1.e4
e6
Whoa! No Ruy Lopez, no Petroff – thank you!
2.d4
d5
3.Nc3
Nf6
4.Bg5
Bb4
5.e5
h6
6.Bd2
Bxc3
7.bxc3
Ne4
8.Qg4
g6
[8...Kf8
has also been quite popular recently.]
9.Bd3
Nxd2
10.Kxd2
c5
11.h4!?
Qa5!?
[11...Nc6
is the main possibility. In both cases, there are some side-moves to explore, while it could go 12.Nf3
Qa5
getting back into the game. So there might be some differences.]
12.Nf3
Nc6
13.Qf4
cxd4
14.h5!
[14.Nxd4
Nxd4
15.Qxd4
Bd7
is the usual (less fascinating) concept!]
14...g5
[Without entering big calculations, I would say that Black has enough time to take on c3, so 14...dxc3+
15.Ke2
cannot help him defending.; 14...Qxc3+
15.Ke2
gxh5
16.Rab1
would be very dangerous for Black: White will go Rxh5, Rxh6, and Ng5-Nh7 in the event of ...Rf8. Still, maybe this is the line to be checked, as the game looks clearly in White's favour.]
15.Qf6
Rf8
[15...Rg8!?
16.Qxh6
g4
17.Ng5
dxc3+
18.Ke2
Nxe5
19.Qf6
Qd8
could be a possibile defense, the rook on g8 making a huge difference in this final position!]
16.Qxh6
g4!?
17.Ng5
Nxe5
18.Nh7
Rh8
19.Ke2!
This is the proof that taking on c3 earlier could hardly help. After this prophylactic move, Black suffers huge troubles. White's king is in perfect position and Black has problems in finding solutions.
19...Nxd3
[19...Qxc3
20.Nf6+
Ke7
21.Qg5!
Kd6
22.Qf4+-
]
20.cxd3
Bd7
[20...Qxc3
21.Rhc1
Qb2+
22.Kf1
just wins.]
21.Nf6+
Ke7
22.Qg5
dxc3
23.Ne4+
[The silicon move 23.h6!
was winning! For instance: 23...Bb5
(23...Qa4
24.Nxg4+
Ke8
(24...Kd6
no longer works due to 25.Qe5++-
and c3 is hanging.) 25.Qg7
Ke7
(25...Qc2+
26.Kf1
Qxd3+
27.Kg1
Ke7
28.Qf6+
Kd6
29.Ne5+-
) 26.Qf6+
Kd6
27.Qe5++-
; 23...Kd6
24.Ne4+!
Kc6
25.Qe5!
Qa3
26.Rhc1+-
) 24.a4!
Ba6
(24...Bxd3+
25.Kxd3
Qa6+
26.Ke3
Qb6+
27.Ke2
Qb2+
28.Kd3+-
) 25.Nxd5+
Kd6
26.Qe7+!
Kxd5
27.Rh5+
f5
28.Qd7+
Kc5
(28...Ke5
29.Ke3!!+-
followed by d4+ and Qg7 mate (or Qd4 mate).) 29.Rxf5+
exf5
30.Qxf5+
Kb6
31.Rb1++-
]
23...Ke8
24.Nf6+
Ke7
25.Nxg4+
Kd6
26.Ne5
White is threatening Nc4+.
26...f6
The only way to get some counterplay!
27.Qxf6
Raf8
28.Qg7??
Crazy move! Losing an exceedingly important tempo. Difficult to know what Anand missed. [28.Nf7+
Rxf7
29.Qxf7
Qa4
would be a totally different story, as it would be White to move! And for instance, after 30.Kf1
Qc2
(30...Qd4
31.Qf3
Bb5
32.Rh3
c2
33.Rc1
Qb2
34.Qf4+
e5
35.Qd2+-
) 31.Qf4+!
Kc6
32.h6
White should win. (32.Rh3!?
) ]
28...Qa4
[28...Qb6!
might be best!! Typical computer move, forcing White to go Nf7+ according to the engine, as 29.Qxd7+?
Kxe5
should be much better for Black, whose king is going to move back to d6 or f6, depending on White's move.]
29.Nf7+
[29.Qg3!?
was was still very tricky: probably that's why Black should rather go 28...Qb6! 29...Qc2+
30.Kf1
Bb5!?
(30...Qxf2+
31.Qxf2
Rxf2+
32.Kxf2
Kxe5
33.Rae1+!?
Kd4
34.Ke2
should win for White.) 31.Nf7+
Ke7
32.Nxh8
Qxd3+
Only move. 33.Qxd3
Bxd3+
34.Kg1
Rxh8
35.Rh3!
Lucky move. 35...Bc4
36.Rxc3
Rxh5
and Black keeps drawing chances, but I believe White should still be winning.]
29...Rxf7
30.Qxf7
Qc2+
31.Kf1
Qxd3+
32.Kg1
The difference between 29.Nf7+ and 28.Nf7+ has been huge, but White should hold a draw anyway.
32...Qd2
33.Qg7
c2
[33...Rc8!?
34.h6
c2
35.Qg3+
e5
36.Qa3+
Ke6
37.Qc1
and White holds thanks to the following idea: 37...Qc3
38.h7
Qxa1
39.Rh6+
Phew! 39...Kf5
40.Qxa1
c1Q+
41.Qxc1
Rxc1+
42.Kh2
Rc8
43.h8Q
Rxh8
44.Rxh8+/=
; 33...Rh6
34.Rh3
c2
35.Qg3+
Ke7
36.Qa3+
Ke8
37.Rf1
with counterplay.]
34.Qxh8
c1Q+
35.Rxc1
Qxc1+
36.Kh2
Qf4+
37.Kg1
Qc1+
38.Kh2
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