Anand fully back
Despite barely failing to win the Superbet Poland rapid and blitz tournament in Warsaw, Vishy Anand has shown — yet again — that he has what it takes to compete on an equal footing with his younger, elite opponents. In Warsaw, the 52-year-old won the rapid portion and climbed to 14th place in the world ranking; now, his first-round win over Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in Stavanger has left him in 11th place in the classical live ratings list.
This DVD allows you to learn from the example of one of the best players in the history of chess and from the explanations of the authors how to successfully organise your games strategically, and how to keep your opponent permanently under pressure.
The former world champion was not the only player to win his first classical game in the event, though. Wesley So, who comes from outscoring Magnus Carlsen in the blitz tournament, defeated Teimour Radjabov in convincing fashion.
Three players, who all had white much like Anand and So, first drew their classical encounter and then went on to win in Armageddon. Carlsen, Anish Giri and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov scored 1½ points in the super-tournament’s first round.

Anish Giri facing Veselin Topalov
Facing MVL with the white pieces, Anand decided to enter a Maroczy structure. The Frenchman placed his pawn on e6, creating a permanent weakness on d6. Looking to create a more dynamic fight instead of struggling from a rather cramped position, Vachier-Lagrave chose to sacrifice a pawn in the middlegame.
Anand vs. Vachier-Lagrave - Classical
17...b5 gave way to 18.cxb5 Nxd4 19.Bxd4 Bxd4+ 20.Rxd4 axb5 21.Qd2, and Black cannot defend both the pawn on b5 and the one on d6.
MVL’s strategy did not bear fruit, as he soon found himself struggling to find counterplay while a pawn down. A ruthless Anand slowly but surely increased his advantage until scoring a fine 40-move win.
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 g6 9.f3 Bg7 10.Be3 0-0 11.0-0 a6 12.Nb3!? 12...e6N 12...Rac8 13.Na4 Qe8 14.Nb6 Rd8 15.Qe2 Nd7 16.Na4 Nce5 17.Rac1 Nd3 18.Qxd3 Ne5 19.Qb1 Qxa4 20.Nd4 Rc8 21.b3 Qa5 22.Rf2 Nc6 23.Nxc6 Rxc6 24.Qd3 13.Qe2 Qe7 14.Rfd1 Rfd8 15.Rac1 Rac8 16.Nd4 Nd7 17.b3 b5 17...Bxd4= 18.Bxd4 Nxd4 19.Rxd4 Ne5 18.cxb5 Nxd4 19.Bxd4 Bxd4+ 20.Rxd4 axb5 21.Qd2 Rb8 22.Rxd6 b4 23.Ne2 Ne5 24.Rd1 Nc6 25.e5 25.Rxc6 Rxd2 26.Rxd2 Rd8 27.Rxd8+ Qxd8 25...Qa7+ 26.Kh1 Qf2 26...Qa5 27.Rc1± Rxd6 28.exd6 28.Qxd6 Rd8 29.Qxc6 Qxe2 28...Ne5 29.h3 Rb5 30.f4! 30.d7 Nxd7 31.Qxd7 Qxe2= 30.Rc8+ Kg7 31.Qb2 31.d7 Nxd7 32.Qxd7 Qxe2= 31...Kh6= 30...Nd7 31.Qd4 Qxd4 31...Qxe2? 32.Rc8+ Nf8 33.Rxf8+! Kxf8 34.Qh8# 32.Nxd4+- Rd5 33.Nc6 Rxd6 34.Nxb4 e5 35.fxe5 Nxe5 36.Rc5 Rd1+ 37.Kh2 f6 38.a4 Rb1 39.Rc3 Ra1 40.Rc7 1–0 - Start an analysis engine:
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Anand,V | 2751 | Vachier Lagrave,M | 2750 | 1–0 | 2022 | | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 1.1 |
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Colleagues, friends, chess fans — Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Vishy Anand
In So vs Radjabov, the former gained both a positional edge and a major advantage on the clock. Much like MVL, Radjabov pushed a pawn to b5, giving it up to get more dynamic chances. Unlike his colleague, though, by that point, the Azerbaijani was already in deep trouble against an in-form opponent.
