf6+ Kg8 38.Bxf7+ Rxf7 39.Re8+
example, 35...Re7? runs into 36.Re3!, etc.]
while against other defensive tries he
can just play 36 Ka2 and there "must be 37 .RxeS RcxeS 38.Rd8
a mate" after Re4 or Rd8.] Threatening 39 Qa8.

35...Re7 38...Re4 39.Ka2 Bf4 40.Rd7

"There is no defence against Ra7
QUESTION: You'll have to explain and Rxa6." (Anand)
to me why Anand hesitated over
playing 35 Be6. 40...KgS 41.Ra7
"This is one of the dream Najdorfs
ANSWER: Topalov's reply carne as that 1 get and obviously 1 was very
good news to Anand, who thought that pleased." 1-0

Game Twenty-Nine

Last Tournament in Preparation for the Match

Gelfand gained, in his own words, his most outstanding success for years in winning
the 8th Tal Memorial, a Category XXII event, held on 12th-24th June in Moscow. He
scored 6 points out of 9, ahead of Carlsen in second on 5Yi, followed by Caruana,
Mamedyarov and Andreikin on 5. This was the last of the six tournaments that Anand
played as part of his preparations for the title match against Carlsen. He didn't play
well, scoring just 3Yi points. On the other hand, it was his only really bad performance
in the run-up to the match, and it wasn't necessarily a bad sign - if we remember that,
befare successfully defending his title against Kramnik in 2008, he had played badly in
Bilbao; as he had in 2010 as well befare the match against Topalov.

Let's look at Anand's only, hard-fought, victory in this tournament.

D Anand,V
• Morozevich,A 1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 NcG 3.BbS aG 4.Ba4 NfG
Spanish Opening {C93} 5.0-0 Be7 6.Rel bS 7 .Bb3 dG 8.c3 0-0
29: Tal Memorial, Moscow, 2013 9.h3 Re8 10.d4 Bb7
[Zenón Franco] The Zaitsev Variation, which
171
opened new paths for Black by showing
that he can dispense with ...h7-h6.
11.Nbd2
[The key is that Black needn't fear
11.NgS Rf8 12.f4, as we mentioned in
the notes to Game 13.]
11...BfS 12.a3
With this move White retains the
option of keeping his bishop active on
the a2-g8 diagonal. lt also lends
support to a possible b2-b4 advance.
[Until relatively recently, 12.a4 was the
most common move here, as Anand
played against Adams in Game 13.]
12... h6 13.Ba2
Consistent with his previous move;
[although there have been many games
with 13.Bc2 as well, preparing Nfl. In
that case the move a2-a3 comes in
useful, since White can play Nfl
without worrying about ...e5xd4 and
...Nb4, attacking both the e4-pawn and
the 'Spanish' bishop (as occurs in the 12
a4 main line).]
13...NbS
Another standard manoeuvre,
putting pressure on e4 and planning to
recycle the knight to a more flexible
square on d7, followed by a later ...c7-
c5.
14.Qb3
[lf White plays 14.dS, Black can
attack the centre immediately with
14...c6. Then after 15.dxc6 Bxc6, one of
the typical ideas is to play 16.Nh2,
planning Ng4 and/or Qf3.]
14...Qd7
After this reply we can be sure that
White can't be worse, since the black
queen is occupying the square needed
172
by the b8-knight, but other defences of
f7 have their drawbacks too. [14... Qe7
was mentioned by GM Pavlovic. Then
after 15.a4, if Black resorts to the
artificial 15...Bc6 (the typical defence
15...c6? isn't possible owing to 16.dxeS
dxe5 17.NxeS!}, Pavlovic suggests 16.dS
Bd7 17.c4 with a slight advantage to
White.; 14... Re7 can be met by 15.Nh4,
intending either Nf5 or Ng6, to capture
the f8-bishop (as in R.Van Kampen­
B.Arvola, London 2012).(Alternatively,
15.dxeS dxe5 16.c4 is interesting, when
16...c6? again fails to 17.cxbS cxb5
18.NxeS! (Pavlovic).)J
15.Qc2
lf the black queen now retreats to
d8, to clear the way for the knight,
White will have gained Qc2,
overprotecting the e4-pawn, 'for free',
so Black tries something else.
15...cs 16.dS
EXERCISE: How should Black
continue?
ANSWER: 16...c4!
This move highlights the fact that
by playing c2-c3 and a2-a3 White has
actually weakened his structure. [In
answer to other moves, such as
16... Qc7, making way for the b8-knight,
White would play 17.c4.]
17.b3
This is necessary to activate
White's pieces; the price is a backward
pawn on the e-file.
17 ...cxb3 18.Bxb3 Qc7 19.a4 Rc8 20.c4
b4
A logical move, in Anand's opinion;
[in the light of a previous game,
G.Kamsky-D.Jakovenko, Moscow 2007,
which went 20 ...Nbd7 21.Ba3 QaS recycled via c8 to d7 at an opportune
(intending...b5-b4 and...NcS), when moment. In this manner the other
"Kamsky played in an interesting way": black pieces gain mobility.
22.Nfl bxc4 (White discourages 22... b4
in view of 23.Qd2} 23.Bxc4 Nb6 23.Bc2 Bc8!
24.N1d2 Qxa4 25.Qxa4 Nxa4 26.Rebl [Anand also looked at 23...NcS
Rc7 27.Bxd6 Bxd6 28.Rxa4 with a slight 24.Nb3 Ncxe4 25.Bxe4 Qxc4 26.Nfd2
advantage.] QbS 27.Bd3 QxdS 28.Bfl and White is
better. "lt's good not to allow mate, but
1 also threaten Nc4-b6."]

24.Ra4
"Now 1 have to attach myself to this
pawn." (Anand)

EXERCISE: How can Black improve

the coordination of his pieces?

ANSWER: 24...Be71
[Black can't play 24...NcS yet,
owing to 25.Rxb4, when he can't
EXERCISE: What should White play capture on as with his queen because
now? the b8-rook is hanging, nor can he
exchange rooks on b4 first because
ANSWER: 21.aS! Qxb4 defends the aS-pawn. Black
There is no alternative; it's therefore finds a way to improve the
essential to prevent...a6-a5, which position of his inactive bishop, which is
would defend the pawn and secure the heading for the g1-a7 diagonal.]
cS-square for the knight without
granting White any positional 25.Re3
compensation; whereas now the b4-
pawn remains isolated and White will QUESTION: lsn't there anything
manoeuvre to attack it. more useful than this? Can you explain
this move?
21... Nbd7 22.Qbl Rcb8
ANSWER: Yes, this is partly a
QUESTION: 1 understand that a waiting move, although it also prepares
rook must go a b8 to defend the b4- Nel-d3, increasing the pressure on b4.
pawn, but wasn't it better to play [As Anand explained in the press
22...Rab8, so that the a8-rook is not left conference after the game, the
inactive? situation on the queenside is a sort of
reciproca! zugzwang: White can't play
ANSWER: lt's true, the rook 25.Nb3 on account of 25...Qxc4;; nor
remains inactive for a time on a8, but 25.Bd3 as this allows 25...NcS;
this way Black hopes to solve the conversely, Black can't play...NcS
problem of the b7-bishop, which can be because Rxb4 wins a pawn, as we saw

