In tenth game Anand, who played Black, decided that he has suffered enough in the Slav and went for the Grunfeld, as he did in game one. Topalov again chose the main line with 7.Bc4, but this time Anand surprised him with the rare 10...b6!?. The World Champion quickly equalized after mutual inaccuracies, but then when there was no need, he went into a worse endgame. I couldn't find a win for Topalov, but it all didn't look not so funny for Anand. At the end Topalov lost track and it was he who had to make a draw.
1.d4
Nf6!
Yes! Anand tried all posibilities in the Slav endgame, where in all games he had to suffer, but in all games he achieved draws (though one he lost due to blunder). Now his team apparently managed to recover the sharp and tricky Grunfeld!
2.c4
g6!
[2...c6??
Luckily 1...Nf6 wasn't a joke from Anand, who here could have still gone back to Slav!]
3.Nc3
d5
4.cxd5
Nxd5
5.e4
Nxc3
6.bxc3
Bg7
7.Bc4
0-0
8.Ne2
c5
9.Be3
Nc6
10.0-0
This position was instantly reached by both players. We saw it in game one, so it was obvious that Anand's improvements is coming.
10...b6!?
But I couldn't expect the improvement to come so quickly! Anand, as he did in his other black games, deviates very early – a very interesting strategy. The move is a very rare one which is not seen recently in the top levels of chess. Not suprisingly Topalov was out of his preparation already here! [10...Na5
11.Bd3
b6
12.Qd2
e5
13.Bh6
; 10...Bg4
11.f3
Na5
]
11.Qd2
Played pretty quickly... I guess Topalov trusted Anand on the main and in my opinion more critical capture of the pawn and decided to play solid and positional. [11.dxc5
As I said, is in my opinion a critical continuation. I guess Anand's analysis start with 11...Qc7!
]
11...Bb7
12.Rac1
I think White should try to trade dark squared bishops with Bh6, but it is not so easy to achieve without the preparatory Rac1 and Rfd1, which lose some time. This is the advantage of this line compared to Na5, which was played in game one: now d4 is under pressure. [12.Rad1
Seems more natural with the idea Bh6, but in fact White has no time to start any attack: 12...cxd4
(12...Rc8!?
) 13.cxd4
Rc8
14.Bh6
Bxh6
(14...Ne5!?
) 15.Qxh6
Nb4!
covering the d3 square and thus taking over the initiative.]
12...Rc8
13.Rfd1
[13.e5
Seemed interesting to me at first, but Black quickly starts his counterplay with 13...cxd4
14.cxd4
Na5
15.Bd3
Qd7
preparing the exchange of both rooks.]
13...cxd4
Anand plays logical and simple chess. His plan is to develop everything and maybe exchange rooks. [13...e5
is interesting, but not so simple: 14.d5
(14.dxc5
Qxd2
15.Rxd2
Na5
16.Bd3
bxc5
should be slightly better for White, but nothing special.) 14...Na5
15.Bd3
and now Black wants c4 and f5-f4. Then he will regroup his pieces and perhaps even enjoy some advantage. However he is not in time to achieve everything: 15...f5
(15...c4
16.Bc2
f5
17.Bg5!
Qd7
18.exf5
gxf5
19.Ng3!
) 16.Bg5!
Qd7
17.c4!
]
14.cxd4
White would like to attack: Bh6, change the bishops and then try to get to Black's king. However it won't be possible, because Black is ready to distract him.
14...Qd6!?
Provoking e5, which I at first thought White wants to play anyway. However, White has no time to start the attack, and then the disadvantag of the move – the weakness of d5 square – will tell. [14...e6
seems more logical to me, but Anand (and his seconds!?) thought that Qd6 is better. 15.Bh6
(15.e5
Na5
16.Bd3
Qd7
) 15...Na5
(15...Qh4!?
16.Bxg7
Kxg7
17.f3
Rfd8
) 16.Bd3
Qe7
17.h4
]
15.d5
This move probably took Anand out of his preparation. White advances in the centre and his plans depend on where black knight goes. [15.e5!?
Qd7
(15...Qb4
aas what I thought was Black's idea, but here White has a strong move: 16.Rc3!
the idea being that 16...Nxe5?
doesn't work due to 17.Bxf7+!