Meanwhile, 1.b3 has also found its way into the practice of today's world elite, and now finally a modern top ten player has taken on the subject for ChessBase: none other than Grandmaster Wesley So!
So vs. Radjabov - Classical
After 28.Qxb5 Nd6 29.Qd3 it is tough to find an effective defensive strategy for Black. So upped the pressure, until Radjabov failed tactically in a sharp position.
So here found the one winning move in 35.Re2. With little time on the clock — there is no increment before move 40 in Stavanger — Radjabov further deteriorated his position with 35...Re8, when after 36.Nxc4 exd3 37.Rxe6 Rxe6 38.Nxa3, White has an easily winning endgame. Black resigned.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d3 d6 5...0-0 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 Be7 8.Bg3 d6 9.a4 Nh7 10.Nc3 Ng5 11.Nd2 Ne6 12.Nd5 Bg5 13.Nf3 Ne7 14.h4 Bf4 15.Bxf4 exf4 16.Nxe7+ Qxe7 17.d4 g5 18.Nh2 gxh4 19.Re1 Kh8 6.c3 a5 7.Re1 0-0 8.h3 h6 9.Nbd2 Be6 10.Bb5 Nd7 11.Nf1 d5 11...f5 12.exf5 Bxf5 13.Ng3 Bh7 12.Be3 dxe4 13.dxe4 13...Qe7N 13...Qf6 14.Qe2 Rfd8 15.Red1 Bf8 16.Ng3 a4 17.Nh2 Qg6 18.Ng4 Bd6 19.Bc4 Bxc4 20.Qxc4 14.Qe2 Rfd8 15.Red1 a4 16.Qc2 a3 17.b4 Bd6 18.N1d2 Nb6 19.Bxb6 cxb6 20.Bc4 Rdc8 20...Rac8= 21.Qd3 Nd8 22.Bxe6 Qxe6 22...Nxe6 23.Nc4 Bc7 23.Nf1!± Bf8 24.Ne3 f6 25.Nd5 Nf7 26.Nd2 Ra6 27.Rab1 27.c4+- 27...b5 28.Qxb5 Nd6 29.Qd3 b5 30.Rbc1 Rac6 31.Rc2 f5 31...Kh8± 32.Nb3 Rb8 32.exf5!+- Nxf5 33.Nb3 33.Qxb5? Nd4 34.cxd4 Rxc2 35.dxe5 Qxe5-+ 33...Rc4 34.Na5 e4 35.Re2 Re8? 35...exd3 36.Rxe6 Rxc3 37.Nxc3 Rxc3 36.Nxc4 exd3 37.Rxe6 Rxe6 38.Nxa3 1–0 - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
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So,W | 2766 | Radjabov,T | 2753 | 1–0 | 2022 | | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 1.1 |
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Wesley So
Endgame analysis by GM Karsten Müller
Above we saw how Anand got a clear edge in the early middlegame. Endgame expert Karsten Müller looks at the conversion phase, in which the Indian showed great technique to secure the victory. GM Müller’s analysis begins in the following position.
Anand vs. Vachier-Lagrave - Classical
Anand’s 31.Qd4 forces a queen exchange, after which his queenside pawns will decide the day in the long run.
