20.01.2006
Wijk aan Zee round 6: Kamsky-Anand
Kamsky (2686) - Anand (2792)
Wijk aan Zee Netherlands (6), 20.01.2006
Annotated by Konstantin Sakaev
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 Nf6 This move leads to a complicated game - Anand demonstrates his ambition. At present Black holds the balance after 3...е5.
4.e5 Nd5 5.Bxc4 Nb6 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.Ne2 Be6
More often Black provokes f3 - 7...Bg4 8.f3 Be6. Here is the game that illustrates Black's ideas: 7...Bg4 8.f3 Be6 9.Nbc3 Qd7 10.Ne4 Bd5 11.Nc5 Qc8 12.a3 e6 13.Qc2 Bxc5 14.Qxc5 Qd7 15.Bg5 a6 16.0-0 Nc4 17.Bxc4 b6, and Black won the queen, Volkov,S-Sorokin,M/Novgorod 1999.
8.Nbc3 Qd7 9.Ne4 Bd5 10.Be3 Black's idea transpires - 10.Nc5 could be met by 10...Qg4!
10...0-0-0 Not an obvious decision, possibly, Anand wants to undermine White's center by f7-f6, and on e5xf6 - e7xf6. Natural but less interesting is 10...e6.
11.a3 Dear stoli, Bacrot stands better and plays for a win without risk. As for the Gelfand game (Ralph's question): White got a highly favorable line from the Petrosian variation, but without a tempo (with an extra move g2-g3, which is not useful). Right now White has sufficient compensation for a pawn, but not more than that. The position is about equal. As for the computer move 10...f5, then 11.0-0!? looks tempting, and I think Mamedyarov could have played it: 11...fxe4 12.Re1 Nf6 13.Nc3 d5, and now even 14.Bf4. Black risks a lot for his extra material.
Sokolov-Leko - there is a solid equality, and a draw offer will follow shortly. Tiviakov-Topalov - Black has no problems at all. Van Wely-Karjakin - a complex position with mutual chances. Ivanchuk's position against Adams is very dangerous. 13.f5! is a very strong move, creating multiple threats... If you play the Sicilian, Adams with White is a nightmare. He senses those positions with his fingertips.
11...Qe8 12.Qc2 f5!? So this was Anand's idea! He forces White to react on his central counterattack, as after 12...f6 White is not obliged taking on f6: 13.eхf6, but can sacrifice a pawn in good circumstances - 13.0-0 fxe5 14.Rac1 with powerful compensation.
Naiditsch stands better against Carlsen, as Black has problems castling. One possible continuation there is (after 18.Qe2) 18...Bb7 19.f3 Ng6 20.Rfd1 Nf4 21.Qf1 Qe6 22.c4 with advantage to White.
13.N4c3?! More active and strong is 13.Nc5.
13...Bxg2 14.Rg1 Bf3 15.Bxf5+ looks forced. A complex position arises; its assessment is "roughly equal". Possible continuation is 15...e6 16.Bxh7 Qh5.
Again about Gelfand's game. 16...Na5 is legal but poor move. The knight on a5 is misplaced, and White has more than adequate compensation for a pawn after 17.Bd5 Bxd5 18.Nxd5. Gelfand's choice is correct. The position in the game after White's 18th move is balanced.
Dear Álvaro, I don't believe in 7...Be6 becoming trendy. Anand's chief goal was sidestepping Kamsky's preparation in order to play chess, since Kamsky is in poor shape in Wijk. Objectively White's position after 7...Be6 is better.
15.Bxf5+ e6 16.Bh3!
An interesting move - White does not take a pawn (16.Bxh7 Qh5), but forces Black to defend the e6-pawn. Black's main problem is the offside f8-bishop.
16...Kb8 17.Rg3 Bxe2 18.Nxe2
To Alejandro. Of course, Kamsky is very rusty, and he plays weaker than the top guys, but his level is undisputable. The move 16.Bh3! that he made in today's game is a move of an elite GM. I will not at all be surprised if he wins this game, albeit right now his position might be just marginally better. And my assessment of White's 13th move - well, I use my own judgement and my evaluations are purely subjective. As a Russian saying goes, trust, but test. :)
19...Nd5 20.Nc3
In Mamedyarov-Gelfand 21.Bxg7 leads to a drawn endgame after 21...Ng5 (21...Re8!? worth consideration) 22.Bd5 Kxg7 23.Bxb7 Qxb7 24.Qg4 Be7 25.Rd7 Qf3 26.Qxf3 Nxf3+ 27.Kg2 Bxa3 28.bxa3 Ne5.
20...Qh5 Kamsky has a clear advantage; the f8-bishop is very restricted, and the e6-pawn is weak. Now the strongest is 21.Qe2! Qh6 22.Qg4! White wants to castle and threatens taking on e6.
21.Qe2
21...Qxe2+? He had to avoid exchanging the queens by all means. The simplest now is 22.Kxe2 Re8 23.Rf1 with advantage to White.
22.Kxe2 Re8 23.Rf1 Nd8 24.Ne4 g6 25.Ng5 Re7 Defending against 26.Nf7. It is not easy to assess the endgame with bishops of opposite colors that arises after 26.Rgf3 Bh6 27.Nf7 Nxf7 28.Rxf7 Rhe8 29.Rxe7 Rxe7 30.Rf6 Bg7 31.Rxe6 Rxe6 32.Bxe6. There is a possibility that it is won for White.
26.Rgf3 Bh6
Aronian completely equalized against Bacrot. Ivanchuk still stands worse.
27.Nf7 Nxf7 28.Rxf7 Rhe8 29.R1f6 a5 30.Rxe7 Rxe7
31.Rxe6 Rxe6 32.Bxe6 Bg5
White could win by 31.Bxe6 Bg7 32.Ba2! Bxf6 33.exf6 Re8 34.f7 Rf8 35.Kf3 Kc8 36.Kf4 Kd7 37.Kg5 Ke7 38.Kh6 Kf6 39.e4, etc. And now the bishop ending may end in a draw.
33.d5 Ka7 34.Bg8 h6 35.Bf7 Kb6 36.Bxg6 Kc5 37.Bf7 h5 38.Kd3 h4 39.h3 b5
No, this endgame is easily won. The king goes to f5 and finished Black off.
40.Ke4 b4 41.axb4+ axb4 42.b3 Bh6 43.Bh5 Bg5 44.Be2 Bh6 45.Bc4 Bg5 46.Kf5 Bxe3 47.d6 Black resigned. 1-0
Anand's play was little better than Leko's yesterday. Kamsky did not even have a chance to demonstrate his skill. Normally Vishy is a stubborn defender, so his willingness to trade queens thus entering a hopeless ending came as a surprise...
Karjakin misplayed and must struggle to make a draw. He will probably make it, but some suffering is inevitable. Tiviakov-Topalov - position is approximately even. Adams stands better against Ivanchuk. Sokolov-Leko - draw.
Mamedyarov-Gelfand. This is also a draw - 28.Rd8+ Rf8 29.Rxf8+ Kxf8 30.Rf1+ Kg8 31.Qf2 h6 32.Qf8+ Kh7 33.Qf5+, and Black can't play 33...Qg6 in view of 34.Nf6+! gxf6 35.Qd7+, and the а4-rook is lost.
Tomorrow we'll show the game of the young: Karjakin-Mamedyarov. See you!