173
in the previous note.]
31 ...QxcS
25...BdS!
[After 25...Bd8, Black is now ready QUESTION: And is White better
to play 26.-- Nc5, because if 27.Rxb4 after this exchange?
Rxb4 28.Qxb4, then 28...QxaS is
possible since the bishop on d8 is ANSWER: Let's allow the World
defending the queen.] Champion to speak for himself: "To be
honest White is not better in any way."
26.Rxb4 QxaS 27.Ba3 Qc7
32.Nd3
QUESTION: Black has obtained the White dreams of breaking with c4-
ideal square for his knight on c5, so c5, at sorne point when it works
where is White's advantage? tactically, destroying Black's structure
and creating a passed pawn on d5.
ANSWER: You're right, White
actually has no real advantage here. He 32...QaS
has more space but nothing tangible,
so the chances are equal, and the EXERCISE: Black has an obvious
struggle will be decided in favour of the plan to play ...Nd7 and then stick his
side that plays more strongly. bishop on b6, gaining mastery of the
dark squares. What can White do to
28.RxbS Rxb8 29.Rb3 Ra8 prevent this?
Optimistic and looking for a fight.
[Simpler was 29 ...Rxb3 30.Qxb3 Nc5 ANSWER: 33.Qcl
31.Qe3 Nfd7 with balanced play, but Planning Ra3 and Ba4-c6, activating
Black wants more.] his passive bishop. [Another possibility
was 33.Rb4 with the same idea, while
EXERCISE: Find a manoeuvre here maintaining an iron grip on the b-file; if
that White can employ to improve the 33...Nd7 34.Ba4 Nc5 then 35.Nb3! Nxb3
position of his pieces. 36.Qxb3 and White has improved his
position.]
ANSWER: 30.Nel
Heading for d3, to contest the c5- 33...Nd7 34.Ra3 Qc7 35.Ba4 BgS
square. The bishop didn't manage to reach
the g1-a7 diagonal but has found
30 ... NcS 31.BxcS another one on which to become
active.
QUESTION: Hmm, g1v1ng up this
bishop is not something l'd like to do. 36.BcG Rb8
Can you explain White's decision?
EXERCISE: Where should White
ANSWER: lt's very simple: there is move his queen in arder to escape
nothing else. lf White retreats his rook from the pin?
with 31.Rb2, Black could play 31...Nfd7,
bolstering his control of c5.] 37.Qc2?!

174

ANSWER: lt was better to play
37.Qel!, overprotecting e4 and thus
defusing 37...Nf6 (note that 37... Bxd2?!
38.Qxd2 Rbl+ 39.Kh2 Nf6 40.Qe3
achieves nothing for Black, who must
once again take c4-c5 into account},
since White could respond with 38.Nf3
and be closer to achieving the c4-c5
break.
37 ...fS
This risky pawn sacrifice surprised
Anand. [The natural 37...Nf6! was more
than promising for Black; for example,
after 38.Nf3 (or if 38.Nfl Nxe4 39.NxeS
NcS 40.Nf3 Bf6, the position has
opened up in favour of Black's dark­
squared bishop) 38...Nxe4 39.NdxeS
BfS! 40.NxgS hxgS 41.Nf3 Ng3 42.Qd2
Rbl+ 43.Nel Ne4, Black is more active.]
38.exfS Nf6 39.g4
Anand is relying on the current
passivity of the opposing pieces, which
will make it difficult for Black to exploit
this weakening of White's castled
position. lt's also worth recalling the
famous saying of Najdorf's wise auntie:
"better a pawn up than a pawn down".
[lnstead, 39.Nel Bxd2 40.Qxd2 Qb6
would give Black good compensation,
as it's difficult to hang on to the extra
pawn without allowing
counterchances; for example, 41.g4 hS
42.gxhS Ne4 43.Qe2 Qbl with good
play.]
39...e4
QUESTION: 1 appreciate that this is
the most 'human' move, consistent
with the pawn sacrifice and with...Nf6.
The analysis engines approve of Black's
position but prefer several other moves
here, such as 39...Qa7 or 39...Qe7.
175
Who's right?
ANSWER: Over the board and with
limited time available, human players
(even the strongest, as is the case in
our game) can't analyse every
possibility in the same way as a
computer. Moreover, it can be the case
that, objectively (though not always in
practice), there are several strong
moves. [39...Qe7 is an interesting
option, based partly on the idea that
"the threat is stronger than the
execution" or, expressed in a more
'realist' manner, the moves...Qe7
and...e5-e4 are both 'forced', so the
important thing is to find out which
move arder is best; in this case it might
well be that there is no difference.;
39...Qa7 is another move it would be
difficult to consider straight after
sacrificing a pawn "with the intention
of playing...e4". lf White plays quietly
to consolidate with 40.Kg2, Black can
launch a sacrificial attack: (In later
analysis it's possible to see that the
queen's pressure along the g1-a7
diagonal prepares...e5-e4, followed
by...e4-e3, and discourages 40.cS in
view of 40...e4, followed by 41...Bxd2
and...QxcS.(40... --)) 40...hS! 41.Nf3
{41.f3?! allows the black pieces to
'expand' with 41...hxg4 42.hxg4 Qd4}
41...hxg4! 42.NxgS gxh3+ 43.Nxh3 BxfS
with good compensation for the piece,
since Black is very active, dominates
the b-file, and plans ... Qd4 with threats
against the white king. lf White tries to
simplify with 44.Rb3, then after
44...Bxh3+ 45.Kxh3 Rxb3 46.Qxb3 e4
47.Nf4 Qxf2, a draw becomes the most
likely outcome.]
40.Nel Qe7 41.Ng2 QeS
An attractive centralization,
preparing...Rb2. [lt would have been
difficult for Black to bring himself to ANSWER: Let's hand over to
play 41...Bxd2, giving up the strong Anand: "His problem is that after
bishop, although it's appropriate here 42...Rb2 43.Qc3, he's not in time to
to recall Tarrasch's rule, which states break through here. Of course my
that "it's not what leaves the board but bishop is not a good bishop, but the
what is left on the board that matters". point is it's dominating his bishop as
After 42.Qxd2 Rbl+ 43.Kh2 (after well." After 43...Qxc3 44.Rxc3 h5
43.Nel h5! 44.g5 Nh7 45.h4 Bxf5, 45.Nge3 hxg4 46.hxg4 Bh4 47.Ng3,
followed by...Nf8-g6, Black is fine, since Black's initiative is extinguished.; lf
46.Rxa6? e3! is strong and 47.fxe3? 42...g6? instead, with his knight now
loses quickly to 47...Nxg5!} 43...Qe5+ safely on fl controlling e3, White can
44.Qf4 Qb2 45.Re3 Qal (or 45...Qcl, play 43.Rb3 Rxb3 44.Qxb3, when
Black's attack against the vulnerable 44...gxf5 45.Qb8 is quickly decisive,
white king compensates for the which is why Anand suggested playing
sacrificed material.In fact 41...Bxd2 41...g6 first.; However, 42...h5! looks
appears to be Black's best option.J; better since, after 43.Rb3 Rxb3 44.Qxb3
Based on the course of the game, Black can also play the preliminary
41...g6 was suggested by Anand in the 44...Kh7, when (44...hxg4, invading
press conference, but then 42.fxg6 Qe5 with the white queen would leave the
43.Nfl holds White's position;; or if white king vulnerable. For instance,
41...h5?! then 42.f4!.] 45.h4 Bh6 46.Qb8 Kh7 47.Qxc8 g3!
48.fxg3 (or 48.Nxg3 e3!} 48...Qd4+
42.Nfl 49.Khl Qdl 50.Kgl Qd4+ draws.)
45.Qb8 hxg4 46.h4 g3 47.hxg5 gxf2+
QUESTION: Since White has a 48.Kxf2 Ng4+ 49.Kgl Qd4+ is another
material advantage, isn't it appropriate draw.]
to simplify by playing 42 Rb3 and rule
out any infiltration with...Rb2? 43.Ngxe3
[Anand said that he was thinking a lot
ANSWER: After 42.Rb3?! Rxb3 about 43.Nfxe3 Rb2 44.Qcl (not
43.Nxb3, Tarrasch's rule is once again 44.Qc3? Rbl+ 45.Nfl Qe2; nor 44.Qd3
applicable. The black pieces are Ne4 45.Ndl Rd2) 44...Ne4 45.f4 Bxf4
optimally placed to attack with 46.Nxf4 Nd2 "and this is getting
43...h5!;(there are even sorne other messy", since Black has threats of
attractive moves such as 43...e3 "and 47...Rbl, 47...Qxf4 and 47...Nf3+. "I
Black can even be better." (Anand)J have this move 47.Neg2 Rbl 48.Qxbl
Nxbl 49.Re3 Qd4 50.Kh2 an d 1 will win
42...e3?! the bishop with Re8+; Both Larsen and
Anand were right to mistrust long
QUESTION: 1 can appreciate that variations. lnstead of 50...Bxf5(?), it
this sacrifice of a second pawn gains would be better to play 50...Nd2! (but
the e4-square for the knight, but Black he has 50...Bxf5 51.gxf5 and my
seems to be 'burning his bridges' with structure is damaged." Anand added
this move. Why not play 42...Rb2, as that this line allowed the black king to
planned? go to f6 eventually. "Besides 1
remembered the words of Bent Larsen

