World Chess Championship 2008
World Champion Viswanathan Anand defends his title against Vladimir Kramnik in a 12 game match (rapid and blitz tie-breaks if the match finishes 6-6) in Bonn, Germany, October 14th– 2nd November, 2008. The main sponsor is Evonik Industries AG and the prizemoney 1,5 Million Euro.
World Chess Championship Game-1:
Kramnik, V - Anand, V.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5
IM Malcolm Pein: The Exchange Slav, predictably solid for the first game. Also it suits Kramnik's solid style and frustrates Anand's natural attacking instincts
4...cxd5 5.Bf4 Nc6 6.e3
IM Malcolm Pein: This keeps the option of Nge2 or answering Bc8-g4 with f2-f3
6...Bf5 7.Nf3
IM Malcolm Pein: But now this is just the best move according to theory
7...e6 8.Qb3
IM Malcolm Pein: White exploits the absence of the bishop from c8
8...Bb4 9.Bb5 O-O
IM Malcolm Pein: An important moment, Black stops copying White's moves. Of course doing that for too long always loses
10.Bxc6
10.O-O IM Malcolm Pein: Is the most common move now let's look at a typical example of how White can keep a small edge in a quiet position} 10...Bxc3 11.Bxc6 Bxb2 12.Bxb7 Bxa1 13.Rxa1 Rc8 14.Bxc8 Qxc8 15.Qa3 Qb7 16.Rc1 Rc8 17.Rxc8+ Qxc8 18.Ne5 Nd7 19.Nxd7 Qxd7 20.Qa6 {IM Malcolm Pein: and Black's queen is restricted. White now used his move active queen in combination with the bishop and played Bf4-b8 x a7 and won in Malakhov-Ivanchuk FIDE World Cup 2002}
10...Bxc3+ 11.Qxc3 Rc8
IM Malcolm Pein: Black avoids the loss of a pawn by pinning the bishop but White can use the tempo it takes Black to recapture. Note how White dominates the dark squares because his bishop is unchallenged
12.Ne5 Ng4
12...bxc6 13.Nxc6 Qe8
IM Malcolm Pein: Wins the knight but White would not take the pawn. He would just lay siege to the weak c6 pawn on the open c file}
13.Nxg4 Bxg4 14.Qb4
IM Malcolm Pein: Black has a choice, submit to the weak pawn on c6 by taking back with the pawn or sacrifice the b pawn
14...Rxc6 15.Qxb7 Qc8
IM Malcolm Pein: Anand can see he will get active pieces and complete control of the only open file in return for the sacrificed pawn. Also the opposite coloured bishops tend to make endgames drawish
16.Qxc8 Rfxc8 17.O-O
IM Malcolm Pein: Kramnik's 14.Qb4 was a new move at the top level. What Anand has to worry about here is that Kramnik has analysed this move extensively with a computer. Computers love extra pawns and they show us how to hang on to them
17...a5
IM Malcolm Pein: This is a typical kind of move in a situation where there is a 2 pawn v 1 pawn majority. Anand wants to prevent the a2 and b2 pawns moving forward.} IM Malcolm Pein: It's interesting that Kramnik is thinking at this juncture. I would have though this was still home analysis
17...Rc2 18.b3 IM Malcolm Pein: was the obvious move but after f2-f3 White might try and organise Bd6-c5 which the rook on c6 prevents.
18.f3
IM Malcolm Pein: A move which increases the dynamism of White's kingside pawns, e3-e4 may be possible later and g2-g4. Also the second rank can be defended with Rf1-f2
18.f3 Bf5 19.h4 h5 20.Rf2 f6 21.Re1 Bg6 {Rybka 2.2: (+=0.29)}
18...Bf5 19.Rfe1
IM Malcolm Pein: Now e3-e4 may be on the agenda. This kind of position is perfect for Kramnik while Anand must be careful and this adds to the psychological pressure. Kramnik rarely takes risks but this kind of position is almost completely without risk
19...Bg6
IM Malcolm Pein: Anticipating the e3-e4 thrust. Black should centralise his king next and put it on d7. Note that White cannot centralise his king yet IM Malcolm Pein: 20.Kf2 Rc2+ 21.Re2 Rxe2+ 22.Kxe2 Rc2+ regaining the pawn IM Malcolm Pein: Anand anticipated e3-e4 last move so Kramnik anticipates Rc2 which now will not attack the b2 pawn
20.b3 f6
IM Malcolm Pein: OK Vlad, how are you going to improve your position.