Nxf7
18.Rxc8
Qxd2
19.Rxf8+!
The point.) 16.e6!?
has already been played in a game by two amateurs. I must say I like this move very much, but probably Black is fine: (16.Bh6?
Nxe5!
17.dxe5
Qg4
; 16.Bd3
Na5
is fine for Black) 16...fxe6
17.Nf4
Nd8!
(17...Rxf4
was played in that game, but Black does not have enough compensation after 18.Bxf4
Nxd4
19.Bf1!
) 18.Qe2
And White is planning Qg4 and h4-h5. Also d5 may sometimes be an option. I think Black can deal with those threats by playing (18.h4??
is logical but fails to the beautiful tactic 18...Rxf4!
19.Bxf4
Rxc4!
20.Rxc4
Qd5-+
) 18...Qd6
19.Qg4
Be4!
and if 20.h4
then the non-standard (20.Bxe6+
Nxe6
21.Qxe6+
Qxe6
22.Nxe6
Rfe8=
; 20.a4
is too slow 20...Kh8
21.h4
Bf6
22.h5
Bf5
23.Qf3
g5!
) 20...Bf5
21.Qe2
h5!
and now that e6 and g6 are well protected, Black is able to get his knight back into play and take over the initiative.; 15.Bh6
is logical. I guess Anand planned 15...Qb4!
Now White doesn't have a way to keep his advantage without trading queens, but the arising ending, should also be good for Black. 16.Qxb4
(16.Qe3
Na5
17.Bd3
Nc4
with counterplay; 16.Rc3
Nxd4!
This trick leads to a draw by force: 17.Nxd4
Rxc4
18.Rxc4
Qxc4
19.Bxg7
Kxg7
20.Nf5+!
beautiful, but it only secures the perpetual (Another beautiful line is- 20.Rc1
Qa4
21.Rc7
Rc8!
22.Rxb7
Qxa2!!
23.Nf5+!
gxf5
24.Qg5+
Kh8
25.h3
with some advantage for Black.) 20...gxf5
21.Qg5+
Kh8
22.Qxe7
Qc8
23.Qf6+
Kg8
24.Qg5+
Kh8
25.Qf6+
with perpetual.) 16...Nxb4
17.Bg5!?
Rfe8
18.a3
(18.f3!?
) 18...h6!
(18...Nc6?
19.d5
Na5
20.Bb5
) 19.Bh4
g5!
]
15...Na5
This move is simpler. He now wants to break up the white centre with e6 (or f5!?) and White is unable to avoid that. [15...Ne5
is possible, but more risky and complicated 16.Bb3
Ng4
(16...Ba6!?
) 17.Bf4
Be5
18.g3!?
is very creative and interesting. It almost forces (18.Bxe5
Qxe5
19.Ng3
) 18...Bxf4
19.gxf4
with a scary looking pawn mass. The position is unclear, though I would prefer being White here.]
16.Bb5!
Clever move, trying to avoid e6. [16.Bd3
is toothless. Black easily gets comfortable play with 16...e6
17.Bf4
Be5
(17...Qd7!?
is also possible 18.Nc3
Rc5!
) 18.Bxe5
(18.Bh6
Rxc1
19.Rxc1
Rc8
) 18...Qxe5
19.dxe6
Qxe6
]
16...Rxc1
[16...e6?
is bad due to 17.dxe6
Qxe6
18.Bd7
Qxe4
19.f3!
winning the exchange.]
17.Rxc1
17...Rc8?
A logical follow-up, but I think it is inaccurate. Black should have played e6 as quickly as possible. [17...e6!
I don't know how White can get anything here, for example 18.Bf4
is answered with 18...Be5
19.Bxe5
Qxe5
20.Nc3
Rc8!
with the idea 21.dxe6
(21.d6
Rd8
22.Rd1
Bc6=
) 21...Qxe6
22.Bd7
Rd8!
; 17...f5!?
was perhaps also possible, but too tricky.]