176
here. He said 'all long variations are
wrong'."(51.--)) 51.Re8+ Kh7, when
52.Ng6 (while 52.RxcB? actually loses to
52... Qf2! with a mating attack)
52...Nfl+ 53.Khl Ng3+ is a draw.
43... Bh4
[43...Rb2 44.Qc3 Qxc3 45.Rxc3 Ne4
46.Rc2 is good for White.]
44.Rb3?!
Another 'human' move, but
Anand's suggestion for Black at move
46 renders it dubious. [lt was difficult
to decide upan 44.f3!?, but Black
doesn't seem to be able to exploit the
weakening of the second rank: after
44...Rb2 (while 44...h5 could be
answered by 45.Rb3 in better
circumstances than in the game)
45.Qc3 Qxc3 46.Rxc3, White keeps his
advantage.]
44...Rxb3 45.Qxb3 Qf4 46.Ndl
EXERCISE: White threatens 47 Qb8.
Can Black still create counterplay?
46...Ne4?
This puts pressure on f2, but White
has a good reply available.
ANSWER: Anand said he was "very
surprised" by this move and stated,
177
correctly, that Black should have played
46...h5!, when the position would still
be unclear. Finally, there is 47.Qe3
a}For example, after 47.f3?!
(neutralizing one bishop but giving new
life to the other one; meanwhile
White's extra piece is out of play on c6)
47...hxg4 48.hxg4 Nxg4! 49.fxg4 Qxg4+
50.Kh2 Bxf5, the two bishops are
menacing the white king with the
threat of 51.-- Qe2+ 52.Kgl Bd3
53.Nfe3 Qel+ 54.Kg2 Be4+,
mating.(a}54... --); b)White can win a
piece with 47.Qb8, but after 47...hxg4
48.Qxc8+ Kh7 49.Be8 gxh3 50.Bg6+
Kh6, Black's king is safe and his
initiative is strong enough for at least a
draw.; 47...Qxc4 48.Qe7 (not 48.g5?!
Ne4 49.Nd2 Nxd2 50.QeB+ Kh7 "and 1
didn't see the mate," said Anand)
48...hxg4 49.Nfe3 Qb4 50.hxg4
(50.Qd8+ Kh7 51.Qxc8? now loses to
51...Qel+ 52.Kg2? gxh3+ 53.Kh2 (or
53.Kxh3 Qhl#} 53...Bxf2 etc.) 50...Kh7!
and White's extra pawn is irrelevant;
for example, 51.Be8 (or 51.QdB Qel+
52.Kg2 Bxf2! 53.Nxf2 Qxe3 54.QxcB Ne4
55.Nxe4 Qxe4+ 56.Kg3 Qe3+ with a
draw; while 51.Qcl? loses to
51...Nxg4!} 51...Bb7 52.Bg6+ Kh6 and
Black is okay.
47.Qe3
"Now White only has to be a little
bit accurate." (Anand)
47 ...NgS 48.Kg2 Qxc4 49.Nd2 Qcl
50.Nc3
"Now he's basically just lost."
50...Nf7
[50...Nxh3 fails to 51.Qxh3 Qxd2
52.Qxh4 Qxc3 53.Qd8+ etc.]
51.QeS+ Kh7 52.Nf3
[Safer than 52.Nce4, which should
also win.]
54.NgG Qf3+ 55.Kgl Bxf5 56.gxf5 Qxf5
52 ...Ne5 53.Nxh4 Qxc3 57.Nxe5 dxe5 58.QeG Qbl+ 59.Kh2
[lf 53...Nd3 then 54.Ng6 wins.] Qc2 60.Qf7 1-0

Losing the world title

The 2013 duel for the World Chess Championship took place in Chennai, India,
between the 9th and the 22nd of November. lt was scheduled for twelve games, but
ten games were enough for Carlsen to emerge victorious by 6Yi to 3Yi.

The first four games were all drawn. However, Anand later said it was clear that
Carlsen had dominated the match, and he (Anand) had known that his chances would
depend on his ability to play long games without making many errors, as he had been
managing to accomplish earlier in the year. But this time he was unsuccessful; Anand
lost the fifth game, which he considered to be almost decisive for the final outcome of
the match, in precisely the way he'd feared, and then everything went wrong for him:
"when it rains, it pours".

Anand ascribed no importance to his missed opportunity in the second game. He

thought everything hinged on the fact that, having saved the fourth game, he
completely messed up in the fifth. He congratulated Carlsen, saying that his (Anand's)
mistakes were not down to him alone, but were due to the pressure created by his
opponent, who deserved full credit.

Carlsen said that the fourth game (in which he had an advantage) gave him a good
feeling that things were beginning to go right for him, and he realized that Anand was
as vulnerable and nervous as he was. The third and fourth games in the match were
important to Carlsen; after these games his nerves left him and he began to play his
normal chess and apply pressure. "People crack under pressure, even world
champions", and that was the case this time.

The match was followed by about two hundred million viewers per day on the
television, about half of these in lndian and Norway. The coverage by the official match
website <chennai2013.fide.com> was excellent.

Game Thirty

Once again the laste of Victory

Anand was not certain if he was going to take part in the Candidates tournament
which was due to be held in March 2014. After putting off his decision for as long as
possible, finally he decided that he would and, from January, Anand began to prepare
himself to have another try at fighting for the title.

178
His only competition prior to the Candidates was the Zürich Chess Challenge, which
comprised five rounds at a classical rate of play, and then two more stages at rapidplay
and blitz. Anand scored 2/5, 1/5, and 21/i/5 respectively.

Following his victory against Morozevich (which we have just seen), Anand went seven
months without a win at a classical rate of play. At last, after 19 games (the last six at
the Tal Memorial, ten from the title match, and the first three in Zürich), Anand won a
game again. Let's see it.

D Gelfand,B 8 ...Bb4
•Anand,V
Slav Defence {011] QUESTION: lsn't it better to
30: Zurich, 2014 develop the b8-knight first, since it
[Zenón Franco] obviously has only one good square to
go to (d7), and decide later where to
1.d4 dS 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bg4 put the bishop?
5.Nc3 e6 6.h3 BhS
ANSWER: Yes, it's generally best to
QUESTION: 6... Bxf3 is the usual operate on that principie, but in this
move here. What's the point of case both players consider that the
retreating the bishop instead? best square for the bishop is b4,
contesting the control of the centre
ANSWER: Black's bishop is probably (the e4-square, for example) and giving
going to be exchanged in any case, but Black more space. [lt's no surprise
the difference is that if White wants to therefore that Gelfand had himself
capture it now, he'll have to play g2-g4. played 8... Bb4 as Black in this position;
lt's hard to say who benefits more from while in a previous game with the
this advance; the most we can say is white pieces, he'd replied to 8...Nbd7
that it leads to a different type of pawn with 9.a3, preventing... Bb4.]
structure.Once White's kingside pawns
have been advanced, kingside castling 9.Qb3 Qe7
is more or less ruled out for him, On [Anand varies from M.Rodshtein­
the other hand, if Black now castles B.Gelfand, Netanya (rapid) 2009, in
kingside, White's attack will have which Black defended the bishop with
gotten off to a flying start. 9...c5, a move which shows little
respect for the bishop pair. After
7.g4 Bg6 8.Nh4 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.Bg2, the piece which
[The alternative is 8.Ne5, but then benefits most from the tension in the
8...Nbd7 forces White to decide centre is White's light-squared bishop.]
straight away whether to take the
bishop or not (9.h4 is met by 9...dxc4 10.Bd2 as 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.cxdS exdS
and White has nothing better than 13.f3
10.Nxg6). With the knight on h4, the With the black pawn still on c6, the
capture on g6 can be postponed to a fl-bishop's immediate prospects would
perhaps more appropriate moment.] be poor on g2, so White prepares to
break in the centre with e3-e4 at an

