Democratic Underground - Anand - Topalov, Round 4

Vishy Anand
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

Vishy Anand - Veselin Topalov
Match for the World Title, Round 4
Sofia, 28 April 2010

Open Queen's Gambit: Catalan Opening

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Bb4+

As he did in the second round, White declines to take back the gambit pawn.
If 5...Nc6 6.Qa4 then:

If 6...Nd7 7.Qxc4 Nb6 then:

If 8.Qd3 e5 9.Nxe5 Nb4 then:

If 10.Qd1 Qxd4 11.Qxd4 Nc2+ then:

If 12.Kf1 Nxd4 13.Nc3 then:

is equal(Seel-Bacrot, Bundesliga 0910, Baden Baden, 2010).
13...f6 14.Nd3 c6 15.h4 Be6 16.b3 0-0-0 17.Bb2 Bf5 18.Rd1 Be7 is equal (Lahno-Matnadze, EU Blitz ChW, Antalya, 2002).

12.Kd1 Nxd4 13.e3 Ne6 14.Nc3 f6 15.Nd3 Nc5 16.Nxc5 Bxc5 is equal (Gelfand-Ivanchuk, Soviet Union, 1986).

If 10.Qc3 Qxd4 11.0-0 Qxc3 12.Nxc3 then:

If 12...Bd6 13.Nf3 c6 14.Rd1 Be7 then:

If 15.a3 N4d5 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Nd4 0-0 then:

18.Bxd5 cxd5 19.Be3 Bd7 is equal (Yuseev-Galliamova, Russian Cup, Kazan, 1986).
18.e4 Nb6 19.b3 draw (Khalifman-Adams. Bundesliga 0001, Hamburg, 2001).

15.Nd4 0-0 16.a3 N4d5 17.Nxd5 Nxd5 18.Bd2 is equal (Beliavsky-Adams, IT, Madrid, 1998).

12...f6 13.Nf3 c6 14.a3 N4d5 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Nd4 Bc5 17.Rd1 0-0 18.Bxd5+ cxd5 19.Be3 Bxd4 20.Bxd4 draw (Dokhoian-Gelfand, Klaipeda, 1988).

If 8.Qb5 then:

If 8...a6 9.Qd3 e5 10.Nxe5 Nb4 then:

11.Qd1 Qxd4 12.Qxd4 Nc2+ 13.Kd1 Nxd4 14.Be3 Nf5 15.Bxb6 cxb6 16.Nd2 Bd6 draw (Gyimesi-Naiditsch, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
If 11.Qc3 Qxd4 12.0-0 Qxc3 13.Nxc3 Bd6 14.Nf3 0-0 15.Rd1 is equal (Khalifman-Landa, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2007).

If 8...Bd7 9.Qb3 Na5 10.Qd3 c5!? 11.dxc5 then:

If 11...Bxc5? 12.Qc3 Rc8 13.Qxg7 Bf8 then:

If 14.Qg5?! Qxg5 15.Bxg5 Bg7 16.Nbd2 h6 17.Be3 Bxb2 18.Rb1 Nd5 gives White the initiative (Kramnik-Naiditsch, IT, Dortmund, 2006).
14.Qxh8 Rxc1+ 15.Kd2 Rxh1 16.Bxh1 Ba4+ 17.Qd4 leaves White up by the equaivalent of a minor piece.

11...Nd5 12.a3 Nc6 13.e4 Nc7 14.Bg5 Qc8 15.Qc4 gives White a healthy advantage in space.

If 6...Bb4+ 7.Bd2 then:

If 7...Nd5 8.Bxb4 Ndxb4 then:

If 9.0-0 Rb8 then:

If 10.Nc3 a6 11.Ne5 0-0 12.Nxc6 Nxc6 13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.Qxc4 then:

14...Rxb2 15.Rab1 Rb6 16.Qc5 h6 17.Rfd1 Rxb1 18.Rxb1 Qd6 19.Ne4 Qd5 20.Qxd5 cxd5 21.Nc5 Re8 is equal (Khalifman-S. Ivanov, City Ch, St. Petersburg, 1996).
14...Qd6 15.Ne4 Qd5 16.Qc2 Qxd4 17.b3 Rb5 18.Rfd1 Qb4 is equal (Hefka-van Kempen, Corres, 2003).