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 g6 9.f3 Bg7 10.Be3 0-0 11.0-0 a6 12.Nb3 e6 13.Qe2 Qe7 14.Rfd1 Rfd8 15.Rac1 Rac8 16.Nd4 Nd7 17.b3 b5 18.cxb5 Nxd4 19.Bxd4 Bxd4+ 20.Rxd4 axb5 21.Qd2 Rb8 22.Rxd6 b4 23.Ne2 Ne5 24.Rd1 Nc6 25.e5 Qa7+ 26.Kh1 Qf2 27.Rc1 Rxd6 28.exd6 Ne5 29.h3 Rb5 30.f4 Nd7 31.Qd4! Qxd4 31...Qxe2? 32.Rc8+ Nf8 33.Rxf8+ Kxf8 34.Qh8# 32.Nxd4 Rd5 33.Nc6 Rxd6 34.Nxb4 e5 34...Rd4 35.Nc6 Rxf4 36.a4 Rf2 37.a5 Ra2 38.b4 Kf8 39.b5 Ke8 40.a6 Nb6 41.Rd1 Nd7 42.a7 f5 43.b6 Nxb6 44.Rd8+ Kf7 45.Rb8+- 35.fxe5 Nxe5 36.Rc5 Rd1+ 36...Nd7 37.Rd5+- 37.Kh2 f6 38.a4 Rb1 39.Rc3 Ra1 40.Rc7 40.Rc7 Ra3 41.Nd5 Rxb3 42.Nxf6+ Kf8 43.Nxh7+ Ke8 44.Nf6+ Kd8 45.Nd5 Ra3 46.Re7 Nd7 47.Re6 g5 48.Rg6 Ke8 49.Rxg5 Rxa4 50.Rf5+- 1–0
- Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
Anand,V | 2751 | Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2750 | 1–0 | 2022 | B52 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 1.1 |
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Standings after round 1
|
Name |
Points |
1 |
Viswanathan Anand |
3 |
2 |
Wesley So |
3 |
3 |
Magnus Carlsen |
1½ |
4 |
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov |
1½ |
5 |
Anish Giri |
1½ |
6 |
Wang Hao |
1 |
7 |
Veselin Topalov |
1 |
8 |
Aryan Tari |
1 |
9 |
Teimour Radjabov |
0 |
10 |
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave |
0 |
All games
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1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nd7 3.d4 Nb6 4.b3 Bf5 5.Nh4N 5.Ba3 h6 6.Bg2 Nf6 7.0-0 g5 8.c4 Bg7 9.Nc3 Ne4 10.Rc1 c6 11.cxd5 Nxc3 12.Rxc3 Nxd5 5...e6 6.Nxf5 exf5 7.Qd3 g6 8.Bg2 Nf6 9.0-0 Be7 10.c4 c6 11.Bh6 Bf8 12.Bg5 Be7 13.a4 a5 14.Nc3 0-0 15.Bxf6 15.Rfc1 Qc8 16.e3 Rd8 17.h4 15...Bxf6 16.cxd5 Nxd5 17.Nxd5 cxd5 18.e3 18.Rfc1± 18...Qd7! 19.Qb5 Rfd8 20.Rfc1 Be7! 21.Rc2 21.Qb6!? 21...Kg7 22.Qb6 Qe6 23.Qb5 Qd7 24.Qf1 Ra6 25.Bf3 Rb6 26.Qd3 Qe6 27.Kg2 h5 28.h4 Bb4 29.Kg1 Be7 30.Rb1 Bb4 31.Qf1 Rc6 32.Rxc6 bxc6 33.Rc1 Rd6 34.Kg2 Qe7 35.Qa6 c5 36.Qd3 cxd4 37.Qxd4+ Qf6 38.Rc7 Qxd4 39.exd4= Kf6 40.Rb7 Ke6 41.Rb5 Rd8 42.Kf1 Rd6 43.Ke2 Rd8 44.Rb7 Bc3 45.Kd3 Be1 46.Ke3 Bb4 47.Rb5 ½–½ - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
Carlsen,M | 2864 | Wang,H | 2744 | ½–½ | 2022 | D02 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 1.1 |
Mamedyarov,S | 2770 | Tari,A | 2654 | ½–½ | 2022 | E39 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 1.1 |
So,W | 2766 | Radjabov,T | 2753 | 1–0 | 2022 | C54 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 1.1 |
Giri,A | 2761 | Topalov,V | 2730 | ½–½ | 2022 | E11 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 1.1 |
Anand,V | 2751 | Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2750 | 1–0 | 2022 | B52 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 1.1 |
Carlsen,M | 2864 | Wang,H | 2744 | 1–0 | 2022 | E05 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 1.2 |
Mamedyarov,S | 2770 | Tari,A | 2654 | 1–0 | 2022 | D37 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 1.2 |
Giri,A | 2761 | Topalov,V | 2730 | 1–0 | 2022 | E11 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 1.2 |
Mamedyarov,S | 2770 | Tari,A | 2654 | ½–½ | 2022 | E39 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 1.5 |
So,W | 2766 | Carlsen,M | 2864 | ½–½ | 2022 | D46 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 2.1 |
Radjabov,T | 2753 | Tari,A | 2654 | ½–½ | 2022 | D41 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 2.1 |
Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2750 | Mamedyarov,S | 2770 | ½–½ | 2022 | D50 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 2.1 |