179
opportune moment, and meanwhile
just controls the e4-square.
13 ...a414.Qc2 a3
QUESTION: With this move Black
ensures that he will be able either to
open the queenside (where White's
king would otherwise be fairly safe) or
else establish a strong pawn-wedge at
a3. This is looking good for him, isn't it?
ANSWER: Yes, but it's not all good
news. Once White has played b2-b3, it
will no longer be easy for Black to open
lines and his attack will be prevented.
Meanwhile, White has a somewhat
freer hand on the kingside and in the
centre, where his pawns are mobile.
15.b3 Nbd716.0-0-0 0-0
QUESTION: This looks risky, doesn't
it? In an attacking race, White's
offensive looks to be the faster. lsn't it
better to castle on the queenside?
ANSWER: Yes, the black king
appears to be in greater danger on the
kingside than it would be on the
queenside. Objectively, castling
queenside might be better, but this
could only be confirmed by analysis
later; at the board it's never so easy.
Kingside castling for Black is riskier here
and at the same time more ambitious.
Black is relying on his defensive
resources and on exploiting his a3-
pawn. One immediate plan is to open
the e-file with ...c6-c5.
17.Kbl Rfc818.h4 NbG19.gS
[Another attractive option was
19.hS, lnstead, Black would have
responded with 19...gS, trying to keep
the lines closed, while after (planning
180
to answer 19...gxhS?! with 20.gS and if
20... Nh7 then 21.g6!.{21.--)) 20.h6 g6,
the h6-pawn acts as a shield for the
black king. lf White continues in violent
fashion with 21.e4, we see that it's not
all one-way traffic due to Black's reply
21...cS!, when the e-file shows its
importance.]
19... NhS
QUESTION: Why not to d7? lt's
common knowledge that a 'knight on
the rim' is badly placed in most cases.
Does that not apply here?
ANSWER: Generally, yes, a knight is
inferior "on the rim" than in the centre,
but let's not forget that we should
always consider all the elements that
make up the position, not just one.
Here it's much more important to
prevent White from opening the h-file
with h4-h5. [In the event of 19 ... Nfd7?,
there are several options for White.
The basic idea is to play h4-h5, but
tactics will determine how and when
White should achieve this. 20.Bd3!
seems to be the strongest move,
preparing h4-h5. Let's look at a few
possible continuations: a)20.Bh3 was
considered by Anand, followed by
20...cS 21.hS cxd4 22.exd4 and "I
wasn't sure what was going on here."
Black seems to be in danger after
22...Bxc3 23.Bxc3 Qe3 24.Rd3 Qxg5
25.f4, preparing to occupy h-file with
the majar pieces.; b}20.h5 at once is
another possibility, as after 20...gxhS
21.RxhS g6 22.Rh6 {b)or 22.Rh3,
followed by e3-e4 or Bd3 and Rdhl,
Black's position is not very pleasant.;
b}22.Rh4 Qxg5 is less clear.); 20...Nf8
(20...cs 21.hS gxh5 22.RxhS (intending
Rdhl) and if 22...g6 then 23.Bxg6! fxg6
24.Qxg6+ Qg7 25.Qe6+ Kf8 (or 25... Qfl
26.RhB+) 26.g6 Qf6 27.Rh8+ Kg7
28.Rh7+ Kxg6 29.Rh6+ Kxh6 30.e4+ Kh7
31.Rhl+ Kg7 32.Rgl+ leads to mate.)
21.hS gxh5 22.RxhS g6 23.Rh3 Qxg5
24.Rdhl and White's attack is decisive;
for example, 24...Bd6 (or 24... Qf6
25.Ne4! dxe4 26.Bxb4 exd3 27.Qh2}
25.Rh8+ Kg7 26.Ne2! (preparing e3-e4;
and better than the immediate 26.e4,
which allows 26...Bf4} 26...Nfd7
27.R8h7+ Kg8 28.e4, followed by 29 e5
and wins.]
20.Bh3 Re8 21.Rhel
Seeing as opening lines on the
kingside isn't possible, White returns to
the idea initiated by 13 f3.
21...RadS 22.Bg4
QUESTION: How should we assess
this position? Black seems to be okay,
since White's e3-e4 break doesn't look
dangerous. Or am 1 missing something?
ANSWER: lt's not easy to give an
accurate response and, for a player at
the board, it wouldn't be very useful
anyway. The important thing is that it's
a fighting position, and you just have to
play it.For instance, Anand said after
the game that "I was a bit worried here.
lnitially 1 thought 1 am completely fine
181
but here somehow it started to feel a
bit unpleasant."
22...QdG 23.Ne2
QUESTION: This doesn't seem
consistent with the narrative of the
game so far. lsn't it more logical to play
23 e4?
ANSWER: 1 don't know whether
23.e4 is either better or more logical,
but it's certainly a critica! move, one
that should be considered first of all.
After 23...dxe4 24.Nxe4 Qf8 (not
24...Qxd4? 25.Be3}, the position offers
chances to both sides. White has more
space, but let's not forget that the d5-
square is now available to Black's
knight.Over the board, calculating at
move 22, it wasn't easy to figure out
what was happening after 25.BxhS
gxh5 26.Nf6+? gxf6 27.gxf6, and "to be
honest here 1 just stopped"
(Anand).The position certainly looks
dangerous for the black king, with
White's heavy pieces ready to occupy
the open g-file and his queen heading
for f5. But Black has sorne good
defensive resources, which Anand
would surely have found.
EXERCISE: Show the most effective
way for Black to defend this position.
ANSWER: Nevertheless, it's
perhaps more 'human' to defend by
centralizing the knight right away with
27...NdS!. Then a}There are several
ways to lose; for instance, there's no
time for 27...Bxd2? because after
28.Rgl+ Kh8 29.Rg7 Qxg7 (forced)
30.fxg7+ and 31 Qxd2, White gains a
decisive material advantage.(a}30.--);
b)nor 27...Rxel 28.Rxel Bxd2?.;
c}27... Kh8 (a typical 'computer move',
evacuating the g-file) appears to be one rook from the e-file can be penalized by
good defence, since none of the 29.hxg6+ Qxg6 (29... Kxg6? would be
captures help White get at the enemy even worse, due to 30.BxfS+! Kxf5
king, while Black can handle 28.Rgl 31.Qc2+ Kxf4 32.Rgl, threatening Rg4+J
with 28...NdS! (the only move, but 30.Qb4 and Black has problems.)
sufficient) and the computer sees no 29.BxfS Rxel 30.Rxel Re8 31.Rxe8
danger for the black king; if now 29.Rg7 Kxe8, and the black king appears no
then 29...Nxf6 defends.; 28.Bxb4 more inconvenienced by all the line­
(28.Rgl+ Kh8 transposes to the opening than the white monarch.
previous line; while after 28.QfS, Black
has time for 28...Bxd2, since 29.Rgl+ 27 ...NxfG 28.ReS Nxg4 29.fxg4 RxeS
Kh8 30.Qxh5+ fails to 30...Qh6)
28...Nxb4 29.QfS is not dangerous, in QUESTION: In the diagram above,
view of 29...Qh6! and the black king is White had four isolated pawns. Why
safe. did Black improve White's structure by
exchanging pieces?
23... Bxd2 24.Qxd2 Nd7 25.Nf4
ANSWER: Here Tarrasch's rule from
QUESTION: Deliberately allowing Game 29 is again valid: the one stating
doubled pawns is a bit strange, isn't it? that it's not what leaves the board
which matters, but what is left on the
ANSWER: You're right. Anand was board. Although White's structure has
surprised by this move. [He'd expected been optically improved, Black
25.BxhS gxhS 26.Nf4 and now he was estimates that the white pawns have
planning the manoeuvre 26...Nf8 advanced too far and are still quite
(rather than simply 26...g6) 27.e4 weak.
(27.Nxh5? fails to 27...Qg6+) 27...dxe4
28.fxe4 Ne6, casting doubt on the 30.fxeS
security of White's centre and kingside [The alternative was 30.dxeS,
pawns. Black's a3-pawn can be very which allows Black's queenside pawns
dangerous if the position opens up.] more freedom, but offers White
opportunities to cause problems on the
25...Nxf4 26.exf4 fS 27.gxf6 kingside; for example, with h4-h5 and
if...g6xh5 then f4-f5. After the game
QUESTION: Opening lines when Gelfand wasn't very optimistic about
you have a bishop seems essential, White's chances in that case, but it
doesn't it? Or was there sorne point in doesn't seem sobad.]
playing 27 Bh3 instead?
30...Qe7
ANSWER: Yes, 27.Bh3 makes sense,
because the plan then would be to play QUESTION: Black's position is
h4-h5, bringing the bishop back to life. better; the white pawns at h4 and g4
Anand analysed 27... Kf7 28.hS and are weak, and Black's a3-pawn is more
now: However, Black appears to be important than befare, because of the
okay if he opts instead for 28...gxhS possibility of his queen infiltrating
(28...Rh8?!, when the removal of the White's camp. Yet is White's situation