If 10.Na3 then:

If 10...0-0 11.Qb5 b6 12.Qxc4 Ba6 13.Nb5 Qd5 14.Qxd5 then:

If 14...Nxd5 15.a4 Na5 16.Ne5 Rbd8 17.Bxd5 Bxb5 18.Bxe6 then:

18...Be8 19.b4 fxe6 20.bxa5 Rxd4 is equal (Grischuk-Gelfand, Grand Prix, Sochi, 2008).
18...fxe6 19.axb5 Rxd4 20.Nd3 Ra8 21.Rad1 Nb3 22.e3 is equal.

14...exd5 15.Nc3 Rfe8 16.Rfd1 Ne7 17.Rac1 Rbd8 18.a3 Nbc6 19.e3 Nb8 20.b4 gives White the advantage in space (Miton-Nakamura, Worldf Op, Philadelphia, 2005).

If 10...a6 11.Ne5 0-0 12.Nxc6 Nxc6 13.Qxc4 Qxd4 14.Bxc6 Qxc4 15.Nxc4 bxc6 16.b3 Rb5 17.Rfc1 then:

17...f6 18.Nb2 Bd7 19.Na4 Kf7 20.Rc2 Ke7 21.Nc5 Bc8 is equal (Kachianai-Collas, Euro ChTW, Crete, 2007).
17...Rd8 18.Rc2 e5 19.f3 f6 20.Rac1 Kf7 21.Kf2 Bb7 is equal (Delchev-S. Atalik, Ol. Bled, 2002).

If 9.a3 b5 10.Qxb5 Nc2+ 11.Kd2 then:

If 11...Nxa1 12.Qxc6+ Bd7 13.Qxc4 c5 14.Qa2 Qa5+ then:

If 15.Nc3 cxd4 16.Nxd4 Rd8 17.Rxa1 then:

17...e5 18.b4 Qb6 19.Nc2 Qxf2 20.Bd5 0-0 21.Qc4 Be6 22.Ne3 Qxh2 23.Qh4 Qxh4 24.gxh4 f5 25.Kc2 Kf7 26.Rd1 f4 27.Nc4 draw (Kasparov-Admas, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2001).
If 17...Qc5 18.e3 e5 19.Qd5 Qxd5 20.Bxd5 exd4 21.exd4 gives White the advantage in space (Kasimdzhanov-Aleksandrov, Bosnian ChT, Jahorina, 2003).

If 15.b4 cxb4!! 16.Qxa1 Rc8 17.Ne5 Bb5 18.Ke3 Rc2 19.Bf3 0-0 20.a4 f6 21.Nd3 Bc4 22.Nd2 Qg5+ 23.Nf4 e5 24.Nxc4 exf4+ 25.gxf4 Qf5 26.Nd6 Qe6+ White resigns in the face of further material loss (Ivanchuk-Korchnoi, IT, Tilburg, 1989).

If 11...Bd7 12.Kxc2 Nxd4+ 13.Nxd4 Bxb5 14.Nxb5 Rb8 15.N1c3 0-0 16.Rad1 Qg5 17.Nd4 Qc5 18.e3 Qb6 19.Na4 Qa5 20.Nc3 Qb6 21.Na4 Qa5 22.Nc3 draw (P. H. Nielsen-Pelletier, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).

If 7...Bd6 then:

8.Ne5 Bxe5 9.Bxc6+ bxc6 10.dxe5 Qd4 11.f3 Nd7 12.Nc3 Qc5 13.f4 0-0 14.0-0-0 a5 15.Qc2 Re8 16.h4 a4 is equal (P. H. Nielsen-Barsov, EU Blitz Ch, Panormo, 2002).
If 8.0-0 0-0 9.Qxc4 e5 then:

10.d5 Ne7 11.Nc3 h6 12.Rfd1 a6 13.a4 Bd7 14.h3 Rb8 15.a5 Ne8 16.Be3 Qc8 17.Ba7 Ra8 18.Bc5 is equal (Sambuev-Tregubov, Russian Ch, Krasnoyarsk, 2003).
10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Nxe5 Bxe5 12.Bc3 Qe7 13.Bxe5 Qxe5 14.Nc3 c6 15.Rfd1 Be6 16.Qb4 Rab8 17.Rd2 a5 18.Qd4 Qxd4 19.Rxd4 c5 20.Rd6 b5 is equal (Haba-Tukmakov, Cafe Cup, Koszalin, 1998).

