Click here to view the game!
Hello everybody, I am GM Balogh Csaba, I will be your commentator today for the 8th game of the World Championship match! After Gelfand drew first blood yesterday, Anand has to show something to stay in the match. There are only 5 games left, but from these, the World Champion has three White games. It will be very interesting to see, which move is he going to choose right in the initial position. Either he tries to beat the Gruenfeld or the Sveshnikov. My personal prediction is 1.d4, but there is only one thing what we can be sure, that today is going to be an exciting game!
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 So 1.d4, it was was predictable that in the Gruenfeld it might be easier to find something than in the Sveshnikov, but let's see what he does against the Gruenfled!?
3. f3 The f3 move we saw back in game 3
3... c5 wow, it is Gelfand who deviates from their previous game. Black plays c5 instead of d5, now the game might transpose to the Kings Indian Samish variation
4. d5 d6 5. e4 Bg7 We are on the way to the King's Indian Samish! in the case it is important to know that Gelfand has very big experience in this opening, since he played hundreds of games in the 90s.
6. Ne2 White plays for big center in the opening, we can see that he occupies it with all his pawns. On the other hand, he will be slightly behind in development, against which Black is going to create counterplay with e6
6... O-O By getting this position from the 3.f3 move order, the knight is still on b1, which gives an extra option for White. He can put his e2 knight to c3, and after Bg5 or Be3 the other knight goes to d2, which could be preferable to the setup with Ng3 and Nc3. Let's see what Anand is going to do!
7. Nec3 Nec3, it is a very clever choice from Anand, because this move deviates from the normal Saemisch with Ng3, so Gelfand cannot use anymore his huge experience in the opening. Here Black has no other choice than opening the center with e6. On e6, White has two different setups. He must develop with Be3, but first he can include the Bg5-h6 pair of moves. Note: several discount offers finish in just 2 days
7... Nh5 Both players seems to be more or less out of the preparation, which increases the chance to have a fantastic game today. They are thinking deeply already in move 7, which increases the chance for a time trouble as well.Nh5 is a very interesting move. Black keeps another option in the pocket to play e5 (instead of e6) to obtain a typical King's Indian pawn structure, where Black will start his play with f5. However, this move gives an extra opportunity for White as well to play g4 now, which is of course psychologically very hard to play. The g4 pawn is not unique in this opening, but it is very committing move, it requires very concrete play, which might not be according their strategy today...
8. Bg5 As players are practically out of book since ...Nh5, every move starts coming after deep thinking. 8.Bg5 is a very logical move to provoke h6, when the bishop retreats to e3. Black has to decide then which plan to employ, to open the position with e6, or a King's Indian structure with e5 and f5. The move h6 is a weakening in Black's camp. White can use it for developing with a tempo with Qd2.
8... Bf6 Very original play by Gelfand! Now his strategy became clear. After exchanging the dark squared bishop (King's Indian bishop), he wants to close the center with e5. In this case, the absence of the bishops would clearly favor Black because it makes many holes in White camp.
9. Bxf6 exf6 exf6 arrived without thinking. In my opinion the Nxf6 and e5 idea deserved attention as well. 9...exf6 is also very logical. Black only temporarily creates doubled pawns for himself, he is going to push f5 soon. His strategy is clear, he must try to play on the Black squares with f5, Qf6, Nd7-e5, Nf4. of course White will not allow all these things, but in any case lacking of the dark squared bishop is a huge disadvantage in his position. 10.g4 is an interesting option for White, forcing the knight to retreat to g7, since Nf4 would met by Qd2 when g5 is the only way to avoid losing material, but it is not definitely not what Black is aiming for. He must go back to g7, where the knight is clearly misplaced, but on the other hand Black pushes f5, when the g4 weakening might tell.
10. Qd2 White controls the f4 square, but it allows Black the f5 break. White must show something now, otherwise Black just obtains a perfect position
10... f5 11. exf5 could be a very interesting with the idea of 11...Bxf5 and 12.g4!
11. exf5 12.g4 forces favorable exchanges of pieces for White. Any kind of checks on e8 or h4 might meet easily by Kd1! which might seem a bit strange, but actually the king is very safe there. Bxf5 12.g4! Bxb1 13.Rxb1 looks quite comfortable for White. Important to notice, that Qh4 14.Kd1 Ng3 is meet by 15.Qf2! Gelfand is facing a difficult decision. He must take concrete measures because playing logical moves with Bxf5 and Bxb1 seems to lead to a clearly inferior position.
