[Event "World-ch Anand-Topalov +3-2=7"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2010.04.24"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D87"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "L'Ami,E"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2010.04.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{The first game is of course always a tense affair. Months of preparations
culminate to this moment. Would Vishy stick to the Grunfeld, which he employed
so regularly over the past year? Or was he just hiding his real intentions?} 1.
d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 {Apearantly not!} 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7
7. Bc4 {Re-opening the discussion which was thought to be closed after the
Kamsky-Topalov match. In that match Veselin switched from 7.Bc4 (game 1) to 4.
Qb3 (game 3) before realizing that 1.e4! (games 5 and 7) refutes Grunfeld
altogether.} c5 8. Ne2 {Protecting the centre from e2 so that Bg4 can be
answered with f2-f3.} Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Na5 ({Two weeks later Vishy opted
for} 10... b6 $5 {but instead of} 11. dxc5 Qc7 {which gives Black normal
compensation, Veselin played the consolidating moves Qd2, Rac1 and Rfd1 and
obtained a pleasant position.}) 11. Bd3 b6 12. Qd2 e5 13. Bh6 cxd4 14. Bxg7
Kxg7 15. cxd4 exd4 16. Rac1 ({We thought this would come as a small suprise
but since Vishy replied more or less instantly this wasn't the case. Against
Kamsky, the game continued} 16. f4 f6 17. e5 Bd7 $5 {and Black was fine because
} 18. Nxd4 Nc6 {offers White no hopes for an advantage. This reveals one of
the points behind White's last move; both ...f6 and ...Bd7 look strange here,
and in the meantime White takes the c-file.}) 16... Qd6 $5 ({A logical novelty,
while preparing moves such as Nc6 and Bd7 the queen also controls the
e5-square.} 16... Bb7 {was played by Carlsen two years ago but it leaves the
Black king a bit vulnerable against the upcoming f4-f5.}) 17. f4 f6 18. f5 Qe5
{Both players were still blitzing their moves! By now the adreneline level
started to rise rapidly within our camp since we had considered Black's last
move to be very risky.} 19. Nf4 g5 20. Nh5+ Kg8 ({A difficult choice!} 20...
Kh8 {clears g8 for the rook but may not be better than the text.} {After} 21.
h4 Rg8 {White can continue his attack with the brutal} 22. Nxf6 $5 (22. Qe1 {
also deserves attention, threatening Nxf6 followed by e5, and if this is not
working than hxg5 followed by Qh4 looks attractive as well.}) 22... Qxf6 23. e5
Qxe5 24. f6 Be6 ({even without queens the black king can be in danger;} 24...
Qe3+ 25. Qxe3 dxe3 26. Rc7 $1) 25. f7 Rgf8 26. Rce1 Qd5 (26... Qd6 27. Rf6 {
wins the piece back with ongoing attack.}) 27. Be4 Nc4 28. Qf2 Rxf7 (28... Qd8
29. Bd5 $3 {is a nice move on the interference-theme; 29...Bxd5 gives up
control over the d4-square while 29...Qxd5 gives up f6.}) 29. Bxd5 Rxf2 30.
Bxa8 Rxf1+ 31. Rxf1 $1 (31. Kxf1 Ne3+ 32. Kf2 gxh4 33. Re2 Kg7 34. Rd2 Nf5 {
should be a draw.}) 31... d3 32. Rf8+ Kg7 33. Rd8 {and although this is a very
interesting ending I am sure the editor wont be happy if I continue analysing
it. In any case it's clearly not pleasant for Black.}) 21. h4 h6 22. hxg5 hxg5
23. Rf3 Kf7 $2 ({From various sources I read that Black could have saved his
skin with} 23... Bd7 24. Rg3 Rac8 {however, this runs into the powerfull} 25.
Nxf6+ Qxf6 26. Re1 $1 {once again preparing e5, while} Rc3 27. Rxg5+ Kf7 28. e5
Rxd3 29. Qf4 $1 {with e6 to follow, is another important point. A better
alternative, now that 23...Bd7 24.Rg3 has been included, is to move the king
to f7. After the more or less forced line 24...Kf7 25.Bc4+ Nxc4 26.Rxc4 Rh8 27.
Rxd4 Be8 28.Rd7+ Kf8 I have been unable to find a win for White but I wouldn't
be suprised if it's there for the taking.}) 24. Nxf6 $1 {We have entered a new
era in chess where it is possible to win a game by doing your homework, and
doing it well. I wonder what thoughts Steinitz and Lasker would have on all of
this?} Kxf6 ({Or} 24... Qxf6 25. Rh3 {and despite having many moves all of
them fall short;} Bd7 (25... Ke8 26. e5 $1) (25... Kg8 26. Rh5 $1) (25... Bb7
26. e5 $1 Qxe5 27. Rh7+ Kf6 28. Re1) 26. Rh7+ Ke8 27. e5 $1) 25. Rh3 Rg8 (25...
Qf4 26. e5+ $1 {clears the road to Black's king} Kxe5 27. Qe2+ Kd5 28. Rf1 {
winning heavy material.}) 26. Rh6+ Kf7 27. Rh7+ Ke8 28. Rcc7 {A remarkable
picture!} Kd8 29. Bb5 $1 {Finishing the game in style! The bishop cannot be
taken and at the same time Qxc7 is prevented.} Qxe4 (29... a6 30. Rce7 $1 Qc5 {
loses elegantly too -amongst others-} 31. Qxg5 $1) 30. Rxc8+ ({Black resigned,
he is a piece down after} 30. Rxc8+ Kxc8 31. Qc1+ Nc6 32. Bxc6 Qe3+ 33. Qxe3
dxe3 34. Bxa8 {. Obviously, after this first game spirits where high in our
team. What could possibly go wrong?}) 1-0

[Event "World-ch Anand-Topalov +3-2=7"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2010.04.25"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2010.04.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 {Anand allows the Queen's Indian - if he played} (3.
g3 {directly, he would have to reckon with a possible transposition to the
Benoni with} c5 {see Aronian-Topalov, Linares 2010 (CBM 135).}) 3... d5 4. g3 {
While closed games did bring Anand success in Bonn 2008 and Topalov certainly
expected 1.d4, the Catalan until now figured only in a few Anand's blitz games.
Running a bit ahead, it seems a psychologically astute choice - Topalov
usually strives for the initiative from the beginning, while in the Catalan
most of Black's ambitious choices are connected with taking a P and holding on
to it, while trying to survive White's initiative. As we saw in numerous games
earlier (For example in Game 1, or Topalov-Kramnik, Wijk aan Zee 2008 to name
a few), Topalov is more comfortable with sacrificing material himself, than
defending. This game offers further proof.} dxc4 {The most solid moves are} (
4... Be7 {and}) (4... Bb4+ {Topalov most often played the latter move and
turned to it in Game 7, albeit even then he connected it with an attractive
sacrificial concept.}) 5. Bg2 a6 {If MegaBase is complete, Topalov previously
played this only once. Possibly he was counting on the effect of surprise and
in a sense this calculation paid off to certain extent - Anand's play in the
transition from the opening to the middlegame wasn't quite ideal (see move 15).
However, the general character of the resulting positions will still fit him
fine enough.} 6. Ne5 ({A more usual continuation is the pawn sacrifice} 6. O-O
$5 b5 ({After} 6... Nc6 {White has recently been successful with} 7. Bg5 $5 Be7
8. e3 Nd5 (8... Bd7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Rc1 Rb8 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. Ne4 b5 13. b3 $44
Be7 14. bxc4 bxc4 15. Rxc4 Nb4 16. a4 Qe8 17. Nc3 Nc6 18. d5 exd5 19. Nxd5 Bd6
20. Qc2 $36 {1-0 Grischuk,A (2733)-Potkin,V (2619)/Villarrobledo rpd/2009/}) 9.
Bxe7 Ncxe7 (9... Qxe7 10. Qc1 Nb6 11. Nfd2 Qb4 12. a3 Qb5 13. Nc3 Qf5 14. Nce4
e5 15. Nxc4 Nxc4 16. Qxc4 exd4 17. Nd6+ cxd6 18. Bxc6+ Ke7 19. Bd5 Be6 20. Qc7+
Kf6 21. e4 Qh5 22. Qxd6 Rhd8 23. Qf4+ Ke7 24. Qc7+ Kf8 25. Rfd1 Rac8 26. Qxb7
Bxd5 27. Qb4+ Kg8 28. Qxd4 $18 {Landa,K (2655)-Vallejo Pons,F (2696)/Lugo/2009/
}) 10. Ne5 (10. a4 Rb8 $13) 10... b5 11. b3 cxb3 12. axb3 O-O 13. Qc2 Bb7 14.
Nd3 Qd6 15. Qb2 Qb6 16. e4 Nf6 17. Nc5 Rfd8 18. Nc3 Bc6 19. b4 Be8 20. e5 Nfd5
21. Nxd5 Nxd5 22. Ra5 $14 {Pelletier,Y (2589)-Fressinet,L (2658)/EU-chT Novi
Sad/2009/}) 7. Ne5 Nd5 8. a4 (8. e4 Nf6 9. a4 Bb7 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8
12. Nc3 c6 13. Bf4 ({More principled is} 13. d5 $5 {recommended also by Avrukh
in his acclaimed repetoire book. His main line runs} Be7 14. dxe6 fxe6 15. Qe2
O-O 16. Bh3 Qc8 17. Nf3 Na6 18. Ng5 Nc7 19. Bf4 Nfe8 20. Rd1 $5 $146 Bb7 21.
Qe3 h6 22. Nf3 Na6 23. Ne5 Nec7 24. Ng6 Bc5 25. Qd2 Rf6 26. Ne5 $44) 13... Be7
14. Qa1 Nbd7 15. d5 Nxe5 16. Bxe5 cxd5 17. exd5 Bxd5 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Bxd5
exd5 20. Re1+ Kf8 21. Qa3+ Be7 22. Qa7 g6 23. Nxb5 d4 {1/2,Radjabov,T (2656)
-Topalov,V (2735)/Linares/2004/ is the game I mentioned above.}) 8... Bb7 9. b3
{Therefore Black tries to keep the position closed with} c3 (9... cxb3 10. Qxb3
$32 ({or} 10. axb5 $5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Qxb3 $44 {is considered risky for
Black due to White's lead in development.})) 10. e4 {and now:} {A better
chance is} b4 $5 ({After} 10... Nf6 {the critical move is} 11. Nxc3 $1 (11.
axb5 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. Nxc3 b4 $132 {and even forcing play doesn't give
White an advantage:} 14. Nb5 c6 15. d5 $5 cxb5 16. dxe6 Qxd1 17. exf7+ Ke7 18.
Rxd1 Bxe4 $1 19. Bxe4 Nxe4 20. Re1 Nc5 21. Ng6+ Kxf7 22. Nxh8+ Kg8 23. Re8 Nbd7
24. Bd2 Kxh8 25. Bxb4 Kg8 $11 {Hera,I (2526)-Pavasovic,D (2601)/Nova Gorica/
2008/}) 11... b4 12. Na2 Nbd7 (12... Bxe4 $2 13. Bxe4 Nxe4 14. Qf3 f5 15. Qh5+
$18) 13. Bf4 $1 Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Nxe4 $6 (14... Nd7 $142 15. Bf4 Be7 16. Rc1 c5
17. dxc5 $36) 15. Rc1 Rc8 16. Qe1 f5 17. Nxb4 c5 18. Nd3 cxd4 19. Rxc8 Qxc8 20.
Bxd4 Qd7 21. Qa1 Bd6 22. Bxg7 Rg8 23. Bh6 Bxg3 24. hxg3 Qxd3 25. Qe5 $16 {
/+-,Inarkiev,E (2676)-Naiditsch,A (2700)/Poikovsky/2009/}) 11. exd5 Bxd5 12.
Qh5 g6 13. Qh3 c6 $5 (13... Bg7 $6 14. Nxc3 $1 bxc3 15. Ba3 Bf8 16. Bxf8 Rxf8
17. Rac1 Ra7 18. Rxc3 Bxg2 19. Qxg2 Qxd4 20. Re3 Ke7 21. Qh3 $40 {Buturin,
V-Novikov,I (2500)/USSR/1986/}) {, but even here White is better after} 14. Be3
Bg7 15. Rc1 O-O 16. Nxc3 bxc3 17. Rxc3 Qa5 18. Rac1 $14 {Peto,P (2095)-Dutra
Neto,A (1972)/corr/2001/}) 6... c5 ({Black can also deviate with} 6... Bb4+ 7.
Nc3 Nd5 {, but he must reckon with} 8. O-O $5 ({Kramnik's attempt to improve
upon} 8. Bd2 b5 9. O-O Bxc3 10. bxc3 O-O $13) 8... O-O ({Nobody has yet tried
the risky (or foolhardy?), but perhaps playable} 8... Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bxc3 10. Rb1
Qxd4 11. Qa4+ b5 12. Qa3 Qxe5 13. Bf4 Qf6 14. Bxc7 $5 Be5 15. Bxe5 Qxe5 16.
Bxa8 Qc7 $13 {/\Qe7,Nd7-c5}) 9. Qc2 b5 {An interesting try is} 10. Be4 $5 (10.
Nxd5 exd5 11. b3 c6 12. e4 f6 13. exd5 $5 fxe5 14. bxc4 exd4 15. dxc6 {leads
to a draw almost by force after} Qd6 $1 (15... Be6 $6 16. cxb5 d3 17. c7 Qd4
18. Qa4 Nd7 19. Be3 Qd6 20. Bxa8 Rxa8 {Kramnik,V (2769)-Morozevich,A (2758)/
WCh Mexico City/2007/} 21. Rac1 $1 $18) 16. c7 d3 17. Qb3 bxc4 18. Qxc4+ Be6
19. Bf4 Bxc4 20. Bxd6 Bxd6 21. Rac1 Ra7 22. cxb8=Q Bxb8 23. Rxc4 Rd7 24. Rd1
Ba7 25. Rd2 Bxf2+ $11 {1/2,Winkler,T (2619)-Nasybullin,V (2605)/corr/2007/})
10... Bb7 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. Bxh7+ Kh8 13. Be4 Qe8 14. Bg2 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Nd7 16.
Nf3 e5 17. b3 exd4 18. Nxd4 Qe5 {Gelfand,B (2755)-Morozevich,A (2751)/Biel/
2009/ Here Marin recommends} 19. Rd1 $5 Nb6 20. Bb2 $14 {[%csl Gg2,Rh8] White
is somewhat better due to his safer K.}) 7. Na3 $5 {[%mdl 512] With this move
White goes for a gambit after all!} ({The alternative is} 7. Be3 Nd5 8. dxc5 {
Black's best is} Nd7 $1 (8... Nxe3 $6 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. fxe3 Ke8 11. c6 bxc6
12. Nxc4 a5 13. Kf2 Ra6 14. Nbd2 Nd7 15. Rac1 Ke7 16. Rhd1 g6 17. Nb3 $16 {
Wang Yue (2734)-Savchenko,B (2644)/WCup Khanty Mansiysk/2009/}) 9. Bd4 Nxe5 10.
Bxe5 f6 ({Interesting is also} 10... Bxc5 $5 11. Bxg7 Rg8 12. Bc3 Qc7 13. e4 $2
(13. e3 $11) (13. Bxd5 $5 exd5 14. Qxd5 Be6 15. Qh5 O-O-O 16. Nd2 $13) 13...
Nf4 14. Bf1 b5 15. Nd2 Bxf2+ $1 16. Kxf2 Qc5+ 17. Kf3 e5 18. h3 Nh5 19. g4 f5
$1 $40 20. Qe1 fxg4+ 21. Ke2 g3 22. b4 cxb3 23. Nxb3 Nf4+ {0-1,Erbe,U (2240)
-Makovsky,P (2457)/corr/2005/}) 11. Bd4 Bxc5 12. Bxc5 Qa5+ 13. Nc3 (13. Nd2
Qxc5 14. Rc1 b5 15. b3 Bb7 16. O-O Ne3 $1 17. fxe3 Qxe3+ 18. Rf2 Bxg2 19. Kxg2
Rd8 20. Rc2 c3 21. Rf3 Rxd2 22. Rxe3 Rxd1 23. Rexc3 Ke7 24. Rc6 Rd6 25. Rc7+
Rd7 26. R7c6 Rd6 27. Rc7+ {1/2,Ivanchuk,V-Kuporosov,V/USSR/1986}) 13... Nxc3
14. Qd6 Nd5+ $5 (14... Nb5+ 15. Bb4 $44 {/+/=}) 15. Kf1 Kf7 16. Bxd5 exd5 17.
Qxd5+ Be6 18. Qxb7+ Kg6 {1/2,Kund,W (2239)-Overton,D (2288)/corr/2004/ Here
White can give a perpetual, continuing the fight} 19. Qb4 Qc7 $44 {[%csl Rf1]
עf1 is not without risk}) 7... cxd4 8. Naxc4 Bc5 ({Another continuation is
the attempt to quickly develop the Bc8, countering the pressure on the /^h1-a8:
} 8... Ra7 {/\b5} 9. Bd2 (9. a4 b6 $13) 9... b6 10. O-O (10. Qb3 Bb7 11. Bxb7
Rxb7 12. O-O (12. Na5 Ra7 $5 (12... Rc7 13. Qxb6 Bc5 14. Qb3 O-O 15. O-O Qd5 (
15... Ne4 $5 $132) 16. Qxd5 Nxd5 17. Rfc1 Rfc8 18. Nd3 Bb6 19. Rxc7 Rxc7 20.
Rc1 Rxc1+ 21. Nxc1 Kf8 22. Nc4 Ba7 23. Nd3 $14 {Bykhovsky,A (2445)-Kaidanov,G 
(2345)/Irkutsk/1983/}) 13. O-O Ne4 $1 14. Qa4+ b5 15. Qc2 Nxd2 16. Qxd2 Qd5 17.
Nf3 Bc5 18. Nb3 Bb6 (18... O-O 19. Nxc5 Qxc5 20. Rfc1 Qd5 21. Qxd4 Qxd4 22.
Nxd4 Rd7 23. Nb3 Rfd8 24. f3 Kf8 25. Kf2 $14 {Dizdar,G (2545)-Novikov,I (2590)/
Luzern WChT/1997/}) 19. Nfxd4 Rd7 $11) 12... Bc5 13. Bb4 Qe7 14. Bxc5 Qxc5 15.
Qf3 Rc7 $5 (15... Re7 16. b4 $1 {/\} Qxb4 17. Nd3 Qxc4 18. Rfc1 Qxc1+ 19. Rxc1
O-O {Wojtkiewicz,A (2554)-Van Wely,L (2647)/Ledyards/2006/} 20. Ne5 $14) 16.
Rfc1 b5 17. Nd3 Qe7 18. Nce5 O-O 19. Rxc7 Qxc7 20. Rc1 Qb6 21. a3 Nd5 22. Qe4
Rd8 23. h4 h6 $44 {1/2,Pavlovic,M (2520)-Perunovic,M (2579)/Zlatibor/2008/
Here White's pressure compensates for the missing P, but not more than that.})
10... Bb7 11. Bxb7 Rxb7 12. Rc1 Ne4 $5 (12... Bc5 13. b4 Be7 14. Be3 $5 O-O 15.
Bxd4 Bxb4 16. Bxb6 Qxd1 17. Rfxd1 Nbd7 18. Bd4 Rc7 19. Nd3 Be7 20. Nb6 Rb7 21.
Nc8 Ba3 22. Rc3 Bb2 23. Nxb2 Rxb2 {Van Wely,L (2625)-Robson,R (2455)/Moscow/
2009/} 24. Ne7+ Kh8 25. Rc8 $14) 13. Qc2 Nxd2 14. Nxd2 Bc5 15. b4 Bd6 16. Qe4
Rc7 17. Ndf3 O-O 18. Nxd4 Bxe5 19. Qxe5 Rd7 $1 20. e3 Rd5 21. Qc7 a5 22. bxa5
Rxa5 23. Qxd8 Rxd8 $11 {Tkachiev,V (2609)-Atalik,S (2560)/Moscow/2005/}) 9. O-O
O-O 10. Bd2 {[%cal Gg2b7,Gc4b6,Ge5c6] White's compensation is based on his
lead in development and << pressure. The text move is his most usual try, but
in Game 6 Anand came up with the almost unexplored} (10. Bg5 $5 h6 ({White's
idea is to prevent Black from closing the /^ h1-a8 with Nd5. Thus also} 10...
Nbd7 $5 {deserves attention, but White retains compensation after} 11. Rc1 $32)
11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. Nd3 Ba7 13. Qa4 (13. Na5 Nd7 $11) 13... Nc6 14. Rac1 (14.
Bxc6 $5 bxc6 15. Qxc6 Rb8 16. Nd6 e5 17. Nxc8 Rfxc8 18. Qe4 Qe6 19. f4 $14)
14... e5 15. Bxc6 b5 $5 16. Qc2 ({Being a point up, Anand has no reason to go
for} 16. Bxb5 axb5 17. Qxb5 e4 $44) 16... Qxc6 17. Ncxe5 Qe4 18. Qc6 Bb7 19.
Qxe4 Bxe4 20. Rc2 Rfe8 21. Rfc1 f6 22. Nd7 Bf5 23. N7c5 Bb6 (23... Bxc5 $5 24.
