Candidates round 1 - Anand, V. (2770) - Aronian, L. (2830), C88, 1-0, by IGM  Yannick Gozzoli

[Event "FIDE Candidates Tournament"] [Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"] [Date "2014.03.13"] [Round "1"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C88"] [WhiteElo "2770"] [BlackElo "2830"] [Annotator "Yannick Gozzoli "] [PlyCount "93"] [EventDate "2014.??.??"] [EventCountry "RUS"] {The first round of a so important tournament is often quiet. The players don't take so much risks in order to avoid to start the event with a loss or a long torture. When I saw the pairings, I immediatly considered that playing his peeve with white was a bad sign for Anand because recently Vishy encountered many difficulties against 1...e5 players (although he finally stopped Levon's domination during their face to face in Wijk Aan Zee 2013).} 1. e4 {Vishy plays his lovely "e" pawn which provided him so many victories!} e5 $1 {The "best" move since few years and especially against Anand!} 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 {The first surprise. I expected 3...Nf6 because recently Vishy's results against Berlin defence are just...horrible! However, despite his loss against Nakamura in Zurich in january (see the game commented by Chess-Anyone team), Anand got in this game a promising position.} 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 {Black attack the enemy bishop and get the b7-square for theirs. But, the a6-b5 structure can be under pressure if White push a4 at the right time.} 7. Bb3 O-O {Everything is normal and now White have to choose to accept or not the Marshall gambit, the other Aronian's speciality.} 8. h3 $5 { The move usually played by the ex-World Champion} (8. c3 d5 { is the Marshall gambit} 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4 (12. d3) 12... Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 {Black have sacrified a pawn but got an initiative on the K-side. White have to play accurately to develop their pieces by avoiding tactical threats around their king.}) 8... Bb7 { Still in the Marshall gambit spirit. Black are ready for d7-d5. .} (8... d6 9. c3 {transposes into the classical Spanish.}) 9. d3 (9. c3 $6 {is countered by} d5 $1 10. exd5 $6 (10. d3 {is probably the best move but a very passive one.} dxe4 (10... Qd7 {[%cal Ga8d8]}) 11. dxe4 Qxd1 12. Bxd1 Rfd8 { [%csl Rd3][%cal Gf6d7,Gd7c5,Gc5d3] and Black have no problem at all}) 10... Nxd5 {[%csl Gb7][%cal Gd5f4,Gb7g2] with an excellent position for black} 11. Nxe5 $2 Nxe5 12. Rxe5 Nf4 $19 {[%csl Rd3,Rg2] [%cal Gf4d3,Gf4g2]}) 9... d5 $1 { Black is taking advantage of the lack of development to seize the initiative.