Zürich Round 5: Anand classical winner

The last three classic games ended in draws and now the players go into the rapid games in which the winner of the tournament will be decided. Only the Karjakin-Anand game saw interesting chess, the other two were as correct as they were balanced.

At the conclusion of the classical tournament, we find that only Anand and Nakamura were able to win a game. The other four participants achieved nothing but draws, like Kramnik, or lost one game (Caruana, Karjakin and Aronian). So far, in terms of decisive games, Zürich hasn't been as spectacular a tournament as Tata Steel Chess was for example.

In this round, we won't dwell on the analysis of Caruana — Kramnik or Nakamura — Aronian, since the protagonists were not able to disturb the balance of the games, leading to tranquil draws. This was not the case for Karjakin — Anand, which we will annotate below and where a strategically complex middle game held the spectators in thrall.

If you prefer a video re-cap, GM Jan Gustafsson goes through the game in 15 minutes:

1. c4 One of the numerous Anti-Berlins :-)

1... ♘f6 2. ♘c3 e5 3. g3 ♗b4 We can see that we are in a Rossolimo variation with the colours reversed.

4. ♘f3 Deviating from the more normal 4.Bg2. The idea is to force the black knight to go to c6, where it normally isn't good, since White can continue with Nd5 or simply develop, and Black doesn't have the typical plan c6-d5.

4... e4 The critical move, which couldn't have been played otherwise.

5. ♘d4 O-O 6. ♗g2 ♖e8 7. O-O ♘c6 Now this move comes with tempo.

8. ♘c2 ♗xc3 9. dxc3 h6 Avoiding Bg5. There have still been a number of games up to this position, but now Karjakin surprises us with:

10. c5 Taking advantage of the fact that Black didn't play d6, Karjakin tries to get rid of the doubled pawn, but he then loses control of the centre. As we will see, Black will have no difficulties, so it's possible that this idea will not hit the mainstream.

10. ♘e3 is what used to be played until now.

10... b6! The most correct form of eliminating the c-pawn, since Black's d-pawn has more important things to do. Also, it facilitates the development of the bishop through a6.

11. cxb6 axb6 12. b3

12. c4 would not avoid 12... d5 trying to take the initiative before White develops completely, a very common strategy against the pair of bishops!

12... d5 13. ♗b2 ♗e6 Anand decides to develop the bishop, solidifying the centre.

13... ♗a6 would also have been a normal move.

14. ♕c1 Opening up a square for the rook.

14... ♘a5⁈ Anand is playing very actively. His plan is to execute c5 and dominate the centre at the same time as controlling the breakthrough on c4?

14... ♕e7 was the more solid option, giving the rook room to occupy the d-file.

15. c4! Karjakin can also launch himself at the Black centre!

15... dxc4 16. ♖d1 ♕e7 17. b4! White has temporarily sacrificed a pawn, but now he has the initiative.

17... ♘c6 18. b5! ♘a5 19. ♗a3 We can see that the rhythm of the game has changed after 15. c4 — all White's moves are attacking something!

19... c5 20. bxc6 ♕c7 21. ♘d4

21. ♗b2! is the option suggested by the computer. It's difficult to fight the threat of Bxf6 since 21... ♕e7 is met by 22. ♕f4 persevering! Black would be in trouble.

21... ♘xc6 22. ♘b5⁈ Karjakin overrated the importance this knight would have in the game.

22. ♘xe6 was better, boosting the initiative and at least recovering the pawn! After 22... ♖xe6 23. ♗h3 ♖ee8 24. ♗d6 ♕a7 25. ♕xc4 it was clear that the white bishops are better than the black knights and can apply great pressure.

22... ♕e5 23. ♖b1 ♖ed8 Anand is looking for exchanges so that the white activity will be significantly reduced.

24. ♖xd8+ ♖xd8 25. ♗b2 ♕g5 Forcing the ending.

26. ♕xg5 hxg5 27. ♗xf6 gxf6 28. ♗xe4 ♘e7 We can say that the ending is asymmetrical, but balanced.

29. ♔f1 f5 30. ♗c2 ♔g7

30... ♖d2 would be met with 31. ♖b2 followed by Ke1.

31. ♘c3 ♖h8 32. ♔g1 ♖d8 33. ♔f1 Apparently, Anand wanted to repeat, but then opted to play for the win!

33... ♘d5⁉ 34. ♖d1 Pinning the knight, and at the same time threatening to take on d5 and capturing the f5-pawn.

34. ♘xd5 ♖xd5 35. ♖xb6 would give Black the position he was looking for after 35... ♖d2 36. ♗b1 ♖d1+ 37. ♔g2 c3 and the passed pawns create problems.

34... ♔f6 35. ♔e1

35. e4 would have been more critical, since it allowed Black to sacrifice a pawn after 35... fxe4 36. ♘xe4+ although the compensation could have been sufficient after 36... ♔e7 37. ♘xg5 b5 since the black pawns on the queenside are advancing rapidly.

35... ♖d7 36. ♘xd5+ ♖xd5 Tending towards a drawn ending.

37. ♖xd5 ♗xd5 38. ♔d2 c3+! Securing the final simplification.

39. ♔xc3 ♗xa2 40. ♔b4 ♔e5 41. ♔b5 f4 42. ♔xb6 And the draw was signed. Black will exchange all the pawns and sacrifice the bishop for the last.

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Interesting duel between Karjakin and Anand |photo: Etery Kublashvili, Georg Kradolfer, official site

The tournament will be decided today at 13:00, two hour earlier than usual, with 5 rounds of rapid games (15+10). Normal point scoring will be used so each win and draw will be worth half that of the classical games.

Anand is one whole point ahead of Nakamura and two ahead of Kramnik, who is third — an advantage which should be important both leaders are rating favourites, but also known rapid specialists.

We will follow the action live here on chess24 - don't miss it.