Rxc5 Bxd3 25. exd3 Re2 26. R1c2 Rae8 27. Kf1 Rxc2 28. Rxc2 Kf7 {/\} 29. Rc5 Re5
30. Rc6 Re6 31. Rc7+ Re7 $11) 24. Nb7 Bd7 25. Nf4 (25. Nd6 Re6 26. Nc8 $5 $14 {
is a typical computer suggestion, Anand makes a more human choice.}) 25... Rab8
26. Nd6 Re5 27. Nc8 Ba5 28. Nd3 Re8 29. Na7 Bb6 30. Nc6 Rb7 31. Ncb4 a5 32. Nd5
a4 33. Nxb6 Rxb6 $11 {Anand,V (2787)-Topalov,V (2805)/WCh Sofia (6)/2010/}) (
10. Qb3 Nd5 11. Bd2 Nd7 12. Nd3 b6 $5 13. Rac1 Rb8 14. Nxc5 bxc5 15. Qa3 Bb7
16. Rfd1 Bc6 17. Ba5 Qg5 18. Bc7 Rb4 19. Bd6 Ra4 20. Qb3 Rb4 21. Qa3 Rc8 $5 22.
Nd2 Ra4 23. Qb3 Rb4 24. Qa3 Ra4 25. Qb3 Ra5 26. Nc4 Rb5 27. Qa3 Qd8 28. e3 {
1/2 Le Roux,J (2485)-Edouard,R (2597)/Nimes 2009/CBM 132 (41)} N5b6 $1 $36)
10... Nd5 ({It's too late for} 10... Ra7 $6 11. Ba5 $1 b6 12. b4 bxa5 13. bxc5
Rc7 14. Rb1 $36) (10... Nbd7 11. Nd3 $44 {/+/= causes Black more problems with
development.}) 11. Rc1 Nd7 (11... Qf6 $143 12. Nd3 Be7 $2 13. e4 $1 Nc7 14. Bf4
Nb5 15. e5 Qf5 16. Nb6 $18 {Gelfand,B (2703)-Aronian,L (2649)/Bastia rpd/ 2003/
}) (11... b5 $6 12. Nd3 Ba7 13. Ba5 $36) (11... b6 12. Qb3 (12. Nd3 Be7 13. Qb3
Nd7 14. e4 dxe3 15. Nxe3 N7f6 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Nf4 Bb7 18. Rfd1 Rc8 $11) (12.
e4 $5 dxe3 13. Bxe3 $44) 12... Nd7 13. Rfd1 a5 14. Qa4 Qc7 15. Bf4 Nxf4 16.
gxf4 Ra6 (16... Nxe5 17. Nxe5 f6 $5 18. Nd3 Bb7 $11) 17. Qc6 Qa7 18. Qb5 Nb8
19. Na3 Qe7 20. Nc2 f6 21. Nd3 Bd7 22. Qc4 Ra7 23. Nxd4 $36 {Gustafsson,J 
(2614)-Berkes,F (2619)/EU-chT Gothenburg/2005/}) 12. Nd3 Ba7 ({After} 12... b6
{White has more than one way to retain his |^:} 13. Na5 (13. Nxc5 bxc5 14. b4
$5 {/\} Rb8 15. bxc5 Nxc5 16. Na5 Rb5 17. Nc6 Qb6 18. Nxd4 $14) 13... Qf6 (
13... Re8 14. Nc6 (14. Qa4 $5 $36 {/\Nc6}) 14... Qf6 15. b4 Bb7 16. Nxc5 (16.
Na5 $6 bxa5 17. bxc5 Bc6 18. Bxa5 e5 19. Bxd5 Bxd5 20. Nb4 Bc6 21. Bc7 a5 22.
Nxc6 Qxc6 23. Bd6 Nf6 {Kiss,P (2435)-Beliavsky,A (2645)/HUN-chT/1999/} 24. Rb1
$132) 16... bxc5 17. Na5 $14) 14. Nb3 $5 (14. b4 Bd6 15. Nc4 Bb8 16. e4 dxe3
17. Nxe3 Bb7 18. Qb3 Ne5 19. Nxd5 Bxd5 20. Bxd5 exd5 21. Nxe5 Bxe5 22. a4 Rfd8
$17 {Kiss,P (2400)-Istratescu,A (2622)/HUN-chT/2005/}) 14... Rb8 15. Bxd5 exd5
16. Bf4 Rb7 17. Qd2 Qe7 18. Rc2 f6 19. h4 $1 $14 (19. Rfc1 g5 20. Nbxc5 bxc5
21. Nxc5 Nxc5 22. Rxc5 Bg4 $132)) (12... Be7 13. Nf4 $1 Nxf4 14. Bxf4 Nb6 15.
Be5 Bf6 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. e3 $5 $32 {|^}) 13. Ba5 (13. Na5 N7f6 14. Qb3 Rb8 15.
Rc2 Bd7 16. Rfc1 Bb5 17. a4 Bxd3 18. exd3 Re8 $11 {/=/+,Vidit,S (2356)
-Venkatesh,M (2462)/Nagpur/2008/ forces White's N to retreat from a5 without
achieving anything concrete.}) (13. Qb3 {[%cal Yc1c2,Yf1c1] /\Rc2, Rfc1<->c}
Nc5 14. Nxc5 Bxc5 15. Ba5 Qf6 $13) 13... Qe7 14. Qb3 Rb8 (14... h6 $5 {is
maybe more useful, than the text move. However, even here White has undeniable
compensation.}) 15. Qa3 $6 $146 {[%mdl 40] This shocking move initiates a
daring concept and was a product of longer thought. It clearly indicates
Anand's preparation was over and he was out on his own. However, it's hardly
the best choice.} ({As far as I know, this position has occurred only once in
previous practice and White played the straightforward} 15. Nce5 $5 Nxe5 16.
Nxe5 Qf6 (16... h6 $5 17. Nd3 Re8 $13) 17. Nd3 b6 $6 (17... Qf5 $142) 18. Bb4
Rd8 19. Bxd5 (19. Qa3 $5 e5 20. Bxd5 Rxd5 21. Rc7 $36) 19... Rxd5 20. Rc7 Bb7
$6 (20... Rd7 21. Qc2 Qd8 22. Rc1 $36) 21. Be7 Qf5 22. Rxb7 $1 (22. Qc2 $2 e5
23. Rc1 h6 24. Nb4 d3 $1 25. exd3 Rd7 $40 {Gulko,B (2559)-Shulman,Y (2606)/
USA-ch Tulsa/2008/}) 22... Rxb7 23. Qc4 Rc5 (23... Rb8 24. Qc7 $16) 24. Bxc5
bxc5 25. Qxa6 $14 (25. b4 $5 $36 {Grischuk,A (2756)-Khairullin,I (2617)
RUS-chT 17th 2010 (6) 1-0 This position reminds one of a recent game, in which
the blockading Nd3 also played a major and positive role, albeit in a
different Catalan line.})) ({Various annotators suggested alternatives such as
} 15. Rfd1 $44) (15. Rfe1 {[%cal Yg2d5,Yc4b6] /\Bd5,Nb6} b6 (15... b5 16. Nce5
Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Bb7 18. Nc6 Bxc6 19. Rxc6 Bb6 20. Bd2 $44) 16. Bb4 Nc5 $132) (15.
Rc2 $5 $44 {has the same idea of protecting e2. Here} b6 $6 16. Bb4 Nc5 {
runs into} (16... Nxb4 17. Qxb4 $5 $14) 17. Bxd5 Qd8 $1 (17... exd5 $2 18. Nxb6
$1 $16) 18. Qa3 Qxd5 19. Nxb6 Bxb6 20. Bxc5 Bb7 21. f3 $36) 15... Qxa3 16. bxa3
(16. Nxa3 $5 {was not Anand's intention, but objectively it's at least no
worse than the text move.}) 16... N7f6 $6 ({Topalov's reaction is not ideal,
after the universally recommended} 16... Nc5 17. Nd6 b6 $15 {it's White, who
is fighting for equality.} (17... Nxd3 18. exd3 b6 19. Nxc8 Rbxc8 20. Bxd5 exd5
21. Bb4 $11 {leads to a drawish _|_, the doubled extra P doesn't play a big
role.})) 17. Nce5 Re8 18. Rc2 b6 {Chases away the nagging Ba5, but restricts
the Ba7.} 19. Bd2 Bb7 20. Rfc1 Rbd8 21. f4 $44 {White controls the <->c and
the [+] and has again reasonable compensation. Objectively the situation is
roughly balanced, but Topalov still feels he should play for more than
equality with his extra P and gradually his position starts to deteriorate. In
the following phase Anand inconspicuously, but completely outplays his
opponent.} (21. a4 $44) 21... Bb8 (21... b5 22. Nc6 Bxc6 23. Rxc6 Bb6 24. Bf3
$44 {^^}) 22. a4 a5 ({Black still wants more than} 22... Rc8 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 24.
Rxc8+ Bxc8 25. Nc6 Bc7 (25... Bd6 26. Nxd4 $11 {[%cal Re2e5] /+/=,/\e4-e5}) 26.
Nxd4 Bd7 27. e4 Ne7 28. Nb4 b5 29. axb5 (29. Nxa6 Bb6 $17) 29... Bb6 30. Bc3
Bxb5 $11) 23. Nc6 {Rules out the possibility of Ba6.} Bxc6 24. Rxc6 h5 {
Striving to keep the tension, Black starts to lose thread.} (24... e5 25. fxe5
Bxe5 26. R1c4 Nc3 27. Bxc3 (27. Bf3 Nd7 $15) 27... dxc3 28. Nxe5 Rxe5 29. Bf3
$11) (24... h6 $5 {was also more solid, than the text-move - here the h-pawn
won't be en prise.}) 25. R1c4 (25. Bf3 $5) 25... Ne3 $6 {Topalov is still
unable to hit the brakes and his position starts sliding downhill - now White
will be already better.} (25... Ng4 $5 26. Bf3 (26. Rxd4 $2 {already allows}
Ba7 $17) 26... e5 $132) ({Engines mostly suggest the ugly} 25... Ba7 $13 {
and this is also better, than the text move. Although it puts the B on a funny
square, it enables Ne7-f5, later Bb8 can follow once again.}) 26. Bxe3 dxe3 27.
Bf3 ({Anand feels his opponent's indecision and refrains from} 27. Rxb6 $5 $14
{/\} Rxd3 $6 28. exd3 e2 29. Rb1 Ba7+ 30. d4 $16) 27... g6 $6 {This rules out
e5.} (27... Rd6 28. Rxd6 Bxd6 29. Rc6 $14) (27... h4 $5 28. Rxb6 hxg3 (28... h3
{strives to create back-rank tactical chances, but after} 29. Rb5 e5 30. fxe5
Rxe5 31. Rc1 $5 $16 {White's << play is more dangerous.}) 29. hxg3 e5 30. fxe5
Nd7 $14 {/<=>}) (27... Nd7 28. Bxh5 g6 29. Bf3 f5 30. Kg2 $14) 28. Rxb6 Ba7 (
28... Re7 $142 $5 $14 {still holds on to the ><a5.}) 29. Rb3 $1 (29. Rb7 Rxd3
30. Rxa7 Rd2 31. Rcc7 Rf8 32. Rxa5 Nd5 $14 {/<=> Anand wants to take the P
under better circumstances.}) 29... Rd4 {Better tries were} (29... h4) ({or} 
29... Re7 $5) 30. Rc7 Bb8 31. Rc5 Bd6 (31... Rxa4 $2 32. Bc6 $18) 32. Rxa5 Rc8
33. Kg2 Rc2 34. a3 Ra2 $6 {This quickly loses by force.} (34... Kg7 35. Ra7 $16
{/+-}) ({The more resilient} 34... Nd5 $5 {was Black's last chance:} 35. Ra8+ (
35. Bxd5 Rxe2+ $1 (35... Rxd5 36. Rxd5 exd5 37. Kf3 Ra2 38. Nb4 $18) 36. Kf3
Rxh2 37. Kxe3 Rxd5 38. Rxd5 exd5 39. a5 Ra2 40. a6 Bxa3 41. a7 Bf8 42. Rb7 Ra4
$14) (35. Kh3 $16) 35... Kg7 36. a5 $16) 35. Nb4 $1 $18 {Now Black must either
take, or leave the <->a. In both cases the game is over.} Bxb4 (35... Ra1 $2
36. Nc2 $18) (35... Rxa3 $2 36. Rxa3 Bxb4 37. Ra8+ $18) (35... Rad2 36. Ra8+
Kg7 37. a5 $18 {is equally hopeless.}) 36. axb4 Nd5 37. b5 Raxa4 38. Rxa4 Rxa4
39. Bxd5 exd5 40. b6 Ra8 41. b7 Rb8 42. Kf3 d4 43. Ke4 1-0

[Event "World-ch Anand-Topalov +3-2=7"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2010.04.27"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2010.04.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 {After an opening catastrophe in game one, Anand made his choice in
favour of a more solid Slav Defence.} 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5
6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 c5 ({The main and much sharper line goes as follows:} 7... Bb4
8. e4 Bxe4 9. fxe4 Nxe4 10. Bd2 Qxd4 11. Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12. Qe2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Qd5+
14. Kc2 Na6 15. Nxc4 {and so on. White's king is not safe, but normally the
bishop is slightly superior to black's three extra pawns.}) 8. e4 Bg6 {Anand
is repeating the line that was employed also by Kramnik in the World
championship match in Elista 2006.} ({Another interesting line} 8... cxd4 9.
exf5 Bb4 10. Bxc4 dxc3 11. Qxd8+ Kxd8 {should be prepared carefully beforehand.
}) 9. Be3 cxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. Bxd4 Nfd7 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13. Bxc4 {White has
an advantage in space and normally can torture his opponent for quite some
time in this endgame. Black's main problem is the Bg6 which is out of play.
However, Anand obviously came well prepared, and doesn't mind suffering a bit.
After all, Black doesn't have any weaknesses, but needs to be careful and
patient. The overall statistics reflects the objective evaluation of this
position: few wins for White, most of the games were drawn, zero wins for
Black.} a6 14. Rc1 {Topalov deviates from his game against Kramnik.} (14. Ke2
Rg8 15. Rhd1 Rc8 16. b3 Bc5 17. a5 Ke7 18. Na4 Bb4 19. Nb6 Nxb6 20. Bxb6 f6 21.
Rd3 Rc6 22. h4 Rgc8 23. g4 Bc5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,V (2813)-Kramnik,V (2743)/
Elista 2006/CBM 115 (31)}) 14... Rg8 $1 $146 {A novelty, but the idea itself
isn't new. The rook protects the Pg7, so that the dark-squared bishop will be
developed.} (14... Rc8 15. Ne2 Bb4+ (15... Rg8 16. h4 h6 17. Kf2 Rc6 18. b4 $1
$16 {1-0 Gyimesi,Z (2610)-Bindrich,F (2512)/Germany 2008/CBM 124 (29)}) 16. Kf2
O-O 17. h4 h5 18. Nf4 Kh7 19. Rhd1 $14 {1/2-1/2 Mareco,S (2526)-El Debs,F 
(2480)/Campinas BRA 2010/The Week in Chess 794 (26)}) 15. h4 h6 16. Ke2 {
I tend to think that this is not the best square for the king.} (16. Kf2 {
I suggest this as an improvement. This move seems to me more flexible, as in
some variations White can use the e2 square for one of his minor pieces. This
idea can be seen if Black follows the same plan as in the game. For instance:}
Bd6 17. h5 (17. Ne2 Ke7 18. h5 Bh7 19. Ba2 f6 20. Be3 Rgc8 $11) 17... Bh7 18.
a5 Ke7 19. Na4 f6 20. Be2 $1 Rgc8 21. Bc3 {Blocking the c-file and preparing
toexert pressure along the d-file.} Bg8 22. Rhd1 $16 Bf7 $140 $2 23. Rxd6 $1
Kxd6 24. Bb4+ Ke5 25. Ke3 $18 {[%csl Re5][%cal Gf3f4] Obviously, Black's
defence can be improved along the way, but one thing is clear - this position
is not a piece of cake for the second player.}) 16... Bd6 17. h5 Bh7 18. a5 $1
{Fixing the queenside, and at the same time provoking Anand to go for the pawn.
} Ke7 {Declining the challenge, just following the general plan of development.
} (18... Bb4 {Now White obviously wouldn't like to play 19.Ra1, but has to be
ready to sacrifice the pawn and play for an initiative. To my mind he has two
interesting options.} 19. Nb5 $5 (19. Na4 Bxa5 20. b4 (20. Nc5 Nxc5 21. Bxc5
Bd8 22. Rhd1 {yields White sufficient compensation, but I fail to realse how
he can create any reasonable threat.}) 20... Bd8 21. b5 Bf6 22. Be3 Ke7 23.
Rhd1 Rgd8 24. Bd3 Rdc8 25. Rxc8 Rxc8 26. bxa6 bxa6 27. Bxa6 Rc2+ $11) 19...
axb5 20. Bxb5 {Here Black must be very careful.} Rxa5 $1 (20... Bxa5 $2 21. Bc5
$1 Rc8 22. Rhd1 Rc6 23. Ba3 $1 Ne5 24. Bd6 $1 f6 25. b4 Bd8 26. Bxe5 fxe5 27.
Bxc6+ bxc6 28. Rxc6 $18) (20... e5 $2 21. Bc5 $1 Bxc5 22. Rxc5 Ke7 23. Rc7 Rgd8
24. Rd1 Rxa5 25. Rdxd7+ Rxd7 26. Rxd7+ Kf6 27. Rxb7 $18) 21. Bxd7+ Kxd7 22.
Rhd1 Rb5 $1 (22... Ke7 $2 23. Rc7+ Ke8 24. Rxb7 Bc5 25. Rc1 Ra7 26. Rxa7 Bxa7
27. Bxa7 $18) 23. Bc5+ (23. Bb6+ $2 Ke7 $1 24. Rc7+ Kf6 25. Rxb7 Bc5 26. Bd8+
Rxd8 27. Rxb5 Bd4 $17) 23... Ke8 24. Bxb4 Rxb4 25. Rc7 Rxb2+ 26. Ke3 g6 27.
Rdd7 gxh5 28. Re7+ Kd8 29. Red7+ $11) 19. Na4 f6 20. b4 $1 Rgc8 (20... Bxb4 $6
{would have been risky as it opens too many lines for White's pieces.} 21. Rb1
Bxa5 22. Rxb7 Rgb8 23. Bc5+ Ke8 24. Rxb8+ Rxb8 25. Bd6 Rc8 26. Bxe6 Rc2+ 27.
Ke3 $14) 21. Bc5 (21. Nc5 Bxc5 (21... Nxc5 $6 22. bxc5 Bxc5 23. Bxe6 $1 Kxe6
24. Bxc5 {In spite of the opposite coloured bishops, White keeps winning
chances here as soon as rooks are on the board.}) 22. bxc5 Nxc5 23. Ba2 Nd7 {
White has a certain compensation for the pawn, but not more than that.}) 21...
Bxc5 22. bxc5 Rc7 {The safest.} (22... Rc6 $6 23. Rhd1 Rac8 (23... Nxc5 24. Bd5
exd5 25. exd5 Nxa4 26. dxc6 bxc6 27. Rxc6 {is bad for Black since his pieces
are discoordinated.}) 24. Rxd7+ $1 Kxd7 25. Nb6+ Rxb6 26. cxb6 Bg8 27. e5 $1
fxe5 28. Rd1+ Ke7 29. Bd3 Rc5 30. Be4 Rxa5 31. Rc1 $16 {[%csl Rb7,Yg8][%cal
Gc1c7]}) 23. Nb6 Rd8 24. Nxd7 (24. Bd5 $5 {is interesting from the aesthetic
point of view, but brings White nothing.} Ne5 (24... Nxc5 $6 25. Bxb7 $1 $14)
25. f4 Nd3 $1 26. Kxd3 exd5 27. f5 dxe4+ 28. Kxe4 Ke8 $1 29. g4 Re7+ 30. Kf4
Rd4+ 31. Kf3 Rd3+ $11) 24... Rdxd7 {Black has solved his problems. All he
needs to do is to bring the dreaming bishop into the game.} 25. Bd3 Bg8 {
Anand just follows his plan.} (25... f5 $1 {was a good alternative.} 26. c6
Rxc6 27. Rxc6 bxc6 28. Rb1 fxe4 29. fxe4 Rd4 30. Rb7+ Kf8 (30... Kf6 $4 31. e5+
Kxe5 32. Bxh7 $18) 31. Ke3 Ra4 32. Rb8+ Kf7 {Now White must give a perpetual
check, as he can't go for the bishop:} 33. Rh8 $2 Rxa5 34. Rxh7 Kg8 $19 {
[%csl Rh7]}) 26. c6 {Trying to get to the Pa6.} Rd6 $1 (26... bxc6 27. Rc5 $14
{[%csl Ra6][%cal Gh1b1,Gb1b6]}) 27. cxb7 Rxb7 28. Rc3 Bf7 29. Ke3 (29. Rhc1 {
was pointed out by some annotators as an improvement, but I doubt whether
White has real winning chances here. For instance:} Bxh5 (29... Be8 30. Rc7+
Rd7 31. Rxb7 Rxb7 32. Bxa6 Ra7 $11) 30. Rc7+ Rxc7 31. Rxc7+ Rd7 32. Rc8 (32.
Rxd7+ Kxd7 33. Bxa6 Kc6 34. Ke3 e5 $11) 32... Ra7 33. Rg8 g5 34. Rb8 Be8 35.
Rb6 Bd7 36. Rxa6 Rxa6 37. Bxa6 Kd6 $11) 29... Be8 30. g4 e5 31. Rhc1 Bd7 32.
Rc5 Bb5 $1 {The most direct way to solve Black's last problem - the Pa6. The
exchange of bishops leads to a drawish double rook ending.} 33. Bxb5 axb5 34.
Rb1 (34. Rc7+ Rd7 35. Rxb7 Rxb7 36. Kd3 Rd7+ $11) 34... b4 35. Rb3 Ra6 36. Kd3
Rba7 37. Rxb4 Rxa5 38. Rxa5 Rxa5 {Since Topalov decided not to offer or accept
draws, the only way is to force the three move repetition. Therefore, the game
continued a bit more.} 39. Rb7+ Kf8 40. Ke2 Ra2+ 41. Ke3 Ra3+ 42. Kf2 Ra2+ 43.
Ke3 Ra3+ 44. Kf2 Ra2+ 45. Ke3 Ra3+ 46. Kf2 {[%mdl 256]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Anand-Topalov +3-2=7"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2010.04.28"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2010.04.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Bb4+ {Topalov wisely deviates
from the variation that had led him to defeat in the previous game with Black.
Eperienced match players from the past took this as a golden rule. Even if the
position itself had been ok, it is better to avoid unpleasant memories. One
famous example about what can happen in the contrary case is the Candidates'
match between Spassky and Geller in 1968. The latter stubbornly played the
same line against the Closed Sicilian and lost the first 3 games with Black.