If 5...c5 6.0-0 then:

If 6...Nc6 then:

If 7.Ne5 Bd7 8.Na3 cxd4 9.Naxc4 then:

If 9...Bc5 10.Qb3 0-0 then:

If 11.Qxb7 Nxe5 12.Nxe5 Rb8 13.Qf3 then:

If 13...Bd6 14.Nc6 Bxc6 15.Qxc6 Qe7 then:

16.Qa4 e5 17.Rb1 h6 18.Bd2 Bb4 is equal (Laznicka-Werle, EU Op, Liverpool, 2008).
16.Rb1 h6 17.e3 Bc5 18.exd4 Bxd4 19.Qc4 Rfd8 20.b3 draw (Eljanov-Adams, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).

13...Bc8 14.Nc6 Bb7 15.Bg5 Bxc6 16.Qxc6 remains equal.

If 11.Bf4 Qc8 then:

If 12.Rac1 Nd5 13.Nxd7 Qxd7 14.Ne5 Nxe5 then:

If 15.Bxe5 Bb6 then:

16.Rcd1 Ne7 17.Bxd4 Bxd4 18.e3 e5 19.exd4 exd4 20.Rd2 Nc6 21.Qa4 Rad8 22.Rfd1 Qe6 23.b3 Rfe8 24.Bxc6 Qxc6 25.Qxc6 bxc6 26.Rxd4 Rxd4 27.Rxd4 Re1+ 28.Kg2 g6 29.Kf3 gives Black the more active Rook (Deep Fritz-Nimzo B, Computer Ch, Cadaques, 2001).
16.Rfd1 Rac8 17.Rxc8 Rxc8 18.Bxd5 Qxd5 19.Qxd5 exd5 20.Bxd4 Bxd4 21.Rxd4 Rd8 22.e4 Kf8 23.exd5 Ke7 24.Kg2 Kd6 25.Kf3 Rc8 26.Rd2 Re8 27.Kf4 Re5 28.h4 h5 29.f3 f6 30.g4 g5+ 31.Kg3 hxg4 32.Kxg4 gxh4 33.Kxh4 draw (Kharlov-A. Sokolov, Zonal, St. Petersburg, 1993).

15.Bxd5 exd5 16.Rxc5 Nc6 17.Rxd5 Qe6 18.Rb5 b6 19.Rc1 Rac8 is equal (Tregubov-Morozevich, Russian Ch, Orel, 1992).

If 12.Rfd1 Rd8 13.Rac1 Nd5 then:

If 14.Nxf7!? 14...Kxf7 15.Ne5+ Nxe5 16.Bxe5 b6 17.Qf3+ Kg8 18.Qg4 g6 19.Be4 then:

19...Be8? 20.b4!! Nxb4 21.Bxa8 Qxa8 22.Qxe6+ White has turned the tables (Tal-A. Sokolov, World Cup, Brussels, 1988).
19...Bc6! 20.Bxd4 Bxd4 21.Rxd4.

14.Nd3 Bf8 15.Nce5 Nxf4 16.Nxf4 Qc7 17.Nfd3 Rac8 18.Nxd7 Rxd7 19.Qa4 Rdd8 20.Rc4 Qb6 21.Rdc1 Ne7 22.Rb4 Rxc1+ 23.Nxc1 Qc7 24.Rc4 Qb8 25.Rxd4 b5 26.Qd1 draw (Korchnoi-A. Sokolov, World Cup, Brussels, 1988).

9...Rc8 10.Qb3 Nxe5 11.Nxe5 Bc6 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Rd1 c5 14.e3 Bd6 15.exd4 c4 16.Qc2 0-0 17.Bg5 h6 18.Bxf6 Qxf6 is equal (V. Georgiev-Ivanchuk, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).

7.Qa4 Bd7 8.Qxc4 b5 9.Qd3 Rc8 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Nc3 b4 12.Ne4 Nxe4 13.Qxe4 Ne7 14.Ne5 Bb5 15.Be3 0-0 16.Rfd1 Qb6 17.Bxc5 Qxc5 18.Nd7 Bxd7 19.Rxd7 Rfd8 20.Qd3 Rxd7 21.Qxd7 g6 22.Rd1 a5 23.Bf3 Qc7 24.Kg2 Qxd7 25.Rxd7 Nc6 26.Bxc6 draw (Haba-Volodin, Op, Pardubice, 1994).