} 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nbd2 {Anand follows his (lost) previous game against Fabiano Caruana in Tal Memorial 2013} ({White can accept the pawn with} 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Rxe5 {but after} Qd6 $1 13. Re1 Rae8 14. Nd2 c5 $44 {[%csl Gb7, Gd6][%cal Ye7d8,Yd8c7,Gb7h1,Gd6h2] they got excellent play for the sacrified pawn} 15. Nf3 (15. c3 Bd8 16. Ne4 Qg6 17. Bd2 Nf6 18. Bc2 c4 $1 19. Qf3 Kh8 20. Qg3 cxd3 21. Qxg6 hxg6 22. Nxf6 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 dxc2 24. Nd7 Rg8 25. Rc1 Re8 26. Rxc2 Bc8 27. Nc5 Bf5 28. Rc1 Re2 29. Be3 Rxb2 30. Nxa6 Rxa2 31. Nb4 Rb2 32. Bd4 Be6 33. Re1 Bc7 34. Na6 Bf4 35. Nc5 Bc4 36. Nd7 Re2 37. Rxe2 Bxe2 38. f3 f6 39. Kf2 Bc4 40. Be3 Bd6 41. Bc5 { 1/2-1/2 (41) Gashimov,V (2761)-Kamsky,G (2732) Wijk aan Zee 2012}) (15. Ne4 $6 {[%cal Gf7f5]} Qc6 16. a4 Nb6 {[%cal Gg8h8, Gf7f5,Gc5c4]} 17. axb5 axb5 18. Qf3 c4 19. Ra7 (19. Ba2 f5 $36) 19... cxb3 { 0-1 (19) Van Kampen,R (2566)-Hebden,M (2516) Amsterdam 2012} 20. Rxb7 Qxb7 21. Nf6+ Bxf6 22. Qxb7 Rxe1+ 23. Kh2 bxc2 $19) 15... Bd8 16. Rxe8 Rxe8 17. Bg5 Bc7 18. Bh4 Qg6 19. Bxd5 Bxd5 20. c4 Bc6 21. cxb5 axb5 22. Kh1 Be5 23. Rc1 Bf4 24. Rxc5 Bxf3 25. gxf3 Qh6 26. Qe2 Rf8 27. Bg3 Qxh3+ 28. Kg1 Bxg3 29. fxg3 Qxg3+ 30. Kf1 g6 31. Qf2 Qd6 32. Rxb5 Qxd3+ 33. Qe2 Qb1+ 34. Kg2 Qxa2 35. Re5 Qa4 36. Re4 Qc6 37. b4 Rb8 38. Re5 Kg7 39. b5 Qf6 40. Rd5 h6 41. Qe5 Qxe5 42. Rxe5 Kf6 43. f4 Rc8 44. Re2 Kf5 45. Rb2 Kxf4 46. Rf2+ Kg5 47. Rxf7 Rb8 { 0-1 (47) Yu,Y (2656)-Tomashevsky,E (2733) St Petersburg 2012}) 11... Qd7 $146 { Novelty} (11... f6 {is the main move} 12. a4 ({I have already played this position against the strong GM Korneev without encountering any significative problems.} 12. c3 {[%csl Rd3,Re6][%cal Gd3d4] White want to play d3-d4 in order to use the e6 weakness} Qd7 13. Nf1 Rad8 14. d4 $6 (14. a4) 14... exd4 15. Nxd4 Nxd4 16. Qxd4 c5 17. Qh4 c4 18. Bc2 f5 19. Bg5 Bxg5 20. Qxg5 h6 21. Qg3 Qc6 {1/2-1/2 (21) Korneev,O (2597)-Gozzoli,Y (2549) Lille 2012}) 12... Kh8 13. axb5 axb5 14. Rxa8 Bxa8 15. Ne4 Na5 16. Ba2 c5 17. c3 Nc6 18. Ng3 Qd7 19. Nh4 g6 20. Nf3 Kg7 {Black position is perfect!} 21. h4 $6 Rd8 22. Ne4 Qg4 $6 ( 22... Qa7 23. Bb1 Nf4 24. Bxf4 exf4 $15) 23. Qb3 b4 {[%csl Gc4,Rc5]} 24. Qc4 Qc8 25. h5 Na5 26. Qb5 Qc7 27. Qa4 Bc6 28. Qd1 g5 $2 { [%csl Re5,Rf6,Rg5] White pieces are ready to target the black pawn structure.} 29. Qe2 Kh8 30. d4 $1 $36 exd4 31. cxd4 b3 32. Bb1 c4 33. h6 Bb4 34. Bd2 Nf4 35. Qd1 Bxd2 36. Qxd2 Rf8 37. Re3 Nd5 38. Re1 Nb7 39. Ng3 Nd6 40. Nh5 Qf7 41. Ng7 Nf4 42. Qb4 Rd8 43. Qb6 Qd7 44. Bf5 Nxf5 45. Nxf5 Nd5 46. Qa5 Rg8 47. Qc5 c3 48. bxc3 b2 49. Nd2 Qxf5 50. Qxc6 Nf4 51. Rb1 Ne2+ 52. Kf1 Ng3+ 53. Kg1 Ne2+ 54. Kf1 Ng3+ 55. Ke1 Rc8 56. Qb7 Qe6+ 57. Kd1 Nf5 58. Rxb2 Nxh6 59. Rb6 Qf5 60. Rxf6 Qxf6 61. Qxc8+ Kg7 62. Ne4 Qf4 63. Qe6 Nf7 64. Ke2 Qc1 65. g4 Qc2+ 66. Kf3 Qd1+ 67. Kg2 Qc1 68. Ng3 { 1-0 (68) Inarkiev,E (2680)-Ponomariov,R (2743) Khanty-Mansiysk 2013}) 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Rxe5 {The black set-up is still the same: giving a pawn to take advantage of the lack of development. According to what we have already said, the black queen on d7 is less active than it is in the 11.Nxe5 line.