When he decided to operate a change, it was too late already: the match was
basically lost.} 6. Bd2 a5 7. Qc2 (7. Nc3 $5 O-O 8. a3 (8. Bg5 {Gelfand,B 
(2758)-Kramnik,V (2772)/Moscow 2009/CBM 133/[Marin,M] (1/2, 81)}) 8... Be7 {
0-1 Carlsen,M (2810)-Kramnik,V (2788)/Wijk aan Zee 2010/CBM 135/[Marin,M] (38)}
) (7. O-O $5 O-O 8. Bg5 {Ivanchuk,V (2740)-Alekseev,E (2711)/Foros 2008/CBM
125/[Marin,M] (1-0, 53)}) 7... Bxd2+ (7... Ra6 $5 {Marin,M (2551)-Kortschnoj,V
(2611)/Reggio Emilia 2008/CBM 122/[Marin,M] (1/2, 58)}) 8. Qxd2 {Previously to
this game, the text move was considered as a preliminary step to the queen's
activation to g5. As we will see, Anand will go a bit further with the
abstract understanding of this position.} c6 9. a4 b5 10. Na3 $5 $146 ({
Deviating from} 10. axb5 cxb5 11. Qg5 {Kramnik,V (2743)-Topalov,V (2813)/
Elista 2006/CBM 115/[Marin,M] (1-0, 75).  ***It appears that Anand considered
8.Qxd2 as the start of a general redistributing of forces. The knight is
employed for putting pressure on b5 and c4, while the queen will set up
pressure along the d-file (after 0-0 and Rfd1), maintaining the threat of Qg5
in reserve. Apart from being objectively strong, his novelty has the practical
advantage of leaving Black with a rather narrow choice, resulting in a
relative ease of predicting the next few moves during home analysis.}) 10...
Bd7 {There is nothing better than this awkward move, which places the bishop
in the way of its colleagues.} (10... Ba6 {leaves the c6-square vulnerable,
allowing} 11. Ne5 Nd5 12. Nxc6 Nxc6 13. axb5 $16 {White retrieves the pawn,
maintaining the better structure and a strong bishop.}) 11. Ne5 Nd5 {This is a
first critical moment. The knight move looks natural, but causes a big loss of
time, allowing White increase his domination in the centre. Besides, the
kingside defence is weakened, which will prove a decisive factor in the end.
Black had two other ways of removing the pin along the long diagonal.} (11...
Ra7 $6 12. axb5 cxb5 13. Nxd7 Qxd7 14. Qg5 {(We can see that White did not
give up the idea of the queen incursion completely; he only kept it in reserve
for a favourable moment!)} O-O 15. Qxb5 Qxd4 16. Rd1 Qg4 {(Sadly, the only
available square for the queen, leaving the left wing vulnerable.)} 17. Nxc4
$16 {Black will lose the a5-pawn, while his poor coordination prevents him
from getting enough counterplay.}) (11... Ra6 12. O-O (12. axb5 cxb5 13. Nxd7
Qxd7 14. Qg5 O-O 15. Qxb5 Qxd4 16. Nxc4 ({With the rook on a6,} 16. Rd1 {
is ineffective because of} Qb6 $1 {with complete simpilifications and a
probable draw after} 17. Qxb6 Rxb6 18. Nxc4 Rb4 19. Nxa5 Rxb2 $11) 16... Ne4 {
[%cal Ge4d6] (Hitting f2 and threatening to exchange the active white knight
with ...Nd6, which would more or less equalise.)} 17. e3 Qc5 18. Qxc5 Nxc5 {
. The a5-pawn is indirectly defended because of ...Nd3+ followed by ...Nxb2,
while otherwise Black seems more or less OK.}) 12... O-O 13. Rfd1 Be8 14. Rac1
$44 {Black is in no immediate danger yet, but it is far from clear, how he
will get to complete his development.}) 12. e4 Nb4 {The evaluation of this
move depends on the depth of the examination. Optically speaking, this looks
like a great square for the knight. Practically, it does not do much, failing
to defend Black's own pawn chain or put pressure on a4, in order to force the
releasing of the tension. Concrete analysis proves that Black could not play
the more desirable moves, though:} (12... Nb6 {attacks a4, more or less forcing
} 13. axb5 {, but this works out well for White because the knight is
vulnerable on b6:} cxb5 14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15. Qg5 Qxd4 (15... O-O {is relatively
better, with just a bad position after} 16. Qxb5 {, when} Qxd4 $2 {drops a
piece to} 17. Rd1 $18) 16. Rd1 Qf6 17. Qxb5+ N8d7 (17... N6d7 {loses a rook to}
18. e5 $18) 18. Nxc4 $18 {and one of the knights will be lost.}) ({***} 12...
Nc7 {would be a good consolidating move if Black could get castled in time, but
} 13. d5 $16 {In case of general exchanges, the f7-square and the a8-rook
would be forked by the queen. After the text move, the possibility of ...Nd3+
forces White to get castled before initiating active operations, but, as
mentioned before, the long term effects of the knight's presence on b4 are
unfavourable for Black.}) 13. O-O O-O 14. Rfd1 {White has completed his
development and all his pieces are placed on optimal squares. One may argue
that the queen's rook and knight could desire a better fate, but their latent
pressure against the b5-pawn and along the a-file is quite useful.
Anticipating a bit, it will not take long before these pieces will emerge into
play very effectively.} Be8 {Black evacuates the d-file anticipating the
central break.} (14... N8a6 $6 15. d5 $16) (14... Qe7 $5 15. Qe3 {renewing the
threat of d5.} Be8 16. d5 f6 (16... Qd6 17. Nxc6 N8xc6 18. dxc6 Qxc6 19. axb5
$16) 17. dxc6 (17. Nxc6 N8xc6 18. dxc6 bxa4 19. e5 $14) 17... fxe5 18. axb5
Bxc6 19. bxc6 N8xc6 20. Rac1 Nd4 21. Nxc4 $14 {Black's knights stand actively,
but they are not 100% stable, because both the a5 and the e5 pawns are weak.})
15. d5 $1 Qd6 (15... Qb6 16. dxe6 fxe6 17. Bh3 $44) (15... f6 16. dxc6 (16. Ng4
$36) 16... Qxd2 17. Rxd2 fxe5 18. axb5 Bxc6 19. bxc6 N8xc6 20. Nxc4 $14) 16.
Ng4 {[%cal Ge4e5]} (16. dxc6 $5 {also looks strong:} Qxe5 17. axb5 {Black's
queenside is paralysed and Black has to return the piece, but this will not
even the chances.} Bxc6 18. bxc6 N8xc6 19. Nxc4 Qc5 20. Qc3 {White has the
same kind of domination as at a later stage in the game. The a5-pawn is
vulnerable and the threat of e4-e5 followed by the occupation of the d6-square
quite annoying. In case of} e5 21. Rd7 $16 {, Black cannot fight for the
d-file with the help of the rooks, because this would cost him the a5-pawn.})
16... Qc5 17. Ne3 {The knight has reached a stable square, from where it
consolidates White's control over the d5-square and increases the pressure
against the c4-pawn.} N8a6 {Finally, Black has started developing. However,
this is not done in the optimal way. The knight would be so much more useful
closer to the d4-square, while on the edge of the board it is passive and
causes difficulties with keeping a5 well defended.} 18. dxc6 bxa4 {Black's
extra pawn on the a-file will not be too threatening in the middlegame, but
Topalov probably wanted to shield his other a-pawn with its colleague.} ({After
} 18... Bxc6 19. axb5 Bxb5 20. Naxc4 Bxc4 21. Rac1 $16 {The a5-pawn would be
more vulnerable, but Black would have exchanged one pair of minor pieces. All
in all, the objective evaluation of the position would remain the same.}) 19.
Naxc4 Bxc6 20. Rac1 {[%cal Gc4d6,Ge4e5,Ge3g4,Gd2g5]} h6 {[%csl Gg5]} (20... Qe7
{would hardly be a solution because of} 21. Nxa5 $16 {retrieving the pawn and
questioning Black's queenside stability.}) ({***In the event of a neutral move
such as} 20... Rab8 {(it should be mentioned that there are not too many of
this kind available), White could play} 21. Nd6 Qa7 22. Ng4 {threatening Qg5
followed by e5 with attack.} f6 {would weaken the e6-square and can be met with
} 23. Bf1 $16 {followed by Bc4. Play would have acquired different contours
than in the game, but the essence would have remained the same.}) 21. Nd6 Qa7 {
[%csl Ga7,Gg8]} (21... Qh5 22. f4 $16 {[%csl Gh5]}) 22. Ng4 $1 {[%cal Gg4h6]}
Rad8 (22... f6 {[%csl Gg7][%cal Ga7g7]} 23. e5 $1 Bxg2 24. Kxg2 f5 25. Nxh6+ $1
gxh6 26. Qxh6 Qe7 27. Rc4 $40 {With his e6-pawn weak and Rh4 coming, Black is
in deep trouble.}) ({Speelman} 22... Nc5 23. Rc4 $1 $16 {[%csl Rc5,Rc6][%cal
Ge4e5,Gg4h6]} (23. Nxh6+ $6 gxh6 24. Qxh6 Ncd3 $132)) 23. Nxh6+ $1 $18 gxh6 24.
Qxh6 {[%cal Ge4e5,Gc1c4,Gc4g4]} f6 (24... Qe7 25. e5 Bxg2 26. Rd4 $18) 25. e5
$1 Bxg2 26. exf6 {[%cal Gh6g6,Gf6f7]} Rxd6 (26... Bf3 27. Qg6+ Kh8 28. f7 $18)
(26... Qh7 {can be met by} 27. Qg5+ Kh8 28. Rc4 {threatening Rh4, when} Rg8 29.
Nf7+ $1 {leads to mate.}) 27. Rxd6 Be4 (27... Bd5 28. Qg6+ Kh8 29. Rc4 Bxc4 30.
Rd4 $18 {In this line, White has preserved precisely the necessary amount of
pieces for a win. Black cannot prevent mate on h7 or g7 at the same time.}) 28.
Rxe6 {[%cal Ge6e7]} Nd3 {[%csl Ga6,Ge4]} 29. Rc2 Qh7 30. f7+ $5 Qxf7 (30...
Rxf7 31. Re8+ {leads to mate.}) 31. Rxe4 {The material balance is more or less
even, but Black's king remains desperately weak and the general coordination
is very poor.} Qf5 (31... Nxf2 32. Rf4 {[%csl Gf2]}) 32. Re7 1-0

[Event "World-ch Anand-Topalov +3-2=7"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2010.04.30"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2010.04.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 c5 8. e4 Bg6
9. Be3 cxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. Bxd4 Nfd7 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13. Bxc4 {As it seen
many times in previous World Championship matches, the theoretical discussion
continues. Topalov makes a second attempt to crack this line.} a6 14. Rc1 Rg8
15. h4 h5 $5 $146 {Once again Anand makes a new move before Topalov gets a
chance to show what he has prepared against Anand's choice in game three.
Compared to 15...h6, here Black's light-squared has a bit more space as it
won't be driven away by h4-h5. On the other hand, Ph5 might become a target.
My personal feeling is that 15...h6 is more precise.} ({In game three there
followed:} 15... h6 16. Ke2 Bd6 17. h5 Bh7 18. a5 Ke7 19. Na4 f6 20. b4 Rgc8
21. Bc5 Bxc5 22. bxc5 Rc7 23. Nb6 Rd8 24. Nxd7 Rdxd7 $11 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,V 
(2805)-Anand,V (2787)/Sofia BUL 2010/The Week in Chess 808 (46)}) 16. Ne2 $1 {
Topalov reacts accordingly. After 15...h5 this manoeuvre makes sense, - the
knight is heading to f4.} (16. O-O Bd6 17. f4 Rc8 18. Ba2 Ke7 19. f5 Bh7 $11) (
{The same plan as in game three won't yield White anything:} 16. Ke2 Bd6 17. a5
Ke7 18. Na4 f6 $11 {and the bishop returns into play via f7. The same would
occur in the event of 16.Kf2.}) 16... Bd6 (16... Bc5 $6 17. Bxc5 Nxc5 18. Nf4
Rc8 (18... Nxa4 $2 19. Nxg6 fxg6 20. Bxe6 $18) 19. Ke2 Ke7 20. a5 Kf6 21. Rhd1
$16 {is exactly what White is striving for. Black's bishop is stuck on g6
since it has to protect the Ph5. Meanwhile, White is going to develop his play
on the queenside.}) 17. Be3 {At this point there was an electricity cut in the
playing venue. The game was stopped and resumed in about 15 minutes when the
electricity came back. It seems that this incident didn't affect both players
much.} Ne5 18. Nf4 Rc8 {Black should keep the knight on e5 to protect the Bg6.}
(18... Nxc4 $6 19. Rxc4 b5 20. Rc2 Bxf4 {Otherwise the exchange on g6 will
ruin Black's structure.} 21. Bxf4 bxa4 22. Kf2 f6 23. Bd6 {[%cal Gh1a1,Ga1a4,
Gc2c7] White is clearly better. Black's rooks lack coordination.}) 19. Bb3
Rxc1+ 20. Bxc1 Ke7 ({Black is not in time to cover the Pe6 and bring his
light-squared bishop into a play:} 20... Kd7 21. Ke2 Re8 22. Rd1 $16 f6 $2 {
[%cal Gg6f7]} 23. Be3 $18 {[%cal Ge3c5]}) 21. Ke2 Rc8 22. Bd2 $2 {A natural
move, but it allows the trick that now follows.} (22. Rd1 $1 Rc6 {[%cal Gc6b6]}
(22... Bb4 23. Be3 $16 {[%cal Ge3d4]}) (22... Bc5 23. Bd2 $16 {[%cal Gd2c3]})
23. Be3 Bc5 24. Bd2 $1 f6 (24... Rb6 25. Bc3 $1 Nxf3 (25... Rxb3 26. Bxe5 Bxe4
27. fxe4 Re3+ 28. Kf1 Rxe4 29. Nd3 $16) (25... Bd6 26. Ba2 $16) 26. Bxe6 $1
Rxe6 27. Nxe6 Ng1+ 28. Kf1 Kxe6 (28... fxe6 29. Bd4 $18 {[%csl Rg1]}) 29. Rd5
Ba7 30. Bd4 $18 {[%csl Rg1]}) 25. Bxe6 $1 Rxe6 26. Nxe6 Kxe6 27. f4 Bxe4 28.
fxe5 Kxe5 29. Be3 {I believe Black can still hold this position with tenacious
defence, but it would be an unpleasant task for Anand.}) {[%tqu "En","How can
Black equalise?","","","f7f6","This strong move solves black's problems. The
Pe6 can't really be captured and Anand is bringing his light-squared bishop
into play.",10]} 22... f6 $1 {This strong move solves Black's problems. The
Pe6 can't really be captured and Anand is bringing his light-squared bishop
into play.} 23. Nxg6+ {White must grab the bishop, otherwise after 23...Bf7 he
can forget about any advantage.} (23. Nxe6 Bf7 24. Nd4 Bxb3 25. Nxb3 Rc2 26. f4
(26. Rb1 Nc4 27. Kd3 Rxb2 $15) 26... Ng4 27. Rb1 Rc4 28. Kf3 Rxa4 {Black is at
least not worse.}) (23. Bxe6 Rc2 24. Rb1 Nc4 25. Bxc4 Bxf4 26. Rd1 Bxd2 (26...
Rxb2 27. Kd3 Rxd2+ 28. Rxd2 Bxd2 29. Kxd2 $11) 27. Bd3 Rxb2 28. Rxd2 Rxd2+ 29.
Kxd2 a5 $11) 23... Nxg6 24. g3 Ne5 (24... Bxg3 $2 25. Rg1 Nf4+ 26. Kf1 Bh2 27.
Rxg7+ Kd6 28. Rxb7 $18) 25. f4 Nc6 $11 26. Bc3 Bb4 {The exchange of bishops
favours Black.} 27. Bxb4+ Nxb4 28. Rd1 Nc6 29. Rd2 g5 (29... Na5 30. Rc2 Rd8 {
[%cal Gd8d4]} 31. Rc7+ Kd6 32. Rc3 Nxb3 33. Rxb3 Kc7 $11) 30. Kf2 (30. hxg5
fxg5 31. e5 {[%csl Re6][%cal Gd2d6]} h4 32. Rd6 hxg3 33. fxg5 (33. Rxe6+ $6 Kd7
34. Rd6+ Kc7 35. fxg5 Re8 36. Kf1 Rxe5 $15) 33... Rf8 34. Rxe6+ Kd7 35. Rd6+
Ke7 (35... Kc7 $2 36. Rf6 $1 $16) 36. Re6+ Kd7 $11) 30... g4 {Not the only
option, but it makes sense to fix the Pg3 as a potential target.} 31. Rc2 Rd8
32. Ke3 Rd6 33. Rc5 Nb4 {Black's tandem of rook + knight creates sufficient
counterthreats, so White doesn't have time to capture the Ph5.} 34. Rc7+ Kd8
35. Rc3 Ke7 36. e5 Rd7 37. exf6+ Kxf6 38. Ke2 Nc6 39. Ke1 {A slightly strange
manoeuvre of the king from e3 to e1, but it doesn't change the estimation of
the position as equal.} Nd4 40. Bd1 a5 41. Rc5 Nf5 42. Rc3 Nd4 43. Rc5 Nf5 44.
Rc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Anand-Topalov +3-2=7"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2010.05.01"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2010.04.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 a6 6. Ne5 {Anand repeats the
line, which brought him success in Game 2. The notes to that game also contain
a more comprehensive coverage of the opening phase.} c5 7. Na3 cxd4 8. Naxc4
Bc5 9. O-O O-O 10. Bg5 $5 {[%mdl 32] The first minor surprise, but on the
whole a part of Anand's strategy - he is the first one to deviate despite the
successful outcome of the previous encounter (this tendency was seen also in
the Slav - games 3,5, and 8). Such an approach makes it more difficult for the
opponent to focus his preparation. The strategic idea behind the text move is
to increase White's << pressure by preventing Nd5.} ({Game 2 went} 10. Bd2 Nd5
11. Rc1 Nd7 12. Nd3 Ba7 13. Ba5 Qe7 14. Qb3 Rb8 15. Qa3 $6 Qxa3 16. bxa3 {
Anand,V (2787)-Topalov,V (2805)/WCh Sofia/2010/} Nc5 17. Nd6 b6 $15) 10... h6 {
Topalov didn't think too long about this natural reaction.} (10... Nbd7 11. Rc1
$5 $44 (11. Nxd7 Qxd7 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. b4 Ba7 14. Qc1 Qe7 15. Qh6 Rb8 16. Rac1
$13)) 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 $146 {[%mdl 8] Played almost immediately by Topalov, but
in fact this natural recapture is a novelty.} (11... gxf6 12. Nd3 Be7 13. Qd2
Kh7 (13... Kg7 {seems more natural, but Black probably didn't want to reckon
with ideas as} 14. Nf4 $5 {/\Nh5}) 14. Rac1 Ra7 15. Qf4 (15. Na5 $5 b6 16. Nb3
e5 17. f4 $44 {|^}) (15. b4 b6 16. a4 $44) 15... Nc6 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. Qe4+ f5
{[%csl Re5]} ({><e5} 17... Kg7 $142 18. Qxc6 Rc7 19. Qa4 e5 $5 $132) 18. Qxc6
Rc7 19. Qa4 Bb7 20. Na5 Ba8 (20... Be4 $5 $14) 21. Rxc7 Qxc7 22. Rc1 Qd6 23.
Nc6 Bg5 24. f4 Bf6 {Raetsky,A (2399)-Panchanathan,M (2441)/Biel/2004/} 25. Qxa6
Qd5 26. b4 $16 {In our game we will later see a similar distribution of
material and a fight of the ^^ against NN.}) 12. Nd3 Ba7 (12... Be7 $6 13. Nb6
Ra7 {[%csl Ra7] צa7} 14. Rc1 Bd7 15. Rc7 $36 (15. f4 $5 Bc6 16. Ne5 $44)) (
12... Qe7 13. Rc1 Ba7 (13... Nc6 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. Na5 $14) 14. Na5 Bb6 15. Qd2
{[%cal Gc1c8] Here it's difficult for Black to unravel his forces, White
intends to double on the <->c. The natural} e5 {invites a tactical solution}
16. Nc4 Bc7 17. Ndxe5 $5 Bxe5 18. Nb6 Nc6 19. Nxa8 Qd8 20. Rc5 Bd6 21. Rd5 Be6
22. Nb6 Bxd5 23. Nxd5 $14 {/<=>}) 13. Qa4 {Anand played this almost instantly
- he proceeds to pile up his pressure.} ({The more straightforward} 13. Na5 {
practically wins the P back immediately, but after} Nd7 14. Nxb7 Bxb7 15. Bxb7
Rab8 {[%csl Ga7,Gb7];Beliavsky,A (2619)-Pavasovic,D (2597) HUN-chT 0809 2008 
(2) 1-0 Black eases his task by simplification. While ^- do not always mean
full equality in the Catalan, achieving the model situation as in} {is far
from simple. After} 16. Bg2 (16. Bxa6 $6 e5 {[%cal Rf6a6,Re5e4,Rb8b2] /\e4,
Rb2|^}) 16... Ne5 (16... Rfc8 $143 17. b4 $1 Ne5 18. Qa4 $36) 17. Rb1 a5 $5
$132 {the position is approximately balanced.}) 13... Nc6 {Even now Black
prefers to return material.} (13... b5 $2 {fails tactically to} 14. Qb4 bxc4
15. Qxc4 Nd7 16. Bxa8 Nb6 17. Qc7 $18) (13... Bd7 $6 14. Qb3 Bc6 15. Bxc6 Nxc6
16. Qxb7 e5 17. Nd2 $1 (17. f3 Rfb8 18. Qxa6 $2 Bc5) 17... a5 18. Rac1 $36 {
gives White an ideal position and justifies his opening idea.}) (13... Qe7 {
deserves more attention:} 14. Na5 $5 (14. Rac1 Nd7 $13) (14. Qb4 Nc6 $5 (14...