World Chess Championship Game-1:
Kramnik, V - Anand, V.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5
IM Malcolm Pein: The Exchange Slav, predictably solid for the first game. Also it suits Kramnik's solid style and frustrates Anand's natural attacking instincts
4...cxd5 5.Bf4 Nc6 6.e3
IM Malcolm Pein: This keeps the option of Nge2 or answering Bc8-g4 with f2-f3
6...Bf5 7.Nf3
IM Malcolm Pein: But now this is just the best move according to theory
7...e6 8.Qb3
IM Malcolm Pein: White exploits the absence of the bishop from c8
8...Bb4 9.Bb5 O-O
IM Malcolm Pein: An important moment, Black stops copying White's moves. Of course doing that for too long always loses
10.Bxc6
10.O-O IM Malcolm Pein: Is the most common move now let's look at a typical example of how White can keep a small edge in a quiet position} 10...Bxc3 11.Bxc6 Bxb2 12.Bxb7 Bxa1 13.Rxa1 Rc8 14.Bxc8 Qxc8 15.Qa3 Qb7 16.Rc1 Rc8 17.Rxc8+ Qxc8 18.Ne5 Nd7 19.Nxd7 Qxd7 20.Qa6 {IM Malcolm Pein: and Black's queen is restricted. White now used his move active queen in combination with the bishop and played Bf4-b8 x a7 and won in Malakhov-Ivanchuk FIDE World Cup 2002}
10...Bxc3+ 11.Qxc3 Rc8
IM Malcolm Pein: Black avoids the loss of a pawn by pinning the bishop but White can use the tempo it takes Black to recapture. Note how White dominates the dark squares because his bishop is unchallenged
12.Ne5 Ng4
12...bxc6 13.Nxc6 Qe8
IM Malcolm Pein: Wins the knight but White would not take the pawn. He would just lay siege to the weak c6 pawn on the open c file}
13.Nxg4 Bxg4 14.Qb4
IM Malcolm Pein: Black has a choice, submit to the weak pawn on c6 by taking back with the pawn or sacrifice the b pawn
14...Rxc6 15.Qxb7 Qc8
IM Malcolm Pein: Anand can see he will get active pieces and complete control of the only open file in return for the sacrificed pawn. Also the opposite coloured bishops tend to make endgames drawish
16.Qxc8 Rfxc8 17.O-O
IM Malcolm Pein: Kramnik's 14.Qb4 was a new move at the top level. What Anand has to worry about here is that Kramnik has analysed this move extensively with a computer. Computers love extra pawns and they show us how to hang on to them
17...a5
IM Malcolm Pein: This is a typical kind of move in a situation where there is a 2 pawn v 1 pawn majority. Anand wants to prevent the a2 and b2 pawns moving forward.} IM Malcolm Pein: It's interesting that Kramnik is thinking at this juncture. I would have though this was still home analysis
17...Rc2 18.b3 IM Malcolm Pein: was the obvious move but after f2-f3 White might try and organise Bd6-c5 which the rook on c6 prevents.
18.f3
IM Malcolm Pein: A move which increases the dynamism of White's kingside pawns, e3-e4 may be possible later and g2-g4. Also the second rank can be defended with Rf1-f2
18.f3 Bf5 19.h4 h5 20.Rf2 f6 21.Re1 Bg6 {Rybka 2.2: (+=0.29)}
18...Bf5 19.Rfe1
IM Malcolm Pein: Now e3-e4 may be on the agenda. This kind of position is perfect for Kramnik while Anand must be careful and this adds to the psychological pressure. Kramnik rarely takes risks but this kind of position is almost completely without risk
19...Bg6
IM Malcolm Pein: Anticipating the e3-e4 thrust. Black should centralise his king next and put it on d7. Note that White cannot centralise his king yet IM Malcolm Pein: 20.Kf2 Rc2+ 21.Re2 Rxe2+ 22.Kxe2 Rc2+ regaining the pawn IM Malcolm Pein: Anand anticipated e3-e4 last move so Kramnik anticipates Rc2 which now will not attack the b2 pawn
20.b3 f6
IM Malcolm Pein: OK Vlad, how are you going to improve your position.
IM Malcolm Pein: White cannot contest the c file he cannot play Rc1
21.e4
IM Malcolm Pein: It was hard to see another active idea} {IM Malcolm Pein: Black must be careful, if he takes on e4 then White recaptures with the pawn and d4-d5 making a passed pawn looks good as it reaches a protected square on d6 quickly} {IM Malcolm Pein: I am a little surprised by this but on further investigation I guess we will see that Anand has worked out a way to attack these centre pawns}
21...dxe4
22.fxe4 Rd8 23. Rad1 Rc2
21.e4
IM Malcolm Pein: It was hard to see another active idea} {IM Malcolm Pein: Black must be careful, if he takes on e4 then White recaptures with the pawn and d4-d5 making a passed pawn looks good as it reaches a protected square on d6 quickly} {IM Malcolm Pein: I am a little surprised by this but on further investigation I guess we will see that Anand has worked out a way to attack these centre pawns}
21...dxe4
22.fxe4 Rd8 23. Rad1 Rc2