If 6...cxd4 then:

If 7.Qxd4 Qxd4 8.Nxd4 a6 9.Nd2 Bc5 10.Nc2 then:

If 10...Nd5 11.Nxc4 Bd7 12.b4 Ba7 13.e4 Nb6 14.Nd6+ Ke7 15.Nxb7 is equal (Stefanova-Zhukova, Euro ChW, Rijeka, 2010).
10...c3 11.bxc3 Nbd7 12.Nb3 Be7 13.Rb1 Nd5 14.Bb2 is equal (Balashov-A. Petrosian, GMT, Yerevan, 1986).

If 7.Nxd4 a6 8.Qa4+ Qd7 9.Qxc4 b5 10.Qb3 Bb7 11.Bxb7 Qxb7 12.a4 b4 13.Nd2 Bc5 14.Qf3 Qxf3 15.N4xf3 Nc6 gives Black the advantage in space (Scheeren-van der Wiel, Dutch Ch, Hilversum, 1984).
If 8...Nbd7 9.Qxc4 Nb6 10.Qb3 then:

10...e5 11.Nf3 Be6 12.Qc2 is equal (Nokolic-Movsesian, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1996).
10...Qxd4 11.Be3 Qc4 12.Bxb6 Qxb3 13.axb3 Nd7 14.Bc7 is equal.

If 5...Nbd7 6.Bg2 dxc4 then:

If 7.a4 Bb4 8.0-0 0-0 9.Qc2 Qe7 10.Bf4 then:

If 10...a5 11.e4 b6 12.Rfe1 h6 then:

If 13.d5 then:

If 13...cxd5 14.exd5 Bxc3 15.d6 Qd8 16.Qxc3 Bb7 is equal (I. Sokolov-Caruana, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
13...e5 14.dxc6 exf4 15.cxd7 Bb7 16.gxf4 Nxd7 is equal (Tregubov-Sakaev. IT, Alushta, 1994).

13.Rad1 Bb7 14.Nd2 e5 15.dxe5 Ng4 16.e6 Nde5 is equal (Peto-Hmelevsky, Corres, 2007).

If 10...Nd5 11.Bd2 a5 12.e4 N5b6 then:

13.Be3 h6 14.Rad1 e5 15.dxe5 Bc5 16.Bf4 Re8 is equal (Gelfand-Anand, Alekhine Mem, Moscow, 1992).
13.e5 Nd5 14.Rfe1 N7b6 15.Re4 f5 16.exf6 gxf6 17.Bh3 Rf7 18.Rae1 f5 is equal (Vinchev-Azevedo, Corres, 2007).

If 10.Na2 Bd6 11.Qxc4 then:

If 11...e5 12.Qc2 Re8 13.Nc3 then:

13...exd4 14.Nxd4 Nc5 15.Rd1 Be5 16.Rb1 a5 is equal (Ulibin-Sakaev, Russian Ch, Elista, 1995).
13...a5 14.e4 exd4 15.Nxd4 Nc5 16.f3 Na6 17.Na2 Bc5 18.Be3 Nd5 19.Bf2 Ndb4 is equal (Gleizerov-Laketic, Op, Cutro, 2000).

11...a5 12.Qc2 e5 13.Rd1 Re8 14.Nc3 Bb4 15.e4 h6 16.h3 exd4 17.Nxd4 Nc5 is equal (Gleizerov-Chepukaitis, Op, St. Petersburg, 1995).

If 7.0-0 then:

If 7...b5 8.e4 Bb7 9.e5 Nd5 10.Ng5 then:

If 10...Be7 11.Qh5 g6 12.Qh6 Bf8 13.Qh3 then:

13...Nxc3 14.bxc3 Be7 15.Ne4 then:

If 15...Qb6 16.a4 a5 17.Bg5 Bxg5 18.Nxg5 c5 19.d5 gives Black an extra pawn, but White has more space and better pawn structure in compensation (Prohaszka-Mazur, ChU16, Herceg Novi, 2008).
15...0-0 16.a4 a6 17.Qh6 Re8 18.Bg5 Bf8 19.Bxd8 Bxh6 20.Nd6 Rexd8 21.Nxb7 Rdc8 22.Nd6 give Black an extra pawn and Black nore space and the initiative (Moiseenko-Borovikov, Op, Kramatorsk, 2001).

13...h6 14.Qxe6+ Qe7 15.Qxg6 fxg6 draw (Tregubov-Fressinet, Op, Paris, 2006).

