1.e4
c5
2.Nf3
d6
3.d4
cxd4
4.Nxd4
Nf6
5.Nc3
a6
Another Najdorf Sicilian
6.f3
e6
7.Be3
And, yet again, the English attack
7...b5
8.g4
Nfd7
The Nf6 will often be attacked and need to retreat here. Rather than wait for the pawn advance, Anand speeds its development towards b6
9.Qd2
Nb6
10.a4
But here's adisadvantage of this approach. White has not yet castled 0-0-0 and can isolate the black a-pawn
10...bxa4
11.Nxa4
Nxa4
12.Rxa4
Be7
The exchanges have made ...0-0 a bit safer
13.g5
[13.Be2
0-0
14.0-0
Bb7
15.Rfa1
Nd7
16.Nb3
Rb8
17.Ba7
Rc8
18.Na5
Ba8
19.Bxa6
Ne5
20.Be2
f5
21.gxf5
exf5
22.Nc4
Qe8
23.Nxe5
dxe5
24.Bd3
fxe4
25.fxe4
Qh5
26.Be3
Rc6
27.Qe2
Rg6+
28.Kh1
Qxe2
29.Bxe2
Bc6
30.Rc4
Bb5
31.Ra5
Bxc4
32.Bxc4+
Kh8
33.Rxe5
Ra8
34.Rf5
Rg4
35.Rf1
Rb8
36.Bd3
Rxb2
37.e5
Rb8
38.Ba7
Rf8
39.Rxf8+
Bxf8
40.Bf2
Rg5
41.Bd4
1/2-1/2 Anand,V-Kasparov,G/Kopavogur 2000/EXT 2001 (41)]
13...0-0
14.h4
Bd7
Perhaps Bb7 or even ...d5
15.Ra1
Nc6?!
This just loses the a-pawn
16.Rxa6
Qc7
[16...Rxa6
17.Bxa6
Qa8
18.Nxc6
Qxc6
19.Bd3
Ra8
20.Ke2+/-
]
17.Kf2
Nxd4
18.Bxd4
e5
19.Be3
Rxa6
20.Bxa6
Black's compensation? An exposed white king and now, an open f-file. Perhaps Be6 first to fight for the d5-square.
20...f5
21.gxf6
Bxf6
22.Qd5+
Kh8
23.Bc4
Be8
With the idea of Bh5 with play against the white f-pawn.
24.Be2
Bf7
25.Qd2
Bh5
26.b3
Qe7
27.Kg2
Qf7
[27...Bxh4
28.Rxh4
Qxh4
29.Bg5
trapping the queen]
28.Rh3
[28.Qxd6
Be7
29.Qd1
Qg6+
30.Kh3
Qe6+
31.Kh2
Bxh4+/=
]
28...Be7
29.b4
h6
30.b5
The passed pawn is becoming dangerous
30...Qg6+
31.Kh2
Black is counting on the inactivity of the Rh3 and the weakness of the white f- and h-pawns to draw.
31...Qe6
32.Qd3
With the idea of challenging the Black Qd5 with Qb3 or Qc4
32...Be8
33.Qb3
The exchange of Queens would permit white to activate the Rh3 with Kg3 and Rh1
33...Qc8
34.b6
Bf7!?
[34...Bd7
35.Rg3
Bxh4
36.Rg6
Be7
37.b7
Qb8
]
35.Qb1
Nicely played. The queen remains active behind the passed pawn, and can transfer quickly to the kingside via g1
35...Qc3
An entry square that simplyt does not hunt after white's next move.
36.Bd3
All additional squares are covered.
36...Rb8
Diagram
37.Qg1!
The threat is Rg3
37...Bc4
Searching for counter-play, but opening up the g6 entry square.
38.Qg6
Bxd3
39.Rg3!
with the obvious Qxg7# threat
39...Bf6
[39...Bf8
40.cxd3
Qe1
(40...Qxd3
41.Bxh6+-
) 41.Bxh6
Qf2+
42.Kh3
Qf1+
43.Kg4
Qf2
44.Bg5
Qxb6
45.h5+-
]
40.cxd3
[40.Bxh6!
Rb7
41.cxd3
Qb2+
42.Kh3
Qxb6
43.Bg5
]
40...Rxb6
[40...Qe1
41.Bxh6
Qf2+
42.Kh3
Qf1+
43.Kg4+-
]
41.Bxb6
Qb2+
42.Rg2
Qxb6
43.Rc2
Bd8
44.h5
1-0