Linares LIVE Blogging?

While we are waiting for everyone to figure out what is going on with the transmission of moves, I posted one of my all time favorite pictures. You can stare at it and relax 🙂 Perhaps the Chess Doctor can tell us more about his beautiful hometown 🙂

Anand – Topalov [B90] (Linares Round 8)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nf3 (A more quiet continuation. 7.Nb3 is much more popular) Be7 8.Bc4 0–0 9.0–0 Nc6 10.Re1 b5 11.Bf1 Rb8 12.Bg5 Ng4 13.Bd2 Be6 (I am surprised to see Anand choosing a reserved line. Black is about equal here) 14.Nd5 h6 15.h3 Nf6 16.c4 (This is not a bad position for Topalov. It fits his style. It is all he can hope for trailing Anand by 1.5 points. This is one posibility 16…bxc4 17.Bxc4Bxd5 18.exd5 Nb4 19.Bxb4 Rxb4 20.b3 +=) 16…Qd7 += 17.b3 (Anand is being very cautious here. I think he is sitting back to allow Topalov to go all out for it. It may be a very good strategy) 17…Bd8 (This is a very difficult position to come up with a viable plan for either side) 18.Rc1 (I don’t think Anand has a solid plan as he just centralizes his Rook and waits for Topalov to show his plans) 18…Bxe5 19.cxd5 Ne7 (Topalov made his move. He gave White a Bishop pair and more space advantage. Topalov’s plan now is Ng6, Nh5 then Nf4. If 20.Nh4 reventing black from playing Ng6, 20…g5 21.Qf3 Kg7) 20.Bd3 Bb6 21.Nh4 (Preventing black from playing Ng6. Black can try g5) 21…g5 (Topalov took a lot of time before making this move. There is no turning back now. The full actions will begin. I believe Qf3 is the strongest response) 22.Nf3 (Again, it seems that Anand is gun shy. He does not want to get into a sharp position. One of Black’s plan could be to push the f pawn) 22…Rfc8 23.Rxc8+ Rxc8 24.Nh2 Ng6 25.Ng4 (Anand is content to play safe to maintain his lead) 1/2