Qxb4 15. Nxb4 a5 16. Nd3 a4 17. Rac1 $44) 15. Bxc6 Qxb4 16. Nxb4 bxc6 17. Nxc6
f6 $132) 14... Bb6 15. Rac1 $44 {/\} Bd7 $6 16. Qb3 $36) (13... Nd7 14. Qb4 e5
15. Rac1 $44 {and again it's difficult for Black to unravel without
concessions.}) 14. Rac1 {Again in the spirit of the previous move White spurns
material.} ({However,} 14. Bxc6 $5 {is an interesting alternative. Although
after} bxc6 15. Qxc6 Rb8 16. Nd6 (16. Rac1 $5 Bb7 17. Qa4 {[%cal Yc4a5,Ya5c6] /
\Na5-c6 is perhaps more promising.}) 16... e5 17. Nxc8 Rfxc8 18. Qe4 Qe6 19. f4
(19. b4 $6 Re8 20. g4 Rbc8 $15) 19... exf4 20. Qxe6 fxe6 21. Rxf4 $14 {
Grischuk,A (2756)-Khairullin,I (2617) RUS-chT 17th 2010 (6) 1-0 /<=> White's N
is the better minor piece, it's still a far cry from} (21. gxf4 Rc2 22. Kf2 Kf7
$132)) (14. Rfc1 {is another plausible idea - we will mention this later on.})
14... e5 {Black also insists on freeing himself, other moves seem weaker:} (
14... b5 $6 15. Qa3 $1 bxc4 16. Rxc4 $36 {advantageously regains the piece.}) (
14... Rb8 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Nce5 $14) (14... Bd7 15. Nd6 Ne5 16. Qa3 Bc6 17.
Nxb7 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 $14 {[%csl Ra7,Gb7] |^ and once again White will remain
with a superior N against ץa7.}) 15. Bxc6 {Here already White has practically
no choice.} b5 $5 {The point of the previous move.} ({After the docile} 15...
bxc6 $6 16. Ncxe5 $14 {/+/- White will soon win another P.}) 16. Qc2 ({Anand
was still playing quite fast and rejects the double-edged} 16. Bxb5 axb5 17.
Qxb5 e4 18. Nf4 d3 $5 (18... Ba6 19. Qd5 g5 20. Nh5 Qg6 21. g4 Qe6 $5 22. Qxe6
fxe6 $44) 19. exd3 Ba6 $44 {Landa}) 16... Qxc6 17. Ncxe5 {[%csl Ga7,Gc8,Gd3,
Ge5] White has regained the P, giving rise to the aforementioned interesting
NN:^^ position. Black is forced to swap Q (otherwise he would have serious ->
chances) and his P (d4,<<) are rather vulnerable. However, White has a
weakness of his own on e2 and while his N are currently very active, the
potential of the ^^ can't be underestimated. All in all, at the very best
White can be only microscopically better.} Qe4 {[%cal Rc8h3] /\Bh3} (17... Qxc2
$143 18. Rxc2 Bf5 {gives White a slightly better version of the game position.
Other Q-retreats also allow Qc6 under more favourable circumstances.}) (17...
Qe6 18. Qc6 $14) (17... Qb7 18. Qc6 Qb8 $6 {is too artificial:} 19. Nd7 $16) (
17... Qd5 18. Qc6 (18. Qc7 $5) (18. Nc6 Re8 19. Nf4 Qd6 $5 $132) 18... Bb7 19.
Qxd5 Bxd5 {is similar to the game.}) 18. Qc6 Bb7 (18... Bf5 19. Qxe4 (19. Rfe1
Rfe8 {is hardly an improvement.}) 19... Bxe4 {-18...Bb7}) 19. Qxe4 Bxe4 20. Rc2
({Rybka here gives the unforced, but pretty line} 20. Nd7 Rfe8 21. Rc7 Bf5 22.
Rfc1 Rxe2 23. Rxa7 $1 Rxa7 24. Rc8+ Kh7 25. Nf8+ Kg8 26. Nd7+ $11 {, but White
prefers to keep the tension. Here it's time to recall 14.Rfc1 - if White's R
would be now on a1 instead of f1, he could consider developing his initiative
with 20.a4!?}) 20... Rfe8 {[%cal Re8e5] /\Re5} ({Black naturally seeks
counterattacking options, as he can't fight for the <->c:} 20... Rac8 21. Rfc1
Bf5 $4 22. Rxc8 Rxc8 23. Rxc8+ Bxc8 24. Nc6 Bg4 25. f3 $18) 21. Rfc1 f6 {
Chases away the active Ne5, but slightly weakens Black's position. The text
move was by no means forced, there was a number of plausible alternatives:} (
21... Bf5) (21... a5) (21... Bd5) (21... Bb6 $5 $132 {/\Bd8-f6 All these moves
lead to a balanced position.}) 22. Nd7 {Heads for c5 and starts the N carousel.
} ({More ambitious seems to be} 22. Nc6 Bb6 23. a4 $5 (23. Kf1 a5 24. a4 $6 b4
$36 {[%cal Ye4d5,Yd5b3] Shipov; /\Bd5-b3}) 23... bxa4 (23... Kf7 24. a5 Bc7 25.
Kf1 (25. b4 Bd6 $132) 25... h5 26. Ra1 Rec8 (26... h4 $5 27. Nxd4 Bd6 $44) 27.
f3 Bf5 28. Rac1 $14) 24. Rc4 {[%cal Yc4b4,Yb4a4] /\Ra4, Rb4} a5 25. Rxa4 Bf5 $5
$132 (25... Kh7 26. b4 $5 Rac8 (26... axb4 27. Rxb4 Bxc6 28. Rxc6 Ba5 29. Rb7
Rxe2 30. Rxf6 $14) 27. Nxa5 Rc3 $44)) 22... Bf5 ({Simpler was} 22... Re7 23.
N7c5 (23. Rc7 $2 Kf7 24. N3c5 Bf5 $17 {[%csl Rc5,Rd7]}) 23... Bxc5 24. Rxc5
Rae8 $11 {, but Topalov treasures his ^^ and also wants to keep the game going.
}) 23. N7c5 Bb6 {An ambitious continuation, which however doesn't seriously
disturb the balance.} ({In the spirit of his previous move, Black spurns} 23...
Bxc5 24. Rxc5 Bxd3 25. exd3 Re2 26. R5c2 Rae8 27. Kf1 Rxc2 28. Rxc2 Kf7 {
Black is prepared to oppose White's R on all the squares from c5 to c8:} 29.
Rc5 Re5 30. Rc6 Re6 31. Rc7+ Re7 32. Rc8 Re8 $11 {White has no clear way to
improve his position - his K can't pass the <->e and moving the Pf2 weakens e3.
}) 24. Nb7 $5 {[%cal Rb7d6,Yc2c6] /\Nd6,Rc6 White avoids simplification and 
(for the time being) finds a way to continue the fight.} Bd7 (24... Re6 $2 25.
Rc6 $1 Ra7 26. Rxe6 Bxe6 27. Rc6 Rxb7 28. Rxe6 $14 {/+/- and in this _|_ White
can torture his opponent endlessly - Black exchanged the wrong B.}) ({
Interesting was} 24... Bg4 25. f3 Bf5 $5 (25... Bd7 26. Kf2 Re3 27. Nd6 $14)
26. Rc6 (26. Nd6 Bxd3 27. exd3 Re3 28. Rc6 Ba5) 26... Rxe2 27. Nf4 Rxb2 28.
Rxb6 Rb8 29. Nd5 Kh7 30. a4 d3 $44 {<=>}) (24... Rxe2 $2 25. Rxe2 Bxd3 26. Re6
$18) (24... Rac8 25. Nd6 Rxc2 26. Rxc2 Bxd3 $8 27. exd3 Re6 28. Rc8+ (28. Rc6
$2 Bd8 29. f4 f5 $1 {[%cal Rg8h7,Rd8e7] /\Kh7,Be7}) 28... Kh7 29. Nf5 g6 30.
Nh4 $14 {|^}) 25. Nf4 {Anand plays it safe.} ({Over the board it's difficult
to decide for the computer-like sortie} 25. Nd6 Re6 26. Nc8 $1 Bd8 27. Rc5 (27.
Kf1 $5 $14 {/\Rc5}) 27... Re8 (27... Kf8 $2 28. Nf4 $1 Re8 29. Nd6 $18 {
[%csl Re8] traps the R.}) (27... Be7 28. Rc7 $16) 28. R1c2 $14 {and the Nc8
cramps Black and limits his options.}) 25... Rab8 ({Chasing away the N without
exchanges, but simpler was} 25... Rac8 $142 $1 {and Black is fine:} 26. Nd6
$142 (26. Nd5 Rxc2 27. Rxc2 d3 (27... Bh3 28. Rd2 (28. Nxb6 $2 d3) 28... Ba7
29. Nf4 Bd7 $13) (27... Ba7 28. Rc7 Bh3 29. Ne7+ Kf8 30. Ng6+ Kg8 31. Ne7+ $11)
28. exd3 Bh3 29. Ne3 (29. Rc1 Bd4 30. Nf4 Bg4 31. Kg2 g5 $36) 29... Bxe3 30.
fxe3 Rxe3 31. Nc5 Rf3 32. Rf2 Re3 33. Rc2 $11) 26... Rxc2 27. Rxc2 Re5 $132)
26. Nd6 (26. Nc5 $5 Bxc5 (26... Bc8 27. Rd2 Rd8 28. Nfe6 $36) (26... Bf5 27.
Nxa6 $1 Ra8 28. Nc7 Bxc7 29. Rxc7 Re5 (29... Rxa2 30. Nh5 $40) 30. Rd1 $5 $14)
27. Rxc5 g5 28. Nd5 $1 Kf7 29. R1c2 $14 (29. Kf1 Kg6 30. f3 Re5 31. Nb4 $14))
26... Re5 27. Nc8 {There was no need to hurry with this.} (27. h4 g5 28. Nd3
Re6 29. Nf5 Ree8 $5 30. Nd6 Re6 $11) ({Perhaps the most promising was} 27. Nd3
$5 Re6 28. Nc8 Re8 $5 (28... Ba5 29. b4 Bd8 30. Rc5 $14 {[%cal Rc5d5] /\Rd5 is
similar to the 25.Nd6 line above.}) 29. Nxb6 Rxb6 30. Rc7 Rd6 31. R1c2 $14) ({
Landa suggests} 27. h3 {/\} g5 28. Nd3 Re6 29. Nf5 h5 30. g4 {, gaining an
outpost for the N.}) 27... Ba5 $1 (27... Bd8 28. Na7 $1 {[%cal Ga7c6] /\Nc6+/=
simplifies the position in White's favour.}) 28. Nd3 (28. Na7 $2 {is not good
any more due to} Rbe8 $1 $36 {/\} 29. Nc6 Bxc6 30. Rxc6 Bd2 $1 $17) 28... Re8 {
The Nc8 understandably makes Black nervous.} (28... Re6 $143 29. b4 Bd8 30. Rc5
$14 {-27.Nd3 transposes to a line, pleasant for White.}) 29. Na7 {The N
continues its dance, but after the tex t-move White's slight pressure
dissipates.} ({Shipov recommends the more ambitious} 29. Nd6 Re6 30. Nf5 Bb6
31. h4 {[%csl Gf5][%cal Yh4h5] /\h5,><f5 , but even here after} h5 32. Nf4 Re5
33. Nd6 Bg4 34. Kg2 g5 $13 {Black gets sufficient <=>.}) 29... Bb6 ({Black
could have already played} 29... Ra8 30. Nc6 Bxc6 31. Rxc6 Rxe2 {but with
White's strong Nd3 the extra P isn't worth much. Moreover, White has motifs
with trapping Black's R:} 32. Kf1 (32. Rc8+ Rxc8 33. Rxc8+ Kh7 34. Rc6 Rd2 35.
Rxa6 Bc3 $1 $11) 32... Rd2 33. R1c2 Rxc2 (33... Rxd3 34. Ke2 Rc3 35. bxc3 dxc3
36. Kd1 $14) 34. Rxc2 Kf8 35. Rc6 Ke7 36. Nc5 d3 37. Nxd3 Kd7 $11) 30. Nc6 Rb7
{[%csl Rb6,Gd7] Topalov quickly decided to fight on, preferring to keep the
more valuable Bd7, rather than the ineffective Bb6.} (30... Bxc6 31. Rxc6 Rxe2
32. Rc8+ (32. Kf1 Rd2 33. Rc8+) 32... Rxc8 33. Rxc8+ Kf7 34. Kf1 (34. Ra8 a5
35. Rb8 $44) 34... Rd2 35. Rc6 (35. Ke1 $2 Ba5 $19) 35... Ba5 36. Rxa6 Bc3 $11)
31. Ncb4 a5 32. Nd5 a4 {Gains more space on the <<, but Black had other
equally satisfactory moves:} (32... Be6 33. N3f4 (33. Nxb6 Rxb6 34. b3 Bg4 $11)
33... Bf5 $132) (32... Bg4 $11) (32... Bf5 $5 $11) 33. Nxb6 {Anand releases
the tension, after this the game inexorably heads towards a peaceful outcome.
However, White can hardly claim an advantage even after more ambitious
continuations:} (33. h4 Be6 (33... Bg4 $5 34. N3f4 Ba7) 34. N3f4 Bf7 35. h5 Kh7
$13) (33. N3f4 Bf5 34. Rc6 Bd8 $132 {/\} 35. Rd1 $6 g5 $1 36. Nxf6+ Bxf6 37.
Rxf6 Rf7 $15) 33... Rxb6 $11 {After 12 N-moves in a row and 13 overall (!) by
this one piece the game settles down.} 34. Nc5 Bf5 35. Rd2 (35. Nd3 $6 Be6 36.
Nb4 Bc4 $15) 35... Rc6 {[%csl Rd4][%cal Gc6c1,Ge8e2] Despite the loss of the
^^, Black's ><d4 is compensated for by his pressure on the <->c and e.} 36. b4
axb3 (36... Rc7 37. f3 Rce7 38. Kf2 Bg6 39. Re1 Bf7 {[%cal Yf7c4] /\Bc4<=>})
37. axb3 b4 $1 {[%cal Re8c8] /\Rec8 An accurate move, allowing White to play
b4 would cement his outpost on c5, so that he can turn his attention to the
><d4.} (37... Rc7 38. b4 Rce7 39. Nb3 $1 $14) 38. Rxd4 $8 {The only way to
meet the pin on the <->c, but it results in a liquidation of the <<.} Rxe2 39.
Rxb4 Bh3 $1 {[%cal Rc6c5] /\Rc5} 40. Rbc4 (40. Rb5 Rd6 41. Rb4 $5 Rdd2 42. Rh4
Rc2 $44 43. Rc4 Ra2 44. Rh4 Rec2 45. Nd3 Bf5 46. Rxc2 Rxc2 47. Nb4 Rb2 $11)
40... Rd6 41. Re4 ({Another possible draw results after} 41. Rh4 Rc2 42. Ra1
Ra2 43. Re1 Re2 44. Re4 Rb2 45. b4 (45. Rh4 Re2 $11) 45... Rdd2 46. Rh4 Re2 47.
Nd3 Rxe1+ 48. Nxe1 Bd7 49. f3 Bb5 50. Rd4 Rb1 51. Kf2 Rb2+ 52. Kg1 Rb1 $11)
41... Rb2 42. Ree1 (42. Rh4 Rc2 $11 {-41.Rh4}) 42... Rdd2 43. Ne4 Rd4 (43...
Rd3 44. Rb1 {transposes to the game.} (44. Rc3 $11)) 44. Nc5 Rdd2 (44... f5 $6
45. Ne6 Re4 46. f3 $1 Rxe1+ 47. Rxe1 {/\Nf4} g5 48. f4 gxf4 (48... Rxb3 49.
fxg5 hxg5 50. Nxg5 $14) 49. Nxf4 $14) 45. Ne4 Rd3 46. Rb1 (46. Rc3 Rxc3 47.
Nxc3 Rxb3 48. Nd5 $11) (46. Nc5 $2 Rf3 $19) 46... Rdxb3 47. Nd2 Rb4 48. f3 {
White creates an airhole for his K, avoiding any possible danger. The rest is
not interesting anymore.} g5 49. Rxb2 Rxb2 50. Rd1 (50. Re8+ Kf7 51. Rd8 {
/\Kf2=}) 50... Kf7 51. Kf2 h5 52. Ke3 Rc2 53. Ra1 Kg6 54. Ra6 Bf5 55. Rd6 Rc3+
56. Kf2 Rc2 (56... Rc2 57. Ke3 {repeats the position.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Anand-Topalov +3-2=7"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2010.05.03"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2010.04.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ {A small surprize. This is the first
time in the match when Topalov abstains himself from giving up the tension in
the centre. Not for too long, though, as we will see.} 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7.
O-O c6 {A rock solid variation. Did players deviate from their general
strategy of mutual agressiveness, embarking boring play? Not really...} 8. Bf4
{The closed systems of the Catalan opening tend to be transpositional, but
move orders remain important.} ({If White intends to play the Romanischin
system mentioned below, he should move his bishop away from d2 at once. After} 
8. Nc3 $6 dxc4 {it is not easy to retrieve the pawn, since after} 9. Ne5 {
the d4-pawn would be hanging.}) ({The variation mentioned in the notes to
Black's 9th move usually arises in the following move order:} 8. Qc2 b6 9. Rd1
Bb7 10. Bf4 Nbd7 11. Nc3 dxc4 12. Nd2 Nd5 (12... b5 $2 13. Nxb5 $16) 13. Nxc4
Nxf4 14. gxf4 Rc8 15. e3 Nf6) 8... dxc4 {Played four moves later than in the
previous Catalan games, but with very different plans.} ({In case of the solid
} 8... Nbd7 {, White has a choice between the "normal" 9.Qc2 followed by Rd1
and the following line popularized by Romanischin (among others):} 9. Nc3 b6
10. Qb3 Bb7 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Rac1 {Romanishin,O (2615)-Ribli,Z (2610)/
Polanica Zdroj 1993/CBM 037/[Dautov] (1-0, 27)}) 9. Ne5 b5 $5 {Finally, we can
recognize Topalov's style. The former World Champion sacrifices a clear
exchange for far from obvious compensation. The move is not entirely new,
though.} ({The thematic reaction is} 9... Nd5 10. Nxc4 Nxf4 11. gxf4 {White
has been allowed to consolidate his space advantage, but the kingside
weaknesses as well as Black's bishops' pair make the position double-edged.
The following series of moves has not been met in practice, but is entirely
viable and leads by a transposition to a position mentioned above:} b6 12. Nc3
Bb7 13. e3 Nd7 14. Qc2 Nf6 15. Rfd1 Rc8 {This is an important tabyia, which I
used to consider as favourable for White in my first year with the Catalan.
Practice taught me to think differently.} 16. Rac1 (16. Ne5 Nd5 17. Rac1 {
allows a surprising regrouping:} Bd6 18. Qa4 Bb8 19. a3 Qe7 20. b4 f6 21. Nf3 {
1/2 Marin,M (2561)-Cifuentes Parada,R (2522)/Cala Galdana 2001/CBM 084 ext.
Fearing the threat of ...h6 followed by ...g5, I offered a draw which was
fortunately accepted.}) ({Another version of the same plan is:} 16. a3 Bd6 17.
Nxd6 Qxd6 18. b4 Qe7 19. Rab1 Nd5 20. Ne4 h6 21. Rdc1 g5 22. fxg5 hxg5 23. Nd2
Kg7 $132 {Komljenovic,D (2479)-Pogorelov,R (2439)/Calvia 2004/EXT 2005 (0-1,
48). In both cases, the weakness of the double pawns consists of the fact that
Black can undermine the f4-pawn, which does not have sufficient defenders
around it.}) 16... Nd5 17. Qa4 {This was supposed to weaken the queenside
before the bishops gets to b8.} b5 $1 $11 18. Qxa7 bxc4 19. Qxb7 Nb4 {A draw
by perpetual is inevitable now.} 20. a3 Rb8 21. Qa7 Ra8 22. Qb7 Rb8 23. Qa7 Ra8
24. Qb7 {1/2 Marin,M (2556)-Gurevich,M (2634)/Mondariz 2002/CBM 091 ext}) 10.
Nxc6 Nxc6 11. Bxc6 Bd7 $5 $146 ({The first game in which Black embarked this
line went} 11... Ba6 {Although Black eventually got a good position, the
bishop stands worse on a6 than on d7.} 12. Bxa8 ({White does not get much by
refusing the present:} 12. a3 {[%cal Gb1c3]} Rc8 13. Bg2 Qb6 14. Nc3 Rfd8 15.
e3 Bb7 $132) 12... Qxa8 13. Qc2 (13. a3 $5 {may be an improvement of the same
kind as in the main line.} Qc6 14. Nc3 Bb7 15. f3 Rd8 16. Qc2 $14 Rxd4 17. Be3
$1 Rd7 18. Bxa7) 13... Qc6 14. Bg5 Bb7 15. f3 e5 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. d5 {Aiming,
at the cost of one pawn, to avoid the opening of the position before the
queenside development gets completed.} Bxd5 18. Nc3 Bc6 19. Rad1 Qe6 20. e4 f5
$132 {Gelfand,B (2750)-Ivanchuk,V (2748)/Nice 2010 (1/2, 33)}) 12. Bxa8 Qxa8 {
For the sacrificed exchange, Black has a dangerous bishops' pair, a space
advantage on the queenside and a superior development. White's problems of
coordination is caused by the fact that he has reverted the natural order of
queenside development (he played with the bishop first, putting it on an
exposed square and leaving the knight on its initial position).} 13. f3 {
I do not understand this move. It weakens the king and does not contribute to
the development. Anand is reported to have played it almost instantly, but I
wonder whether this was part of his preparation, or just over the board
inspiration, aiming to confuse his opponent. In my opinion, he should have
looked for a way to complete his queenside development.} (13. Nc3 {leads to
unclear consequences after} b4 14. Na4 Qd5 (14... Qc6 $6 15. Nc5 Bxc5 16. dxc5
Qxc5 17. Bd6 $16) 15. a3 Bc6 16. f3 Bxa4 17. Qxa4 Qxd4+ 18. e3 Qxb2 19. axb4
Nd5 $44) ({While analyzing the position far from my laptop, I felt that White
should prepare the knight's developing with} 13. a3 $1 {I am not sure that
Black's compensation would have been entirely adequate in this case. Here is a
possible variation:} Qc6 14. Nc3 a5 15. Bg5 b4 16. axb4 axb4 17. d5 $36 {
When saving the lines in ChessBase, I was very dissapointed to find out that
13.a3 was Rybka's first suggestion, while the whole line (with the exception
of 15.Bg5) gets its absolute blessing. I am not sure what all this means. Do
we human tend to become robotized, or have the engines improved so much as to
generate coherent dynamic-strategic concepts?}) 13... Nd5 14. Bd2 {White's
position looks awkward, but Black has to act with energy in order to avoid
being pushed down with e2-e4.} e5 $1 15. e4 {Who has said "A"...} (15. dxe5 {
would open too many lines and diagonals:} Bh3 {[%cal Gf8d8,Ge7c5]}) 15... Bh3
$1 {Sacrificing even more material in order to maintain the initiative, but,
what is quite remarkable, continuing to play fast, as a clear sign that the
whole plan had been thoroughly been analyzed at home.} 16. exd5 (16. Re1 Nb4 {
[%cal Gb4d3]} 17. Bxb4 Bxb4 18. Nc3 Qd8 $1 {[%csl Gd4][%cal Gd8b6]} 19. dxe5
Qb6+ 20. Kh1 Qf2 21. Rg1 Qxb2 $44) (16. Rf2 {[%cal Gc5f2]} Nc7 $5) 16... Bxf1
17. Qxf1 exd4 {White has a piece for a pawn, but his kingside is chronically
weak and the opposite wing quite hard to develop. The position is highly
irrational and almost impossible to evaluate with absolute accuracy.} 18. a4 $1
{The only chance to get some piece activity.} Qxd5 19. axb5 Qxb5 20. Rxa7 ({
Instead of this greedy move, which weakens the back rank, White could have
considered} 20. Qc1 $5 {, defending b2 and planning Na3.}) 20... Re8 $1 {
Defending the bishop and continuing to develop.} 21. Kh1 $5 {This looks a bit
unexpected, because the king does not stand very well on the back rank. Its
practical merits are connected with the fact that it caused Topalov to think
for a relatively long while for the first time in the game.} ({Kasparov
suggested} 21. b3 $5 {forcing Black to leave the e8-rook undefended.} Qxb3 22.
