1.d4
Anand decides to open the game with the d-pawn, as he did in his World Championship match against Kramnik in Bonn 2008.
1...Nf6
2.c4
e6
3.Nf3
No Nimzo today. Against Kramnik Anand used Nimzo and it brought him a point and a good position in game 2.
3...d5
Topalov doesn't go for the safe Queen's Indian, but rather for a sharp Ragozin or Vienna.
4.g3
No! Anand goes for a calm Catalan, which was and still is a great weapon of another world champion – Kramnik.
4...dxc4
5.Bg2
a6!?
Diagram The idea of this line is to save the pawn by any means.
6.Ne5
[6.0-0
is another main line, which is a real pawn sacrifice.]
6...c5
7.Na3
[7.Be3
Nd5
8.dxc5
Was played recently by other Catalan players, Bacrot and Wang Yue.]
7...cxd4
8.Naxc4
Bc5
Diagram [8...Ra7
is another possibility, with the idea b6. I remember it from the game Wang Yue-Van Wely from Corus 2009, where black equalised without problems. But I guess Anand had an improvement there.]
9.0-0
0-0
10.Bd2
Nd5
11.Rc1
Nd7
12.Nd3
Ba7
Diagram So far both players played logical moves, but from here White has a big and wide choice.
13.Ba5
A questionable decision. [13.Qb3!?
Made sense, since later on Black was threatening b6, attacking the bishop on a5. But perhaps Anand has analyzed this position deeply and came to conclusion that it is better to include Ba5 Qe7. If 13...Nc5
then simple 14.Nxc5
Bxc5
15.Ne5
and White keeps up the pressure. (15.Ba5!?
) ]
13...Qe7
14.Qb3
Rb8
Preparing b6. Now white had a big choice and I am afraid Anand chose not the best move, though later it worked out well for him. [After 14...b6
White has 15.Bb4
Nc5
16.Qa3
Bb7
17.Bxd5!
Bxd5
18.Nxb6!
Bxb6
19.Bxc5
Bxc5
20.Rxc5
With some pressure and edge.]
15.Qa3?!
Diagram As I said, later it worked out well for Anand. At the time I doubted the objective evaluation of the move, but after seeing the whole game I was wondering – maybe it was pure genius, from a psychological point of view!? [15.Rfd1!
Is the move I like most. Now Black doesn't have a very useful move, since 15...b6
falls into (15...Nc5
16.Nxc5
Bxc5
17.Ne5
should also be slightly better.; 15...Re8!?
or; 15...h6
are maybe the best moves, but White can then try Qa3 or improve slowly with let's say Rc2.) 16.Bb4!
Nc5
17.Qa3
Bb7
(17...Nxb4
18.Nxb4
Bb7
19.Bxb7
Qxb7
20.Rxd4
) 18.Bxd5!
Bxd5
19.Nxb6!
Bxb6
20.Rxc5!
Bxc5
21.Bxc5
Qb7
22.Bxf8
Rxf8
23.Qb4
With advantage for White.]
15...Qxa3
16.bxa3
Diagram
16...N7f6?!
logical, [but the more logical 16...Nc5!
was the move. I think White would have to fight for the draw, and I am curious what Anand wanted to play here and what Topalov was afraid of.]
17.Nce5!
Now I liked the white position again, though I think he has no objective advantage.
17...Re8!
preparing b6 and Bd7 [17...b6
18.Bb4!
; 17...Bd7
18.Nxd7
Nxd7
19.Bxd5
exd5
20.Rc7+/=
]
18.Rc2
[18.g4!?
looks interesting too.]
18...b6?!
objectively must be okay, but I think if there is no need to weaken the c6 square, then why to do it?! [I prefer 18...Bd7!
not weakening c6. Now the best white can do is 19.Nxd7
Nxd7
20.Rfc1
N7f6
21.Ne5
which should be around equal. White has two bishops and good pieces, while black has an extra pawn and a solid position with no weaknesses.]
19.Bd2
Bb7
20.Rfc1
Stronger than the immedeate Nc6. In general Anand plays very well from now on, without forcing things too much, just improving the position, no caring that he is a pawn down.
20...Rbd8
21.f4
Bb8
22.a4
a5
23.Nc6
Diagram Now that White has made all the useful moves, it is time for this exchange.
23...Bxc6
24.Rxc6
h5?!
A strange, impulsive and weakening move, although again, objectively it is not a mistake. [24...h6
would be played by a more patient defender.]
25.R1c4
Diagram [25.Bf3!?
Immediately pointing at the h5 pawn.]
25...Ne3?
Now the real mistake comes. I think Topalov got tired of making moves without any idea. He wanted to force things. However there was another way... [25...Ng4!
Fits perfectly with h5. If Topalov could have played it, I would have to give h5 an exclamation mark! 26.Bf3
(26.Rxd4
Ba7!
is the point. Now White would be in trouble.) 26...e5!
(26...Ba7!?
is not human, but not a bad move either.) 27.fxe5
Nxe5
28.Nxe5
Bxe5
29.Kf1
should be aroung equal, with Black having no problems after (29.Bxh5
d3!
30.exd3
Ne7-/+
) 29...h4!
]
26.Bxe3
dxe3
27.Bf3!?
Diagram [27.Rxb6
Was of course another option, but Anand is trying to confuse Topalov, offering him a difficult choice between giving up the h5 and b6 pawn. And he also perhaps didn't like 27...e5!?
]
27...g6?
[27...Nd7
was I think better, but White had a pleasant advantage there as well. Still it was way better than what Topalov go in the game. 28.Bxh5
e5!
being the idea]
28.Rxb6
Now there is no e5, and the a5 pawn is extremely weak.
28...Ba7
[28...Re7
Trying to defend a5 with Bc7 was better. Surprisingly White is unable to win the pawn by force, but obviously he still has a big advantage.]
29.Rb3!
So that Topalov can forget about any Rxd3.
29...Rd4
30.Rc7
Bb8
31.Rc5!
Diagram a4 is untouchable due to Bc6 and White wins the a5 pawn.
31...Bd6
32.Rxa5
Rc8
Black is getting active, but it won't give him anything. White has a good protection of the key d3 and e2 squares and the a-pawn (supported by a long-sighted bishop who keeps on looking at a8, the promotion square) should decide the game in White's favour.
33.Kg2
I love these moves. I can imagine how disgusted Topalov must be with his position now.
33...Rc2
34.a3
The mean World Champion, who already gave the pawn once in the opening, doesn't want to give it now anymore. And he is right... this will be the decisive pawn!
34...Ra2?!
[34...Nd5
It was necessary to still try to complicate the matter a bit, but White is winning anyway.]
35.Nb4!
Diagram All suporters of Anand were now very relieved when they saw the black king standing on g8, not g7...
35...Bxb4
[35...Rxa3
36.Rxa3
Bxb4
37.Ra8+!
is what I meant with my previous comment.]
36.axb4
Nd5
37.b5!
The a4 pawn doesn't matter anymore, while it's colleague runs!
37...Raxa4
38.Rxa4
Rxa4
39.Bxd5!
Killing the knight. The arising ending is the most winning rook ending I ever saw in my life.
39...exd5
40.b6
Ra8
41.b7
Diagram At the end the decisive factor is – the a-pawn! The little a-pawn that was standing on a2 at the beginning of the game.
41...Rb8
42.Kf3
d4
43.Ke4
Diagram A great comeback by the World Champion, though I must add that it was obviously not without help from Topalov. 1-0