If 10...h6 11.Nge4 Qb6 12.a4 a6 13.Qg4 0-0-0 14.Rd1 then:

14...g5!? 15.Qh5 c5 16.axb5 axb5 17.Nxd5 Bxd5 18.Be3 gives White the advantage in space (Dumant-Matsuura, Brazilian Ch, Americana, 2009).
14...b4 15.Nb1 a5 16.Be3 Nxe3 17.fxe3 h5 18.Qf4 gives Black an extra pawn and White more space.

If 7...Be7?! 8.e4! 0-0 then:

9.Bf4! b5 10.d5 cxd5 11.exd5 Qb6 12.d6 Bd8 13.Be3 Qa6 14.Nxb5 Nd5 is equal (Korchnoi-Kramnik, IT, Geneva, 1996).
If 9.a4 e5 10.dxe5 Ng4 11.Bf4 Qa5 then:

12.e6!? fxe6 13.Qe2 Nge5 14.Nd4 Nd3 15.Nxe6 Rf6 16.Bc7 Qb4 17.Nd4 Bc5 gives Black the advantage in space (Topalov-Kramnik, IT, Linares, 1997).
12.Qd4 Rd8 13.Qxc4 Ndxe5 14.Qe2 Be6 is equal.

5...a6 6.Ne5 c5 then:

If 7.Na3 then:

If 7...cxd4 8.Naxc4 then:

If 8...Bc5 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bd2 Nd5 11.Rc1 Nd7 12.Nd3 then:

If 12...Ba7 then:

If 13.Ba5 Qe7 14.Qb3 Rb8 then:

15.Qa3 Qxa3 16.bxa3 N7f6 White's position promises activity for the Rooks on the queenside; nevertheless, Black still has an extra pawn and the burden of proof is on White to show that this is enough to level the game (Anand-Topalov, World Ch Match Rd 2, Sofia, 2010).
15.Nce5 Nxe5 16.Nxe5 Qf6 17.Nd3 b6 18.Bb4 Rd8 19.Bxd5 Rxd5 leaves Black a pawn to the good; while White has more space, Black can easily turn that upside down (Gulko-Shulman, US Ch, Tulsa, 2008).

13.Na5 N7f6 14.Qb3 Rb8 15.Rc2 Bd7 16.Rfc1 Bb5 17.a4 Bxd3 18.exd3 Re8 19.Nc4 Qe7 draw (Vidit-Venkatesh, Commonwealth Ch, Nagpur, 2008).

12...b6 13.Qb3 Rb8 14.Nce5 Bb7 15.Nxd7 Qxd7 16.Rc4 Nf6 17.Bxb7 Rxb7 leaves Black a pawn to the good (Hendrichs-Schlosser, Op, Reykjavik, 2007).

If 8...Ra7 9.Bd2 b6 then:

If 10.0-0 Bb7 11.Bxb7 Rxb7 12.Rc1 Bc5 then:

If 13.b4 Be7 then:

14.Qb3 0-0 15.Rfd1 Rc7 16.Bf4 b5 leaves Black a pawn to the good (And. Volokitin-Navara, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee, 2009).
If 14.Be3 then:

14...0-0 15.Bxd4 Bxb4 16.Bxb6 Qxd1 17.Rfxd1 is equal (van Wely-Robson, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2009).
If 14...dxe3? 15.Qxd8+! then:

15...Bxd8 16.Nd6+ Ke7 17.Nxb7 gives White the material advantage.
15...Kxd8 16.Nxf7+ Ke8 17.Nxh8 exf2+ 18.Kxf2 Bxb4 19.Ne5 gives White the material advantage.

If 13.Na5 Rc7 14.b4 Bd6 15.Nac6 Nxc6 16.Nxc6 Qd7 17.Nxd4 0-0 gives Black more space and stronger minor pieces (Wang Yue-van Wely, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2009).

10.Qb3 Bb7 11.Bxb7 Rxb7 12.Na5 Re7 13.Rc1 Rc7 14.0-0 Bc5 15.Nd3 0-0 16.Nxc5 bxc5 is equal (Zhu Chen-Zhao Xue, ITW, Istanbul, 2008).