} Nf6 14. Re1 Rae8 15. Nf3 Bd6 16. Be3 {White have finished their development and consolidated their position. Nevertheless, using their extra pawn is far from an easy task because of enemy dynamic pieces.} (16. Bg5 $6 { seems to be active but is encountered by} Rxe1+ 17. Nxe1 Qf5 18. Bxf6 (18. Be3 Qe5 $17 {[%csl Rb2,Rh2] [%cal Ge5b2,Ge5h2]}) (18. Bh4 Nh5 $1 $15 {[%cal Gh5f4]} ) 18... Qxf6 {[%csl Rb2]} 19. d4 Re8 $15 { [%csl Gb7,Gd6,Ge8,Gf6][%cal Gc7c5] with an excellent black position}) 16... Re7 $6 {A very passive plan} (16... Nd5 $5 { [%cal Gd5f4,Gd5e3] a logical move and a significative improvement of the game.} 17. a4 (17. Bxd5 Bxd5 $44 {[%cal Gd7f5]}) (17. c4 $6 { [%csl Rd3] weakens the center.} Nxe3 18. Rxe3 (18. fxe3 $2 Bg3 $1 19. Re2 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Qxh3 $19) 18... Rxe3 19. fxe3 {[%csl Rd3,Re3][%cal Gd6h2]} c5 { [%csl Gb7,Gd6][%cal Ye8e3,Yd8d3] with a better position for black. Their bishops are very active and White are weakened on black squares.}) (17. Bd2 c5 {[%cal Gd5f4,Gd6b8, Gd7c7] with an easy position}) 17... Nxe3 18. Rxe3 Rxe3 19. fxe3 c5 20. axb5 axb5 21. Qf1 {[%cal Gf1f2]} h6 {[%csl Rg5][%cal Gf3g5, Gh6g5] in order to move the f8-rook without being worried by Ng5} 22. Qf2 Bb8 { [%cal Gd7d6, Gd7c7,Gc5c4] with excellent compensations due to their powerful pair of bishops.}) 17. d4 $1 {[%csl Re5][%cal Gf3e5] An excellent move. White are trying to refrain c7-c5 and are ready to give their extra pawn back to get a better endgame.} Rfe8 { Black are putting pressure on the Be3 and threatens Nd5} 18. c3 (18. c4 $5 bxc4 19. Bxc4 Nd5 20. Bd2 Rxe1+ 21. Nxe1 c5 22. dxc5 Bxc5 23. Nf3 Nf6 { [%csl Rf2,Rf3][%cal Gf6e4,Gb7f3]} 24. Be3 $1 (24. Bg5 Qc7 (24... Qf5 25. Bh4 Ne4 {[%cal Gg7g5]} 26. Qc2 $14) 25. Bxf6 gxf6 {[%cal Gc7f4]} 26. Rc1 Rd8 27. Qe2 Kg7 {[%cal Gc7f4] and the black activity compensates the material deficit}) 24... Bxe3 25. Qxd7 Bxf2+ (25... Nxd7 26. fxe3) 26. Kxf2 Nxd7 27. Rd1 Nb6 28. Bb3 $14 {this kind of endgame is very unpleasant for black. The Q-side pawn majority and active pieces give white an edge even if black may be able to defend by playing very accurately.}) 18... h6 $6 {Levon admitted during the press conference that he thought he could maintain equality by keeping the position like that. But Anand is going to take his chance and showing he is still one of the best players of the world.} (18... Nd5 { was forced although after} 19. Bd2 Rxe1+ 20. Nxe1 Nf6 21. Nd3 $1 { [%csl Rc5,Re5][%cal Gd3c5,Gd3e5]} Qf5 22. Qf1 Qg6 {[%csl Rg2][%cal Ge8e2]} 23. Bc2 {White has consolidated their position and their material advantage} Re2 $2 {goes nowhere because after the simple} 24. Rd1 $14 {White threaten to move the knight on d3 and Black have nothing better than moving away their rook} Re8 25. a4 $1 $16 {[%csl Rb5,Gf1][%cal Gf1b5,Gb5a6]}) 19. Ne5 $1 {Excellent ! White give back their extra pawn in ordet to get a favourable endgame.