[Event "WCC Bonn 2008"] [Site "www.unspe.com"] [Date "2008.10.29"] [Round "?"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [BlackElo "2400"] 1. e4 {Anand plays e4 for the first time in this match!} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qc7 8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. f5 Qc5 10. Qd3 Nc6 11. Nb3 Qe5 {A logical move to keep pressure in the center. I think White has to consider O-O-O here. The Black King can reasonably stay in the center due to his strong center pawn structure. White cannot afford to do the same.} 12. O-O-O {White basically offers the f5 pawn sacrifice. The compensation for White is to be able to break up black's center pawn chain while opening up the critical e file. I would not take it. I prefer either 12...Bd7, 12....Rg8, or even 12...b5 better. 12...exf5 is too scary, but you never know what Kramnik may do when he needs to win and a draw is no good.} exf5 {A very brave Kramnik! Bravo! No matter what happens, no one can say that Kramnik backs off from a tough fight. This is not a blunder. It is a playable move, just dangerous. This is what the chess fans want to see, two heavyweight champions not backing off an inch. If 13.Re1 Bh6+ 14.Kb1 Be6 and the position is unclear. This is another possibility 13.Kb1 fxe4 14.Qxe4 Be7 15.Qf3 Be6 and it is also unclear.} 13. Qe3 {I personally did not expect this move. In addition to clearing the diagonal for this Bishop, the d5 square for his Rook or Knight, the square b6 will be one White would have an eye on. Black might as well consider playing 13...fxe4 since he already played exf5. This position is still unclear. However, if you are Kramnik, you cannot ask for more than just a chance to have a sharp game to score a full point, even though this type of position generally favors Anand. Kramnik has a tough decision to make. What should he play? Take on e4? Bd7, Be6, Bg7, or h5? The dynamics of the game will change quite a bit with these choices. I would probably narrow my choices to 13...Be6 or 13...h5. He is taking a lot of time for this move. He obviously understands that one error in judgment can end the match today. I would like to make a comparison to other sports. As you probably know, it is the hardest to close out the final 2 minutes of a basketball game or to win the final game to win a tennis match. It is the same in chess. The final game to win the World Chess Championship is the hardest to play.} Bg7 {A very unusual choice! I do not think this is the best option for Kramnik. It is not a blunder, just not the most aggressive move. I do not think Anand was unhappy seeing this move. It looks like Kramnik may want to get his King to the Kingside. Therefore, two good options for Anand are 14.Nd2 or 14.Rd5, both are unclear but definitely not worse for Anand. If 14.Nd5 then O-O and Black is better.} 14. Rd5 {The best move here is 14...Qe7. He needs to save the e6 square for his Bishop.} Qe7 {The most promising move for White is 15.Qg3 to attack both the d6 pawn and Bishop on g7.} 15. Qg3 {This is a possible line 15...Rg8 16.Qxd6 fxe4 17.Qxe7+ Kxe7 18.Nxe4 f5 =+. Here are more options: 15...Rg8 16. Qh4 fxe4 17. Nxe4 (17. Qxh7 Kf8 unclear) 17... Be6 18. Nxd6+ Kf8 19. Rd3 =+ Another factor to consider is both players may get into time pressure soon. They are both under 60 minutes after only 15 moves made.} Rg8 {As I pointed out in the lines above, 15.Rg8 is a good choice for Kramnik.} 16. Qf4 {Black is fine with 16...Be6 if 17.Rxd6 then Bh6 +-. White should just retreat the Rook to e1. 16...fxe4 is also playable.} fxe4 {If 17.Nxe4 Be6 18.Nxd6+ Kf8 19.Rd1 Rd8 and the position is unclear. White is about 6-7 minutes ahead on the clock.} 17. Nxe4 f5 {Perhaps 18.Nxd6+ Kf8 19.Nxc8 Rxc8 =/+=} 18. Nxd6+ {19.Nxc8 Rxc8 White is slightly better as I pointed out above. The idea for Anand is quite simple. The position was very complicated. Therefore, it is to his advantage to trade pieces and simplify the position where there will be less chances to blunder tactically.} Kf8 19. Nxc8 Rxc8 20. Kb1 {+= There is a very strong chance now for Anand to get at least a draw. The complications just passed and Anand came out OK. Black must try 20...Qe1 21.Nc1 Ne7 to give Black any last hope. 21.Qc1 is also fine for White, not much for Black.} Qe1+ 21. Nc1 {I see very few options for Kramnik to pull out a win.} Ne7 {as expected. The best response for White is Qd2 attempting to trade Queens. That would guarantee Anand a draw at the very least.} 22. Qd2 {Black has no choice but to trade Queens. Otherwise, he would face checkmate with Rd8+.} Qxd2 23. Rxd2 Bh6 {Now 24.Rd7 =/+=} 24. Rf2 {The position is still even. The only way Kramnik can win here is if Anand blunders. Once Anand gets his pieces out, Black has nothing. I assume a draw will come very soon.} Be3 {1/2 Thank you everyone for joining me for the LIVE commentary. It has been great sharing the excitement of these games with all of you. Congratulations to Anand for retaining his title. Excellent fighting spirit by Kramnik! Both players deserve plenty of respect.} 1/2-1/2

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