182
really grave enough far him to lose in
just another six moves?
32...Qf7!
ANSWER: No. Admittedly, it's The black queen becomes more
psychologically unpleasant to have to threatening now, and if White
switch from pursuing the initiative to exchanges on g6, he loses the g4-pawn.
having to defend, but objectively the
white position is defensible. As Anand 33.h6 Qf3!
said later: "I didn't expect it to collapse After this queen invasion, White's
so quickly." position can no longer be held. There
are too many points that need
31.Rhl Rf8 32.h5? defending.
"This might be a mistake," said
Anand, which seems like an 34.Rel gxh6 35.e6
understatement. Advancing the h-pawn [35.Qxh6? loses to 35...Qd3+
now just makes things worse far White; 36.Kcl Rf2 and mates.]
it was essential to wait.
35...ReS 36.g5?!
Another pawn drops; [but
36.Qxh6? was no use either, owing to
36...Qd3+ 37.Kcl Qc3+ 38.Kdl Qxd4+
and...Qxg4; (while 38 . . . Qal+! is even
better, since if White moves the king,
Black gets the a2- and b3-pawns with
check as well.); 36.e7 Kg7 was equally
hopeless.]

36...Qf5+ 0-1

Title contender once more!

Viswanathan Anand proved all the predictions wrong and won the Candidates
Tournament that took place in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, from the 13th to the 30th of
March, thus becoming the challenger to the World Champion, Magnus Carlsen.

The competition was a Category XXI event (average Elo 2770), with eight participants
playing each other twice. The other contenders were Dmitry Andreikin, Levan Aronian,
Sergey Karjakin, Vladimir Kramnik, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Peter Svidler and Veselin
Topalov.

Anand's rating performance was 2845, with a gain of 15 Elo points - a great feat,
reminiscent of his triumph in the 2007 World Championship in Mexico City. In the April
2014 Elo rating list Anand was restored to a high ranking among the world elite: third
in the world, after Carlsen and Aronian.

183
The pre-tournament favourites were Aronian and, to a lesser extent, Kramnik. Nobody
gave Anand even the slightest hope. Whenever his name carne up, it was merely to
dismiss his chances.

Anand left it quite late to confirm his participation. He said that what swung his
decision in the end was that, during the London tournament in December 2013,
Kramnik had encouraged him to take part. Kramnik confirmed this, saying that he and
Vishy are of the same generation, though he does not regard him as a rival. He
believed that Anand could not only win the Candidates Tournament but could go on to
beat Carlsen. He said that Anand's game had undergone a period of crisis, which was
something that had happened to him as well, and that Anand would come out of it.
This proved to be a good prophesy.

Game Thirty-One

The Most Difficult Opponent

In the first round Anand gained a surprising win over the favourite Aronian, surprising
in that, although he had beaten Aronian in Wijk aan Zee (as we saw in Game 26), this
was Anand's first victory with White, at a classical rate of play, over an opponent who
had always been a difficult one for him.

Anand's win was the only decisive result of the day, making him the leader. At this
stage no-one would have put money on Anand holding on to the lead right to the end
of the tournament.

Let's now see this game.

DAnand,V theoretical lines of the Marshall Attack,

•Aronian,L which occur after 8.c3 dS not because
Spanish Opening {C88} the Marshall is particularly to be
31: Khanty-Mansiysk Candidates, 2014 feared, but because at the time of the
[Zenón Franco] game there were no new ideas which
might promise White an advantage
1.e4 eS 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.BbS a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 against it. Of course 8 h3 doesn't
5.0-0 Be7 6.Rel bS 7.Bb3 0-0 8.h3 guarantee any advantage either, but
there are more unexplored possibilities
QUESTION: Is there a reason for and scope for invention.
varying the move arder and playing 8
h3 instead of the usual 8 c3? 8...Bb7
[After 8...d6, White would probably
ANSWER: As 1 mentioned at the have replied with the consistent 9.c3,
beginning of Game 15, this move arder heading back to the main lines of the
is chosen usually to avoid the heavily Closed Ruy Lopez, having circumvented
184
the Marshall.]
9.d3 dS
QUESTION: What's this? Didn't you
tell me that the point of 8 h3 was to
avoid the Marshall? Here it is, just the
same!
ANSWER: Well, it's not actually the
same; besides, if someone wants to
sacrifice a pawn there's no way to
prevent it. Furthermore, White's
intention was to avoid the main lines of
the Marshall. What we see here is
something different; it's similar to
Frank Marshall's idea, but in fact there
have been relatively few games with
this exact position. [From the other
side, Anand has so far stuck to 9 ...Re8
(as in Game 15); and 9 ...d6 here.]
10.exdS NxdS 11.Nbd2
QUESTION: Declining the offered
pawn? Don't they say that the best way
to refute a gambit is to accept it? Is
that not true?
ANSWER: That's a rule of thumb,
valid much of the time, but not an
immutable law. Of course 11.NxeS is
playable, and indeed has been played
several times. Black can respond with
11...NxeS (another, more popular, line
begins with 11...Nd4, when Black gains
the typical Marshall compensation far
the pawn in the form of greater piece
activity, while White's queenside
remains undeveloped) 12.RxeS Qd6,
followed by...Rae8, ...c7-c5, etc.; The
typical Spanish thrust 11.a4 is another
option.
11...Qd7
Black carries on developing without
185
worrying about his e-pawn. [lt was also
possible far him to 'get cold feet' and
defend it with 11...f6;; while a third
idea was to rely on his piece activity by
playing 11...Nf4, which defends the
pawn indirectly by exerting X-ray
pressure on g2. Aronian had played this
way against Adams in 2008.
12.NxeS NxeS 13.RxeS
Finally... "One got one of these
typical Marshall positions" was Anand's
comment.
13...NfG
QUESTION: Is it really necessary to
shift the knight again? Wouldn't it be
better to find something more useful?
ANSWER: lt's not actually very easy
to find the sort of useful move you'd
like to make. The move in the game
prepares... Bd6, which is impossible at
the moment because White could just
take the knight. [Naturally, with the
other bishop on b7, it wouldn't be a
good idea to play 13 ...c6, blocking the
long diagonal; while after a 'flexible'
move such as 13 ...Rae8, the annoying
14.Qf3 ! forces Black to play 14...c6.;
Finally, in the event of 13 ... Bf6?! to
drive the rook away, 14.Rel leaves the
bishop badly placed on f6, and subject
to harassment by Ne4.]
14.Rel
QUESTION: Why does White
retreat the rook befare it's attacked?
ANSWER: The principie involved
here is one well worth keeping in mind.
White makes a move that he knows
he'll have to make sooner or later in
any case, and postpones any decision
regarding his other pieces. Sometimes, double."'
as in this case, the arder of moves
doesn't matter all that much, but in 17.d4 Rfe818.c3 h6?
other positions there can be important
differences. [lt's worth noting that the QUESTION: A bad move? Really?
natural 14.Nf3 could be answered by What's wrong with it? 1 appreciate that
14...Bd6, immediately pushing back the making 'luft' like this is hardly very
rook, even if it might amount to no aggressive, but it doesn't look as if
more than a transposition of moves Black had any very active options
when the a8-rook arrives on e8.] available, and all his pieces are already
in good positions.
14... RaeS
As predicted in the last note. [lf
instead 14...Bd6, we might have seen
one of the virtues of White's 14th
move, in that he could respond with
15.Ne4.]