18.h3?
forgiving Anand for his inaccurate last move. [18.Rxc8+
Bxc8
19.Nd4!
aas a logical way to prevent e6. Now White has a pleasant advantage, though Black should hold this position. 19...a6
is probably the best- (19...e6
is logical, but White is not forced to take on e6 and may get an advantage with 20.Qc1!?
(20.Be2!?
is simpler and also nice for White 20...exd5
21.Nb5!
) 20...Bd7
21.Nc6
exd5
22.Bf4!
; 19...Bd7
I don't like. The arising endgame is dangerous for black: 20.Bxd7
(20.Qd3!?
is also possible and gives White some advantage after 20...Bxd4
21.Bxd4
Bxb5
22.Qxb5
f6
) 20...Qxd7
21.Nc6!
Nxc6
22.dxc6
Qxd2
(22...Qxc6??
23.Qd8+
Bf8
24.Bh6+-
is the trick.) 23.Bxd2
Be5
24.f4
Bb8
25.Kf2
Kf8
26.Kf3
Ke8
27.e5
Kd8
28.Ke4
and Black needs just one extra tempo to play e6 and Kc7, but he is not in time: 28...Kc7
29.Bb4!
and maybe Black holds this, but the ending is not easy for him, to say the least.) 20.Be2
e6!
21.dxe6
fxe6
22.a4!
fixing the b6 and a6 pawn and securing slight but pleasant advantage.]
18...Rxc1+
Now Anand is easily equalizing [18...e6?
immediately blunders a pawn: 19.Rxc8+
Bxc8
20.dxe6!
Qxd2
21.exf7+!
]
19.Qxc1
19...e6
[19...f5!?
is also possible; now White can transpose to the game or play sharp 20.Nd4!?
(20.f3
fxe4
21.fxe4
e6
transposes to the game) 20...Bxd4!
(20...f4?
looks clever and smart, but it is in fact bad due to 21.Bxf4
Qb4
22.Ne6!
Qxb5
23.Qc7
and white is dominating.; 20...fxe4
21.Nc6!
with advantage) 21.Bxd4
Qb4
and it is a draw. 22.Bc3!?
setting a small trap: (22.Qa1
Qxb5
23.Bh8
Kf7
24.a4
Qc5
25.Qg7+
Ke8
26.Qg8+
Kd7
27.Qe6+
Kd8
28.Qg8+=
; 22.Qc7
Qxd4
23.Qd8+
Kg7
24.Qxe7+
Kh6
25.Qh4+
Kg7=
) 22...Qxe4!
(22...Qxb5?
23.Qh6!
Kf7
24.Qxh7+
Ke8
25.Qxg6+
Kd8
26.Qxf5+/-
Falling into a trap is almost never good..) 23.Bxa5
bxa5
24.Bc6
Qb4
25.Qe3
with equal position.]
20.Nf4
exd5
21.Nxd5
21...f5
Nice move. Black is already doing very fine. [21...Qe5
is also possible, with the idea to send the queen to a1. 22.Bd3
f5
(22...Qa1!?
) 23.Qc2!?
(23.Bf4
Qa1!
with a nice endgame for Black.) 23...h6!?
Now the piece is hanging and Black has equalized. 24.f4
Qd6
25.Bf2
Bxd5
26.exd5
Qxf4
(26...Qxd5
27.g4!=
) 27.g4!?
Bd4
28.Qc8+
Kh7
29.Qd7+
Kg8
30.Qe8+
Kg7
31.Qe7+
Kg8
with perpetual check.]
22.f3
I actually thought that it was a mistake to let Black exchange f-pawns and give him the nice e5 square. In fact the position is equal anyway. [22.Bf4
is not giving White anything: 22...Qc5
(22...Be5
23.Bxe5
Qxe5
24.Qg5!
Kg7
is also equal, but it looks scary for Black after let's say 25.Qd8
fxe4
26.Qd7+
Kh8
27.Ne7
) 23.Qxc5
bxc5
with equality.]
22...fxe4
23.fxe4
Qe5
24.Bd3
24...Nc6?!
Allowing a small trick. But I can understand how much Anand wanted to bring back his knight, which has been on the edge for such a long time. [24...Bxd5!?
is actually a good move. Black's idea is not to win the pawn, but to get some blockade on dark squares. 25.exd5
Bf8!
