(1) Polgar,Ju (2707) - Anand,V (2799) [B90]



1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nf3








This retreat of the knight induces several differences compared to the more popular 7.Nb3. The b3-square is left available for the bishop and sometimes Ng5 can be a nasty threat. However, the black queenside will be under less pressure now and in the long run the knight might remain passive, being restricted by Black's central pawns.

7...Be7 8.Bc4 0-0 9.0-0 Nc6 10.Bb3 Be6 11.Bg5 Nd7 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.Nd5 Qd8 14.Qe2 Nc5 15.Rad1 b5 16.Ne3 Nxb3 17.axb3 Qc7 18.Rd3 Nb4 19.Rd2 Qe7 20.Rfd1 Rad8








White's opening play has been crowned by success. The d5-square and the d6-pawn are under severe pressure while the black knight cannot find a favourable square. In principle, it should be transferred to f6, but how to achieve that without losing the d6-pawn? However, White also needs to solve the problem of her f3-knight, which is placed rather far from the critical d5- and f5-squares.

21.Nf5!? [White opts for a dynamic solution of the srategic task. After the forced exchange on f5, the e4-square would become available for the white pieces, while the d5-square would remain undefended. She would have maintained a stable advantage with 21.c3 Nc6 22.b4 , too.]

21...Bxf5 22.exf5 Rfe8 23.c3 Nc6 24.Qe4 Na5








Generally speaking, not a great square for a knight, but with the b3-square weakened White will need to spend part of her forces to neutralize Black's pressure on that wing.

25.Qd5 Defends b3 and threatens Ra1.

25...Qf6!? 26.Re2 [The idea behind Anand's ingenious defence is that 26.Ra1 could be answered with 26...e4 followed by ...Re5 and ...Nc6.]

26...Rc8








[Now that the e4-square is controlled by White, Black prepares a symmetrical rook lift with ...Rc5. 26...Qxf5? would leave the e4-pawn pinned and lose the knight to 27.Ra1! ]

27.Nd2?! [The desire to transfer the knight to e4 is understandable, but the exchange of pawns that follows will make Black's position a lot easier. White should have insisted with 27.Ra1 when after 27...Rc5 28.Qd1! , keeping the b3-pawn defended, Black would have found himself in a precarious situation. For instance, 28...Nb7 29.Rxa6 Qxf5 30.b4 Rc7 31.Qd5 with white domination. The necessity of maintaining the d6-pawn defended has forced the knight to occupy an awful square.]

27...Qxf5 28.Ne4 Qe6 29.Nxd6?! [The pin allowed by this move will leave White hanging. It would probably have been safer to more or less force a draw with the simplifying operation 29.b4 Nc4 30.Qxe6 Rxe6 31.b3 f5 32.Ng5 Rg6 33.bxc4 ]

29...Rcd8 30.Red2 Nxb3 31.Nxe8 Rxd5 32.Rxd5 h6








From materialpoint of view, the position remains balanced, but Black's forces are easier to coordinate. The knight has finally found a favourable route, while the force of the tandem Queen + Knight is proverbial from Capablanca's time. Maybe White's position remains defensible, but in the time trouble it will deteriorate relatively quickly.

33.Rd8 Kh7 34.Nd6 Nc5 35.h3 Qg6 36.g3 Ne6 37.Rd7 Ng5 38.h4 Qe6 39.Rb7 Nf3+ 40.Kg2 Qg4 41.Rd5 Nxh4+ 42.Kf1 Qf3 43.Rd2 Nf5 44.Nxf5 Qxb7 45.Ke2 a5 46.Ne3 a4 47.Rd5 b4 48.cxb4 Qxb4 49.Rd2 f5 50.Rc2 Qb3 51.f4 exf4 52.gxf4 Qb4 53.Nc4 g5 0-1