15.Nf3 Bd616.Be3

QUESTION: White is a pawn up, so

simplifying should be in his favour,
shouldn't it? Why not play 16.Rxe8
Rxe8 first, removing a pair of rooks?
ANSWER: Remember that in chess,
ANSWER: This is playable, but it as well as pursuing your own plans, it is
would leave a black rook in control of equally important to prevent or
the e-file, while its white counterpart neutralize any of the opponent's that
would still be out of the game on al. might prove annoying. Naturally, this
Admittedly, 16 Be3 doesn't salve the first requires you to notice which of the
problem of the inactive rook on al; the opponent's possible plans might be
argument is that, for the moment, annoying. [Aronian said he was "far too
Black's rook on f8 is equally out of the casual" in the opening and that was the
game.] cause of his loss. Black had two
stronger continuations.One was to
16... Re7 activate his queen with 18... QfS, which
"I more ar less expected this cushions the impact of the game
move," said Anand. continuation, since the queen would be
much better placed, as you'll soon be
QUESTION: Why was Anand able to compare and verify.; The other
expecting it? option was 18...NdS, which after
19.Bd2 Rxel+ 20.Nxel would lead to a
ANSWER: He explained it in this scenario similar to that in the note to
way: "Because it's a very typical motif. 16 Be3; i.e. with a pair of rooks
Black basically says 'Well you didn't removed and the two remaining
take your chance to swap rooks so 1'11 standing on al and e8.]

186
 evaluate this ending correctly, White
EXERCISE: What's the move, or has to reckon on the possibility that
plan, which was underestimated by Black might not be entirely
Black? cooperative. Black has a good reply in
22...NcS, and if 23.Bc2, he can
ANSWER: 19.NeS! eliminate the bishop pair with 23...Be4.
'Transformation of the advantage',
in the style of Capablanca. White 22...NfG
returns the pawn to neutralize Black's [Now after 22...NcS, Black would
activity, while remaining with the have to consider 23.BxcS RxcS 24.Rd7.]
bishop pair in an open position.Unlike
Black's earlier offer with 9 ...dS, here EXERCISE: How can White try to
the pawn must be captured; otherwise benefit from his bishop pair?
White will have appreciably improved
his position. ANSWER: 23.c4!
This is the way, further opening up
19...BxeS 20.dxeS RxeS the game, to increase the scope of the
bishops. Anand had planned this
QUESTION: Heading straight for an advance, but nevertheless he was
ending? lsn't it better to keep the "actually quite surprised by how strong
queens on with 20 ...Qc6 and capture it was."
on es later?
23...cG
ANSWER: This isn't entirely clear. Played after a long think. Aronian
After 20 ...Qc6 21.f3 RxeS 22.Qd2, would prefer to keep the position
followed by Bd4, "White keeps the two closed. [lf 23...b4, White achieves his
bishops with a slight edge but this objective with 24.a3, when 24...cS is
might have been better than the met strongly by 25.axb4 cxb4 26.Rd6
game", according to Anand. Seemingly, and in spite of Black's efforts, the white
White's bishop pair is enhanced by the pieces become active, while the b4-
presence of the queens, in that White's pawn is now in danger.]
queen can help the bishops exert
pressure on f7, f6 or g7; there's also the 24.Racl R5e7 25.a4!
possibility of eventually penetrating to White increases the tension,
Black's back rank. Meanwhile, Black's threatening to saddle Black with a weak
battery of queen and bishop has been pawn on bS after taking twice.
neutralized.
25... bxc4
21.Qxd7 Nxd7 22.Redl No matter whether Black takes on
a4 or c4, he will be left with two
QUESTION: Wasn't it worth isolated pawns. This way he at least
considering exchanging rooks with gains an outpost on dS for his knight.
22.Bd2, heading straight for an ending
with the bishop pair? 26.Bxc4 NdS 27.BcS Re4 28.f3 R4e5
29.Kf2 Bc8
ANSWER: As well as having to [The bishop wasn't just inactive on

187
b7, it was also a 'tactical weakness' (an time he needs to prevent the black
expression coined by Emanuel Lasker); rooks from invading his position; hence
for example, Black couldn't play it's important to keep the e2- and d2-
29 ...Ne3? in view of 30.Bxf7+! Kxf7 squares covered.The two bishops are
31.Rd7+, winning a pawn.] given the task of guarding the black
rooks' possible entry squares, thus
EXERCISE: White made neutralizing Black's control of the
considerable progress since 23 c4!, but central files. At the same time the
Black's position isn't going to collapse white bishops will remain active.
on its own. White needs to make
further progress, combining attack and 33... NdS 34.Bd2 Nf6 35.BaS Rde8
defence. How should he proceed? 36.Rb6
The culmination of the plan
ANSWER: 30.Bfl! initiated with 30 Bfl.
This apparently modest move fulfils
both objectives mentioned above. 36...ReS 37.Bc3 NdS 38.BxeS?!
White's defences are strengthened, in "A really careless move," said
that the bishop guards the e2-square Anand.
better from fl than c4, as we'll see.
This retreat (praised by Carlsen) also QUESTION: Really? White seems to
contains an element of aggression, win easily after this.
since it enables White to improve the
position of another of his pieces, as ANSWER: Objectively, it's a good
well as exerting X-ray pressure on c6. move and should be winning. Anand is
talking about the practicalities.
30...R5e6 Although 38 Bxe5 should still win, it
[Now 30...Ne3? obviously fails to requires precise calculation, which you
31.Bxe3 Rxe3 32.Rxc6, illustrating the can't guarantee when you're tired after
effectiveness of the X-ray pressure four hours hard struggle. [In contrast,
down the e-file.] 38.Rxc6! would have won a pawn
without any complications.]
31.Rd3
This move, improving the scope of 38... Nxb6 39.Bd4 Nxa4!?
the rook, was the idea behind 30 Bfl!. The knight will be in grave danger,
With the bishop on c4 it wouldn't have stranded 'on the rim' of the board; [but
worked because of ...Re2+, but now the this offered more practica! chances
rook's prospects brighten up, since it than 39 ... NdS 40.Rxc6, when Black
can switch to the b-file. must resign himself to playing on a
pawn down.]
31... Nf4 32.Rb3 Rd8 33.Be3!
There were several attractive 40.Rxc6 Rd8
options here. In arder not to become
confused, or end up dithering like EXERCISE: White's position is
Buridan's ass, it's important to be indeed winning, precisely because of
guided by ideas. The priority for White the bad position of the black knight on
is to activate his pieces, but at the same a4. However, exploiting this requires

188
accurate calculation. What should [44...as fails to 45.Bb6 and White
White play now? remains a piece up.]

EXERCISE: How can White capture

the knight?

ANSWER: 45.Ke3!
Yes, that's the right way; [but not
45.Ke2?, since Black escape with
45...Nc4! and once again White's
advantage is reduced to almost
nothing. The best he can achieve is a
rook ending with an extra pawn that
looks drawish; e.g. 46.BcS Re8+ 47.Kf2
Ne5 48.RxbS Nd3+ 49.Kg3 Nxc5 50.RxcS
ANSWER: 41.Rc4! Rb8.]
The correct way. [Anand said that
his original idea was to play the 45...ReS+ 46.Kd2 Rd8 47.Kc3
tempting 41.b3, until he saw 41...Bb7! [Not 47.Kc2?, because of 47...Nc4
(rather than 41 ...Be6 42.Bxgl and again;; whereas now, after 47.Kc3 Ndl +
wins), when 42.Rc4 is met by 42...Nb2! 48.Kc2, the knight finally perishes.
43.Rb4 a5 and White's advantage is
drastically reduced.lt's important to QUESTION: What did you think of
take into account this tactical resource this game? What stood out?
( ...Nb2) to prevent the knight from
escaping from its prison.] ANSWER: Let's hand over to
Magnus Carlsen: "Of course his win
41...Bd7 42.b3 against Aronian was very good."
There now fallows a sequence of Carlsen highlighted that "he won
farced moves, leading to the capture of almost only by technique, which is
Black's knight. really rare against Aronian", especially
since Aronian didn't resign himself to
42...BbS 43.Rb4 Nb2 defeat and faught desperately to gain
The knight succeeds in evading counterplay.Carlsen was impressed
capture far the moment, but it is a long with the way Anand handled the bishop
way from safety. White is able to cut pair: "Very nice manoeuvres with the
off its escape and capture it with bishop from d4 to d2, Bfl clearing
precise play. space far the rooks, lt was very very
beautiful to watch."] 1-0
44.BxbS axbS

In the second round Anand drew with Topalov. In the next, his opponent was
Mamedyarov.