Qe1 h6 {[%csl Gg5,Gh7] ><g5} 23. Rxe7 (23. Na3 c3) 23... Rxe7 24. Qxe7 Qxb1+
25. Qe1 ({After} 25. Kg2 Qb2 $11 {, White is forced to give perpetual check.})
25... Qb2 {Black'߆ advanced pawns may well ensure a draw.} ({It also may be
possible to allow the queen swap with} 25... Qc2 26. Qe8+ Kh7 27. Qe4+ Qxe4 28.
fxe4 Kg6 {but this ending requires many days of analyzis. I cannot help
remembering my ending from the game Shulman,Y (2639)-Marin,M (2556)/Reykjavik
2009/CBM 130/[Marin] (0-1, 55).})) (21. Kg2 {looks more natural than the text
move, but it is hard to say whether it really is an improvement.} Bd6 ({
With the king on g2,} 21... Qxb2 $2 22. Qxc4 Qxb1 $2 {does not check and loses
to} 23. Rxe7 $1 $18) 22. Bc1 ({After} 22. Na3 $6 Bxa3 23. bxa3 d3 $1 {[%cal
Ge8e2,Gh7h6] , the king stands worse on g2.}) 22... Bc5 23. Ra2 h6 $44 {
White remains under the same kind of pressure as in the game.}) 21... Bf8 {
A solid move, which offers White a relatively wide choice, though.} (21... Bd6
{would have been more restrictive, prevening Rc7. White would probably have
chosen from one of the plans mentioned below, when the difference between ...
Bf8 and ...Bd6 dissapears.}) (21... Bc5 {is not too accurate because of} 22.
Ra5 {when the hanging bishop and c4-pawn force Black to release the pressure
against the b2-pawn:} Qc6) ({Black could have transposed back into the
variation starting with 21.b3:} 21... Qxb2 22. Qe1 h6 23. Rxe7 Rxe7 24. Qxe7
Qxb1+) 22. Rc7 {This looks strong, because it forces the d-pawn to advance,
giving up the control of the c3-square. Still, this does not offer an
advantage because of the lack of communication of the rook with the rest of
the pieces.} (22. Na3 $5 Bxa3 23. bxa3 h6 $44 {looks threatening.}) (22. Bc1 $5
Bc5 23. Ra2 {[%cal Gb1d2] may be the critical continuation, inviting Black to
prove his compensation.}) 22... d3 23. Bc3 Bd6 24. Ra7 h6 25. Nd2 Bb4 $1 {
A remarkable decision. Being a piece down, Black aims for piece exchange. The
essence is to question White's stability on dark squares, for which
eliminating the enemy bishop is essential.} 26. Ra1 {Anand feels the danger
and transfers his rook to d1 in order to ensure the knight's relative
stability.} Bxc3 27. bxc3 Re2 28. Rd1 Qa4 29. Ne4 {Only after the d2-square
has been taken under control White decides himself to activate his knight. Had
he done this earlier, ...f5 would have been quite annoying.} Qc2 $6 {Finally
giving White the opportunity to get some symbolic advantage.} (29... f5 $1 30.
Rd2 $8 (30. Nd2 Qa2 31. Nb1 Rf2 32. Qg1 Qe2 $19) (30. Nd6 Qc2 31. Nxc4 Rf2 32.
Qg1 Qe2 33. Rxd3 Rf1 $17) 30... fxe4 31. Rxe2 dxe2 32. Qxe2 Qa1+ 33. Kg2 Qxc3
34. Qxe4 {With the black king exposed, Black should not make himself too many
hopes of advancing his passed pawn, but a draw is guaranteed, of course.}) 30.
Rc1 Rxh2+ 31. Kg1 Rg2+ 32. Qxg2 Qxc1+ 33. Qf1 Qe3+ 34. Qf2 Qc1+ 35. Qf1 Qe3+
36. Kg2 f5 37. Nf2 {White has simplified the position even more and achieved
satisfactory stability. Finally, he can play for 2 results only, which must
have been quite refreshing for Anand after such a turbulent opening. The next
phase of the game is illustrative for the force of the far advanced d-pawn,
which compensates the missing material and entitles Black to count on reaching
a draw.} Kh7 38. Qb1 Qe6 39. Qb5 g5 40. g4 fxg4 41. fxg4 Kg6 42. Qb7 d2 43.
Qb1+ Kg7 44. Kf1 Qe7 45. Kg2 Qe6 46. Qd1 Qe3 47. Qf3 Qe6 48. Qb7+ Kg6 49. Qb1+
Kg7 50. Qd1 Qe3 51. Qc2 Qe2 52. Qa4 Kg8 53. Qd7 Kf8 54. Qd5 Kg7 55. Kg3 Qe3+
56. Qf3 Qe5+ 57. Kg2 Qe6 58. Qd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Anand-Topalov +3-2=7"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2010.05.04"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2010.04.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 {Two years ago against Kramnik Anand
played 4...e6 and Kramnik opted for Meran with 5.e3. It is very likely that
Topalov would have gone for the sharper 5.Bg5.} dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 {Topalov
also plays 6.e3, but undoubtedly 6.Ne5 is more ambitious and offers more
chances to fight for an advantage (although as is usually the case, it is
altogether more risky).} e6 7. f3 c5 {This is Anand's "Black secret weapon"
for the match in Sofia, which worked relatively well in games 3 and 5. However,
the present game ended in a drama and it was the last Slav game of the match.
As the World Champion admitted later, he didn't expect Topalov to be so
consistent and keep playing this variation as White after making previously
two draws. However, the course of the game shows that Black is suffering and
the price for every mistake is too high. In his match strategy Anand obviously
took a lot from Kramnik, who played same openings in 2006 against Topalov. The
motto is: the best result when playing Black is a draw! One must say that such
an approach is indeed very effective in World Championship matches (let's just
remember Kramnik's "discovery" of the Berlin endgame in his match versus
Kasparov), only that it doesn't necessary suit everyone. Later Anand showed
flexibility by changing his openings with both colours.} 8. e4 Bg6 ({The
variation} 8... cxd4 9. exf5 {favours White}) 9. Be3 cxd4 10. Qxd4 ({Here is
the reason why taking with the bishop is no better:} 10. Bxd4 Nc6 11. Nxc6 bxc6
12. Bxc4 Qa5 13. Qe2 {and in Pelletier,Y (2525)-Smyslov,V (2500)/Zuerich 1998
the players agreed to a draw already. After} Bc5 {Black achieves good
counterplay on the dark squares.}) 10... Qxd4 11. Bxd4 Nfd7 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13.
Bxc4 {The big question of this endgame is: does White have a real advantage,
or is Black able to slowly equalise? I must admit that in spite of the fact
that the position happened three times in Sofia, there is no clear answer to
this question yet. My feeling can be expressed in the following way: a good
player, who is ready to suffer for a draw with Black, should be able to
achieve it with precise play.} Rc8 {Fearing improvements from Topalov, Anand
is the first one to deviate.} ({Previously in games 3 and 5 Anand played} 13...
a6 {but in spite of achieving two draws must have remained not completely
satisfied with the resulting positions.}) 14. Bb5 {Topalov continues in the
most principled way, taking advantage of the fact that Black doesn't control
the b5-square.} ({In the earlier practice more often White retreated the
bishop to a2} 14. Ba2 {but all (!) those eight games (all played among GMs)
ended in a draw.. Here is a very recent example:} a5 15. h4 h5 16. Ke2 Rg8 17.
Nb5 Bc5 18. Bc3 b6 19. Rhd1 Ke7 20. Rd2 f6 21. Rad1 Rgd8 22. Na7 Rc7 23. Nb5
Rcc8 24. Nd4 Bxd4 25. Bxd4 {White's advantage proved to be only marginal:} Be8
26. Be3 Rc6 27. Bf4 e5 28. Be3 Rdc8 29. Bd5 Rc2 30. b3 Bf7 31. Bxf7 Kxf7 32.
Rxc2 Rxc2+ 33. Rd2 Rc7 34. Rd5 Ke6 35. Kd3 Rc6 36. g4 g6 37. Rb5 Rd6+ 38. Ke2
Rc6 39. Kf2 f5 40. exf5+ gxf5 41. gxf5+ Kxf5 42. Ke2 Rg6 43. Rd5 Ke6 44. Rb5
Kf5 45. Bg5 Rc6 46. Bd8 Kf4 47. Bg5+ Kf5 48. Bd2 Rg6 49. Be3 Rg2+ 50. Bf2 Rg6
51. Rd5 Ke6 52. Rd1 Rg2 53. Kf1 Rg8 54. Rc1 Kd5 55. Rc7 Kd6 56. Rc4 Kd5 57. Rc1
Nc5 58. Rd1+ Ke6 59. Rc1 Kd5 60. Rd1+ {1/2-1/2 Gustafsson,J (2646)
-Mastrovasilis,D (2574)/Rijeka 2010}) 14... a6 15. Bxd7+ Kxd7 16. Ke2 f6 17.
Rhd1 Ke8 (17... Kc7 {looks risky, but has no direct refutation:} 18. e5 (18.
Ba7 Be8 $1 (18... Bd6 19. b4 $1 $16 {[%csl Rc5][%cal Ga1c1,Ga7c5]} (19. Rac1 {
brings nothing yet in view of} Kd7 {[%cal Gd7e7]})) 19. Rac1 Bc6 {now White
can give checks with the knight on b5 or d5, but Black holds somehow.}) ({
The nice-looking sac} 18. Nb5+ {doesn't work:} axb5 19. Rac1+ Kd7 20. Be5+ Bd6
21. Rxd6+ Ke7 22. Rxc8 Rxc8 23. Bg3 $11) 18... Be7 (18... f5 $2 {allows now}
19. Nb5+ $1 axb5 20. Rac1+ Kb8 (20... Kd7 21. Be3+ Bd6 22. Rxd6+ Ke7 23. Bg5+
Kf7 24. Rd7+ $18) 21. Ba7+ $1 Kxa7 22. Rxc8 bxa4 23. Rdd8 $18) 19. Ba7 Be8 20.
Rac1 Bc6 21. a5 fxe5 22. Ne4 $44) (17... Bd6 $2 {loses a pawn:} 18. e5 fxe5 19.
Bxe5 Rc6 20. Bxg7) 18. a5 $146 {It is hard to believe that Anand didn't
analyze at home this obvious move, nevertheless he sank into deep thought
after it.} ({Previously White tried two other moves:} 18. Bb6 Bc5 19. Bxc5 Rxc5
{in CBM 119 this variation was evaluated as being equal, which was confirmed
in practice:} 20. Rd6 ({Also after} 20. Rac1 Rc6 {[%cal Ge8e7]} 21. Rd4 Rf8 (
21... Ke7 22. Rb4 Rb8 23. Nd5+ $1 Kd6 24. Rxc6+ Kxc6 25. Rb6+ Kd7 26. Nb4 $16)
22. Rcd1 Rc7 23. Ke3 Ke7 {Black slowly achieves equality.}) 20... Ke7 21. Rad1
Be8 22. R6d3 a5 23. Ke3 Bc6 24. Nb5 Rc8 25. Na7 Rc7 26. Nxc6+ R5xc6 27. R1d2
Rc4 28. b3 Rc3 29. h4 h5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Bocharov,D (2614)-Amonatov,F (2574)/
Voronezh 2007 (60)}) (18. Rac1 Rc6 (18... Be7 $5) 19. Na2 Rxc1 20. Nxc1 Be7 21.
Bb6 e5 22. Nd3 Bf7 $2 (22... Kf7 {[%cal Gf7e6]}) (22... Rf8 $5) 23. Rc1 Bd8 24.
a5 $16 Ke7 25. Rc8 Re8 26. Rb8 Bc4 27. Rxb7+ Kf8 28. Ke3 $18 {1-0 Maletin,P 
(2545)-Amonatov,F (2650)/Novokuznetsk 2008 (49)}) 18... Be7 {One of many
possibilities to develop the bishop. Its drawback is that it takes the
e7-square away from the king. Other ways of development are:} (18... Bb4 {
This prepares 19...Ke7 and looks like the best.} 19. Ra4 (19. Na4 Ke7 (19...
Bxa5 $6 {is risky due to} 20. Nc5 $36) ({but} 19... Rc2+ 20. Kf1 Ke7 {is
perfectly playable.}) 20. Rac1 {and now the simplest way to equality is} Be8
21. Bc5+ Kf7 $11) (19. Bb6 Ke7 $11 {[%cal Gg6e8,Ge8b5,Yb4c3]}) (19. Rac1 Bxa5 (
{or} 19... Ke7 20. Na4 {which leads to 19.Na4}) 20. Na4 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Ke7 22.
Bc5+ Kf7 23. Bb6 Bxb6 24. Nxb6 Re8 25. Ke3 $44 {[%csl Rg6]}) 19... Be7 (19...
Bxc3 20. Bxc3 $14) 20. Bb6 Kf8 {[%cal Gg6e8,Yf8f7] The rook on a4 prevents
White from playing 21.Rd7. Next Black plays Be8-c6 and Kf7, solving all his
problems.}) (18... Bc5 $6 {Now compared with the above game Bocharov-Amonatov
this move leads to a position with a tempo down for Black and therefore is
clearly worse than after 18.Bb6:} 19. Bxc5 Rxc5 20. Rac1 {The pawn on a5 is a
clear achievement for White:} Rc6 (20... Rxa5 21. Na4 $36) ({Probably Black
must defend a slightly inferior position after} 20... Rf8 21. Na4 Rxc1 22. Rxc1
Rf7 $14) 21. Na4 $1) ({And finally} 18... Rc6 $5 {with the idea Bd6 and Ke7
also seems playable. After} 19. Na4 Bd6 20. Rac1 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Ke7 22. Bc5 Be8
23. Bxd6+ Kxd6 24. Nb6 Bb5+ 25. Ke3 e5 {White's plus is insignificant.}) 19.
Bb6 Rf8 $1 {After the previous move this is practically the only way to bring
the king's rook into play. Anand combines two ideas: he either prepares Rf7,
then remove the bishop from e7 and plays Rf7-d7, or Black can also activate
his pieces by advancing the f-pawn.  The evaluation of the position remains
typical for the entire opening variation: White is trying to increase the
pressure and break through; Black is not far away from equality. In fact
Topalov achieved the most White could do in this variation - he prevented
Black from connecting the rooks and bringing the Bg6 into play. In such
positions and especially against White's energetic play Black is practically
walking on the edge and must defend very accurately to avoid a quick disaster.
And Anand typically is using all the defensive resources of Black's position.
However, in the following part of the game both players made some errors and
even bad mistakes. All that should not be regarded as separate episodes, but
rather as a part of a very complex World Championship match. The enormous
tension of such a match is not just an indispensable part of the game; it
often plays the decisive role for the final result. Let's not forget that in
this game both opponents strictly follow their match strategy and try to prove
the correctness of their opening choice. The outcome of such a tough
psychological battle is extremely important and needless to say, it puts an
additional pressure on both opponents.} ({Compared to 18...Bb4, here} 19... Kf8
$2 {is just bad in view of} 20. Rd7 $16) (19... f5 20. e5 Bg5 21. Rd4 $14) 20.
Rac1 (20. Rd2 f5 21. e5 f4 $11 {[%csl Re5][%cal Gf8f5]} (21... Bg5 {is
unnecessary:} 22. Rd4)) 20... f5 {With the rook on c1 Black is tempted to
activate the bishop via g5.} (20... Rf7 {works well in the event of} 21. Na4
Rxc1 22. Rxc1 Bd6 {and Black is close to equality. On the other hand, as
mentioned by GM S.Shipov, after 20...Rf7 Black doesn't want to play 21...Bf8
in view of 22.Na2! Rxc1 23.Rd8+! Ke7 24.Nxc1, with obvious advantage. Thus 21..
.Rf7 can be regarded as a sort of waiting move, after which in some lines the
idea Bf8 and Rd7 might work.}) 21. e5 ({After} 21. Na4 Rxc1 22. Rxc1 fxe4 23.
Rc8+ Kf7 24. Rc7 exf3+ 25. gxf3 Ke8 {[%cal Gg6h5] Black has sufficient for
equality and counterplay and therefore White has little better than to go for
a draw:} (25... Kf6 $5) 26. Rxe7+ ({or} 26. Rc8+ $11) 26... Kxe7 27. Bc5+ Kf7
28. Bxf8 Kxf8 29. Nc5 Ke7 30. Nxb7 e5 31. Nc5 Be8 $11) 21... Bg5 (21... f4 $2
22. Ne4 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Bxe4 (23... Rf5 24. Rc8+ Kf7 (24... Kd7 25. Rc7+ Ke8 26.
Bd4 $18) 25. Bd4 $18) 24. fxe4 $16) 22. Be3 (22. Ra1 $2 Bf4 $132) 22... f4 $6 {
Possibly Anand simply missed White's reply.} ({After} 22... Bxe3 23. Kxe3 f4+
24. Kd4 Ke7 25. Ne4 Bxe4 26. Kxe4 {there is still a long way for Black before
securing a draw, nevertheless this was objectively the right way.}) 23. Ne4 $1
(23. Nb5 $1 {is similar. The knight comes with tempo to d6.}) 23... Rxc1 24.
Nd6+ Kd7 $8 (24... Ke7 25. Bxc1 Rb8 (25... Bc2 26. Rd4 Bb3 27. g3 $1 $18) 26.
Rd4 $18) 25. Bxc1 $16 {With the knight on d6, exposed king and pawn weaknesses
on b7 and f4 White's advantage is obvious.} Kc6 26. Bd2 {Now it is Topalov who
starts to play inaccurately.} ({Stronger is} 26. Rd4 Kc5 (26... b5 27. axb6
Kxb6 28. g3 $18) 27. Rc4+ Kd5 28. Bd2 $5 Kxe5 29. Nxb7 Be7 (29... Rb8 $2 30.
Bc3+ {and mate next}) 30. Rc7 Re8 31. b4 $16) 26... Be7 {Anand rightly feels
that opposite-coloured bishops will offer Black good chances to escape.} 27.
Rc1+ (27. Bb4 $142 Rd8 28. Rd4 $1 Bxd6 29. Bxd6 {and with rooks on the board
Black is still struggling.}) 27... Kd7 (27... Kd5 $2 28. Rc7 Bxd6 29. exd6 Kxd6
30. Rxb7 $16) 28. Bc3 ({Again better is} 28. Bb4 {although now Black has real
chances to draw in variations like} Rd8 ({or} 28... Bxd6 29. Rd1 (29. Bxd6 Rc8
$11) 29... Rd8) 29. Rd1 (29. Nxb7 Rb8 30. Bxe7 Rxb7 31. Ba3 Rb5 $132) 29...
Bxd6 30. Rxd6+ (30. Bxd6 Rc8 $5 31. Bf8+ Ke8 32. Bxg7 Rc5 33. b4 Rc4 $132)
30... Kc8 31. Rxe6 Bf7 32. Re7 (32. Rb6 Bc4+ 33. Ke1 Rd5 34. Bc3 Rb5 35. Rd6
Rd5) 32... Rd7 {with a draw.}) 28... Bxd6 29. Rd1 (29. exd6 Rc8 $11) 29... Bf5
30. h4 (30. Rxd6+ Kc8 {[%cal Gf8d8]} (30... Kc7 31. Bd4 $14)) 30... g6 (30...
Kc7 $142 31. exd6+ (31. Rxd6 Rd8 $11) 31... Kd7 32. Rd4 (32. Bxg7 Rg8) 32...
Rf7 33. Rxf4 Kxd6 $11) 31. Rxd6+ Kc8 32. Bd2 (32. Rd4 h6 33. Bb4 (33. Rxf4 Bd3+
34. Ke3 Rxf4 35. Kxf4 Kd7 $11) 33... Rf7 34. Bd6 (34. Rxf4 Bd3+ 35. Ke3 Rxf4
36. Kxf4 Kd7 37. Bf8 h5 38. Kg5 Ke8 39. Bc5 Kf7 $11) 34... g5 $14) 32... Rd8
33. Bxf4 Rxd6 34. exd6 {Considering the earlier inaccuracies, Topalov has
achieved the most White could: winning the f4-pawn and creating a passer on d6.
The endgame is certainly far from simple, but with accurate defence it's
probably a draw.} Kd7 35. Ke3 Bc2 36. Kd4 Ke8 37. Ke5 Kf7 38. Be3 Ba4 39. Kf4
Bb5 40. Bc5 Kf6 41. Bd4+ Kf7 42. Kg5 Bc6 43. Kh6 Kg8 44. h5 {Vishy has
defended accurately and continues to do so, until blundering on move 54. The
endgame was analysed by Karsten Mueller in the online edition of ChessBase
Magazine and the variations below are based on his analysis.} Be8 (44... gxh5
$2 45. Kxh5 e5 (45... Bd7 46. Be5 Bc6 47. Kh6 $18 {and White wins like in the
game: the bishop comes to g7, the g-pawn goes to g6 and the king breaks
through to e7.}) 46. Bxe5 Be8+ 47. Kh6 Bc6 48. g4 Bd7 49. Kh5 Kf7 50. f4 Ke6
51. Kh6 Kf7 52. f5 Kg8 53. Bd4 Bc8 54. Kg5 Kf7 55. Kf4 Bd7 56. Ke5 Ba4 57. g5
Bd7 58. Be3 Bc8 59. f6 Bh3 60. Kd5 Bd7 61. Kc5 Ke6 62. Bf4 Be8 63. Kb6 Bc6 64.
