1.e4
c5
2.Nf3
d6
3.d4
cxd4
4.Nxd4
Nf6
5.Nc3
Nc6
6.Bg5
e6
7.Qd2
a6
8.0-0-0
Bd7
9.f3
Be7
10.Be3
Rc8
Novelty More prudent is h5 to prevent g2-g4
11.g4
Na5
12.Kb1
A useful precaution in most lines, removing the king from the c-file and off the c1-h6 diagonal. King safety is a common prelimary to pushing the kingside pawns.
12...b5
Often with the idea of b5-b4 and/or Nc4
13.Bd3
Why move the bishop when it captures a move later on c4? Because Anand wants to make sure that after b5-b4, he can play Nc3-e2 without hemming in the Bf1
13...Nc4
14.Bxc4
Rxc4
15.Nce2
In many lines, heading toward g3 or f4 and eliminating any possibility of an exchange sacrifice on c3
15...0-0
The targets are set.
16.g5
Ne8
[ 16...Nh5
17.Ng3
and white will either gain an open h-file (after Nxg3 hxg3) or blacks' kingside will be decimated after g6 Nxh5]
17.h4
All with the common attacking idea of h5, g6
17...Qc8
Reserving c7 for the Ne8
18.b3
Anand knows that this white queenside formation is easy to defend, often with simply Rh1-h2
18...Rc7
19.Nf4!
Charge!
19...Rc3
A great square, but the plan is simply too slow. [ 19...e5?
20.Nd5
Qd8
21.Nf5
Bxf5
22.Nxc7+-
]
20.Rdg1
b4
With the idea of Nc7-b5-a3 [ 20...Bd8!?
; 20...e5?
21.Nd5
Bd8
22.Qxc3+-
]
21.h5
Nc7
22.g6
But white gets in first
22...Bf6
[ 22...Rxe3
23.Qxe3
e5
24.h6+-
fxg6
( 24...Bf6
25.gxh7+
Kh8
( 25...Kxh7
26.hxg7++-
) 26.hxg7+
Bxg7
27.Rxg7
Kxg7
28.Nh5+
Kg6
29.Qg1+
Bg4
30.Nf5+-
) 25.Nxg6
hxg6
26.hxg7
Rf4
27.Rh8+
Kxg7
28.Rxc8
Bxc8
29.Nc6+-
]
23.h6!
fxg6
[ 23...hxg6
24.hxg7
Bxg7
25.Qh2
Rd8
26.Qh7+
Kf8
27.Nxg6+
fxg6
28.Bh6
Ne8
29.Bxg7+
Nxg7
30.Rxg6+-
; 23...gxh6
24.gxh7+
Kh8
25.Nh5
Be5
26.f4+-
]
24.hxg7
Rf7
Diagram [ 24...Bxg7
25.Qh2
Kf7
( 25...Rxe3
26.Qxh7+
Kf7
27.Qxg6+
Ke7
28.Qxg7+
Ke8
29.Ng6+-
) 26.Qxh7+-
]
25.Rxh7!
Kxh7
[ 25...Rxg7
26.Rxg7+
Bxg7
27.Nxg6
Kf7
28.Qh2+-
; 25...Bxg7
26.Qh2
Rxe3
27.Nxg6+-
]
26.Qh2+
Kxg7
[ 26...Kg8
27.Qh8#
]
27.Nxg6
[ 27.Rxg6+?
Kf8-+
]
27...Rxe3
[ 27...Kg8
28.Ne7++-
]
28.Ne7+
Kf8
29.Nxc8
1-0