(25...Qxd5
26.Qc8+=
) 26.Bf1
Nb7
and it will be White who will have to beg for the draw. (26...Kf7!?
) ; 24...Qa1
still remains my favourite.]
25.Ba6!
Nice trick, which doesn't give White anything objectively, but confused Anand.
25...Nd4?
This move only looks tricky and entertaining. In fact it only leads to a worse ending. I guess Vishy thought that the arising endgame is easily drawn, so he didn't bother calculating Bxa6. But in fact the endgame is very difficult for Black, and he has to suffer. [25...Bxa6!
Leads to a draw and I guess if Anand would know that there are some real problems in the ending he got, he could easily calculate this move until a draw. 26.Qxc6
Qa1+
27.Kh2
(27.Bc1
Bb7!?
28.Qe6+
Kf8
29.Qe7+
Kg8=
) 27...Be5+
28.Bf4
(28.Nf4
Qc3
and white can give perpetual, but nothing more.) 28...Bxf4+
29.Nxf4
Qe5
30.Qa8+
Kg7
31.Qxa7+
Kg8
32.g3
Qb2+
33.Ng2
Bf1
and again White is forced to give perpetual check.]
26.Qc4!
Bxd5
27.Qxd5+
Qxd5
28.exd5
Be5
Black gets some blockade, but White also has his own ideas. First he brings his king into the center.
29.Kf2
Kf7
30.Bg5
Nf5
31.g4
Nd6
32.Kf3
32...Ne8
The beginning of a suspicious plan. Maybe Black should have kept the knight where it is and also his queenside pawns on their places. It is not for nothing that they say that knight is the best blockading piece... But well, to be honest I don't see a clear way for Black to draw... Neither did Vishy and maybe that's why he decided to do at least something. [One way to play is 32...Bf6
33.Bf4
Ke7
and it seems to be that if White allows Black to play g5 and h6 it will be a fortress. So 34.g5!
Bd4!?
setting a trap.. 35.Bd3!
(35.h4
would be giving White a big advantage, but Black has a strong idea: 35...b5!
36.Kg4
Bc5
37.h5
Bd4
with fortress (if I am not mistaken...); 35.a4
Nf7
and black is holding. The fact that the pawn is already on a4 is to Black's advantage.) 35...Nf7
36.Bc2
And maybe Black is drawing this, but White still has h4-h5 ideas so the game is not over.]
33.Bc1
Nc7
As I already said, the knight probably doesn't belong here. But on the other hand if it stays on d6 White will slowly push the pawns on kingside, and then once a weakness on g6 is created, he can exchange dark squared bishops.
34.Bd3
Bd6
35.Ke4
b5
A weakening move, it weakens the pawns and c5 square. But again as I said, waiting moves do not bring joy either.
36.Kd4
a6
37.Be2
Topalov doesn't hurry.
37...Ke7
38.Bg5+
Kd7
39.Bd2
39...Bg3
Trying to avoid h4-h5, but White also has other ideas, like g5, Bg4-e6(c8) [39...Na8!?
transfering the knight to... somewhere interesting. 40.h4
Nb6
41.h5
(41.g5!?
Na4
42.Bg4+
Ke7
43.Bc8
Nc5
and thanks to the trick 44.Bb4
Ne6+!
Black holds.) 41...Na4
42.g5
Ba3
and thanks to some odd tricky checks from c5 or b2 Black holds his g-pawn. But White has a lot of possibilities here and can try to trick Black.]
40.g5!
Bf2+
41.Ke5
just losing a tempo. But of course it is tempting to play such a move. [41.Ke4!
was more precise. But I think with precise play Black is still able to hold this position. 41...Bc5!
I think black should give up his dreams to stop h4-h5. (41...Ne8
42.Bg4+
Ke7
43.Bb4+
Nd6+
44.Kf4
Bg1
otherwise Be6 is coming 45.h4
and h5 is coming, after which White has a choice to play h6 , exchange on g6 or just stay on h5. Black is may be holding, but it is hard to believe. Actually I think White should push h5 and then Be6-g8-xh7 should give him a winning advantage for example: (45.Be6
Ke8!