189
 Game Thirty-Two
A Game where "Each Move had its Point"
The third round brought Anand his second win, playing in a clear, concrete style that
once again drew praise from Carlsen. Anand conducted the opening and middlegame
so accurately that there was no need to play an endgame.
D Mamedyarov,S
•Anand,V
Queen1s Gambit Accepted [D23]
32: Khanty-Mansiysk Candidates, 2014
[Zenón Franco]
1.d4 dS 2.c4 c6
[Theory actually regards the game
variation as a Queen's Gambit
Accepted 2...dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Qa4+ c6
5.Qxc4 though nowadays it almost
always arises via the Slav.]
3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Qc2 dxc4
Black opts far the original idea of
the Slav Defence, which is to develop
the queen's bishop outside the pawn
chain befare playing ...e7-e6. [Of
course there's nothing wrong with
changing your mind and playing 4...e6
(Semi-Slav); or transposing to a kind of
Grunfeld with 4...g6.
QUESTION: Obviously Black can't
play 4...BfS but, in the spirit of the Slav
that you mentioned, why not play
4...Bg4?
ANSWER: Perhaps it's not actually
bad, but Black would need to fallow it
up very carefully, as with the diagonal
a2-g8 possibly opening up, the absence
of Black's bishop from the queenside
might be felt; far instance, after 5.NeS
BhS 6.cxdS cxdS 7.Nc3 e6?! 8.e4!
(threatening BbS+) 8...a6 9.Qa4+ Nbd7
10.Nxd7 Nxd7 (not 10... Qxdl?? 11.BbS)
11.exdS, White wins a pawn.]
190
S.Qxc4 Bg4
[Previously Anand had always
played 5...BfS here, which is by far the
most popular move.]
6.Nbd2
White defends f3, so as to be able
to play 7 g3. [The immediate 6.g3
would be met by 6...Bxf3 7.exf3,
isolating the white d-pawn.
QUESTION: You just showed me
that, after 4...Bg4, the move 5 NeS is
awkward far Black. So, why isn't 6.NeS
strong now?
ANSWER: Naturally, 6 NeS is
playable, gaining a tempo by attacking
the g4-bishop, and has been played
many times. But the situation differs
from what we looked at earlier
because, rather than retreat the bishop
to hS, Black has 6...Be6, hitting the
white queen, fallowed by 7...Nbd7,
challenging the white knight. Play
usually continues 7.Qd3 Nbd7 8.Nxd7
(after 8.Nf3 Bg4, both sides have
wasted two tempi, but...Nbd7 is clearly
more useful than Qd3J 8...Qxd7 (Black
can also consider 8...Bxd7, planning to
answer 9.e4 by 9...eS! 10.dxeS QaS+
11.Nc3 QxeS with chances far both
sides), and if 9.e4 then 9... Rd8 10.Be3
Ng4! picks up the bishop pair.; White's
main alternative is 6.Nc3, intending e2-
e4. After 6...Nbd7 7.e4 Bxf3 8.gxf3 eS,
as in S.Mamedyarov-E.lnarkiev, Europ
Cup, Rogaska Slatina 2011,reach
critica! position with equal chances. In
exchange for the weaknesses in his
structure, White dominates the centre
and has more space, while Black can
develop without difficulty.]
6...Nbd7 7.g3 e6 8.Bg2 Be7 9.NeS
[9.0-0 0-0 10.NeS BhS
10... NxeS?? 11.dxeS and Black loses a
piece) 11.Nxd7 Nxd7 is another way to
reach the game position.]
a EXERCISE: Black has less space can
you think of a move that would gain
him sorne squares for his pieces?
ANSWER: 12...as !
On b3 the knight 'is asking for'
Black to expand like this. The threat
is...a5-a4 and perhaps...a4-a3 when
(not appropriate, and the a8-rook becomes
active, so White prefers to halt the
advance of the pawn at the cost of
conceding the b4-square.

9...BhS 10.Nxd7 Nxd7 13.a4 Bb4 14.e4 eS

A new move at the time. Black sees
QUESTION: Why with the knight? no reason to postpone one of the ideas
Why not with the queen, speeding up behind 10...Nxd7 and postpones a
development? decision about where to deploy his
other pieces. [Previously 14...Qe7 had
ANSWER: Development is generally been played here; it's hard to say
very important in open positions, or whether this is good or bad, but the
positions that can be opened. What we subsequent manoeuvres were less
have here is a closed position, where clear than events in the present game.
it's more important to consider plans, V.lvanchuk-F.Vallejo Pons, lstanbul
both in the medium and long term.As Olympiad 2012, continued 15.Be3 Rfd8
we'll see, there is a clear point behind 16.f4 Kh8 17.Rf2 f6 18.Bd2! eS 19.Bxb4
taking on d7 with the knight, which is axb4 20.fxeS fxeS 21.dS Rac8 22.Rcl
to play ...e6-e5 at an appropriate with a slight edge to White. lt then took
moment. This move also vacates the f6- only one weak move for Black's
square so that, if it becomes necessary position to collapse: 22...Nb6? 23.QcS!
or useful, Black can play ...f7-f6 and QxcS 24.NxcS cxdS 25.Bh3! Ra8 26.aS!
...Bf7. Nc4 27.Nxb7 and White won quickly.]

