GM Vladimir Kramnik vs GM Viswanthan Anand
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GM Viswanathan Anand vs Vladimir Kramnik
Viswanathan Anand - Vladimir Kramnik
WCC 2008
Round 6
Bonn
21.10.2008 Commentary Courtesy of Chessdom.Com
Having 2 points lead, Anand will supposedly start playing solidly even as White, in order to maintain the gap. Anand rarely loses as White, so the chances are very slim that in the remaining 3 games he has Black, the outcome of the match could become unclear. Nevertheless, there are 7 more games for Kramnik to try to level the score. And he sure craves for the title, so will do his best to recover. So, game 6, 15.00 CET.
1.d4 In the first of his two White games in a row, the Indian keeps on with this opening move.
1... Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Back to Nimzo-Indian?
3... Bb4 Definitely.
4.Qc2 This time Anand goes for the most popular choice
4... d5 ( The modern main line. 4... O-O was played in the majority of games a decade ago.) (4... c5 has its merits as well, but fashion is constantly changing.)
5.cxd5 Qxd5 ( The sharp positions arising after 5... exd5 don't match with Kramnik's style.)
6.Nf3 Qf5 7.Qb3 (7.Qxf5 exf5 is slightly favorable for White, but Black generally manages to hold the position. Anyway, Anands match strategy involves playing complicated middlegame, not endings with symbolic plus.)
7... Nc6 (7... c5 8.a3 Ba5 9.Qc4 is insufficient for full equality.)
8.Bd2 O-O 9.h3 A new move. The usual plan for Black is a7-a6, Bb4-d6 and e6-e5. Instead of developing his kingside by 9.e3 or 9.g3 Anand threatens with the aggressive g2-g4.
9... b6 (9... a6 10.g4 Qa5 11.e3 followed by Bd3 and O-O-O, may lead to a strong attack against the Black monarch.)
10.g4 Qa5 Now Anand has to decide how to proceed. (10... Qa5 (10... Qg6 11.Bg2) 11.e4 Rd8 puts the center under pressure and a lot of tactical motives may arise. Just a example: 12.g5 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 Rxd4 15.Nc3 Bb7 with dangerous initiative.) (10... Qa5 11.a3 Bb7 12.Rc1 Bxc3 13.Bxc3 Qd5 is about equal.) ( Developing the Bishop on the long diagonal could be an interesting idea. 10... Qa5 11.Bg2 Ba6 12.O-O Rad8 13.a3 may pose problems for Black: 13... Be7 14.g5 Nd5 15.Nb1 is an illustration: 15... Qb5 16.Qxb5 Bxb5 17.e4 Bxf1 18.Kxf1 and Nd5 is trapped.)
11.Rc1 Safety is preferred, having in mind the match standings. Time: 1.29 1.45.
11... Bb7 The most precise move seems to be 12.Rg1.
12.a3 This standard move lets Black obtain good counterplay. (12.Rg1 Rad8 13.a3 is a better way to go for the same idea, as the pressure over the long diagonal would be reduced.)
12... Bxc3 13.Bxc3 Qd5 14.Qxd5 Nxd5 Now f7-f5 is to be considered with.
15.Bd2 ( Of course not 15.e4 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Na5 17.Bd3 f5)
15... Nf6 16.Rg1 As Nc6xd4 was threatening, Anand finally makes this Rook move.
16... Rac8 17.Bg2 Ne7 ( The conclusion is that after 17... Ne7 18.Bb4 Rfe8 (18... c5 19.dxc5 Rfd8 20.Ne5 is not to be recommended.) 19.Ne5 White keeps some small advantage.)
18.Bb4 c5 Passive defense doesn't suit the Russian.
19.dxc5 ( The forced lines after 19.dxc5 a5 20.Bd2 Ne4 21.Ng5 Nxd2 22.Bxb7 Nb3 23.Bxc8 Nxc1 24.Bb7 bxc5 25.Ne4 are in White's favor.)
19... Rfd8 20.Ne5 Bxg2 21.Rxg2 Facing problems, Kramnik is again running low on time: 0.56 0.38.
21... bxc5 (21... a5 22.Bd2 Ne4 23.cxb6 Nxd2 24.Rxc8 Nxc8 25.b7 Na7 26.Rg3 and White is winning.)
22.Rxc5 In game 2 Black saved the day being a pawn down. Will be he able to repeat such achievement?
22... Ne4 23.Rxc8 Rxc8 24.Nd3 (24.Bxe7 Rc1 mate.)
24... Nd5 25.Bd2 Rc2 26.Bc1 Black is simply a pawn down without any compensation.
26... f5 27.Kd1 Rc8 28.f3 Nd6 The natural 29.e3 planning Rg2-c2 should consolidate White's advantage. Clock readings: 0.34 0.18.
29.Ke1 a5 30.e3 e5 31.gxf5 e4 (31... Nxf5 32.e4 Nh4 33.Rg3 Nb6 34.Bg5 Ng6 35.h4 is hopeless.)
32.fxe4 Nxe4 33.Bd2 a4 34.Nf2 The game has not finished yet, but the final result is almost certain.
34... Nd6 35.Rg4 Nc4 36.e4 (36.Nd1 was a good solid move, but Anand decides to go offensive.)
36... Nf6 37.Rg3 Nxb2 (37... Nxe4 38.Nxe4 Re8 39.Bc3 wins a pawn but transfers into an easily lost ending.)
38.e5 (38.Bc3 Nh5)
38... Nd5 ( Or 38... Re8 39.Bc3 Nc4 40.e6 Nd6 41.Ng4)
39.f6 Kf7 ( Here is a forced winning line: 39... Kf7 40.Ne4 Ke6 41.Ng5+ Kxe5 42.f7 Rf8 43.Rf3 Nd3+ 44.Rxd3 h6 45.Rxd5+ Kxd5 46.Bb4)
40.Ne4 Nc4 41.fxg7 (41.Rxg7+ Ke6 42.f7)
41... Kg8 (41... Rg8 42.Nd6+ Nxd6 43.exd6 Ke6 44.Bh6 Kxd6 45.Rf3 Ne7 46.Rf8 with easy win.)
42.Rd3 Ndb6 43.Bh6 Nxe5 44.Nf6+ Kf7 45.Rc3 Rxc3 (45... Rb8 46.g8Q+ Rxg8 47.Nxg8 Kxg8 48.Bf4)
46.g8Q+ Kxf6 47.Bg7+ Black resigned. Anand convincingly outplayed his opponent and well deservedly won for third time. Kramnik once again blundered - 18...c5? - and is already hopelessly behind in the match, having in mind his horrible form.
annotations by GM Dimitrov
Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2783 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 . . . . . . 4½
Kramnik, Vladimir g RUS 2772 ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 0 . . . . . . 1½
Kramnik would have to win 3 games in the last 6 games to tie the match, looks pretty much over to me.
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