; 45.Bc8?
a5!=
) 45...Bf2
46.h5
Bg1
47.Be6
gxh5
48.Bg8
Bh2+
49.Kf3
Kf8
50.Bxh7
Kg7
51.Bc2
Be5
52.Be1
Kf7
53.Kg2
Ne8
54.Kh3
Ng7
55.Kh4
Bd4
56.Bb4
Bf2+
57.Kh3
Bd4
58.Kg3
and Black eventually cracks.) 42.h4
b4!
Black's idea now is Nb5!-c3. Did Anand see it and that's why played Ne8-c5 and b5, a6?? 43.h5
Ke7
44.hxg6
hxg6
45.Bd3
Nb5!
46.Kf4
Nc3
probably is a draw]
41...Bg3+!
42.Ke4
[42.Kf6
seems good, but Black draws with 42...Nxd5+
43.Kg7
Bf4!
44.Bxf4
Nxf4
45.Bg4+
Kd6
46.Kxh7
Ke5
47.h4
a5
48.Kh6
b4
49.Bd1
(49.Bd7
Ke4
) 49...Kf5
50.Kg7
Nh3
51.Kh6
Nf4=
]
42...Ne8
43.Bg4+
Ke7
44.Be6
A bad move, but I don't see any way for White to win anymore. [For example 44.Kf3
Bd6
(44...Nd6
looks good, but White is not forced to take the bishop and after 45.Bb4!
Black is pinned, but maybe... maybe he still holds here as well! To be honest I am unable to analyze it to the end.) 45.Ba5!?
trying to be tricky. (45.Bc8
Nc7
46.Ke4
(46.Ba5
Nxd5
47.Bxa6
Bb4!
48.Bxb4+
Nxb4
49.Bxb5
Nxa2=
) 46...b4!
47.Bb7
a5
48.Bc6
Na6!
jumping back into the game! 49.Kd4
Nc5
50.Be1
Kf7
and I don't see how White can make progress.) 45...Bc7!
(45...Nc7
46.Ke4!
and b4, a5 is not possible.) 46.Bc3
a5
47.Be6
b4
48.Bd4
Nd6
49.Bf6+
(49.Bg8
Kf8!
50.Bxh7
Kf7=
) 49...Kf8
50.Ke3
a4
51.Kd3
b3
52.axb3
axb3
53.Be5
Ne8
54.Bb2
Bf4
55.Kc4
Bxg5
56.Kxb3
Nd6
with a draw.]
44...Nd6+
45.Kf3
Nc4!
Anand uses the opportunity to suddenly activate his pieces. [45...Be5
46.Bb4
was probably what Topalov was hoping for, but as I said earlier, even this may be holdable.]
46.Bc1
[46.Kxg3
Nxd2
is of no danger for Black. For example: 47.Bg8
Kf8
48.Bxh7
Kg7
49.Kf4
Nc4
50.Bxg6
Kxg6
51.h4
b4
52.Ke4
a5
53.Kd4
Nd6
54.Kc5
Ne4+
55.Kb5
Nc3+
56.Kxa5
Nxa2
57.d6
b3
58.d7
b2
59.d8Q
b1Q
and it is still a draw.; 46.Bb4+
Bd6
47.Bc3
Be5=
]
46...Bd6
47.Ke4
a5
48.Bg4
Ba3
49.Bxa3+
[49.Bf4
Bd6
50.Bc1
is already the best White can do.]
49...Nxa3
In this ending it is only White who has to be careful.
50.Ke5
Nc4+
51.Kd4
Kd6
52.Be2
Na3
53.h4
Nc2+
54.Kc3
Nb4
55.Bxb5
[55.Kb3
Kc5
56.d6
would lead to a draw as well, but White doesn't have to make it here.]
55...Nxa2+
56.Kb3
Nb4
57.Be2!
Nxd5
58.h5
White of course makes a draw, but it is remarkable after seeing the whole game, that it is he who has to go for it.
58...Nf4
59.hxg6!
hxg6
60.Bc4
No Sofia rule can forbid players to agree a draw in this position. Another draw, but this time it was Anand who was a little bit more lucky. 1/2-1/2