Kc7 $18) 45. Bc5 (45. g4 gxh5 46. gxh5 Bc6 $11) 45... gxh5 46. Kg5 Kg7 $1 47.
Bd4+ Kf7 48. Be5 (48. Kxh5 Bb5 49. Kh6 Bd3 $11) 48... h4 49. Kxh4 Kg6 50. Kg4
Bb5 51. Kf4 Kf7 52. Kg5 Bc6 $4 {Blundering in the moment when the draw was
closer than ever. Obvioulsy it's because of tiredness and tension. The correct
way is to control/blockade with the king pawn d6 (in order to prevent the
white king to come to e7) and protect the pawn h7 with the bishop.} (52... Bd3
53. Kh6 Ke8 54. Kg7 Kd7 55. g4 Bc2 56. f4 Bg6 57. Kf6 Be4 58. f5 exf5 59. gxf5
Bd3 60. Kg5 h6+ $5 61. Kf6 Bc2 62. Bg3 Bd3 63. Ke5 h5 64. Bh4 Bc4 65. Kd4 (65.
f6 Bf7 66. Bg3 Be6 67. b4 Bf7 68. Kf5 h4 69. Bh2 h3 70. Kg5 Ke6 $11) 65... Bf7
66. Kc5 Bg8 67. Bg3 Bh7 68. f6 Bg8 69. Kb6 Bd5 70. f7 Bxf7 71. Kxb7 Bc4 $11)
53. Kh6 Kg8 54. g4 {Realising what he has done Anand resigned. The game shows
clearly the tremendous difficulty of playing long games under constant
pressure.  This game, together with the next one where Anand missed the
victory more than once, were very tough for Anand. Nevertheless he showed a
great capability to control himself and succeeded ing playing very well the
last game, winning the match and keeping the World Champion title.} ({The game
could continue} 54. g4 Be8 55. g5 Bc6 56. Bg7 Be8 57. f4 {and Black is in
zugzwang. The bishop can't control both d7 and g6 any longer:} Bc6 58. g6 hxg6
59. Kxg6 Be8+ 60. Kf6 Bd7 61. Ke7 $18) 1-0

[Event "World-ch Anand-Topalov +3-2=7"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2010.05.06"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E54"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Giri,A"]
[PlyCount "165"]
[EventDate "2010.04.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{The 9th game was one of the tensest of the championship so far, where we
could see that both players get very tired and nervous. Anand desided to stop
the Catalan debate and used his other weapon - the Nimzo with 4.e3. The
champion was also better prepared and quickly got some edge in a complicated
position with two rooks for queen. Later Topalov had some ways to equalize,
but the position was too complicated. Anand also did not play perfectly.
Nevertheless after the second time control he got winning position (for the
second time in the game), but he erred on move 53 and the game was drawn.
Another disappointment for the World Champion.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 {
Anand refuses the Catalan, which brought him two wins, and opts for another
complicated opening - the Nimzo.} Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 d5 7. O-O {
A very famous position, which was played in other World Championships as well.
Here some very big theory starts, with thousands of games played.} cxd4 {
One of the main moves.} (7... Nc6 8. a3 Bxc3 9. bxc3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Qc7 {and}) (
7... dxc4 8. Bxc4 Nbd7 {are other big main lines.}) 8. exd4 dxc4 9. Bxc4 b6 {
Developing the bishop first, which is much more flexible in this case.} 10. Bg5
Bb7 11. Re1 Nbd7 12. Rc1 Rc8 {So far everything was simple, both players were
developing, but now Anand has a choice - which he already made at home.} 13.
Bd3 {Not forcing anything yet.} (13. Qb3 {is what Kramnik managed to beat
Kasparov with, in London back then in 2000. However, later Black found a way
to deal with it.} Be7 (13... Bxc3 $1 {is safer}) 14. Bxf6 Nxf6 (14... Bxf6 $5)
15. Bxe6 $1 {Is how Kramnik-Kasparov from the other World Championship Match
went.}) 13... Re8 14. Qe2 Bxc3 {Black has already made all useful moves, so
now it is time for this exchange. White get's the bishop pair, but Black is
solid and has an easy development.} 15. bxc3 Qc7 16. Bh4 {Trying to attack the
queen that has just appeared on c7.} (16. c4 {is too early-} h6 $1 {and if} 17.
Bh4 {then} Nh5 $1) 16... Nh5 $1 {Typical way to meet all Bh4's.} 17. Ng5 (17.
Bxh7+ {doesn't work:} Kxh7 18. Ng5+ Kg6 $1 19. g4 $1 Qf4 $1 20. gxh5+ Kh6 {
and Black will take over.}) 17... g6 18. Nh3 $5 $146 {A new move. It seems a
little bit ugly, but White protects the f4-square, which is more important.} ({
Another possible and more logical way of solving the problem is} 18. Qd2 {
but then Black is still able to go to f4, though this time with his queen.} Qf4
$5) (18. Nxh7 $4 Nf4 $1) 18... e5 {This breakthrough seems very good, but in
fact now this pawn is kind of pinned and the pin is actually pretty anoying
for Black.} (18... Qd6 $5 {first, made sense, avoiding f3.} 19. f3 $2 Rxc3 $1)
19. f3 $1 {protecting e4 and bringing the bishop to f2.} Qd6 (19... exd4 20.
Qxe8+ Rxe8 21. Rxe8+ Kg7 22. Bf2 $1) (19... Bd5 $5 20. Qd2 (20. g4 Nhf6 21. Bg3
h5 22. Nf2) 20... Bc4 21. Bb1 Qd6) 20. Bf2 exd4 $6 {Topalov just ignores the
pin and sacrifices his rooks for White's queen. I think it was not needed.} (
20... Nhf6 $1 {Seems much safer and better to me. Now exd4 and also e4 are
threats. I think Black more or less equalizes:} 21. Qb2 exd4 $5 {seems fine
for Black. White knight looks odd on h3, and in case of cxd4 the black knight
will enjoy the d5-square.} (21... e4 $5)) 21. Qxe8+ Rxe8 22. Rxe8+ Nf8 23. cxd4
{White also had an option of taking with the bishop, which was strong, but
Anand decides to go for a safe option.} (23. Bxd4 $1 {Black may try to
transfer one of two knights to e6, but in both cases White will meet it with
Re3 and the bishop will be free to go to e5.} Ng7 (23... Bc6 24. Re3 Ne6 25.
Be5 {And white is better.}) 24. Re3 Nge6 25. Be5 Qc5 26. Rce1 Nd7 27. Bg3 Nf6
28. c4 $1 {and all the threats are neutralized and White's advantage is big
and clear.}) 23... Nf6 24. Ree1 Ne6 25. Bc4 $1 {Very clever. White wants to
play Bg3 without giving up the d4-pawn.} Bd5 26. Bg3 Qb4 $1 {Topalov rightly
decides to enter some complications} (26... Qd7 {was bad due to} 27. Be5 $1)
27. Be5 $1 Nd7 $1 {The point of ...Qb4. Now the position gets complicated, and
it seems that objectively Black is holding, though I may be wrong.} 28. a3 $6 {
Those moves are always nice to make - it seems not to change the position much,
but it offers the opponent a choice and confuses him a bit.} (28. Bxd5 $1 {
however, was objectively stronger.} Nxe5 29. Bxe6 Nd3 $1 30. Rc8+ Kg7 31. Rd1
fxe6 {Now White has a choice: to grab the pawn, or not to and have a better
piece cooperation. White has winning chances in both cases, but I would prefer
to take the pawn.} 32. Rc7+ (32. Rc2 $5 Kf6 $1 {protecting g5. Now White has
nothing better than exchanging the knights} 33. Nf2 Nxf2 34. Kxf2 {and White
has winning chances, but because Black will have a passed pawn on the
queenside I think he should draw this.}) 32... Kf6 33. Rxa7 Qb2 $1 {Protecting
f2 and keeping and eye on a2.} (33... Qxd4+ $6 34. Kh1 Qb2 $2 35. Rd7 $1) 34.
Rf1 $1 Qxd4+ 35. Nf2 h5 36. Ra3 $1 Nxf2 37. Rxf2 h4 {and here White will
slowly unpin and then be having very fine winning chances.}) 28... Qa4 (28...
Qb2 $1 {was equalizing easier, for example} 29. Bxd5 (29. Rb1 Qc3 $1 30. Bxd5
Nxe5 31. Bxe6 Qxd4+ 32. Nf2 Nd3 33. Rf1 Nxf2 34. Bxf7+ Kxf7 35. Rxf2 h5 $1 36.
Rc1 a5 37. g3 h4 {with equality.}) 29... Nxe5 30. Bxe6 Nd3 31. Rc8+ Kg7 32. Rd1
fxe6 33. Rc7+ Kf6 34. Rxa7 Qxd4+ 35. Kh1 h5 {and the difference between the
knights is the reason, why Black holds this position easily.}) 29. Bxd5 Nxe5
30. Bxe6 Qxd4+ $2 {Topalov probably couldn't calculate all the complications
of ...Nd3! till the end and opted for the "safe" option. In fact now Black's
position becomes critical - he is maybe already lost.} ({However the
complications after} 30... Nd3 $1 {are in his favour. Black seems to be equal
in all lines. For example} 31. Rc4 $5 (31. Bxf7+ Kxf7 32. Ng5+ $2 Kg7 33. Rc7+
Kh6 $1 {and it is not the black king, but White, who will be in trouble.})
31... Qxa3 32. Bxf7+ Kxf7 33. Ng5+ Kf6 34. Ne4+ Ke7 35. Rf1 Nf4 36. Rc7+ Kd8
37. Rxh7 Qb2 38. Nf2 Ne2+ 39. Kh1 a5 {with counterplay that is enough for
equality.}) 31. Kh1 fxe6 32. Ng5 $1 {Finally the knight is back!} Qd6 33. Ne4
$2 {Anand decides again not to calculate everything, but to play simple
positional chess.} (33. Rc8+ $1 {was winning immediately!} Kg7 34. Rec1 Kh6 (
34... Qd2 35. R8c7+ Kg8 36. Ne4 {and White wins}) 35. h4 Qd4 (35... Kh5 36. Rh8
h6 37. Re1 $18) 36. g3 $1 Nd7 37. Kg2 $1 {and it is clear that Black is lost.})
33... Qxa3 34. Rc3 Qb2 {Probably not the best square, but without a computer
it is hard to see which square is best and why.} 35. h4 ({The immediate} 35.
Rc8+ $1 {was also possible} Kg7 36. Rc7+ {and Black is losing a pawn - h7 or
a7... or both..}) 35... b5 $2 {I am curious, why Topalov touched this pawn and
not the a-pawn, which fits much more with queen b2.} (35... a5 $5 {was more
logical than pushing the b-pawn, but perhaps it is not quick enough.} 36. Rc8+
Kg7 37. Rc7+ Kg8 38. Rd1 Nd3 $1 39. Rd7 Nc5 40. Ra7 Nd3 41. Kh2 Qe2 42. Rd2 Qe3
43. Nf6+ Kf8 44. Nxh7+ Ke8 45. Nf6+ Kd8 46. Ne4 {and Black's position seems
horrible - but may in fact be holdable..}) ({The clever} 35... Qb4 $5 {is
interesting too}) (35... Nf7 {is safe, but I think Black shouldn't be passive,
and his chance is in pushing the pawn - the a-pawn, not the b one...}) 36. Rc8+
Kg7 37. Rc7+ Kf8 38. Ng5 Ke8 39. Rxh7 {A safe move.} (39. Nxe6 $1 {was winning,
for example} Nxf3 $5 40. Rd1 $1 Nd2 41. Rxa7 $1 Qe5 42. Rxh7 $3 Qxe6 43. Ra1 $1
Qc6 44. Ra8+ $1 {and after playing five moves in a row with an exclamation
mark White wins!}) 39... Qc3 40. Rh8+ $2 {Anand lets the black king escape, on
the famous 40th move. Probably Anand thought, that Black has to repeat the
moves, missing 41...Nd3! after 41.Rd1.} (40. Re2 {was winning for White. Black
has no perpetuals whatsoever, and White will eventually get to Black's king.
For example} b4 41. Nxe6 b3 42. Kh2 $1 a5 43. Rc7 Qa1 44. Rb7 Qc3 45. Rb5 Nc4
46. Rb8+ $1 Ke7 47. Rxb3 $1 Qxb3 48. Nd4+ Qe3 49. Rxe3+ Nxe3 50. Nc6+ {winning.
That was, of course, just one of the possible lines.}) (40. Re4 {would win as
well}) 40... Kd7 41. Rh7+ (41. Rd1+ Nd3 $1 {could be, what Anand missed.})
41... Kc6 42. Re4 {Even though the black king is out of the dangerous zone,
his position is still tricky and difficult to play.} b4 $6 ({The immediate} 
42... Kb6 $1 {is much stronger, e6 is untouchable due to ...Nxf3! while Kb6 is
neccesary in any case.} 43. Re7 Nc6 44. R7xe6 b4 45. Nf7 Ka5 $1 {and it will
eventually finish in a draw.}) 43. Nxe6 Kb6 44. Nf4 Qa1+ (44... Qc1+ $1 {
was drawing in a study like way:} 45. Kh2 Nc6 46. Rh6 b3 47. Rxg6 Qd2 $3 (47...
b2 $2 48. Nd3 b1=Q 49. Nxc1 Qxc1 50. Ree6 $18) 48. Rc4 b2 49. Rgxc6+ Kb7 50.
Rc7+ Kb8 51. Rc8+ Kb7 52. R4c7+ Ka6 $1 {with a draw. Strangely enough White
can't get anything more.}) 45. Kh2 a5 46. h5 gxh5 {Now it's over for Black
again.} (46... g5 $5 {was perhaps stronger, but it is not clear if it was
enough to save the game. However, over the board it is not clear if it is
better than gxh5, so we should forgive Topalov.}) 47. Rxh5 Nc6 48. Nd5+ Kb7 49.
Rh7+ Ka6 50. Re6 Kb5 51. Rh5 Nd4 52. Nb6+ $1 {Nice check, forcing the black
king to stay inside the mate zone. Now White is totally winning, for about the
third time in this game...} Ka6 53. Rd6 Kb7 54. Nc4 $6 {Making things a bit
more complicated, though White is still winning.} (54. Nd5 $1 {centralizing
the knight was much simpler, and Black can resign.}) 54... Nxf3+ 55. gxf3 Qa2+
56. Nd2 Kc7 57. Rhd5 $6 {Again an inaccuracy:} (57. Rhh6 $1 {was stronger.
White will play Kg3 and Ne4 and mate Black.}) 57... b3 58. Rd7+ Kc8 59. Rd8+
Kc7 60. R8d7+ Kc8 61. Rg7 $1 {Here all Anand's fan were relieved again - he
seemed to have found a win. But...} a4 62. Rc5+ $6 {Okay, just repeating the
moves, nothing wrong yet...} (62. Rdd7 a3 63. Kg3 Qa1 64. Rc7+ Kb8 65. Rb7+ Kc8
66. Nxb3 Qg1+ 67. Kf4 Qh2+ 68. Ke3 Qe5+ 69. Kf2 Qh2+ 70. Kf1 Qh3+ 71. Ke2 Qh2+
72. Kd3) 62... Kb8 63. Rd5 Kc8 64. Kg3 $2 {This and the quick next move give
away the win for the last time in this game. But to be honest, it wasn't so
easy anymore, especially for someone, who played for some five to six hours
already. And, well, White had easier wins earlier in this game...} (64. Rdd7 {
was an easy move, but the win wasn't easy to calculate:} a3 65. Kg3 Qa1 66. Ra7
Qg1+ (66... Qe5+ 67. f4 Qe1+ 68. Kf3 Qh1+ 69. Kf2 Qh2+ 70. Ke3 $18) 67. Kh3
Qh1+ 68. Kg4 Qg1+ 69. Kf5 Qc5+ 70. Ke4 Qb4+ 71. Kd3 Qd6+ 72. Kc3 Qe5+ 73. Kxb3
Qb2+ 74. Kc4 Qc2+ 75. Kb5 Qb2+ 76. Kc5 Qe5+ 77. Kb4 Qd6+ 78. Kc3 Qe5+ 79. Kc2
Qc5+ 80. Kd1 {And the king managed to hide. Black had other possibilities of
checks, but White always manages to hide somewhere.}) 64... Qa1 65. Rg4 $2 (65.
Rdd7 {was probably still winning, but Anand played Rg4 almost instantly.} Qe1+
66. Kg4 $1 {and I will just trust my Fritz, who says that White is winning...})
65... b2 {Now it is already over, Black will draw easily.} 66. Rc4+ Kb7 67. Kf2
b1=Q 68. Nxb1 Qxb1 69. Rdd4 {Black doesn't need his pawn to make a draw.} Qa2+
70. Kg3 a3 71. Rc3 Qa1 72. Rb4+ Ka6 73. Ra4+ Kb5 74. Rcxa3 Qg1+ {With rooks on
a3 and a4, it is obvious that there is a perpetual check.} 75. Kf4 Qc1+ 76. Kf5
Qc5+ 77. Ke4 Qc2+ 78. Ke3 Qc1+ 79. Kf2 Qd2+ 80. Kg3 Qe1+ 81. Kf4 Qc1+ 82. Kg3
Qg1+ 83. Kf4 {A very comlicated game, full of fight, but also mistakes.}
1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Anand-Topalov +3-2=7"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2010.05.07"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D87"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Giri,A"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2010.04.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{In tenth game Anand, who played Black, decided that he has suffered enough in
the Slav and went for the Grunfeld, as he did in game one. Topalov again chose
the main line with 7.Bc4, but this time Anand surprised him with the rare 10...
b6!?. The World Champion quickly equalized after mutual inaccuracies, but then
when there was no need, he went into a worse endgame. I couldn't find a win
for Topalov, but it all didn't look not so funny for Anand. At the end Topalov
lost track and it was he who had to make a draw.} 1. d4 Nf6 $1 {Yes! Anand
tried all posibilities in the Slav endgame, where in all games he had to
suffer, but in all games he achieved draws (though one he lost due to blunder).
Now his team apparently managed to recover the sharp and tricky Grunfeld!} 2.
c4 g6 $1 (2... c6 $4 {Luckily 1...Nf6 wasn't a joke from Anand, who here could
have still gone back to Slav!}) 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7
7. Bc4 O-O 8. Ne2 c5 9. Be3 Nc6 10. O-O {This position was instantly reached
by both players. We saw it in game one, so it was obvious that Anand's
improvements is coming.} b6 $5 {But I couldn't expect the improvement to come
so quickly! Anand, as he did in his other black games, deviates very early - a
very interesting strategy. The move is a very rare one, which is not seen
recently in the top levels of chess. Not suprisingly Topalov was out of his
preparation already here!} (10... Na5 11. Bd3 b6 12. Qd2 e5 13. Bh6) (10... Bg4
11. f3 Na5) 11. Qd2 {Played pretty quickly... I guess Topalov trusted Anand on
the main and in my opinion more critical capture of the pawn and decided to
play solid and positional.} (11. dxc5 {as I said, is in my opinion the
critical continuation. I guess Anand's analysis start with} Qc7 $1) 11... Bb7
12. Rac1 {I think White should try to trade dark squared bishops with Bh6, but
it is not so easy to achieve without the preparatory Rac1 and Rfd1, which lose
some time. This is the advantage of this line compared to Na5, which was
played in game one: now d4 is under pressure.} (12. Rad1 {seems more natural
with the idea Bh6, but in fact White has no time to start any attack:} cxd4 (
12... Rc8 $5) 13. cxd4 Rc8 14. Bh6 Bxh6 (14... Ne5 $5) 15. Qxh6 Nb4 $1 {
covering the d3-square and thus taking over the initiative.}) 12... Rc8 13.
Rfd1 (13. e5 {seemed interesting to me at first, but Black quickly starts his
counterplay with} cxd4 14. cxd4 Na5 15. Bd3 Qd7 {preparing the exchange of
both rooks.}) 13... cxd4 {Anand plays logical and simple chess. His plan is to
develop everything and maybe exchange rooks.} (13... e5 {is interesting, but
not so simple:} 14. d5 (14. dxc5 Qxd2 15. Rxd2 Na5 16. Bd3 bxc5 {should be
slightly better for White, but nothing special.}) 14... Na5 15. Bd3 {and now
Black wants c4 and f5-f4. Then he will regroup his pieces and perhaps even
enjoy some advantage. However he is not in time to achieve everything:} f5 (
15... c4 16. Bc2 f5 17. Bg5 $1 Qd7 18. exf5 gxf5 19. Ng3 $1) 16. Bg5 $1 Qd7 17.
c4 $1) 14. cxd4 {White would like to attack: Bh6, change the bishops and then
try to get to Black's king. However it won't be possible, because Black is
ready to distract him.} Qd6 $5 {Provoking e5, which I at first thought White
wants to play anyway. However, White has no time to start the attack, and then
the disadvantage of the move - the weakness of the d5-square - will tell.} (
14... e6 {seems more logical to me, but Anand (and his seconds!?) thought that
...Qd6 is better.} 15. Bh6 (15. e5 Na5 16. Bd3 Qd7) 15... Na5 (15... Qh4 $5 16.