Wang,H | 2744 | Giri,A | 2761 | ½–½ | 2022 | B90 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 2.1 |
Topalov,V | 2730 | Anand,V | 2751 | 0–1 | 2022 | D10 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 2.1 |
So,W | 2766 | Carlsen,M | 2864 | 1–0 | 2022 | C54 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 2.2 |
Radjabov,T | 2753 | Tari,A | 2654 | 1–0 | 2022 | E20 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 2.2 |
Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2750 | Mamedyarov,S | 2770 | 1–0 | 2022 | C42 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 2.2 |
Wang,H | 2744 | Giri,A | 2761 | ½–½ | 2022 | B90 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 2.2 |
Carlsen,M | 2864 | Radjabov,T | 2753 | 1–0 | 2022 | E05 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 3.1 |
Mamedyarov,S | 2770 | Topalov,V | 2730 | ½–½ | 2022 | D11 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 3.1 |
Giri,A | 2761 | So,W | 2766 | ½–½ | 2022 | E36 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 3.1 |
Anand,V | 2751 | Wang,H | 2744 | ½–½ | 2022 | B33 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 3.1 |
Tari,A | 2654 | Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2750 | 0–1 | 2022 | B52 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 3.1 |
Mamedyarov,S | 2770 | Topalov,V | 2730 | 1–0 | 2022 | E16 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 3.2 |
Giri,A | 2761 | So,W | 2766 | ½–½ | 2022 | C65 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 3.2 |
Anand,V | 2751 | Wang,H | 2744 | 1–0 | 2022 | B31 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 3.2 |
Carlsen,M | 2864 | Giri,A | 2761 | 1–0 | 2022 | D50 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 4.1 |
So,W | 2766 | Anand,V | 2751 | ½–½ | 2022 | A37 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 4.1 |
Radjabov,T | 2753 | Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2750 | ½–½ | 2022 | D85 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 4.1 |
Wang,H | 2744 | Mamedyarov,S | 2770 | 0–1 | 2022 | C83 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 4.1 |
Topalov,V | 2730 | Tari,A | 2654 | ½–½ | 2022 | C50 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 4.1 |
So,W | 2766 | Anand,V | 2751 | 1–0 | 2022 | A36 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 4.2 |
Radjabov,T | 2753 | Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2750 | 1–0 | 2022 | D27 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 4.2 |
Topalov,V | 2730 | Tari,A | 2654 | 1–0 | 2022 | C50 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 4.2 |
Mamedyarov,S | 2770 | So,W | 2766 | ½–½ | 2022 | D50 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 5.1 |
Giri,A | 2761 | Radjabov,T | 2753 | 1–0 | 2022 | C54 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 5.1 |
Anand,V | 2751 | Carlsen,M | 2864 | ½–½ | 2022 | C55 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 5.1 |
Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2750 | Topalov,V | 2730 | ½–½ | 2022 | C54 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 5.1 |
Tari,A | 2654 | Wang,H | 2744 | 1–0 | 2022 | C55 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 5.1 |
Mamedyarov,S | 2770 | So,W | 2766 | 1–0 | 2022 | A13 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 5.2 |
Anand,V | 2751 | Carlsen,M | 2864 | 1–0 | 2022 | C50 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 5.2 |
Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2750 | Topalov,V | 2730 | 1–0 | 2022 | C67 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 5.2 |