If 7...Ra7 8.Be3 b5 9.dxc5 Nd5 10.Naxc4 then:

10...f6? 11.Bxd5! exd5 12.Nd6+ Bxd6 13.cxd6 Rb7 14.d7+ Nxd7 15.Nc6 Qc7 16.Rc1 gives White the advantage in space (Naumann-Kveinys, Bundesliga 0708, Germany, 2008).
If 10...bxc4 11.Qa4+ Bd7 12.Nxd7 Qxd7 then:

13.c6 Nxc6 14.Bxa7 Bb4+ 15.Kf1 Nxa7 16.Qxa6 c3 gives Black better development and more space.
13.Qxc4!? Nxe3 14.fxe3 Qc7 15.Rc1 Nd7 16.b4 a5 gives Black better pawns and a material advantage.

If 7.Be3 Nd5 8.dxc5 Nd7 then:

9.Bd4 Nxe5 10.Bxe5 f6 11.Bd4 Bxc5 12.Bxc5 Qa5+ 13.Nd2 Qxc5 14.Rc1 b5 gives Black an extra pawn (Ivanchuk-Kuporosov, Soviet Union, 1986).
9.Nxc4 Nxe3 10.Nxe3 Bxc5 11.Nc4 0-0 12.0-0 Rb8 13.Nc3 b5 14.Nd6 Nf6 15.Nxc8 Qxd1 draw (Onischuk-Aronian, Bundesliga 0001, Wattenscheid, 2001).

6.Bd2 a5

If 6...Be7 7.Qa4+ then:

If 7...Bd7 8.Qxc4 Bc6 9.0-0 0-0 then:

If 10.Nc3 then:

10...Nbd7 11.Rac1 Rc8 12.Rfd1 h6 13.b4 Ne4 14.b5 Nxd2 15.Rxd2 Bxf3 16.exf3 c5 draw (Sebenik-Tissir, Mediterranean Ch, Beirut, 2003).

10...Ne4 11.Bf4 Bd6 12.Rac1 Bxf4 13.gxf4 Nd6 14.Qd3 Qf6 is equal (Asmundsson-Aaltio, World ChTU26, Reykjavik, 1954).

10.Bg5 Nbd7 11.Nc3 Rc8 12.Qd3 h6 13.Bxf6 Nxf6 14.e4 b6 15.Rad1 Bb7 16.a3 c5 17.d5 exd5 18.exd5 Bd6 is equal (Ushenina-Dzagnidze, Euro ChW, Chisinau, 2005).

7...Nbd7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Qxc4 c5 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Nc3 a6 12.b4 Be7 13.Qb3 Nb6 14.Rfd1 White has accomplished his development, while Black still needs to find a post for the Queen's Bishop.

7.Qc2

If 7.0-0 Nc6 8.Bg5 0-0 9.e3 then:

If 9...h6 10.Bxf6 Qxf6 11.a3 Bd6 12.Nc3 e5 13.d5 then:

13...Na7 14.Nd2 b5 15.a4 Bd7 16.Qc2 Bb4 is equal (Ragger-Blogojevic, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009).
13...Ne7 14.Nd2 Bd7 15.Nxc4 Nf5 16.Qd3 Rfd8 17.Rac1 Qe7 18.Ne4 gives White the advantage in space (Fridman-San Segundo, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).

9...e5 10.a3 Be7 11.dxe5 Nd7 12.e6 fxe6 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.Nbd2 c3 15.bxc3 e5 16.Ne4 Nb6 gives Black the advantage in space and fewer pawn weaknesses (Erdos-Landa, Bundesliga 0910, Eppingen, 2009).

7...Bxd2+

If 7...Nc6 8.Qxc4 Qd5 then:

9.Qd3 Qe4 10.Qxe4 Nxe4 11.a3 Nxd2 12.Nbxd2 Be7 13.Rc1 0-0 14.0-0 a4 15.Nc4 Bd8 16.Rfd1 gives White a small advantage in space (Kouatly-Polugaevsky, ITZ, Toluca, 1982).
If 9.Qxd5 exd5 then:

10.Nc3 Bf5 11.0-0 Be4 12.Bg5 Bxc3 13.bxc3 Nd7 14.Bh3 h6is equal (Reefschlaeger-Taimanov, Soviet Union, 1981).
10.0-0 Bg4 11.e3 Ne4 12.Bc3 Ke7 13.Rc1 Rhc8 14.Nfd2 Nf6 15.a3 Bd6 16.Nf3 Be6 is equal (Arkell-Speelman, 4NCL, Birmingham, 2001).