Bxg7 Kxg7 17. f3 Rfd8) 16. Bd3 Qe7 17. h4) 15. d5 {This move probably took
Anand out of his preparation. White advances in the centre and his plans
depend on where black knight goes.} (15. e5 $5 Qd7 (15... Qb4 {as what I
thought, was Black's idea, but here White has a strong move:} 16. Rc3 $1 {
the idea being that} Nxe5 $2 {doesn't work due to} 17. Bxf7+ $1 Nxf7 18. Rxc8
Qxd2 19. Rxf8+ $1 {The point.}) 16. e6 $5 {has already been played in a game
by two amateurs. I must say I like this move very much, but probably Black is
fine:} (16. Bh6 $2 Nxe5 $1 17. dxe5 Qg4) (16. Bd3 Na5 {is fine for Black})
16... fxe6 17. Nf4 Nd8 $1 (17... Rxf4 {was played in that game, but Black does
not have enough compensation after} 18. Bxf4 Nxd4 19. Bf1 $1) 18. Qe2 {and
White is planning Qg4 and h4-h5. Also d5 may sometimes be an option. I think
Black can deal with those threats by playing} (18. h4 $4 {is logical but fails
to the beautiful tactic} Rxf4 $1 19. Bxf4 Rxc4 $1 20. Rxc4 Qd5 $19) 18... Qd6
19. Qg4 Be4 $1 {and if} 20. h4 {then the non-standard} (20. Bxe6+ Nxe6 21.
Qxe6+ Qxe6 22. Nxe6 Rfe8 $11) (20. a4 {is too slow} Kh8 21. h4 Bf6 22. h5 Bf5
23. Qf3 g5 $1) 20... Bf5 21. Qe2 h5 $1 {and now that e6 and g6 are well
protected, Black is able to get his knight back into play and take over the
initiative.}) (15. Bh6 {is logical. I guess Anand planned} Qb4 $1 {Now White
doesn't have a way to keep his advantage without trading queens, but the
arising ending, should also be good for Black.} 16. Qxb4 (16. Qe3 Na5 17. Bd3
Nc4 {with counterplay}) (16. Rc3 Nxd4 $1 {This trick leads to a draw by force:}
17. Nxd4 Rxc4 18. Rxc4 Qxc4 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Nf5+ $1 {beautiful, but it only
secures the perpetual} ({Another beautiful line is} 20. Rc1 Qa4 21. Rc7 Rc8 $1
22. Rxb7 Qxa2 $3 23. Nf5+ $1 gxf5 24. Qg5+ Kh8 25. h3 {with some advantage for
Black.}) 20... gxf5 21. Qg5+ Kh8 22. Qxe7 Qc8 23. Qf6+ Kg8 24. Qg5+ Kh8 25.
Qf6+ {with perpetual.}) 16... Nxb4 17. Bg5 $5 Rfe8 18. a3 (18. f3 $5) 18... h6
$1 (18... Nc6 $2 19. d5 Na5 20. Bb5) 19. Bh4 g5 $1) 15... Na5 {This move is
simpler. He now wants to break up the white centre with ...e6 (or ...f5!?) and
White is unable to avoid that.} (15... Ne5 {is possible, but more risky and
complicated} 16. Bb3 Ng4 (16... Ba6 $5) 17. Bf4 Be5 18. g3 $5 {is very
creative and interesting. It almost forces} (18. Bxe5 Qxe5 19. Ng3) 18... Bxf4
19. gxf4 {with a scary looking pawn mass. The position is unclear, though I
would prefer being White here.}) 16. Bb5 $1 {Clever move, trying to avoid e6.}
(16. Bd3 {is toothless. Black easily gets comfortable play with} e6 17. Bf4 Be5
(17... Qd7 $5 {is also possible} 18. Nc3 Rc5 $1) 18. Bxe5 (18. Bh6 Rxc1 19.
Rxc1 Rc8) 18... Qxe5 19. dxe6 Qxe6) 16... Rxc1 (16... e6 $2 {is bad due to} 17.
dxe6 Qxe6 18. Bd7 Qxe4 19. f3 $1 {winning the exchange.}) 17. Rxc1 Rc8 $2 {
A logical follow-up, but I think it is inaccurate. Black should have played e6
as quickly as possible.} (17... e6 $1 {I don't know how White can get anything
here, for example} 18. Bf4 {is answered with} Be5 19. Bxe5 Qxe5 20. Nc3 Rc8 $1
{with the idea} 21. dxe6 (21. d6 Rd8 22. Rd1 Bc6 $11) 21... Qxe6 22. Bd7 Rd8 $1
) (17... f5 $5 {was perhaps also possible, but too tricky.}) 18. h3 $2 {
Forgiving Anand for his inaccurate last move.} (18. Rxc8+ Bxc8 19. Nd4 $1 {
as a logical way to prevent ...e6. Now White has a pleasant advantage, though
Black should hold this position.} a6 {is probably the best:} (19... e6 {
is logical, but White is not forced to take on e6 and may get an advantage with
} 20. Qc1 $5 (20. Be2 $5 {is simpler and also nice for White} exd5 21. Nb5 $1)
20... Bd7 21. Nc6 exd5 22. Bf4 $1) (19... Bd7 {I don't like. The arising
endgame is dangerous for Black:} 20. Bxd7 (20. Qd3 $5 {is also possible and
gives White some advantage after} Bxd4 21. Bxd4 Bxb5 22. Qxb5 f6) 20... Qxd7
21. Nc6 $1 Nxc6 22. dxc6 Qxd2 (22... Qxc6 $4 23. Qd8+ Bf8 24. Bh6 $18 {is the
trick.}) 23. Bxd2 Be5 24. f4 Bb8 25. Kf2 Kf8 26. Kf3 Ke8 27. e5 Kd8 28. Ke4 {
and Black needs just one extra tempo to play e6 and Kc7, but he is not in time:
} Kc7 29. Bb4 $1 {and maybe Black holds this, but the ending is not easy for
him, to say the least.}) 20. Be2 e6 $1 21. dxe6 fxe6 22. a4 $1 {fixing the b6-
and a6-pawn and securing slight but pleasant advantage.}) 18... Rxc1+ {Now
Anand is easily equalizing} (18... e6 $2 {immediately blunders a pawn:} 19.
Rxc8+ Bxc8 20. dxe6 $1 Qxd2 21. exf7+ $1) 19. Qxc1 e6 (19... f5 $5 {is also
possible; now White can transpose to the game or play sharp} 20. Nd4 $5 (20. f3
fxe4 21. fxe4 e6 {transposes to the game}) 20... Bxd4 $1 (20... f4 $2 {looks
clever and smart, but it is in fact bad due to} 21. Bxf4 Qb4 22. Ne6 $1 Qxb5
23. Qc7 {and white is dominating.}) (20... fxe4 21. Nc6 $1 {with advantage})
21. Bxd4 Qb4 {and it is a draw.} 22. Bc3 $5 {setting a small trap:} (22. Qa1
Qxb5 23. Bh8 Kf7 24. a4 Qc5 25. Qg7+ Ke8 26. Qg8+ Kd7 27. Qe6+ Kd8 28. Qg8+ $11
) (22. Qc7 Qxd4 23. Qd8+ Kg7 24. Qxe7+ Kh6 25. Qh4+ Kg7 $11) 22... Qxe4 $1 (
22... Qxb5 $2 23. Qh6 $1 Kf7 24. Qxh7+ Ke8 25. Qxg6+ Kd8 26. Qxf5 $16 {Falling
into a trap is almost never good..}) 23. Bxa5 bxa5 24. Bc6 Qb4 25. Qe3 {
with equal position.}) 20. Nf4 exd5 21. Nxd5 f5 {Nice move. Black is already
doing very fine.} (21... Qe5 {is also possible, with the idea to send the
queen to a1.} 22. Bd3 f5 (22... Qa1 $5) 23. Qc2 $5 (23. Bf4 Qa1 $1 {with a
nice endgame for Black.}) 23... h6 $5 {Now the piece is hanging and Black has
equalized.} 24. f4 Qd6 25. Bf2 Bxd5 26. exd5 Qxf4 (26... Qxd5 27. g4 $1 $11)
27. g4 $5 Bd4 28. Qc8+ Kh7 29. Qd7+ Kg8 30. Qe8+ Kg7 31. Qe7+ Kg8 {with
perpetual check.}) 22. f3 {I actually thought, that it was a mistake to let
Black exchange f-pawns and give him the nice e5-square. In fact the position
is equal anyway.} (22. Bf4 {is not giving White anything:} Qc5 (22... Be5 23.
Bxe5 Qxe5 24. Qg5 $1 Kg7 {is also equal, but it looks scary for Black after
let's say} 25. Qd8 fxe4 26. Qd7+ Kh8 27. Ne7) 23. Qxc5 bxc5 {with equality.})
22... fxe4 23. fxe4 Qe5 24. Bd3 Nc6 $6 {Allowing a small trick. But I can
understand how much Anand wanted to bring back his knight, which has been on
the edge for such a long time.} (24... Bxd5 $5 {is actually a good move.
Black's idea is not to win the pawn, but to get some blockade on dark squares.}
25. exd5 Bf8 $1 (25... Qxd5 26. Qc8+ $11) 26. Bf1 Nb7 {and it will be White
who will have to beg for the draw.} (26... Kf7 $5)) (24... Qa1 {still remains
my favourite.}) 25. Ba6 $1 {Nice trick, which doesn't give White anything
objectively, but confused Anand.} Nd4 $2 {This move only looks tricky and
entertaining. In fact it only leads to a worse ending. I guess Vishy thought
that the arising endgame is easily drawn, so he didn't bother calculating ...
Bxa6. But in fact the endgame is very difficult for Black, and he has to
suffer.} (25... Bxa6 $1 {leads to a draw and I guess, if Anand would know that
there are some real problems in the ending he got, he could easily calculate
this move until a draw.} 26. Qxc6 Qa1+ 27. Kh2 (27. Bc1 Bb7 $5 28. Qe6+ Kf8 29.
Qe7+ Kg8 $11) 27... Be5+ 28. Bf4 (28. Nf4 Qc3 {and white can give perpetual,
but nothing more.}) 28... Bxf4+ 29. Nxf4 Qe5 30. Qa8+ Kg7 31. Qxa7+ Kg8 32. g3
Qb2+ 33. Ng2 Bf1 {and again White is forced to give perpetual check.}) 26. Qc4
$1 Bxd5 27. Qxd5+ Qxd5 28. exd5 Be5 {Black gets some blockade, but White also
has his own ideas. First he brings his king into the center.} 29. Kf2 Kf7 30.
Bg5 Nf5 31. g4 Nd6 32. Kf3 Ne8 {The beginning of a suspicious plan. Maybe
Black should have kept the knight where it is and also his queenside pawns on
their places. It is not for nothing that they say that knight is the best
blockading piece... But well, to be honest I don't see a clear way for Black
to draw... Neither did Vishy and maybe that's why he decided to do at least
something.} ({One way to play is} 32... Bf6 33. Bf4 Ke7 {and it seems to be
that if White allows Black to play g5 and h6 it will be a fortress. So} 34. g5
$1 Bd4 $5 {setting a trap..} 35. Bd3 $1 (35. h4 {would be giving White a big
advantage, but Black has a strong idea:} b5 $1 36. Kg4 Bc5 37. h5 Bd4 {with
fortress (if I am not mistaken...)}) (35. a4 Nf7 {and Black is holding. The
fact that the pawn is already on a4 is to Black's advantage.}) 35... Nf7 36.
Bc2 {And maybe Black is drawing this, but White still has h4-h5 ideas so the
game is not over.}) 33. Bc1 Nc7 {As I already said, the knight probably
doesn't belong here. But on the other hand if it stays on d6 White will slowly
push the pawns on kingside, and then once a weakness on g6 is created, he can
exchange dark squared bishops.} 34. Bd3 Bd6 35. Ke4 b5 {A weakening move, it
weakens the pawns and the c5-square. But again as I said, waiting moves do not
bring joy either.} 36. Kd4 a6 37. Be2 {Topalov doesn't hurry.} Ke7 38. Bg5+ Kd7
39. Bd2 Bg3 {Trying to avoid h4-h5, but White also has other ideas, like g5,
Bg4-e6(c8)} (39... Na8 $5 {transfering the knight to... somewhere interesting.}
40. h4 Nb6 41. h5 (41. g5 $5 Na4 42. Bg4+ Ke7 43. Bc8 Nc5 {and thanks to the
trick} 44. Bb4 Ne6+ $1 {Black holds.}) 41... Na4 42. g5 Ba3 {and thanks to
some odd tricky checks from c5 or b2 Black holds his g-pawn. But White has a
lot of possibilities here and can try to trick Black.}) 40. g5 $1 Bf2+ 41. Ke5
{Just losing a tempo. But of course it is tempting to play such a move.} (41.
Ke4 $1 {was more precise. But I think with precise play Black is still able to
hold this position.} Bc5 $1 {I think Black should give up his dreams to stop
h4-h5.} (41... Ne8 42. Bg4+ Ke7 43. Bb4+ Nd6+ 44. Kf4 Bg1 {otherwise Be6 is
coming} 45. h4 {and h5 is coming, after which White has a choice to play h6 ,
exchange on g6 or just stay on h5. Black is may be holding, but it is hard to
believe. Actually I think, White should push h5 and then Be6-g8-xh7 should
give him a winning advantage for example:} (45. Be6 Ke8 $1) (45. Bc8 $2 a5 $1
$11) 45... Bf2 46. h5 Bg1 47. Be6 gxh5 48. Bg8 Bh2+ 49. Kf3 Kf8 50. Bxh7 Kg7
51. Bc2 Be5 52. Be1 Kf7 53. Kg2 Ne8 54. Kh3 Ng7 55. Kh4 Bd4 56. Bb4 Bf2+ 57.
Kh3 Bd4 58. Kg3 {and Black eventually cracks.}) 42. h4 b4 $1 {Black's idea now
is Nb5!-c3. Did Anand see it and that's why played Ne8-c5 and b5, a6??} 43. h5
Ke7 44. hxg6 hxg6 45. Bd3 Nb5 $1 46. Kf4 Nc3 {probably is a draw.}) 41... Bg3+
$1 42. Ke4 (42. Kf6 {seems good, but Black draws with} Nxd5+ 43. Kg7 Bf4 $1 44.
Bxf4 Nxf4 45. Bg4+ Kd6 46. Kxh7 Ke5 47. h4 a5 48. Kh6 b4 49. Bd1 (49. Bd7 Ke4)
49... Kf5 50. Kg7 Nh3 51. Kh6 Nf4 $11) 42... Ne8 43. Bg4+ Ke7 44. Be6 {A bad
move, but I don't see any way for White to win anymore.} ({For example} 44. Kf3
Bd6 (44... Nd6 {looks good, but White is not forced to take the bishop and
after} 45. Bb4 $1 {Black is pinned, but maybe... maybe he still holds here as
well! To be honest I am unable to analyze it to the end.}) 45. Ba5 $5 {trying
to be tricky.} (45. Bc8 Nc7 46. Ke4 (46. Ba5 Nxd5 47. Bxa6 Bb4 $1 48. Bxb4+
Nxb4 49. Bxb5 Nxa2 $11) 46... b4 $1 47. Bb7 a5 48. Bc6 Na6 $1 {jumping back
into the game!} 49. Kd4 Nc5 50. Be1 Kf7 {and I don't see how White can make
progress.}) 45... Bc7 $1 (45... Nc7 46. Ke4 $1 {and b4, a5 is not possible.})
46. Bc3 a5 47. Be6 b4 48. Bd4 Nd6 49. Bf6+ (49. Bg8 Kf8 $1 50. Bxh7 Kf7 $11)
49... Kf8 50. Ke3 a4 51. Kd3 b3 52. axb3 axb3 53. Be5 Ne8 54. Bb2 Bf4 55. Kc4
Bxg5 56. Kxb3 Nd6 {with a draw.}) 44... Nd6+ 45. Kf3 Nc4 $1 {Anand uses the
opportunity to suddenly activate his pieces.} (45... Be5 46. Bb4 {was probably,
what Topalov was hoping for, but as I said earlier, even this may be holdable.}
) 46. Bc1 (46. Kxg3 Nxd2 {is of no danger for Black. For example:} 47. Bg8 Kf8
48. Bxh7 Kg7 49. Kf4 Nc4 50. Bxg6 Kxg6 51. h4 b4 52. Ke4 a5 53. Kd4 Nd6 54. Kc5
Ne4+ 55. Kb5 Nc3+ 56. Kxa5 Nxa2 57. d6 b3 58. d7 b2 59. d8=Q b1=Q {and it is
still a draw.}) (46. Bb4+ Bd6 47. Bc3 Be5 $11) 46... Bd6 47. Ke4 a5 48. Bg4 Ba3
49. Bxa3+ (49. Bf4 Bd6 50. Bc1 {is already the best White can do.}) 49... Nxa3
{In this ending it is only White who has to be careful.} 50. Ke5 Nc4+ 51. Kd4
Kd6 52. Be2 Na3 53. h4 Nc2+ 54. Kc3 Nb4 55. Bxb5 (55. Kb3 Kc5 56. d6 {would
lead to a draw as well, but White doesn't have to make it here.}) 55... Nxa2+
56. Kb3 Nb4 57. Be2 $1 Nxd5 58. h5 {White of course makes a draw, but it is
remarkable after seeing the whole game, that it is he who has to go for it.}
Nf4 59. hxg6 $1 hxg6 60. Bc4 {No Sofia rule can forbid players to agree a draw
in this position. Another draw, but this time it was Anand who was a little
bit more lucky.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Anand-Topalov +3-2=7"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2010.05.09"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Giri,A"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2010.04.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{In today's game Anand went for the English Opening (1.c4) and managed to get
a slight advantage. But then due to some very slight and unabvious
inaccuracies he was left without any constructive plan. After that Topalov not
only equalized, but also took over the initiative in the endgame. It seemed
that Anand would hold easily, and he indeed did. But then all of a sudden the
World Champion decided to try his luck and gave away a pawn for some activity.
Objectively Anand was in a great danger, but in order to get some real winning
chances Topalov had to find a sequence of abstract computer moves. Not
suprisingly he didn't and the game ended in a draw.} 1. c4 {Anand in his last
white game (of the classical chess part at least) decided not to enter any
main theoretical lines and just get some positional position.} e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3.
Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 {One of the main moves.} ({Recently} 4... Nd4 {has become
very, simplifying the position a little.} 5. Bg2 Nxf3+ 6. Bxf3) (4... Bc5 {and}
) (4... Bb4 {are main alternatives}) 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 {Black has to
remove the knight from the centre to have control over the d4 square and in
order not to give away the e-pawn.} (6... Be7 $2 7. Nxe5 $1) 7. O-O Be7 8. a3 {
White first gets some space advantage on the queenside, and only later decides
to develop. Well, why not?} (8. Rb1 $5 {is even more tricky and clever}) ({
while} 8. d3 {is more consevative.}) 8... O-O {I remember in his game against
Vallejo, Topalov went for ...g5 in a similar position. Now the position is a
little bit different, but also the situation is not the same...} (8... g5 {
here allows} 9. d4 $1) 9. b4 Be6 10. d3 {White can't avoid making this move.}
f6 ({Another main option is} 10... a5 11. b5 Nd4 12. Nd2 {and here Black has a
fine position, as long as he doesn't play} Nd5 $4 {which is punished by} 13.
Bxd5 $1 Bxd5 14. e3 Ne6 15. e4 {winning a piece - which is too much for a
World Championship match.}) (10... Nd4 {is also an option.}) 11. Ne4 $5 {
Not the main move, but a very clever one. White is planning Nc5 and remains
flexible with his queenside development.} Qe8 $5 {The queen frees the
d8-square for the rook and herself goes to f7 or h5.} (11... Qd7 {was played
much more often.}) (11... a5 {is also interesting, now after} 12. Nc5 (12. b5
Nd4 13. Nxd4 exd4 {should be fine for Black}) 12... Bxc5 13. bxc5 Nd5 {Black
wants to push his pawn to a4 and get a nice outpost for his pieces on b3.
However a pawn on a4 also has it's disadvantages and the b3 square can be
covered with the knight from d2 if needed.}) 12. Nc5 $146 {A new move, but the
position was played only once, so it is hard not to make a novelty here.} ({
I would actually think that it would be more flexible to play} 12. Rb1) ({or} 
12. Qc2 $5) 12... Bxc5 13. bxc5 Nd5 14. Bb2 (14. Bd2 {was another option, so
that White has a free b-file, but now the bishop is on the odd diagonal and
will not be supporting d4 later.}) 14... Rd8 15. Qc2 Nde7 $1 {Good regrouping.
Now the bishop can go to d5 and Black has a very solid position while White's
two bishops are not really important yet.} 16. Rab1 (16. d4 {to open the
diagonals for the bishops is not dangerous:} exd4 17. Rfd1 Bd5 {is a safe way
to equalize} ({while} 17... Nf5 {is more adventurous.} 18. g4 $1 Nh6 19. h3 f5
$1 20. g5 Nf7 21. h4 Bd5)) 16... Ba2 $1 {Why not distract a rook of the World
Champion himself?} 17. Rbc1 Qf7 18. Bc3 Rd7 {With idea to give the other rook
some freedom on the 8th rank.} 19. Qb2 Rb8 {I don't like this move. I think
Black will play b6 anyway one day, so why to wait, until White is fully ready
for that?} (19... b6 {is fine and good in my opinion. Black will then double
on d-file, put his bishop on d5 and then think what to do next.}) 20. Rfd1 Be6
(20... Bd5 {is not good due to} 21. e4 $1 Be6 22. d4 $1 {and the position
opens up with an advantage for White.}) 21. Rd2 {White plans Qb1 and Rb2,
which I like. But now the bishop on c3 has no squares to run in case it is
attacked, which I don't like...} (21. e4 $2 {is now too slow because of} Bg4 $1
) ({while} 21. Qb1 $5 {is possible, preparing Rd2, but not allowing Black to
exchange the c3 bishop.}) 21... h6 $6 {To be honest, I don't like this move,
not only because Black can change a knight for the bishop instead, but also
because for me it seems like a weakening move, since I don't think that Black
is planning ...g5 or ...f5.} (21... Nd5 $5 {To exchange a bishop seems logical
to me - I don't see problems for Black after that. Only thing he has to do is
to prepare b6 when b7 will be attacked.}) 22. Qb1 {Anand is patient and
doesn't want to simplify the position, even if it leads to some advantage for
him. He threatens d4, and also Rb2 now becomes and option.} (22. e4 $5 {
with the idea d4 was already possible. I think White would get a slight
advantage after} Bg4 {(what else?)} 23. d4 Bxf3 24. Bxf3 exd4 25. Bxd4 Nxd4 (
25... Rbd8 $6 26. Bc3 Ne5 27. Be2 Rxd2 28. Bxd2 Nd3 $2 {fails to} 29. Qc2 $1
Nxc1 30. Bc4) 26. Rxd4 Rxd4 27. Qxd4 Nc6 28. Qc3 {and the position would be
better for White anyway. But now h6 also proves to be clearly weakening.})
22... Nd5 {Allowing White to regroup nicely. But Black's position remains
solid.} (22... Qh5 $5 {Trying to fight with d4 is better. Now White has a lot
of options:} 23. d4 {is still possible, though now White has to sacrifece a
pawn or exchange one of his two nice bishops.} ({Perhaps better is} 23. Rb2 $5
b6) ({or} 23. a4 $5 Bh3 24. Bh1 {In both cases White must be slightly better
due to the queenside pressure.}) 23... exd4 24. Nxd4 Nxd4 25. Rxd4 $5 (25. Bxd4
Rbd8 26. e3 Bd5 {exchanging the important bishop.}) 25... Rxd4 26. Bxd4 Qxe2
27. Re1 Qc4 28. Be3 {with some compensation.}) (22... b6 {was an option, but
then why is the rook on b8?} 23. cxb6 (23. Rb2 $5 Rbd8 24. Qc2 $5 Bd5 25. Qa4
Kh8 26. Bb4 {with some pressure, but no threat..}) 23... axb6 24. d4 $1 {
is definetely an option and after} Nxd4 25. Nxd4 exd4 26. Rxd4 Rxd4 27. Bxd4 {
White has two bishops and some edge.}) 23. Rb2 $1 (23. Ba1 Nde7 24. d4 Rbd8 $1
{and now d2 is not protected. That was probably the idea of Topalov.}) 23... b6
({After} 23... Nxc3 24. Rxc3 {Black has no comfortable way to protect the b7
soldier.}) 24. cxb6 ({The immediate} 24. Bd2) ({or} 24. Be1 $5 {made sense and
in my opinion were more clever.}) 24... cxb6 {Now Black can forget about the
weakness on c7.} (24... axb6 {was also possible, but after} 25. Be1 (25. Bd2)
25... Nde7 26. Rbc2 (26. a4 $5) 26... Rd6 27. Bb4 Nxb4 28. axb4 c6 {White has
some pleasant pressure on c6 and later on the a-file and the b6-pawn.}) 25. Bd2
{Strange, but I think it is in fact an inaccuracy. Now Black has an
opportunity to get a powerfull construction: rook d6 and queen d7.} (25. Be1 $1
{was more precise the idea being} Rd6 ({best is probably} 25... Nde7 26. Rbc2 (
26. a4 $5 Rc8 27. Rbc2 Rdd8 {and White has some pressure, though Black is
solid and should be fine.}) 26... Rd6 27. Bb4 Nxb4 28. axb4 (28. Qxb4 $5) 28...
