4 May 2010

WCC 2010 game 8

Topalov as White playing the D17 SLAV DEFENCE

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 c5 8. e4 Bg6

They're sticking to their guns so far. Maybe neither wants to admit that their preferred opening could have some drawback. Anand may have been the most successful with his choice, but the past two games must have made him a touch anxious. Still, it is the eventual score that counts.

9. Be3 cxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. Bxd4 Nfd7 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13. Bxc4 Rc8
rather than 13...a6 which he played a move earlier in the previous Slav game.

14. Bb5 a6 15. Bxd7+ Kxd7
nixing the chance of castling. A little degrading for Black the way White forced the issue here.



16. Ke2

allowing the Rook to go to the center

16....f6
to protect the weak -g7- pawn. The =e6= square won't present Black with many problems, seeing that White has lost his LSB. This move also gives Black's LSB a new lease of life.

17.Rhd1




17....Ke8 18.a5 (N) Be7 19.Bb6 Rf8 20.Rac1



103 versus 87 mins


I preferred 20.Ra4 f5 21.Rad4 fxe4 22.Nxe4 Rc2+ 23.R1d2 RxR 24.KxR Rf5


20.Rac1 f5 21. e5 Bg5 22. Be3 f4 23. Ne4 Rxc1 24. Nd6+ Kd7 25. Bxc1 Kc6 26. Bd2 Be7 27. Rc1+ Kd7 28. Bc3
Bb4 looked good to me too, depending on who initiates the exchange.



28. Bxd6 29. Rd1 Bf5 30. h4
Why not take that Bishop back here?
30...g6??
That's why Topalov played h4: to mislead.




Curtains for Anand.

Nothing to stop Topalov now unless he blunders.
So I'm out of here.

Well done! Well played.Well deserved win.

Play through game the below, given with the most probable outcome.




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