11... Bxf5 White does not need to worry about his king after Re8 Kd1 because White just plays Bd3 and Kc2 and on Na6 simple a3 parries the threat of Nb4. It would be difficult the find a safer square on the board for the king. White has no choice. 12.g4 is necessary to fight for an advantage.
12. g4 I think, Anand got a perfect position to play for a win. Even objectively his position seems to be better. There is a very important detail: 12...Bxb1 13.Rxb1 Re8 14.Kd1 and here Qf6 with idea to stabilize the knight on f4 is refuted by 15.gxh5! Qxf3 16.Kc2 Qxh1 and 17.Qf2! and the Black queen is trapped after the bishop moves away from f1. Another nice line to confirm White's advantage is 12...Bxb1 13.Rxb1 Ng7 14.h4! and on f5 15.h5! with a very strong attack. It might sound a bit strange, but Gelfand seems to be in deep trouble. As usual we can see, that chess is a concrete game. It looked like Anand made serious positional mistake with 9.Bxf6 giving up the dark squared bishop, but after a few concrete moves he is just better.
12... Re8+ I don't like this move at all. I think Black's best option would have been 12...Qh4 13.Kd1 Bxb1 14.Rxb1 Ng7 (this way he prevents the h4 idea) 15.Qf4 followed by Ne4 which seems to be better for White, but definitely very complex position.
13. Kd1 Bxb1 Everything goes as we expected. The fact, that Black must retreat with the knight and Qf6 does not work, makes his situation really uncomfortable.
14. Rxb1 14...Qf6 really screams for itself, and to find the refutation is not obvious at all, but it is just losing. A critical moment for Gelfand.
14... Qf6 Amazing, Gelfand blundered with Qf6!!! Black can just resign after 15.gxh5 Qxf3 16.Kc2 Qxh1 17.Qf2!
15. gxh5 and Anand took on h5! What a shocking turn of the match could be after yesterday's disaster for Anand, now things can be equal again!
15... Qxf3+ 16. Kc2 Qxh117. Qf2 Anand played Qf2! Great play by the defending World Champion. And Gelfand resigned! Incredible, only 17 moves. The score is 4-4 now! Thanks for following with me,GM Balogh Csaba from CEWNsee you in later rounds for more action from the WCC. 1-0
Hello everybody, I am GM Balogh Csaba, I will be your commentator today for the 8th game of the World Championship match! After Gelfand drew first blood yesterday, Anand has to show something to stay in the match. There are only 5 games left, but from these, the World Champion has three White games. It will be very interesting to see, which move is he going to choose right in the initial position. Either he tries to beat the Gruenfeld or the Sveshnikov. My personal prediction is 1.d4, but there is only one thing what we can be sure, that today is going to be an exciting game!
 |
| Final Position |
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 So 1.d4, it was was predictable that in the Gruenfeld it might be easier to find something than in the Sveshnikov, but let's see what he does against the Gruenfled!?
3. f3 The f3 move we saw back in game 3
3... c5 wow, it is Gelfand who deviates from their previous game. Black plays c5 instead of d5, now the game might transpose to the Kings Indian Samish variation
4. d5 d6 5. e4 Bg7 We are on the way to the King's Indian Samish! in the case it is important to know that Gelfand has very big experience in this opening, since he played hundreds of games in the 90s.
6. Ne2 White plays for big center in the opening, we can see that he occupies it with all his pawns. On the other hand, he will be slightly behind in development, against which Black is going to create counterplay with e6
6... O-O By getting this position from the 3.f3 move order, the knight is still on b1, which gives an extra option for White. He can put his e2 knight to c3, and after Bg5 or Be3 the other knight goes to d2, which could be preferable to the setup with Ng3 and Nc3. Let's see what Anand is going to do!
7. Nec3 Nec3, it is a very clever choice from Anand, because this move deviates from the normal Saemisch with Ng3, so Gelfand cannot use anymore his huge experience in the opening. Here Black has no other choice than opening the center with e6. On e6, White has two different setups. He must develop with Be3, but first he can include the Bg5-h6 pair of moves. Note: several discount offers finish in just 2 days
7... Nh5 Both players seems to be more or less out of the preparation, which increases the chance to have a fantastic game today. They are thinking deeply already in move 7, which increases the chance for a time trouble as well.Nh5 is a very interesting move. Black keeps another option in the pocket to play e5 (instead of e6) to obtain a typical King's Indian pawn structure, where Black will start his play with f5. However, this move gives an extra opportunity for White as well to play g4 now, which is of course psychologically very hard to play. The g4 pawn is not unique in this opening, but it is very committing move, it requires very concrete play, which might not be according their strategy today...
