9 May 2010

WCC 2010 game 11

A29 - English Opening, 4-Knights with 4.g3
Much like an upside down Dragon after 4...d5, but with a loss of tempo for Black of course, which is usually considered fair for White.

All according to plan until move 11...Qe8, where 11...Qd7 was more usual.

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8. a3 O-O 9. b4 Be6 10. d3 f6 11. Ne4 Qe8 N


(11... Qd7, which was directed at the =h3= square in unison with Black's LSB for a possible swap of the Bishops. Seeing that this had little influence on White's game, Topalov looks for something different.

12. Bb2 a6 13. Qc2 Bh3 14. Nc5 Bxc5 15. Bxh3 Qxh3 16. Qb3+ etc. Miles vs Timman Tilburg 1984, 1-0)

12. Nc5 Bxc5 13. bxc5 Nd5




Is Anand back to his intuitive and spontaneous playing style again?
Looks like it.

Open b-file and the Bishop pair for White. Still, Black's pieces are all good-to-go.


14.Bb2 planning an advance of his centre pawns backed by his Rooks. Rd8 but Black is getting ready to counteract this assault. 15. Qc2 Nde7 16. Rab1 Ba2 that Bishop may hassle the Rook, but not for long, even though it is backed by the black Queen. Notice how Topalov has switched the conventional attack on the fianchettoed Bishop from the usual kingside (=h3=) to the queenside. and beautifully done too. 17. Rbc1 Qf7 18. Bc3 Rd7 19. Qb2 Rb8 20. Rfd1 Be6 mission accomplished and preparing for the Knight to go to -d5- 21. Rd2 h6 22. Qb1 Nd5



23. Rb2 b6 24. cxb6 cxb6 25. Bd2 Rd6 26. Rbc2 Qd7

leading to



Qd7 27. h4 Rd8 28. Qb5 Nde7 29. Qb2 Bd5 30. Bb4 Nxb4 31. axb4 Rc6 32. b5 Rxc2 33. Rxc2 Be6 34. d4

Most of this is way over my head.
I am also getting rather drowsy and will take a walk to clear my head.



42 versus 32 mins left