Anand,V (2788) – Leko,P (2752) [D43]
Tal Memorial (5), 10.11.2009
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.0–0 Nbd7 11.Ne5 Bg7 12.Nxd7 Nxd7 13.Bd6 a6 14.a4 e5 15.Bg4 exd4 16.e5 c5 17.Re1 Nxe5 18.Bxe5 0–0 19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.Ne2 f5 21.Bh5 f4 22.Nxd4 cxd4 23.Re6 Bc8 24.Rg6+ Kh7 25.axb5 Rf6 26.Rxf6 Qxf6 27.Qc2+ Bf5 28.Qxc4 Rc8 29.Qd5 axb5 30. h3 += (Black needs to play 30…Rc7 to defend the 7th rank.)
30…h3 Kh8 31. Qxb5 Rf8 32. Ra6 Qg7 33. Rd6 d3 (I like White’s position a lot better. 34. Qc5 here basically puts Black in a zugzwang.)
34. Qb6 (The idea is after 34…Kh7 35. Rc6 threatening 36. Rc7. Black does have 37…Rc8.)
34…Qe5 (Leko is looking at something like this: 35. Rxh6+ Kg7 36. Rd6 Rf6 37. Rxf6 Qxf6 38. Qxf6+ Kxf6 39. Kf1+/-)
35. Bb6 (Here is a quick line off the top of my head 35…d2 36. Bxf5 Qxf5 37. Qd4+ Rf6 38. Rxf6 d1=Q+ 39. Qxd1 Qxf6+/-)
35…d2 36. Bxf5 Qxf5 37. Qd4+ Kh7 38. Qxd2+/- (It is a very difficult position for Black. Not only that he is a pawn down, his King is very vulnerable.)
38…h5 40. Rd5 Qg6 41. Qa5 +- (Black’s position is hopeless. It is just a matter of technique from here on in. I don’t think Leko’s valiant effort to defend this will be successful. The problem is White can attack head on from the Kingside, from the side in the 6th and 5th rank, and from behind in the 8th rank.)
41…Rb7 (Now 42. h4 will be the knockout blow.)
42. h4 +- Qb1+ 43. Kh2 Qxb2 (44.Rd6 and Black can resign 44….Qc2 45. hxg5 1-0)
44. Rxg5 (Anand missed the strongest move 44. Rd6. But this is still an easy win, just more work.)
44…Rxg5 45. Qxg5 (This is a clear win for White. Leko can play on but it is simple a waste of time.) 1-0
Click here to replay the game.
Vishy is winning.
Susan – I wish you culd do the live commentary for th end game
There are errors in your notation.
A wonderful game! Definitely “wild stuff”. A fine game by Anand. It is games like this that remind amateurs like me just how far beyond us patzers grandmasters are. I would have never imagined the heavy piece endgame that arose from Anand’s giving the piece back, not even to mention the advantage he gained doing so- opening black’s king position, and totally neutralizing Leko’s counterplay with all the extra pawns on the queenside.
Susan – Thank you for the LIVE commentary of the end part of this game. Appreciate it. Would be happy to know if my comment influenced you to do so 🙂
Nice game and nice commentary. Thanks a lot.
Susan do you think its gettin harder to analyze the new positions correctly using the old ideas? therefore the traditionalist might find it easier to call it wild/ crazy because nimzovich and da boys arent quite up to par? Hey Susan there goes Tiger Woods and Dr. Phil playin chess in china! hahaha.
3D replay
I don’t think there are errors in the notation.
I couldn’t help but post a line that Fritz dished out:
23. Re6 Rf6 (instead) 24. Qe2 Bd5 25. Re8 f3 26. Rxd8 fxe2 27. Rxd5 d3
I don’t know what is going on here, but I feel white can’t be winning.