11.0-0 0-0 12.Nb3 15.Be3 exd4 16.Bxd4

191
 EXERCISE: How should Black deploy
his pieces? Can you think of a useful
move?
ANSWER: 16... KhS!
"What 1 liked is that l'm getting this
move very fast," said Anand in the
press conference after the game; Black
is aiming for ...f7-f6 and ...Bf7.
17.eS?!
QUESTION: How can this move be
dubious? lf Black now plays 17...f6, as
well as taking on f6, the advance 18 e6
comes into consideration.
ANSWER: Of course, ideas can be
both ambitious and good, but then
they have to work tactically. Although
every pawn advance gains space, with
each step it takes the pawn
becomes more exposed. lt's not so
much that the pawn will necessarily be
lost, as that defending it can entail
having to make concessions. That's the
case here, as we'll see.Anand's
comment was: "An attempt to punish
Black but 1 think it doesn't
tactically". [Mamedyarov said that this
was a normal position where he could
have played 17.f4; or 17.Qc2, opting
instead for "a very risky and very
interesting move", but overlooked an
important tactical detail.]
EXERCISE: How should
respond to 17 es?
ANSWER: 17... ReS!
This is the clearest. [The immediate
17...f6 could, as you say, have been
met by 18.e6, when the wedge is
annoying and the position is difficult to
evaluate. Mamedyarov also considered
17...f6 18.f4 fxeS (although 18...ReB!
seems better here, in the same spirit as
the game) 19.fxeS QgS.]
18.f4
EXERCISE: What now?
ANSWER: 18...fG!
Of course, once White has
committed himself with f2-f4, Black is
better placed to exploit the squares
weakened by White's advances though,
as we know, the tactics need to work.
19.exfG
[Mamedyarov was intending to
play 19.e6, but now sees that it's not
possible. White's problem is that after
19...Nb6 The counter-attack with
20.Qc2 (20.Bxb6 Qxb6+ while if 21.Khl
then (21.Rf2, Black can play 21...Bg4 (or
also 21...RadB 22.fS Bdl!}} 21...Qe3! is very
strong."I missed this" (Mamedyarov)
"So we see this typical idea that the
bishop on b4 controls this square on
el. White is always missing this square;
on top of that the bishop on hS is
controlling dl. So White's rooks have
work no squares to come to." (Anand)The
black bishops are indeed very strong.
The importance of Black's control of dl
can be seen after 22.Nd4 Rad8, when
Radl is impossible. The control of el is
important too, since it prevents White
from defending the e6-pawn with Rel.
Meanwhile Black threatens, after the
Black knight moves, both to capture on e6
and play 22...Be2.) 20...Rxe6 21.Be4
doesn't work either. Black best
response is to regroup with 21...Bf7!
22.Bf2 (22.Bxhl? loses a piece after
22...Rd6 23.Qf2 Nc8} 22...Qe8! 23.Bf3
and now 23...Re3! is the most elegant
riposte.]
19... NxfG 20.Bf3
192
 Preventing the threat of...Be2, and
eliminating one of Black's annoying
bishops.
20 ...Bxf3 21.Rxf3
"lf White plays well there's a very
good chance to draw," said
Mamedyarov. With the exchange of
bishops White removed sorne of the
pressure, but his king is still weak - the
main reason being that his f-pawn is on
f4 instead of f2.
EXERCISE: How can Black try to
make progress?
ANSWER: 21...Re4!
Anand was happy with this move,
because he wanted to play ...Qe8 and
then put the other rook on d8. [Black
has alternative plans here: such as
21...Qd6, planning to follow up
with... Re4 and... Rd8, without ruling
out... Rae8;; while the computer likes
21...cS, restricting the knight on b3
after, for instance, 22.Bc3 Bxc3 23.bxc3
(although White might play 23.Qxc3, so
as not to damage the pawn structure)
23...b6.lt's possible that the computer's
suggestion is a good one, but we can
see that a human player of World
Championship standard prefers
something more concrete and direct,
bringing more pieces into play.]
22.Re3
[22.Bxf6 Rxc4 23.Bxd8 Rxd8
wouldn't help White at all. Black
threatens to invade the seventh rank,
his queenside pawn majority is ready to
roll forward with ...b7-b5, and the
bishop is much stronger than the
knight, especially now that White has
played f2-f4.; lnstead, 22.Qd3! was
more tenacious, including the queen in
the defence 22...-- (Black might
193
respond with 22... Re6, but his
advantage would be quite small in that
case), and even threatening 23.Bxf6
Qxd3 24.Bxg7+.]
22...Rxe3 23.Bxe3 Qe8
Completing the idea behind
21... Re4 the queen goes to e8 with
tempo, preparing a new piece
regrouping.
24.BbG
[On 24.Bf2, Black has several
attractive options, such as 24... Rd8
(and 24... Ng4;}; while in the event of
24.BcS, again 24... Rd8! is stronger, as
pointed out by Mamedyarov, planning
to invade White's position (rather than
24... BxcS+ 25.QxcS Qe2 26.Qf2 and
White can resist); for instance, after
25.Bxb4?! axb4, Black would be
threatening 26...Qe3+ and 27... Rd3.]
EXERCISE: How should Black
continue? What was the regrouping
planned by Anand?
ANSWER: 24... QhS!
"Now my queen performs the role
of the bishop and takes away the
square for the rook, dl. 1 was also
surprised how unpleasant it became so
quickly." (Anand)The queen also makes
room on e8 for the rook and threatens
...Ng4.
25.Bd4 Re8
White's kingside is wide open and
all the black pieces can attack it. In
contrast, White's rook and knight are
both out of play. "Already 1 didn't see a
defence really." (Anand)
26.Rfl
Rather late in the day, the rook
goes to the aid of the defence. [The
engines prefer 26.Qd3; The immediate
26...QdS, threatening 27...cS, is very
strong too; for example, (but Black's
position continues to be dominating
after 26...Ng4! 27.h4 QdS 28.Rdl
Rd8. {28...--)) 27.Rcl (not 27.Qc2? Ne4!,
when 28.Rdl Nd2 ! revea Is the point)
27...Ng4, threatening...Re3, and if
28.Qc2 then 28...Nxh2!.; lf White tries
26.BeS, Black has 26...Nd7 (rather than
26...Ng4 27.Qe2}, when 27.Bd4
(otherwise White loses a pawn)
27...Re2 28.Bf2 Nf6 sees his pieces
return to the attack.]
26...Ng4!
[26...Re2 would be inaccurate due
to 27.h3!.]
27.Qc2
[lf 27.h4, Black wins with 27...Ne3
28.Bxe3 Rxe3, when the g3-pawn can't
be defended, since 29.Kh2 Qg4 30.Rgl
fails to 30...Bel and mates.]
EXERCISE: How does Black make
progress here?
ANSWER: 27...es!
Decisive the bishop is deflected
from the control of e3, although once
again the pawn sacrifice needs to be
justified tactically.
194
28.NxcS
[White can't allow 28.Bc3 Ne3.]
EXERCISE: lndicate the move that
justifies 27...cS!.
ANSWER: 28...Rc8
The pin is the (simple) tactical motif
which decides the game. [Black could
also play 28...BxcS 29.BxcS Rc8 30.Rel
{30.Rdl transposes to the game)
30...RxcS, as Anand pointed out
afterwards.]
29.Rdl BxcS
The simplest and most direct way.
[29...b6 was winning as well, since after
30.Bxg7+ Kxg7, the white queen is
unable to join in the attack; for
example, 31.Rd7+ (or 31.Ne6+ Kf6}
31...Kh8 32.Ne6 and now 32...Bf8! is
the prettiest win.]
30.BxcS hG
The king needed an escape square,
and now Black threatens to take on es
with check.
31.Khl
[With 31.Khl White escapes the
check, but Mamedyarov resigned
without waiting for 31...Nf2+ (among
other things) (since Anand really wasn't
going to fall for 31...QxcS?? 32.Rd8+!.
QUESTION: How would you sum up
this game? Or are you going to direct
me once again to what Carlsen had to
say about it?
ANSWER: Let's do just that. Here's
the opinion of the World Champion:
"Anand played very powerfully, each
move, not waiting moves, each move
had its point and he covered all the key
squares very quickly.")] 0-1
After this win, with 21/i/3 Anand had already put himself into the position of being a
serious challenger for the top place.

In the remaining eleven rounds Anand played in an excellent manner to retain the
lead, taking risks only when necessary and rationing his energy, in similar fashion to his
campaign in Mexico 2007.

There followed draws with Kramnik, Andreikin and Karjakin, more or less without any
problems. In his drawn seventh-round game, the last in the first cycle, he carne clase to
beating Svidler. At this point Anand was joint leader with Aronian, who had caught up
with victories over Mamedyarov, Svidler and Karjakin. Curiously, at the same point in
the 2013 Candidates Tournament in London, Aronian had also been in joint first place
with the eventual winner, Carlsen.

In the eighth round Anand drew with Aronian, who played something strange as early
as move three as White; Anand responded very well, sacrificing a pawn for which he
gained compensation, but no more than that, in his opinion. The game ended in a draw
by repetition after 19 moves.

Against Topalov in the ninth round, Anand gained another classic victory, in the style of
his best period. On the same day his main rivals Aronian and Kramnik both lost, so
Anand's win doubled in importance.

In the tenth round Anand drew with Mamedyarov and retained his one-point lead,
which in reality was worth 11/i points, since if it carne down to a tie with Aronian at the
end, the tie-break would favour Anand.

Then carne another draw with Kramnik, in which Anand equalized easily against his
opponent's much-feared Catalan.

In the twelfth round he outplayed Andreikin but agreed a draw in a position that
turned out to be a very complicated win (something that could only be asserted with
the aid of a computer). Showing visible signs of tiredness, Anand, with little time left,
couldn't see the complex lines clearly to the end and opted for the most practica!
decision: a draw, which brought him a little closer to his desired goal. Aronian also
drew.

Carlsen commented on the progress of the tournament on his YouTube channel. In his
second broadcast, one of the things he said was that in this tournament it was
essential to find a balance in one's play; while the 'only' thing that really mattered was
finishing in first place, that didn't justify playing in desperate manner; and that the only
player who had found the right balance was Anand. Because of this, he thought that
Anand was going to win.

195
The course of the penultimate round of the tournament was reminiscent of Mexico
2007. That time Anand's ultimate victory was in grave jeopardy, since he had to defend
an inferior ending against Grischuk; here, against Karjakin, he managed to draw after
91 moves and thus retain his "plus 3" score, clinching victory with a round to spare.
Anand ended the event with a draw against Svidler.

With this triumph Anand qualified to challenge for his sixth world title in November
2014, and, counting only those held since the reunification of the title, to contest his
fifth match for the World Chess Championship.

In one of his press conferences in Khanty-Mansiysk Anand was asked whether he

wasn't tired of playing matches for the world title. He responded with a single word:
"No."

Let's finish the book with that anecdote and now look forward to an exciting return
match between Carlsen and Anand.

196
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