Carlsen,M | 2864 | Mamedyarov,S | 2770 | 1–0 | 2022 | D78 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 6.1 |
Radjabov,T | 2753 | Topalov,V | 2730 | ½–½ | 2022 | E36 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 6.1 |
So,W | 2766 | Tari,A | 2654 | ½–½ | 2022 | C54 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 6.2 |
Giri,A | 2761 | Anand,V | 2751 | ½–½ | 2022 | A34 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 6.2 |
Radjabov,T | 2753 | Topalov,V | 2730 | ½–½ | 2022 | D43 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 6.2 |
Wang,H | 2744 | Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2750 | 0–1 | 2022 | A48 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 6.2 |
Tari,A | 2654 | Carlsen,M | 2864 | ½–½ | 2022 | C47 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 7.1 |
Mamedyarov,S | 2770 | Giri,A | 2761 | 1–0 | 2022 | E94 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 7.2 |
Anand,V | 2751 | Radjabov,T | 2753 | 1–0 | 2022 | C54 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 7.2 |
Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2750 | So,W | 2766 | 1–0 | 2022 | C67 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 7.2 |
Topalov,V | 2730 | Wang,H | 2744 | ½–½ | 2022 | B33 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 7.2 |
Tari,A | 2654 | Carlsen,M | 2864 | 1–0 | 2022 | B00 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 7.2 |
Carlsen,M | 2864 | Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2750 | ½–½ | 2022 | D85 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 8.1 |
So,W | 2766 | Topalov,V | 2730 | ½–½ | 2022 | C67 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 8.1 |
Giri,A | 2761 | Tari,A | 2654 | 1–0 | 2022 | D02 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 8.1 |
Radjabov,T | 2753 | Wang,H | 2744 | ½–½ | 2022 | C43 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 8.1 |
Anand,V | 2751 | Mamedyarov,S | 2770 | 0–1 | 2022 | C42 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 8.1 |
Carlsen,M | 2864 | Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2750 | 1–0 | 2022 | D85 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 8.2 |
So,W | 2766 | Topalov,V | 2730 | 0–1 | 2022 | A36 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 8.2 |
Radjabov,T | 2753 | Wang,H | 2744 | 1–0 | 2022 | C48 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 8.2 |
Mamedyarov,S | 2770 | Radjabov,T | 2753 | ½–½ | 2022 | E11 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 9.1 |
Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2750 | Giri,A | 2761 | ½–½ | 2022 | B30 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 9.1 |
Wang,H | 2744 | So,W | 2766 | ½–½ | 2022 | C67 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 9.1 |
Topalov,V | 2730 | Carlsen,M | 2864 | ½–½ | 2022 | C54 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 9.1 |
Tari,A | 2654 | Anand,V | 2751 | ½–½ | 2022 | C83 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 9.1 |
Mamedyarov,S | 2770 | Radjabov,T | 2753 | ½–½ | 2022 | A13 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 9.2 |
Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2750 | Giri,A | 2761 | 1–0 | 2022 | B53 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 9.2 |
Wang,H | 2744 | So,W | 2766 | ½–½ | 2022 | E29 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 9.2 |
Topalov,V | 2730 | Carlsen,M | 2864 | ½–½ | 2022 | C54 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 9.2 |
Tari,A | 2654 | Anand,V | 2751 | 0–1 | 2022 | C50 | 10th Norway Chess 2022 | 9.2 |
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