Rc8 {and White has a clearly better version than what he got in the game. But
still, Black is very solid.}) (25... Rc7 {is a possibility, but White is
clearly better after} 26. e4 $1 Nde7 27. d4 $1 exd4 28. Nxd4 Bc4 $1 29. Rd2 {
with his two bishops and better pawn structure.}) 26. Nd2 $1 {and the rook
will be kicked out of d6.}) 25... Rd6 26. Rbc2 (26. Be1 {was still interesting,
with the idea of Nd2.}) (26. a4 {is also a possible, keeping in mind some a5
ideas.}) 26... Qd7 {Now Black has a very solid formation, and it is hard for
White to find a plan.} 27. h4 {Maybe a useful move, but maybe waste of time} ({
Something like} 27. Qb2 Rd8 28. Be1 {threatening d4} Nde7 {and now} 29. Bb4 {
is again a better version of the game.} Nxb4 30. axb4 Rc6 31. Rxc6 Nxc6 32. Ng5
$5 hxg5 33. Rxc6 {and after b5 White will enjoy a small but pleasant advantage.
}) 27... Rd8 28. Qb5 (28. Qb2 {immediately makes sense, since I don't think ...
Nde7 is a bad move. However, it allows} Bg4 $5) 28... Nde7 29. Qb2 Bd5 {
Now Black achieves his ideal setup with his light pieces (that he actually
initialy had...)} 30. Bb4 Nxb4 31. axb4 Rc6 $1 32. b5 (32. Rxc6 Bxc6 33. Nd2 {
was an option, but Black has no problems whatsoever.}) 32... Rxc2 33. Rxc2 Be6
34. d4 $5 {White has no advantage anymore, and this interesting move doesn't
change the evaluation, only the position.} e4 (34... exd4 35. Rd2 Nf5 36. e4 $1
{was the point.}) 35. Nd2 Qxd4 36. Nxe4 $6 {The knight is not doing anything
on this central square anyway, and it may in fact be just loss of a tempo.} (
36. Qxd4 Rxd4 37. Bxe4 {would keep the position equal. For example} Kf7 38. e3
Rb4 39. Bd3 Bd7 40. Ne4 Kf8 41. Nc3 Rb3 42. Bc4 Rb4 43. Bd3 Rb3 44. Bc4 Rb4 {
(for Sofia rules, if you want)}) 36... Qxb2 37. Rxb2 Kf7 38. e3 {At first
sight it seems that White should be better, because his b-pawn holds both
Black's queenside pawns. In fact it will be a weakness later, because Black
has better pieces. If White had a knight on d4 than it would be another story..
.} g5 $1 {Exchanging some pawns and threateng g4 later.} 39. hxg5 hxg5 40. f4 {
Otherwise g4 will fix the white pawns.} (40. Nd2 g4 $1) 40... gxf4 41. exf4 (
41. gxf4 {is the move White would like to play, but the problem is that Black
can attack the pawn immideately.} Nf5 42. Kf2 Rd3) 41... Rd4 42. Kf2 Nf5 {
Here it became clear, that it is already Black who may be better.} 43. Bf3 (43.
Nd2 $5 Ra4 {and Black keeps some pressure.}) (43. g4 $5 {was perhaps the most
precise way to equalize:} Nh4 44. Ke3 Ra4 45. f5 Nxg2+ 46. Rxg2 Bd5 47. Nc3 $1
Ra3 48. Rc2 $1 {and the position is drawn.}) 43... Bd5 44. Nd2 Bxf3 45. Nxf3
Ra4 46. g4 $6 {Inaccuracy: White weakens his kingside pawns as well now. But
of course in return he gets some activity...} (46. Rd2 $1 Ke7 47. Kg2 Ra3 $1 (
47... Nd6 48. Nd4)) 46... Nd6 $6 (46... Ne7 $1 {was more precise, winning a
pawn.} 47. Kg3 {Trying to stick to the pawn may end badly:} (47. Rd2 $5 {
is objectively safer. Now Black wins a pawn, but it will still probably end in
a draw.} Rxf4 48. Kg3) (47. g5 Nd5 $1 48. gxf6 Kxf6) 47... Nd5 48. f5 Ne3 $1
49. Nh2 Nc4 50. Rb3 Ra3 $1 51. Rf3 $1 Ra5 $1 {and the pawn is lost, though
this position looks pretty much like, what happened in the game.} 52. Rc3 Nd6
53. Rc7+ Ke8) 47. Kg3 Ne4+ (47... Ra3 $5 {would keep some pressure, but the
position is drawn.}) 48. Kh4 $1 (48. Kg2 $2 Nc5 $1 49. Kg3 Nd3) 48... Nd6 {#}
49. Rd2 $2 {A heart-stopping winning attempt that could have backfired.} (49.
Kg3 {would be a draw. I don't think Topalov would play on with} Ra3 $5 {
although Black has still a more pleasant position.}) 49... Nxb5 50. f5 Re4 {
If Black had a win, then it was very difficult. Topalov plays like a human,
but that's not enough.} (50... a5 {is most straightforward, but White
equalizes after the precise} 51. Rd5 $1 (51. Kh5 $2 Rf4 $1 52. Nh4 Nd4) 51...
Rb4 52. Kh5 Nc3 $1 (52... a4 53. g5) 53. Rd7+ Ke8 54. Rd3 $1 Ne4 55. g5 fxg5 (
55... a4 56. Kg6 $1) 56. Nxg5 Nxg5 57. Kxg5 a4 58. Rh3 $11) (50... Nc3 $5 {
was in my opinion the best chance. Black just brings his knight to the center,
from where it will defend the kingside. I believe White holds after} 51. Kh5 {
Probably the best idea is that after} (51. Rd7+ {actually leads by force to an
interesting ending-} Ke8 52. Rb7 (52. Rd3 $2 Ne4 53. Kh5 Nf2 54. Re3+ Re4 $1
55. Ra3 Nxg4 56. Rxa7 Ne3 57. Kg6 Nd5 $19) 52... Nd5 53. Kh5 Rf4 54. Nh4 a5 55.
g5 fxg5 56. Kxg5 a4 57. Ra7 b5 58. Ra5 Rb4 59. Ng6 (59. f6 $2 Nxf6 60. Kxf6
Rxh4 61. Rxb5 Kd7 $19) 59... Kd7 60. f6 Nxf6 61. Kxf6 {and maybe White can
draw this, but I am not sure.}) 51... Rf4 (51... Ne4 {is probably more
critical, and the position is unclear, with Black having some winning chances
after} 52. Rd7+ Ke8 53. Rc7) 52. Nh4 Ne4 {White sacrifices the knight and
draws in a study like way:} 53. Rd7+ Ke8 54. Rxa7 $1 Ng3+ 55. Kg6 $1 Rxg4+ 56.
Kxf6 Rxh4 57. Ke6 $1 Re4+ 58. Kd5 $1 {and wins the b6-pawn with a draw. It is
however not easy to find, to say the least.}) (50... Rf4 $1 51. Kg3 Rb4 $1 52.
Rd7+ Ke8 53. Rb7 Ra4 $1) 51. Kh5 $1 Re3 52. Nh4 Nc3 53. Rd7+ $1 Re7 54. Rd3 $1
{Winning some tempos for knight g6.} Ne4 55. Ng6 {#} Nc5 $1 (55... Rc7 56. Kh6
{looks a bit scary for Black, but it is still drawn.}) 56. Ra3 $5 {Vishy keeps
on trying. Well, it is his last white game in the classical part of the match,
so why not?} (56. Nxe7 Nxd3 57. Nc8 b5 58. Nd6+ $1 {is an easy draw.}) 56...
Rd7 57. Re3 Kg7 58. g5 b5 59. Nf4 b4 (59... fxg5 60. Kxg5 {is also equal, but
it looks tricky for Black.}) 60. g6 $1 {White is threatening Kg4 and Nh5+} b3
$1 {Closer to promotion, more destruction.} 61. Rc3 {Setting a trap...} Rd4 $1
{Of course not falling in it!} (61... b2 $4 62. Rxc5 $1 b1=Q {and the queen
will not help, when after two moves there will be a mate on board...} 63. Ne6+
Kg8 64. Rc8+) (61... Rc7 {was another drawing line.} 62. Nd3 (62. Nd5 $5 b2 63.
Nxc7 b1=Q 64. Rxc5) 62... Ne6 63. Rxb3 Nd4 64. Ra3 Nxf5 65. Nf4) 62. Rxc5 Rxf4
63. Rc7+ Kg8 64. Rb7 Rf3 ({A blunder like} 64... Rxf5+ $4 65. Kh6 {doesn't
really belong in World Championships.}) 65. Rb8+ ({It is still possible to get
too ambitious:} 65. Kh6 $4 Rh3# {and Black is first to mate. But, as I said,
this is not for World Champions...}) 65... Kg7 {...and in view of perpetual
check the players agreed to a draw. Anand didn't manage to win the last white
game, and Topalov always had a solid position.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Anand-Topalov +3-2=7"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2010.05.11"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D56"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Giri,A"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2010.04.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{In this game Anand chose the solid QGD and after employing a relatively
unknown idea, at least for Topalov, he easily equalized. Topalov, on the other
hand, wanted to finish the match today. He took risks and displayed great
self-confidence. However, with strong strikes 30...e5! and 31...f5! Anand took
the initiative. Then something absolutely unbelievable happened: In less than
five minutes, despite having more than half an hour left on his clock, Topalov
committed suicide with 31.exf5? and 32.fxe4??. Anand obtained a decisive
attack as a result, which he converted with great precision to the end.} 1. d4
d5 2. c4 e6 $1 {A Queen's Gambit Declined! And a classic World Championship
opening. Remember the famous Capablanca-Alekhine match? Or Karpov-Kasparov? To
be honest, before the game I tried to guess the opening, and believe it or not,
I actually managed to predict it! After all, which opening could be more solid
or trustworthy than the good ol' Queen's Gambit?} 3. Nf3 ({I had expected} 3.
Nc3 {in Kasparov style.} Nf6 (3... Be7 {is how to avoid it-} 4. cxd5 exd5 5.
Bf4 {and there are plenty of games to study. For example, Kasparov-Karpov 1985
as well as 2009!}) 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 {The point being that later White will
develop his knight to the far more flexible e2, planning f3 and e4.} Be7 6. e3
c6 7. Qc2 Nbd7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. Nge2 Re8 10. O-O Nf8 11. f3) 3... Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7
5. Bg5 (5. Bf4 {is another main-line with thousands of games played.}) 5... h6
{It is important to include this little move.} 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Ne4 {The
Lasker Defence! The solidest of the solid.} 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. Rc1 c6 10. Be2 {
A new little nuance.} (10. Bd3 {was more popular previously, but here Black
has an interesting idea:} Nxc3 11. Rxc3 Nd7 $5 12. O-O (12. Qc2 $5) 12... e5 $1
) 10... Nxc3 11. Rxc3 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nd7 13. O-O b6 {One of the two main moves.}
({Hundreds of games have been played with} 13... e5 {as well. The position is
always between slightly better to equal.}) 14. Bd3 c5 15. Be4 Rb8 16. Qc2 ({
I thought that} 16. Qa4 $5 {was slightly stronger, but mainly for
psychological reasons.}) 16... Nf6 $1 {An idea from the Polish player,
Grabarczyk, which was probably a surprise for Topalov.} (16... a5 {was used to
be one of the main moves here, as well as ...Bb7 and ...Ba6.}) 17. dxc5 (17.
Bc6 {covers the c6-square, and can thus be answered with} cxd4 18. Nxd4 e5 $1)
17... Nxe4 18. Qxe4 bxc5 {So, let's stop and evaluate the position. Black has
a weak pawn on c5 and later possibly on a7 as well. On the other hand, his
bishop, which will be developed to b7 on the next move, will be much better
than the white knight. All in all the position is about equal.} 19. Qc2 {
An ambitious move. Topalov is not satisfied with the very slight advantage he
would obtain after 19.b3.} (19. b3 {was played twice against the inventor of
16...Nf6.} Bb7 20. Qf4 (20. Qe5 Rbc8 (20... Bxf3) 21. Rfc1 Rfd8 22. e4 Qd6 $1
$11) (20. Qh4 $5) 20... Bxf3 21. Qxf3 Rfd8 22. Rfc1 Rd2 23. R1c2 Rbd8 24. g3 {
and White is a little better, but Black should draw this without any real
problems.}) 19... Bb7 20. Nd2 (20. Rxc5 $6 Bxf3 21. gxf3 Rxb2 $1 {is a trick
that you will have to remember, because I don't want to mention it on every
move.}) (20. e4 {can be answered with the sharp} f5 $5 {Now, one of the
possible lines is} 21. Nd2 Rfd8 22. exf5 Bxg2 $1 23. Kxg2 Qg5+ 24. Rg3 Qxd2 25.
Qxc5 exf5 $11) 20... Rfd8 21. f3 {This is slightly weakening, especially
considering that later White would also play g3. However, White has to
restrict Black's bishop, so the move is justified.} (21. Rxc5 $4 Rxd2 $1) 21...
Ba6 $146 {Until now, they were following a German correspondence game from
2000, but now Anand accidentally plays a novelty, and a good one at that.
Since White is blocking the h1-a8 diagonal, why not bring the bishop to
another?} 22. Rf2 {Another fighting move.} (22. Rc1 {seemed more logical to me,
but here Black could immediately draw, among the other possibilities, which
would favor the World Champion.} Qd7 23. Nb3 c4 {and White would to exchange
the annoying c4-pawn for either b2 or a2.} (23... Bd3 $11)) 22... Rd7 {Simply
doubling on the d-file.} (22... Rd5 23. e4 Rd7 {only look clever. White
doesn't mind playing e4 anyway.}) 23. g3 {A committal move, but White needs
space for his king. Here it became clear to me, that it was not Anand, but
Topalov who may be in trouble.} Rbd8 24. Kg2 Bd3 {Anand smartly decides to
avoid making any committal moves, while it is not yet clear. He prefers to
wait for Topalov to do part of the job.} ({More aggressive moves were also
possible. For example,} 24... h5 $5 25. Ne4 (25. h4 e5 26. e4 $6 g5 $1 $19)
25... Bd3 26. Qa4 Bxe4 (26... c4 $5 27. Nd2 e5 28. Nxc4 Qe6 {is unclear}) 27.
Qxe4 Rd2 {with equality}) ({Or} 24... e5 $5 25. e4 h5 26. Nc4 h4 27. Ne3 Qe6 {
and here White can play the non-standard} 28. gxh4 $1 {with an unclear
position.}) 25. Qc1 (25. Qa4 {was dangerous.} Qg5 (25... Bb5 $11) 26. e4 $6 (
26. Ne4 $1 $11) 26... Qe3 27. Qa5 Qe1 28. Qxc5 Be2 $1 29. Nb3 Rd1 30. Kh3 R8d3
{and White is in danger to say the least.}) 25... Ba6 $1 {The c5-pawn was
hanging, and Vishy decides to come back with the bishop and ask Topalov, what
he thinks.} 26. Ra3 {I had no doubts, that Topalov would play on.} Bb7 $1 {
Now that c5 isn't in any danger, Vishy returns the bishop to its rightful spot.
Now the bishop also smiles towards White's king, who will suffer a lot in this
game!} 27. Nb3 (27. e4 {can be answered by} f5 $1 28. Qc2 g5 $1 {and the
bishop smiles again!}) 27... Rc7 28. Na5 Ba8 {Of course!} 29. Nc4 {If any
other move had been played, then 29...g5! was strong.} ({For example} 29. e4 g5
$1 {and now let me demonstrate how White could end up if he calculated badly.}
30. Re3 Rd4 31. h3 h5 $1 32. g4 hxg4 33. hxg4 f5 $1 34. gxf5 g4 $1 {opening
the diagonal for the bishop and winning.}) ({or} 29. Rc3 g5 30. Nb3 g4 31. e4
gxf3+ 32. Kxf3 f5 33. Nxc5 Qg7 $5 {and it is clear, that the white king is not
the happiest piece on board.}) 29... e5 $1 {Played instantly. Anand is playing
it safe. 29...g5 was possible here as well, but it would lead to a
double-edged position.} ({For instance} 29... g5 $5 30. e4 (30. h3 f5 31. Kh2 (
31. g4 h5 $1) 31... h5 {with an unclear position.}) 30... g4 (30... f5 $5) 31.
Qxh6 gxf3+ 32. Kxf3 Rd4 33. Nd2 Rcd7 34. Kg2 Qd8 35. Rf4 $1 Rxd2+ 36. Kh3 Bxe4
$3 37. Rxe4 R2d4 38. Ra4 Rxe4 39. Rxe4 Rd4 40. Re5 Rd5 41. Re4 Rd4 {is a truly
beautiful draw.}) 30. e4 {Other moves were possible, but then Black would be
able to play e4-f4 securing the d3 square for a rook, or make some other
useful move.} f5 $1 31. exf5 $2 {Crazy.} (31. Nd2 $1 {was the right move.} fxe4
32. Nxe4 {Now Black can choose between equalizing or keeping his bishop and
the pressure with} Rd4 $5 (32... Bxe4 33. fxe4 Rd4 $11)) 31... e4 $1 32. fxe4
$4 {Even crazier. Without any calculation, it seems pretty obvious, that it is
very dangerous to expose your king this much. So it was even more surprising,
that Topalov played this and the previous move so quickly!} ({Something like} 
32. Re3 {was essential, but it is clear that} exf3+ 33. Kg1 Qg5 {is not really
what White wants. Black is clearly better.}) 32... Qxe4+ {From now on Anand
never let Veselin escape, nor gave him a single reason to hope.} 33. Kh3 Rd4
34. Ne3 Qe8 $3 {THE move, that Vishy had to find. I assume that it was the one
that Topalov had missed.} 35. g4 h5 $1 {It is hopeless for White. All Black's
pieces are ready to meet alone with the white king.} 36. Kh4 g5+ $5 {Vishy
chooses the most elegant way to keep his title.} (36... Qd8+ 37. f6 hxg4 {
was winning as well.}) ({but surprisingly} 36... hxg4 $4 {loses the advantage.}
37. Nxg4 {and White's king doesn't feel so bad anymore with a knight on g4 to
keep him company, and a queen coming to g5.}) 37. fxg6 Qxg6 38. Qf1 Rxg4+ 39.
Kh3 Re7 $1 {Anand again goes for the most beautiful solution.} ({For example} 
39... Kh7 {to avoid checks, was winning too.}) 40. Rf8+ Kg7 41. Nf5+ (41. Rxa8
{Now I can imagine how happy Vishy was while executing his moves.} Rxe3+ $1 42.
Rxe3 Rh4+ $3 43. Kxh4 Qg4# {Ohh, what a picture!}) 41... Kh7 $1 {Naturally not
taking the rook which would turn the tables upside down.} 42. Rg3 Rxg3+ 43.
hxg3 Qg4+ 44. Kh2 Re2+ 45. Kg1 Rg2+ 46. Qxg2 Bxg2 {At this point, some people
got very nervous, screaming that they had found a draw. The calm World
Champion, however, had seen everything in advance.} 47. Kxg2 (47. Rf7+ Kg6 $1
48. Rg7+ Kxf5 49. Rxg4 hxg4 $1 50. Kxg2 Ke4 51. Kf2 Kd3 {and the pawn ending
is hopeless.}) 47... Qe2+ 48. Kh3 c4 $1 {Our human Champion is as precise as
an engine.} 49. a4 a5 50. Rf6 Kg8 $1 {It is zugzwang!} 51. Nh6+ Kg7 52. Rb6 Qe4
(52... Qf3 {would win as well, but Anand decided that today was Zugzwang Day!}
53. Kh4 Qe4+ $1 54. Kxh5 Qd5+ $19) 53. Kh2 Kh7 $1 {Zugzwang again!} 54. Rd6 Qe5
55. Nf7 Qxb2+ 56. Kh3 Qg7 $1 {Great and flawless play by Anand! A perfect game
to defend one's title with.} 0-1