} Bxe5 20. dxe5 Rxe5 (20... Qc6 {deserves attention although after} 21. f3 Rxe5 22. Qd2 {white bishops are providing white a stable edge}) 21. Qxd7 Nxd7 22. Red1 $1 {Here is the position wanted by Anand. White bishops and the black Q-side pawns weakness are giving White a very nice advantage in the endgame} Nf6 $6 { The knight is too passive here} (22... Nc5 $5 { sacrifies some material but gives some activity!} 23. Bxc5 Rxc5 24. Rd7 { [%csl Rf7]} Re2 $1 (24... Rf8 $2 25. Re1 $16 {[%csl Rc7,Rf7][%cal Ge1e7]}) 25. Rxf7 Bd5 26. Rf5 (26. Bxd5 $2 Rxd5 {[%csl Rd5,Re2]} 27. Rxc7 { Despite being 2 pawns down, Black get equality thanks to their rooks activity.} Rf5 {[%csl Rf2]} 28. f3 Rxb2 $11 {[%cal Gf5g5,Gf5e5,Ge5e2]}) 26... c6 27. Rb1 g6 28. Rf3 Kg7 29. Re3 Rxe3 30. fxe3 Bxb3 31. axb3 b4 $1 { with some drawing chances}) 23. c4 $1 {A very strong move! Taking control of d5 square and attacking the pawn structure.} c6 {[%csl Rb7]} 24. Rac1 R5e7 25. a4 $1 {White want to isolate an enemy pawn in order to attack it later.} bxc4 26. Bxc4 $16 {[%csl Ra6,Rb7,Rc6] The position is probably already winning. Moreover, Levon is in a hopeless sutuation with only 2 minutes on the clock (without increment)...Vishy is ready to take the full point.} Nd5 27. Bc5 Re4 28. f3 R4e5 29. Kf2 Bc8 (29... Ne3 $2 30. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 31. Rd7+ Kg8 32. Rxb7 Nd5 {[%cal Ge5e2]} 33. Bd4 Re2+ 34. Kf1 R2e7 35. Rxe7 Nxe7 36. Re1 Kf7 37. Bc5 Nd5 38. Rxe8 Kxe8 39. g3 $18 {[%csl Ra6,Rc6] [%cal Gf1e2,Ge2d3,Gd3c4] wins easily. White are putting their king in the center and then, creating a passed pawn in order to disturb black defence and to pick all pawns on Q-side.}) 30. Bf1 {[%csl Rc6][%cal Gc1c6]} R5e6 31. Rd3 $1 {[%cal Gd3b3,Gb3b8]} Nf4 32. Rb3 { White pieces are perfectly coordinated: bishops are defending and attacking while rooks are ready to attack enemy pawns.} Rd8 33. Be3 Nd5 34. Bd2 Nf6 $2 { provokes the end.} (34... Bd7 $5 35. Bxa6 Ra8 36. Bc4 Rxa4 37. Ra3 $1 Rxa3 38. bxa3 $16 {the 'a'-pawn is very unpleasant although Black are still in the game! }) 35. Ba5 $1 $18 {Vishy is finishing perfectly his opponent} Rde8 36. Rb6 { [%csl Ra6,Rc6]} Re5 37. Bc3 Nd5 38. Bxe5 Nxb6 39. Rxc6 Nxa4 $6 (39... Nd5 40. Bg3 $18 {[%csl Ga4,Ra6,Gb2]}) 40. Bd4 {[%csl Ra4] the knight is dominated.} Rd8 41. Rc4 Bd7 42. b3 $1 Bb5 43. Rb4 Nb2 { The last trick but too much simple for a such opponent...} 44. Bxb5 axb5 45. Ke3 $1 {[%csl Rd4,Ge3][%cal Ge3d4]} (45. Ke2 $2 Nc4 $1 {[%csl Rd4]} 46. Bxg7 Kxg7 47. bxc4 bxc4 48. Rxc4 {is probably draw even if White can try something.. }) (45. Bxb2 $4 {permits} Rd2+ 46. Kg3 Rxb2 47. Rxb5 g5 { and Black have good drawing chances!}) 45... Re8+ 46. Kd2 Rd8 47. Kc3 { and the knight is trapped (47...Nd1+ 48.Kc2). First surprise in thisCandidates Tournament! Madras Tiger outplays the favourite of the tournament! Anand takes benefit of the Aronian's passivity although black position was fully acceptable after the opening. Anand is back and we have to count on him for this event!} 1-0