by National Life Master Loal Davis
Viswanathan Anand
Former World Champion Viswanathan Anand won the single victory in the seventh Round of Altibox Norway Chess 2018 – and it was a beauty. In doing so he took out the French champion Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. This puts Anand currently in sole possession of first place.
[Event “Altibox Norway Chess 2018”]
[Site “?”]
[Date “2018.06.05”]
[Round “7”]
[White “Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime (FRA)”]
[Black “Anand, Viswanathan (IND)”]
[Result “0-1”]
[PlyCount “80”]
[EventDate “2018.05.28”]
[SourceDate “2018.06.05”]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4
This is the Open or Tarrasch Variation of the Ruy Lopez.
6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Be7 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Re1 Nc5 12. Nd4 Nxd4
Capablanca did not think highly of moves like this. He felt that it would bring White’s Pawn up to ‘d4’ and render the Black Pawn on ‘c7’ backward on an open file. As true as this is, there has been a lot of water over the dam since that endgame pronouncement. As Tarrasch said, “Before the Endgame, the gods have placed the Middlegame.”
13. cxd4 Nd3 14. Re3 Nf4 15. Nf3 Bg4
The square ‘e6’ is a perfect one for a Knight. This is a nice blockade, attacks the ‘d4’ Pawn and gets ready for a ‘c5’ thrust.
16. h3 Bh5 17. Rc3 Ne6 18. g4 Bg6 19. Be3
As you can see both players are aware of what is happening here. White has his Rook the open ‘c’ file and the ‘c7’ Pawn is definitely backward. Black’s Pawn “majority” would normally be on the Queenside; since ‘c5’ is temporarily off the menu, Black still fights with his majority – the ‘a’ Pawn. White is prepared for the Endgame – but we are not there yet.
a5 20. Bc2 Bb4 21. Rb3 f5
Ah – White has his weaknesses too. That Kingside Pawn advance has left the ‘f’ file weak and Black strikes.
22. exf6 Bxc2 23. Qxc2 Qxf6 24. Ne5 c5
Guts ! Black could cover with Rad8 – but – the exchange or not – Black advances his ‘c’ Pawn.
25. Nd7 Qf7 26. Nxf8 Rxf8 27. Qf5
If ‘dxc5’ then Black plays ‘d4’.
cxd4
With the ‘c’ Pawn advanced and fighting, Black is prepared to swap Queens and fight the endgame down the Exchange. Just look at that Rook on ‘b3’ – effectively out of the game and Black ever ready to play ‘Nc5’.
28. Qxf7+ Rxf7 29. Rxb4
He can’t wait – Desperation.
axb4 30. Bd2 b3 31. axb3 Rf3
Hammer / Hammer / Hammer. Black is in the driver’s seat.
32. b4 Rd3 33. Re1 Kf7 34. Bc1 Rxh3 35. Re5 Rd3 36. Kf1 Rd1+ 37. Re1 Rxe1+ 38. Kxe1 g6 39. f4 Nd8 40. g5 Ke6 0-1
Final Position
A masterpiece. Where was White’s mistake? Perhaps not quite knowing that he was still in the Middlegame; that weak ‘f’ file was telling. At no time did White get to exercise his “pressure” down the ‘c’ file.
| # | Name | Pts | SB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anand, Viswanathan | 4 | 11.75 |
| 2 | So, Wesley | 3.5 | 12 |
| Carlsen, Magnus | 3.5 | 11.75 | |
| Aronian, Levon | 3.5 | 11 | |
| Nakamura, Hikaru | 3.5 | 10.5 | |
| 6 | Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | 3 | 9.75 |
| Caruana, Fabiano | 3 | 9.25 | |
| Karjakin, Sergey | 3 | 9.25 | |
| 9 | Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime | 2.5 | 7.25 |
| 10 | Ding, Liren | 1.5 | 5 |