8. Bg5 As players are practically out of book since ...Nh5, every move starts coming after deep thinking. 8.Bg5 is a very logical move to provoke h6, when the bishop retreats to e3. Black has to decide then which plan to employ, to open the position with e6, or a King's Indian structure with e5 and f5. The move h6 is a weakening in Black's camp. White can use it for developing with a tempo with Qd2.
8... Bf6 Very original play by Gelfand! Now his strategy became clear. After exchanging the dark squared bishop (King's Indian bishop), he wants to close the center with e5. In this case, the absence of the bishops would clearly favor Black because it makes many holes in White camp.
9. Bxf6 exf6 exf6 arrived without thinking. In my opinion the Nxf6 and e5 idea deserved attention as well. 9...exf6 is also very logical. Black only temporarily creates doubled pawns for himself, he is going to push f5 soon. His strategy is clear, he must try to play on the Black squares with f5, Qf6, Nd7-e5, Nf4. of course White will not allow all these things, but in any case lacking of the dark squared bishop is a huge disadvantage in his position. 10.g4 is an interesting option for White, forcing the knight to retreat to g7, since Nf4 would met by Qd2 when g5 is the only way to avoid losing material, but it is not definitely not what Black is aiming for. He must go back to g7, where the knight is clearly misplaced, but on the other hand Black pushes f5, when the g4 weakening might tell.
10. Qd2 White controls the f4 square, but it allows Black the f5 break. White must show something now, otherwise Black just obtains a perfect position
10... f5 11. exf5 could be a very interesting with the idea of 11...Bxf5 and 12.g4!
11. exf5 12.g4 forces favorable exchanges of pieces for White. Any kind of checks on e8 or h4 might meet easily by Kd1! which might seem a bit strange, but actually the king is very safe there. Bxf5 12.g4! Bxb1 13.Rxb1 looks quite comfortable for White. Important to notice, that Qh4 14.Kd1 Ng3 is meet by 15.Qf2! Gelfand is facing a difficult decision. He must take concrete measures because playing logical moves with Bxf5 and Bxb1 seems to lead to a clearly inferior position.
11... Bxf5 White does not need to worry about his king after Re8 Kd1 because White just plays Bd3 and Kc2 and on Na6 simple a3 parries the threat of Nb4. It would be difficult the find a safer square on the board for the king. White has no choice. 12.g4 is necessary to fight for an advantage.
12. g4 I think, Anand got a perfect position to play for a win. Even objectively his position seems to be better. There is a very important detail: 12...Bxb1 13.Rxb1 Re8 14.Kd1 and here Qf6 with idea to stabilize the knight on f4 is refuted by 15.gxh5! Qxf3 16.Kc2 Qxh1 and 17.Qf2! and the Black queen is trapped after the bishop moves away from f1. Another nice line to confirm White's advantage is 12...Bxb1 13.Rxb1 Ng7 14.h4! and on f5 15.h5! with a very strong attack. It might sound a bit strange, but Gelfand seems to be in deep trouble. As usual we can see, that chess is a concrete game. It looked like Anand made serious positional mistake with 9.Bxf6 giving up the dark squared bishop, but after a few concrete moves he is just better.
12... Re8+ I don't like this move at all. I think Black's best option would have been 12...Qh4 13.Kd1 Bxb1 14.Rxb1 Ng7 (this way he prevents the h4 idea) 15.Qf4 followed by Ne4 which seems to be better for White, but definitely very complex position.
13. Kd1 Bxb1 Everything goes as we expected. The fact, that Black must retreat with the knight and Qf6 does not work, makes his situation really uncomfortable.
14. Rxb1 14...Qf6 really screams for itself, and to find the refutation is not obvious at all, but it is just losing. A critical moment for Gelfand.
14... Qf6 Amazing, Gelfand blundered with Qf6!!! Black can just resign after 15.gxh5 Qxf3 16.Kc2 Qxh1 17.Qf2!
15. gxh5 and Anand took on h5! What a shocking turn of the match could be after yesterday's disaster for Anand, now things can be equal again!
15... Qxf3+ 16. Kc2 Qxh117. Qf2 Anand played Qf2! Great play by the defending World Champion. And Gelfand resigned! Incredible, only 17 moves. The score is 4-4 now! Thanks for following with me,GM Balogh Csaba from CEWNsee you in later rounds for more action from the WCC. 1-0
No comments:
Post a Comment