8.Qxd2

If 8.Nbxd2 b5 9.a4 c6 10.b3 cxb3 11.Nxb3 0-0 12.0-0 Ba6 then:

If 13.Rfd1 bxa4 14.Nc5 Bb5 15.Ne5 then:

15...Nd5 16.Be4 Nf6 17.Nxa4 Nxe4 18.Qxe4 Na6 19.Nxc6 Qe8 20.d5 Nb4 21.Nxb4 Bxa4 22.Nc2 is equal (Beliavsky-A. Veingold, Ol, Calvia, 2004).
15...Qd6 16.Nc4 Qc7 17.Na3 Nd5 18.Rdc1 Qe7 is equal (Romanishin-Landa, IT 0607, Reggio Emilia, 2007).

13.Nc5 b4 14.Rfd1 Nd5 15.e4 Nc3 gives Black the initiative (Saric-Pavlovic, IT, Rijeka, 2005).

8...c6

8...Bd7 9.Ne5 Bc6 10.Nxc6 Nxc6 11.Na3 0-0 12.Rd1 Qe7 13.0-0 Qb4 14.Qc1 Nd5 is equal (Damljanovic-Korneev, Kostic Mem, Vrsac, 2006).

9.a4 b5 10.Na3!?

If 10.axb5 cxb5 11.Qg5 0-0 12.Qxb5 Ba6 then:

If 13.Qa4 Qb6 then:

If 14.0-0 Qxb2 15.Nbd2 Bb5 16.Nxc4 Bxa4 17.Nxb2 Bb5 18.Ne5 then:

If 18...Ra7 then:

If 19.Nbd3 then:

19...Nbd7 20.Rfb1 Nxe5 21.Rxb5 Nxd3 22.exd3 draw (Ushenina-T. Kosintseva, Euro ChW, Rijeka, 2010).
19...Nfd7 20.Rfb1 Nxe5 21.Rxb5 Nxd3 22.exd3 Rd8 23.Ra4 gives White a slight initiative agains the a-pawn, but his center pawns are weak (K. Georgiev-Pavasovic, IT, Valijevo, 2007).

19.Bf3 Nbd7 20.Nec4 Rb8 21.Rfc1 g5 22.e3 g4 23.Bd1 Bc6 24.Nxa5 Rxa5 25.Rxa5 Rxb2 26.Rxc6 Rb1 is equal as White as no way to save the Bishop (Potkin-Romanov, Russian Ch HL, Krasnoturinsk, 2007).

18...Ra6!? 19.Nbd3! Nbd7 20.Rfb1 Nxe5 21.Nc5!! Nc6 22.e3 Rb6 23.Bxc6 Rfb8 24.Bf3 gives White an impressive advantage in space, especially on the queenside (Meier-Wojtaszek, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009).

14.Nbd2 Bb5 15.Qa3 Nc6 16.0-0 Rab8 17.Rfc1 Nxd4 18.Nxd4 Qxd4 19.Nf3 Qb6 20.Qxa5 Qxa5 21.Rxa5 Bc6 22.Rxc4 Bxf3 23.Bxf3 Rxb2 24.h4 draw (Leko-Kramnik, IT, Dortmund, 2009).

If 13.Qxa5 Bb7 14.Qxd8 Rxa1 15.Qxf8+ Kxf8 16.0-0 Ra2 then:

17.Nc3 Rxb2 18.Rb1 Rxb1+ 19.Nxb1 Nd5 20.Ne1 draw (Blogojevic-Wojtaszek, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).
17.Ne5 Ba6 18.Rc1 Rxb2 19.Nc3 Nfd7 20.f4 Nxe5 21.fxe5 f6 is equal (Buhmann-Golubovic, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).

10...Bd7

As with the second match game, Black's extra pawn affords him bragging right for now.

11.Ne5 Nd5 12.e4 Nb4 13.0-0 0-0 14.Rfd1 Be8

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
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WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 14...Bd7e8

15.d5!?

This move looks a little chaotic, but White feels that with heavy pieces doubled on the d-file and a Knight at e5 it is time to open the center.

15...Qd6

Black blockades White's center.
Our silicon sidekick likes 15...Qb6 16.d6 Nd7 17.Nxd7 Bxd7 18.e5 Rad8 , but Topalov apparently didn't like have a protected passed pawn in his thoat. We tend to agree with Topalov on this one.

16.Ng4!?

One may wonder why White doesn't take the pawn at c6.
16.Nxc6 N8xc6 17.dxc6 Qxd2 18.Rxd2 bxa4 19.Nxc4 is completely equal.

16...Qc5 17.Ne3 N8a6

17...exd5 18.exd5 Ra7 19.Qd4 Qxd4 20.Rxd4 Re7 21.Rad1 gives Black an extra pawn and more space on the queenside, but White is building a strong center.

18.dxc6 bxa4 19.Naxc4

19.c7 Qxc7 20.Naxc4 Bc6 21.Nd6 Rad8 22.Rac1 leaves Black with an extra pawn and White with more space.

19...Bxc6 20.Rac1 h6!?

20...Rab8 21.Qd6 Qg5 22.f4 Qb5 23.Ne5 Rbc8 24.Qd4 leaves Black with an extra pawn and White with more space.
20...Qh5 21.Qd6 Rab8 22.Ne5 Bb5 23.f4 Qe2 24.N3c4 Bxc4 25.Nxc4 leaves Black with an extra pawn and White with more space.
If 20...Nc7!? 21.Qd6 Qxd6 22.Nxd6 Rab8 then:

If 23.Nec4 Nb5 24.Nxa5! Nxd6 25.Nxc6 gives White the initiative.
If 23.e5 Bxg2 24.Kxg2 Ncd5 then:

If 25.Nec4 f6 26.Rd2 fxe5 27.Re1 then:

If 27...h6 28.Nxe5 Rfd8 29.Nec4 Nc7 30.Ra1 White will be able to balance the material, but Black has more freedom.
27...Nc6 28.Nxe5 Rbd8 29.Nec4 Nc7 30.f4 leaves Black with an extra pawn and White with more space.

If 25.Nxd5!? Nxd5 26.Rd4 Rb4! 27.Rd2 Rfb8 28.Rc5 Rd8! then Black appears to have the better game as now:

If 29.Rdc2 f6 30.Nc4 Rdb8 31.Re2 Nb6 32.Nxb6 R8xb6 gives Black a slightly more active position.
29.f4 f6 30.Re2 g5 31.fxg5 fxe5 gives Black the inititiative.

21.Nd6 Qa7!?

If 21...Qh5 then:

If 22.Nec4 Rad8 23.Qe3 is equal.
22.f4 Rfd8 23.Nec4 Bb5 24.Ne5 Be2 25.Re1 is equal.

22.Ng4 Rad8?

Black clearly doesn't see White's reply.
White can save himself with 22...f6! when his Queen can navigate the rank put a stop to White attack if he plays the sacrifice, so now:

If 23.e5 Bxg2 then:

24.Kxg2 fxe5 25.Nxe5 Nd5 remains equal.
If 24.Nxh6+? then after 24...gxh6 25.Qxh6 Bf3 26.exf6 Qh7! White is toast.

If 23.Nxh6+? then after 23...gxh6 24.Qxh6 Qh7! White's attack is spent and he he has lost a piece in the misadventure.

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
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WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 22...Ra8d8

23.Nxh6+!!

White uncorks a dazzling sacrifice.

23...gxh6 24.Qxh6 f6 25.e5!

White finds the winning move.
If 25.Bh3? Qe7! then:

26.Qg6+ Kh8 27.Qh6+ etc. draws.
If 26.Rc4 e5 27.Qg6+ Kh8 28.Qh5+ then:

28...Kg8 29.Qg6+ Kh8 etc. draws.
28...Qh7? 29.Nf7+ Kg8 30.Qxh7+ Kxh7 31.Bf5+ Kg7 32.Nxd8 wins for White.

25...Bxg2 26.exf6!!

White is casting a mating net. The Bishop can go.

26...Rxd6 27.Rxd6 Be4

The fat lady is back stage doing her voice exercises.
If 27...Bd5 then 28.Qg6+ Kh8 29.Rc4 Bxc4 30.Rd4 Qh7 31.Rh4 Rf7 32.Qxf7 Qxh4 33.Qg7#.

28.Rxe6 Nd3

If 28...Qh7 then White wins after 29.Qg5+ Bg6 30.f7+ Kxf7 31.Re7+.

29.Rc2 Qh7 30.f7+ Qxf7 31.Rxe4 Qf5 32.Re7 1-0

If 32...Rf7 then after 33.Rc8+ Qxc8 34.Qg6+ Kh8 35.Qh5+ White mates in two.
Challenger Topalov resigns.

Reply #5: Anand - Topalov, Round 4 [View All]